Vacuum hot pressing furnace

Abstract

The invention discloses a vacuum hot pressing furnace which comprises a furnace body with a hearth, the hearth is connected with a circulating cooling device used for pumping out gas in the hearth, cooling the gas and then feeding the gas into the hearth, the circulating cooling device comprises a cooling pipeline provided with a cooler and an air pumping assembly, and the two ends of the cooling pipeline are correspondingly communicated with the hearth respectively. The vacuum hot pressing furnace has the advantages of greatly reducing the cooling time, improving the cooling efficiency and the production efficiency and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of material processing equipment technology, and specifically to a vacuum hot press furnace. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum hot press furnaces are widely used for hot pressing and sintering of cemented carbide, functional ceramics, and powder metallurgy products under high temperature and high vacuum conditions. They can also be used for hot pressing and sintering under gas-filled protection. The temperature for hot pressing and sintering in a vacuum hot press furnace can reach over 2000℃. The furnace structure typically consists of a metal outer shell and a high-temperature resistant lining to reduce heat transfer from the furnace chamber to the metal outer shell, lower energy consumption, and avoid the danger of excessively high metal outer shell temperatures. However, after hot pressing and sintering, products usually need to be cooled to a predetermined temperature inside the furnace before being removed. Existing vacuum hot press furnaces typically use natural cooling after heating is stopped, which results in long cooling times, low cooling efficiency, and reduced production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a vacuum hot press furnace that can greatly reduce the time required for cooling and improve cooling efficiency and production efficiency.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A vacuum autoclave includes a furnace body with a furnace chamber. The furnace chamber is connected to a circulating cooling device for extracting and cooling gas from the furnace chamber before sending it back into the furnace chamber. The circulating cooling device includes a cooling pipe equipped with a cooler and an extraction assembly. The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to the furnace chamber.

[0005] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: The furnace body includes a furnace shell and an insulated furnace lining located inside the furnace shell and surrounding the furnace chamber. The insulated furnace lining and the inner wall of the furnace shell are spaced apart to form an insulated cavity.

[0006] The furnace shell is provided with two first air inlets and outlets that communicate with the heat insulation cavity. The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to the two first air inlets and outlets. The heat insulation furnace lining is provided with two second air inlets and outlets that communicate with the furnace chamber and the heat insulation cavity. At least one second air inlet and outlet is provided with an opening and closing component for opening and closing the second air inlet and outlet.

[0007] The opening and closing assembly includes a plug and an opening and closing drive mechanism mounted on the furnace shell. The opening and closing drive mechanism is connected to the plug and drives the plug to open and close the second air inlet and outlet.

[0008] The opening and closing drive mechanism includes a telescopic drive component, the drive end of which is connected to the plug and drives the plug to reciprocate linearly to open and close the second air inlet and outlet.

[0009] The furnace shell is provided with a gas-guiding sealing chamber for each first gas inlet and outlet, which is connected to the heat insulation cavity. The connection between the gas-guiding sealing chamber and the heat insulation cavity serves as the corresponding first gas inlet and outlet. The gas-guiding sealing chamber is provided with an interface connected to the cooling pipeline. The telescopic drive is located outside the gas-guiding sealing chamber, and the drive end of the telescopic drive is connected to the plug through a connector that extends into the gas-guiding sealing chamber.

[0010] The second air inlet / outlet is a conical hole, and the plug is a conical head.

[0011] The plug includes a base plate, a pressure plate, and multiple sealing gaskets. A positioning rod is connected to the middle of the base plate, and the multiple sealing gaskets are sequentially fitted and positioned on the positioning rod. The pressure plate is detachably connected to the positioning rod and cooperates with the base plate to clamp the multiple sealing gaskets.

[0012] Each end of the cooling pipeline is connected to the furnace through an openable and closable high-temperature resistant vacuum valve.

[0013] Two first air inlets and outlets are located at the upper and lower parts of the furnace shell, respectively, and two second air inlets and outlets are located at the upper and lower parts of the heat-insulating furnace lining, respectively; or both first air inlets and outlets are located in the middle of the furnace shell, and both second air inlets and outlets are located in the middle of the heat-insulating furnace lining.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: The vacuum hot press furnace of the present invention is equipped with a circulating cooling device. After the product is hot-pressed and sintered, the gas in the furnace can be extracted and cooled before being sent back into the furnace, so as to achieve rapid cooling of the product in the furnace. This can greatly reduce the time required for cooling and improve cooling efficiency and production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a top view of the vacuum hot press furnace in Example 1.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a top view of the furnace body in Example 1.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the furnace body in Example 1.

