Multi-chamber heat treatment device with external temperature sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-chamber heat treatment devices face challenges in real-time temperature measurement during heating and cooling treatments due to limited space, potential object movement from high winding tension, and issues with sealing the vacuum shielding door and heat insulation door, leading to heat leakage and gas atmosphere contamination.

Innovation Solution

A multi-chamber heat treatment device with a temperature sensor attached to the object and a signal transmission unit using a flexible tension member with pinching portions made of heat-resistant materials to seal gaps between doors, allowing real-time temperature measurement and independent control of gas atmospheres in both chambers without object movement, even under high tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a data recorder is housed inside a heat-resistant case and taken out after cooling treatment, then temperature measurement is possible, but the arrangement space in heating and cooling chambers becomes narrow and real-time measurement cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement capabilityVSAvoidarrangement space in chambers
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring device is extracted from the interior of the heating and cooling chambers and placed in the exterior environment. Only the necessary sensor portion remains inside the chambers, while the main measuring device with data processing capabilities is located outside, thus solving the space constraint problem while enabling continuous temperature measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A connection line serves as an intermediary element that transmits temperature signals from the sensor inside the chambers to the measuring device outside. This mediator allows the measuring system to function across the chamber boundary without requiring the entire measuring device to be inside the limited space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a connection line is used to connect the sensor part outside the chamber, then real-time temperature measurement is possible, but high winding tension may cause the object to move

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time temperature measurementVSAvoidobject position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The reel part that winds the connection line is extracted from the heating chamber and placed in the cooling chamber. This separation removes the source of winding tension from the heating chamber environment, preventing tension-induced object movement while maintaining the connection line's signal transmission function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection line is routed through a cooling chamber reel instead of being directly wound in the heating chamber. This creates a functional copy of the tension management system in a separate location, allowing the original heating chamber environment to remain undisturbed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the vacuum shielding door is sealed, then gas atmosphere control is improved, but heat leakage occurs when the heat insulation door is closed during heating treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas atmosphere controlVSAvoidheat leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The tension member acts as an intermediary sealing element that bridges the gap between the heat insulation door and the heating chamber. By pinching this heat-resistant material, the system achieves both door sealing and gap sealing simultaneously, preventing heat leakage while maintaining gas atmosphere integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The tension member is made of heat-resistant material that combines sealing functionality with thermal resistance. This composite material property allows the same component to serve both as a sealant for the door and as a barrier against heat transmission through the pinched gap

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2226600B1Multi-chamber heat treatment device
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 IHI CORP
  • EP2226600B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2226600B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2226600B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The multi-chamber heat treatment device includes a temperature sensor (31) attached to an object to be treated (X), a signal transmission unit (30) which transmits a detected signal from the temperature sensor to the outside of a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, and a temperature measuring unit (40) which is arranged outside the heating chamber and the cooling chamber to measure the temperature of the object from the detected signal of the temperature sensor transmitted from the signal transmission unit (30).