Patent Grant
9702629
The present invention relates to the field of supports for heat furnace receptacles such as crucibles. More particularly, it relates to a retaining bar, a supporting assembly for at least one receptacle such as a crucible and a heat furnace comprising same, wherein the retaining bar and the supporting assembly support one or more receptacle and constrain their displacement.
The process of fusion generally consists of mixing an oxidized sample with a lithium borate flux and heating the mix to a temperature of approximately 1000° Celsius. At this temperature the flux melts and dissolves samples to form a perfectly homogenous mass. This homogenous mass is generally subsequently poured either into a preheated platinum mold to produce a glass disk for XRF analysis, or into an unbreakable beaker containing an acid solution to be analysed by atomic absorption (AA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or any traditional wet chemistry method.
Heating of the mix occurs in a heat furnace, such as a fluxer, where receptacles such as crucibles are supported by a pivotable supporting assembly having top, bottom, and side supporting members. The supporting assembly maintains a plurality of receptacles in predetermined positions during a rocking of the receptacles provided in the course of the heating process and a rotation leading to the pouring of the homogenous mass into the mold.
Common problems with known support assembly for such apparatuses are that the bottom supporting member often breaks prematurely as a result of creep resulting from the high heat and the flexural stress imposed on the bottom supporting member by the weight of the receptacles and their content, as well as thermal shocks. Another issue is that the heat furnace receptacles tend to move laterally left and right in response to the rocking movement and rotation of the support assembly.
One of the proposed solutions is to provide the bottom supporting member with lateral structures such as bushings, separated by sleeves to provide lateral support to the receptacles. This solution helps with the lateral movement issue; however it requires the assembly of multiple distinct pieces and results in a supporting member having an increased weight. In practice, it has been observed that the flexural stress imposed on the bottom supporting member, in this proposed solution, is such that the flexural stress often causes premature failure and breaking due to the effects of creep.
In view of the above, there is a need for an improved retaining bar and a heat furnace supporting assembly comprising the same which would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of the above discussed prior art concerns.
According to a general aspect, there is provided a retaining bar to be used in combination with a heat furnace supporting assembly for supporting at least one receptacle. The retaining bar comprises at least one single piece elongated body having a finite length and at least one receptacle receiving cavity defined therein and extending along a section of the length of the body. Each one of the at least one receptacle receiving cavity is configured to receive therein one of a bottom section and an upper section of one of the at least one receptacle.
In an embodiment, the elongated body comprises a plurality of evenly spaced-apart receptacle receiving cavities defined therein.
In an embodiment, the retaining bar is composed of non-reactive ceramics.
In an embodiment, the body of the retaining bar has a thickness ranging approximately between 0.1 and 50 millimeters.
In an embodiment, the body of the retaining bar has a thickness ranging approximately between 0.5 and 10 millimeters.
In an embodiment, the body of the retaining bar is thinner than wide in at least one section corresponding to the at least one receptacle receiving cavity.
In an embodiment, the at least one receptacle receiving cavity is configured to receive therein the bottom section of the at least one receptacle.
In an embodiment, the at least one receptacle receiving cavity is configured to receive therein the upper section of the at least one receptacle.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly having a longitudinal axis for supporting at least one receptacle having a bottom section, a peripheral wall, and an upper section. The heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly comprises a first side supporting member and a second side supporting member extending along the longitudinal axis and spaced-apart from one another to receive the at least one receptacle therebetween. The heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly also comprises a retaining bar located between the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member and extending along the longitudinal axis. The retaining bar, the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member define together a receptacle receiving section. The retaining bar has an elongated body with at least one receptacle receiving cavity defined therein adapted to receive at least one of the bottom section and the upper section of a respective one of the at least one receptacle inserted in the receptacle receiving section. The first side supporting member and the second side supporting member are adjacent to the peripheral wall of the respective one of the least one receptacle inserted in the receptacle supporting section.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving at least one receptacle having a bottom section, a peripheral wall, and an upper section. The heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly comprises a first side supporting member and a second side supporting member extending along the longitudinal axis and spaced-apart from one another to receive the at least one receptacle therebetween. The heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly also comprises at least one retaining bar located between the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member and extending along the longitudinal axis. The combination of the at least one retaining bar, the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member defines a receptacle receiving section. Each one of the at least one retaining bar comprises a single piece elongated body with at least one receptacle receiving cavity defined therein adapted to receive one of the bottom section and the upper section of a respective one of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section. The first side supporting member and the second side supporting member are adjacent to the peripheral wall of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the at least one retaining bar extends below the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member.