[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the middle.

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 4A schematic diagram of the structure when the middle plug opens the second air inlet / outlet.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the plug in Example 1.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a top view of the furnace body in Example 2.

[0022] Legend: 1. Furnace body; 11. Furnace chamber; 12. Furnace shell; 13. Insulated furnace lining; 14. Insulated cavity; 15. First air inlet / outlet; 16. Second air inlet / outlet; 17. Plug; 171. Base plate; 172. Pressure plate; 173. Sealing gasket; 174. Positioning rod; 18. Telescopic drive component; 19. Air guide sealing chamber; 191. Interface; 2. Circulating cooling device; 3. Cooler; 4. Air extraction assembly; 5. High-temperature vacuum valve. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] Example 1 like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the vacuum hot press furnace of this embodiment includes a furnace body 1 with a furnace chamber 11. A circulating cooling device 2 is connected to the furnace chamber 11 for extracting and cooling the gas inside the furnace chamber 11 before re-entering it. The circulating cooling device 2 includes a cooling pipe equipped with a cooler 3 and an extraction assembly 4, with both ends of the cooling pipe connected to the furnace chamber 11. The gas inside the furnace chamber 11 can be extracted to the cooler 3 via the extraction assembly 4, cooled by the cooler 3, and then returned to the furnace chamber 11, thus achieving circulating cooling. This vacuum hot press furnace, equipped with the circulating cooling device 2, allows for rapid cooling of the product inside the furnace chamber 11 after hot pressing and sintering by extracting and cooling the gas inside the furnace chamber 11 before re-entering it. This significantly reduces the time required for cooling and improves cooling efficiency and production efficiency.

[0025] In this embodiment, as Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the furnace body 1 includes a furnace shell 12 and an insulated furnace lining 13 located inside the furnace shell 12 and surrounding the furnace chamber 11. The insulated furnace lining 13 and the inner wall of the furnace shell 12 are spaced apart to form an insulated cavity 14. The insulated cavity 14 can reduce the heat transferred from the furnace chamber 11 to the furnace shell 12, reduce energy consumption, and avoid the danger of excessively high metal shell temperature. The aforementioned insulated furnace lining 13 is made of commonly used heat treatment furnace insulation materials, and the insulated furnace lining 13 can be fixedly installed on the furnace shell 12 by multiple connecting brackets.

[0026] In this embodiment, the furnace shell 12 is provided with two first air inlets and outlets 15 communicating with the heat insulation cavity 14. The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to the two first air inlets and outlets 15. The heat insulation furnace lining 13 is provided with two second air inlets and outlets 16 communicating with the furnace chamber 11 and the heat insulation cavity 14. At least one second air inlet and outlet 16 is provided with an opening and closing component for opening and closing the second air inlet and outlet 16. The cooling pipe can simultaneously extract the gas in the furnace chamber 11 and the heat insulation cavity 14 to the cooler 3 for cooling, and then send it back into the furnace chamber 11 and the heat insulation cavity 14. That is, the gas in the furnace chamber 11 and the heat insulation cavity 14 can form a circulating cooling effect, which is beneficial to improving the cooling efficiency. Furthermore, due to the installation of the opening and closing component, when the vacuum hot press furnace is working, the second air inlet and outlet 16 can be closed using the opening and closing component. This prevents the high-temperature gas in the furnace chamber 11 from entering the heat insulation chamber 14 through the second air inlet and outlet 16 and then rapidly dissipating heat to the external environment through the furnace shell 12. This reduces heat loss, further reduces energy consumption, and avoids the danger of the furnace shell 12 becoming too hot. When cooling is required, the second air inlet and outlet 16 can be opened using the opening and closing component, and rapid cooling can be achieved through the circulating cooling device 2.