In an embodiment, the at least one retaining bar is located below the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly further comprises a top supporting member extending along the longitudinal axis above the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member and defining therewith the receptacle receiving section. The top supporting member extends above the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly further comprises at least one bottom supporting member extending along the longitudinal axis and below the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the bottom section of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section rests on the at least one bottom supporting member and is spaced apart from a bottom wall of a corresponding receptacle receiving cavity of the at least one retaining bar, the at least one retaining bar constraining longitudinal displacement of the at least one receptacle received therein.
In an embodiment, the at least one retaining bar extends above the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member. The heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly further comprises at least one bottom supporting member extending along the longitudinal axis below the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member and defining therewith the receptacle receiving section. The bottom section of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section rests on the at least one bottom supporting member.
In an embodiment, the heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly further comprises at least one pivotal attachment plate to which the first side supporting member, the second side supporting member, and the at least one retaining bar are connected at an end thereof. Pivoting of the at least one pivotal attachment plate simultaneously pivots the first side supporting member, the second side supporting member, and the at least one retaining bar.
In an embodiment, the at least one pivotal attachment plate comprises two pivotal attachment plates, spaced-apart from one another, with the first side supporting member, the second side supporting member, and the at least one retaining bar extending therebetween and having an end operatively connected to a respective one of the two pivotal attachment plates. The two pivotal attachment plates pivot simultaneously.
In an embodiment, the at least one bottom supporting member is configured to support a weight of the at least one receptacle, such that a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall of each one of the at least one receptacle receiving cavity of the retaining bar constrain longitudinal movement of the bottom section of the at least one receptacle received therein while substantially no pressure is exerted on the retaining bar by the weight of the at least one receptacle.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a heat furnace for heating a sample contained in at least one receptacle having a bottom section and an upper section. The heat furnace comprises a heating chamber and a receptacle supporting assembly extending in the heating chamber along a longitudinal axis. The receptacle supporting assembly comprises at least two supporting members extending along the longitudinal axis and spaced apart from one another. The at least two supporting members define a receptacle receiving section and constrain displacement of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section at least one of vertically and laterally. The receptacle supporting assembly further comprises a retaining bar extending along the longitudinal axis and having a single piece elongated body with at least one receptacle receiving cavity defined therein. Each one of the at least one receptacle receiving cavity is configured to constrain longitudinal displacement of a corresponding one of the at least one receptacle by receiving therein one of the bottom section and the upper section of the corresponding receptacle.
In an embodiment, the receptacle supporting assembly further comprises at least one attachment plate pivotally mounted in the heating chamber. The at least two supporting members and the retaining bar are connected to the at least one attachment plate at an end thereof.
In an embodiment, the at least one attachment plate is a single pivotable attachment plate and the receptacle supporting assembly is configured in a cantilever configuration.
In an embodiment, the at least one attachment plate comprises two pivotable attachment plates spaced-apart from one another, with the at least two supporting members and the retaining bar extending therebetween and having an end operatively connected to a respective one of the two pivotal attachment plates. The two pivotal attachment plates pivot simultaneously in the heating chamber.
In an embodiment, the at least two supporting members comprise a first side supporting member and a second side supporting member, spaced-apart from one another, and extending longitudinally adjacent to a peripheral wall of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the at least two supporting members further comprise at least one bottom supporting member extending below the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member, at a lower end of the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the retaining bar extends at the lower end of the receptacle receiving section and the bottom section of the at least one receptacle received in the receptacle receiving section rests on the at least one bottom supporting member and is spaced apart from a bottom wall of a corresponding receptacle receiving cavity of the retaining bar. The retaining bar constrains longitudinal displacement of the at least one receptacle received therein.