[0027] In this embodiment, the opening and closing assembly includes a plug 17 and an opening and closing drive mechanism mounted on the furnace shell 12. The opening and closing drive mechanism is connected to the plug 17 and drives the plug 17 to open and close the second air inlet and outlet 16. Preferably, the opening and closing drive mechanism includes a telescopic drive member 18. The drive end of the telescopic drive member 18 is connected to the plug 17 and drives the plug 17 to reciprocate linearly to open and close the second air inlet and outlet 16. Specifically, the telescopic drive member 18 drives the plug 17 to reciprocate linearly to insert and withdraw from the second air inlet and outlet 16. When the plug 17 is inserted into the second air inlet and outlet 16, the second air inlet and outlet 16 is closed; when the plug 17 is withdrawn from the second air inlet and outlet 16, the second air inlet and outlet 16 is opened. This opening and closing assembly has a simple structure, low cost, is easy to manufacture, and is easy to control. The aforementioned telescopic drive member 18 can be a telescopic hydraulic cylinder, a telescopic pneumatic cylinder, etc.

[0028] In this embodiment, each first air inlet / outlet 15 on the furnace shell 12 is provided with a gas-guiding sealing chamber 19 communicating with the heat insulation cavity 14. The communication port between the gas-guiding sealing chamber 19 and the heat insulation cavity 14 serves as the corresponding first air inlet / outlet 15. The gas-guiding sealing chamber 19 is provided with an interface 191 communicating with the cooling pipeline. The telescopic drive member 18 is located outside the gas-guiding sealing chamber 19, and the drive end of the telescopic drive member 18 is connected to the plug 17 through a connector that extends into the gas-guiding sealing chamber 19. The gas-guiding sealing chamber 19 with the interface 191 facilitates the connection of the cooling pipeline and provides space for the opening and closing action of the plug 17. The telescopic drive member 18 is located outside the gas-guiding sealing chamber 19, which can avoid the influence of high temperature and help improve its service life and operational stability and reliability.

[0029] In this embodiment, the second air inlet / outlet 16 is a conical hole, and the plug 17 is a conical head. The conical plug 17 cooperates with the conical second air inlet / outlet 16. During the process of inserting the plug 17 into the second air inlet / outlet 16, the conical plug 17 will gradually press and fit against the inner wall of the conical second air inlet / outlet 16, thereby ensuring a stable and reliable seal.

[0030] In this embodiment, as Figure 6 As shown, the plug 17 includes a base plate 171, a pressure plate 172, and multiple sealing gaskets 173. A positioning rod 174 is connected to the middle of the base plate 171. The multiple sealing gaskets 173 are sequentially fitted and positioned on the positioning rod 174. The pressure plate 172 is detachably connected to the positioning rod 174 and cooperates with the base plate 171 to clamp the multiple sealing gaskets 173. Since the heat insulation furnace lining 13 has a certain thickness, the second air inlet / outlet 16 on the heat insulation furnace lining 13 will also have a certain depth. In this case, making the length of the plug 17 consistent with the depth of the second air inlet / outlet 16 can form a sealing seal throughout the entire depth range of the second air inlet / outlet 16, improving the stability and reliability of the seal. The sealing part of the plug 17 is composed of multiple sealing gaskets 173, rather than a thick integral sealing component. It is easy to obtain materials, convenient to process and manufacture, and the thickness and number of sealing gaskets 173 can be adjusted according to the different thicknesses of the heat insulation furnace lining 13. The plug 17 of this structure also has the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing and assembly, and good structural stability. Preferably, the pressure plate 172 is fitted and positioned on the positioning rod 174, and the nut connected to the positioning rod 174 by thread is used to force the pressure plate 172 to cooperate with the base plate 171 to clamp multiple sealing gaskets 173.

[0031] In other embodiments, the plug 17 and the second air inlet / outlet 16 may also take other shapes, such as a cylindrical second air inlet / outlet 16 that cooperates with a cylindrical plug 17.

[0032] In this embodiment, each end of the cooling pipeline is connected to the furnace chamber 11 through an openable and closable high-temperature resistant vacuum valve 5. When the vacuum hot press furnace is working, the high-temperature resistant vacuum valve 5 can be closed to ensure the vacuum degree of the vacuum hot press furnace.

[0033] In this embodiment, both first air inlets and outlets 15 are located in the middle of the furnace shell 12, and both second air inlets and outlets 16 are located in the middle of the heat-insulating furnace lining 13. This facilitates connection with cooling pipes, reduces pipe length, lowers costs, and facilitates inspection and maintenance.

[0034] In this embodiment, the cooler 3 is a water-cooled heat exchanger, such as a finned water-cooled heat exchanger. The exhaust assembly 4 is an exhaust fan.

[0035] Example 2 The vacuum hot press furnace in this embodiment is basically the same as that in Embodiment 1, with the main difference being that, Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, two first air inlets and outlets 15 are respectively located at the upper and lower parts of the furnace shell 12, and two second air inlets and outlets 16 are respectively located at the upper and lower parts of the heat-insulating furnace lining 13. This arrangement of the first air inlets and outlets 15 and the second air inlets and outlets 16 allows the gas inside the furnace 11 to flow vertically, which helps to improve cooling efficiency. In other embodiments, the first air inlets and outlets 15 and the second air inlets and outlets 16 can also be located in other positions according to actual conditions and requirements.

[0036] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For those skilled in the art, improvements and modifications obtained without departing from the inventive concept should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum autoclave, comprising a furnace body (1) having a furnace chamber (11), characterized in that: The furnace (11) is connected to a circulating cooling device (2) for extracting and cooling the gas in the furnace (11) before sending it back into the furnace (11). The circulating cooling device (2) includes a cooling pipe with a cooler (3) and an air extraction component (4). The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to the furnace (11).

2. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that: The furnace body (1) includes a furnace shell (12) and a heat-insulating furnace lining (13) located inside the furnace shell (12) and surrounding the furnace chamber (11). The heat-insulating furnace lining (13) and the inner wall of the furnace shell (12) are spaced apart to form a heat-insulating cavity (14).

3. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that: The furnace shell (12) is provided with two first air inlets and outlets (15) that communicate with the heat insulation cavity (14). The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to the two first air inlets and outlets (15). The heat insulation furnace lining (13) is provided with two second air inlets and outlets (16) that communicate with the furnace chamber (11) and the heat insulation cavity (14). At least one second air inlet and outlet (16) is provided with an opening and closing component for opening and closing the second air inlet and outlet (16).

4. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 3, characterized in that: The opening and closing assembly includes a plug (17) and an opening and closing drive mechanism mounted on the furnace shell (12). The opening and closing drive mechanism is connected to the plug (17) and drives the plug (17) to open and close the second air inlet and outlet (16).

5. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 4, characterized in that: The opening and closing drive mechanism includes a telescopic drive member (18), the drive end of which is connected to the plug (17) and drives the plug (17) to reciprocate linearly to open and close the second air inlet and outlet (16).

6. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 5, characterized in that: The furnace shell (12) is provided with a gas-guiding sealing chamber (19) that communicates with the heat insulation chamber (14) for each first gas inlet / outlet (15). The communication port between the gas-guiding sealing chamber (19) and the heat insulation chamber (14) serves as the corresponding first gas inlet / outlet (15). The gas-guiding sealing chamber (19) is provided with an interface (191) that communicates with the cooling pipeline. The telescopic drive (18) is located outside the gas-guiding sealing chamber (19), and the drive end of the telescopic drive (18) is connected to the plug (17) through a connector that extends into the gas-guiding sealing chamber (19).

7. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second air inlet / outlet (16) is a conical hole, and the plug (17) is a conical head.

8. The vacuum hot press furnace according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plug (17) includes a base plate (171), a pressure plate (172), and multiple sealing gaskets (173). A positioning rod (174) is connected to the middle of the base plate (171). Multiple sealing gaskets (173) are sequentially fitted and positioned on the positioning rod (174). The pressure plate (172) is detachably connected to the positioning rod (174) and cooperates with the base plate (171) to clamp the multiple sealing gaskets (173).

9. The vacuum hot press furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: Each end of the cooling pipeline is connected to the furnace (11) through an openable and closable high-temperature resistant vacuum valve (5).

10. The vacuum hot press furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: Two first air inlets and outlets (15) are located at the upper and lower parts of the furnace shell (12), and two second air inlets and outlets (16) are located at the upper and lower parts of the heat-insulating furnace lining (13); or both first air inlets and outlets (15) are located in the middle of the furnace shell (12), and both second air inlets and outlets (16) are located in the middle of the heat-insulating furnace lining (13).

Images