In an embodiment, the at least two supporting members further comprise a top supporting member extending above the first side supporting member and the second side supporting member, at an upper end of the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the retaining bar is located at the lower end of the receptacle receiving section.
In an embodiment, the retaining bar is located at an upper end of the receptacle receiving section.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are preferred embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes.
Moreover, although the preferred embodiment of the retaining bar and the heat furnace supporting assembly, and the corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the retaining bar and the heat furnace supporting assembly, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art. Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “left”, “right” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures and should not be considered limiting.
Referring to
Each receptacle receiving cavity 14 is defined by a first lateral wall 16 and a second lateral wall 18, spaced-apart from the first lateral wall 16 and joined together by a bottom wall 20. The first lateral wall 16 and the second lateral wall 18 are located on opposite lateral extremities of the receptacle receiving cavity 14 and form a recess within the body 12 of the retaining bar 10, the recess extending up to the bottom wall 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the first lateral wall 16 and the second lateral wall 18 are outwardly angled (i.e. outwardly oblique angles), however, one skilled in the art will understand that in alternative embodiments the first lateral wall 16 and the second lateral wall 18 could present different configurations. For instance and without being limitative, the first lateral wall 16 and the second lateral wall 18 could extend substantially parallel to one another and/or the first lateral wall 16 and the second lateral wall 18 could define right angles with the bottom wall 20.
One skilled in the art will understand that even though the retaining bar 10 is illustrated in
The receptacle receiving cavities 14 are bordered on each opposite sides by separation sections 15 presenting an upper surface 17. The separation sections 15 and the receiving cavities 14 are configured in an alternate configuration. The upper surface 17 of each separation section 15 is located at a greater distance from a downward surface 19 of the retaining bar 10 than the bottom walls 20 of the adjacent receptacle receiving cavities 14. In other words, the retaining bar 10 is wider in the separation sections 15 than in the receiving cavities 14. One skilled in the art will understand that, even though the upper surface presents a substantially flat configuration in the illustrated embodiment, in alternative embodiments, the upper surface 17 could present different configurations such as, without being limitative, a curved or a wavy configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the separation section 15 could even be a single peak between adjacent receptacle receiving cavities 14, as long as the adjacent separation sections 15 define the receiving cavities 14 inbetween.
As can be seen in
In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle receiving cavities 14 are evenly distributed along the length 24 of the body 12 of the retaining bar 10. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the distance between each receptacle receiving cavity 14 does not need to be constant and could differ between each receptacle receiving cavity 14, as long as the distance between adjacent receptacle receiving cavities 14 is sufficient for the corresponding receptacles disposed in consecutive receiving cavities 14 not to interfere with one another.
Now referring to
In an alternative embodiment and as can be seen for example in
In an embodiment, the retaining bar 10 is made of a non-reactive material which offers sufficient mechanical support at temperatures that can go over 1200° Celsius and can resist thermal shocks associated with heat of this magnitude. For example, and without being limitative, the retaining bar 10 can be made of a material composed of non-reactive ceramics such as, without being limitative, alumina (Al2O3) or zirconium (ZrO2). However, one skilled in the art will understand that other materials having the above mentioned characteristics could be used.
As can be seen in
In an embodiment the receptacle receiving cavities 14 are cut in the retaining bar 10 using laser cutting technology, in order to provide precise cutting of the retaining bar 10 without affecting the flexural strength. Once again, one skilled in the art will understand that other known methods could be used for cutting the receptacle receiving cavities 14 in the retaining bar 10.
Now referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiments shown in
In the embodiments shown in
Referring to
One skilled in the art will understand that, in an embodiment and as can be seen in
Finally, again referring to
Referring for example to
In an embodiment (not shown), the retaining bar, may also act as the bottom supporting member. In other words, the heat furnace support assembly can be provided with a top supporting member at an upper end of the receptacle receiving section and the retaining bar at a lower end thereof. In such an embodiment, the retaining bar would be the element supporting the receptacles from below in the heat furnace supporting assembly. It will be understood, that in this alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the retaining bar could need to be greater to provide the necessary structural strength. Moreover, in this alternative embodiment, a single retaining bar having the above-mentioned characteristics could be provided, or multiple retaining bars having the above-mentioned characteristics could share the flexural stress imposed by the weight of the receptacles. If multiple retaining bars are provided, the multiple retaining bars could be substantially parallel, evenly leveled, and be configured such that their receptacle receiving cavities are aligned with one another.
As previously mentioned, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the retaining bar, could be made of a plurality of juxtaposed bars, extending substantially parallel to one another, evenly leveled, and configured such that their receptacle receiving cavities, are aligned, or in register, with one another. In an embodiment where the bottom supporting member 50 is embodied by a first supporting bar 54 and a second supporting bar 56 (see
As can be seen more clearly in
In the illustrated embodiments, all of the supporting members of the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 are elongated rounded rods made of a material that can resist the effects of creep and thermal stress, as was previously discussed in relation with the material of the retaining bar 10. Once again, possible materials comprise materials composed of ceramics such as alumina (Al2O3) and zirconium (ZrO2), but are not limited to these materials. One skilled in the art will however understand that other configurations than a rounded rod may be provided for the supporting members of the heat furnace supporting assembly 40.
In an embodiment, the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 further comprises at least one attachment plate for mounting an end of the above described components thereon. The at least one attachment plate is pivotal, in order to allow the pivoting of the heat furnace supporting assembly 40.
In an embodiment, and as can be seen in
In the embodiment shown, in
Mounting of the above described components on the single attachment plate 159 (
As can be seen in
As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the support members of the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 constrain the displacement of the receptacles 30 received in the receptacle receiving section 51 at least one of vertically and laterally, while the receptacle receiving cavities 14 of the retaining bar 10 constrain the displacement of the receptacles 30 received in the receptacle receiving section 51 along the longitudinal axis.
Indeed, the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 limits displacement of the receptacles 30 received in the receptacle receiving section 51 along three orthogonal axes. In the illustrated embodiments, the displacement of the receptacles 30 along the longitudinal axis is limited by the receptacles receiving cavities 14 defined in the retaining bar 10. As mentioned above, the retaining bar 10 can be either positioned below or above the receptacles 30. The lateral displacement of the receptacles 30 is limited by the first side supporting member 46 and the second side supporting member 48 extending longitudinally and adjacent to the peripheral wall of the receptacles 30. The vertical displacement of the receptacles 30 is limited by the top supporting member 44 and the bottom supporting member 50, with one of them including the retaining bar 10. Therefore, the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 constrains movement of each receptacle 30 along all three of their possible movement axes.
Now referring to
One skilled in the art will understand that the heat furnace supporting assembly 40, may be mounted in the heat furnace 60 according to the configuration shown in
The first attachment plate 57 and the second attachment plate 58, or the single attachment plate 159 is/are pivotally mounted to the heat furnace 60. Therefore, in response to a pivoting movement imparted by the heat furnace 60 on the first attachment plate 57 and the second attachment plate 58 or the single attachment plate 159, the receptacles 30 located within the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 pivot simultaneously. It will be understood that other configurations resulting in the simultaneous movement of the receptacles 30 in response to the movement of the heat furnace supporting assembly 40 could also be provided.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/616,573 which was filed Mar. 28, 2012. The entirety of the aforementioned application is herein incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2013/050176 | 3/11/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013/142989 | 10/3/2013 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 797121 | Keller | Aug 1905 | A |
| 2693521 | Alexander | Nov 1954 | A |
| 3554512 | Elliot et al. | Jan 1971 | A |
| 4023523 | Ing | May 1977 | A |
| 4308009 | Surachai | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4612042 | Kelly | Sep 1986 | A |
| 4871309 | Chapman | Oct 1989 | A |
| 4911638 | Bayne | Mar 1990 | A |
| 4966549 | Ohdate | Oct 1990 | A |
| 5038920 | Nelson | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5315091 | O'Brien et al. | May 1994 | A |
| 6454564 | Ricchio | Sep 2002 | B2 |
| 7918334 | Gaetano | Apr 2011 | B2 |
| 20110140318 | Reeves | Jun 2011 | A1 |
| 20110154858 | Prossor | Jun 2011 | A1 |
| 20130160704 | LaFontaine | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150093712 A1 | Apr 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61616573 | Mar 2012 | US |
