Vacuum Closure Frame for Sintering Furnace Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sintering furnace inserts face challenges in maintaining a gas-tight seal at high pressure differences and temperatures without using complex or expensive mechanical components, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
A sintering furnace insert with circumferential recesses that utilize negative pressure to create a closing force, allowing for a pressure-tight and fluid-tight closure of the sintering chamber, independent of the pressure in the sintering space, using a vacuum closure frame that can maintain sealing even at high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanical components are used to maintain gas-tight seal at high pressure differences and temperatures, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sealing components with a vacuum-based closure system. The vacuum closure frame creates a pressure differential that holds the chamber components together, eliminating the need for complex mechanical seals and gaskets while maintaining reliable sealing at high pressure differences and temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter in the closure region from atmospheric to vacuum (negative pressure). This parameter change creates a holding force that secures the chamber components together, providing reliable sealing without complex mechanical components. The vacuum pressure differential maintains sealing effectiveness across a wide range of operating temperatures.
2Reliability
If complex mechanical components are used to maintain gas-tight seal at high temperatures, then sealing reliability is improved, but energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermally complex mechanical sealing systems with a vacuum-based closure system that is simpler and more energy-efficient. The vacuum closure frame maintains sealing reliability at high temperatures without requiring complex thermal management components, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses vacuum pressure as a stabilizing parameter that maintains sealing effectiveness across temperature variations. The negative pressure in the closure region creates a holding force that is independent of temperature fluctuations, eliminating the need for energy-intensive thermal compensation mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum is created in the sintering chamber, then oxygen elimination is improved, but residual oxygen remains and complete elimination is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vacuum creation with protective gas atmosphere generation. The sintering chamber is filled with inert protective gas (such as argon or nitrogen) while maintaining vacuum conditions in the closure region. This creates an inert atmosphere that completely eliminates oxygen presence, providing reliable protection against oxidation during sintering.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables oxygen-free sintering and operation under various gases at high pressures, reducing energy costs and eliminating the need for complex mechanical components, while maintaining a tight seal across a wide range of temperatures and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
one or more recesses are arranged in a circumferential connecting region between the first chamber component and the second chamber component, wherein, independently of the pressure in the sintering chamber, a negative pressure can be generated in the recess(es) to provide a closing force
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a tight seal across a wide range of temperatures and pressures
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sintering furnace insert (100) for the oxygen-free sintering of sinterable materials (201), particularly for dental technology, comprising a closable sintering chamber (110, 120) for forming a sintering space (101) sealed off from an environment (200) for receiving the sinterable materials (201) during the sintering process, wherein the sintering chamber (110, 120) has: • an inlet (103) for gassing the sintering space (101) with a protective gas during the sintering process and at least one valve-controlled outlet (102) for its degassing, • a first chamber component, in particular a sintering furnace chamber (110), and a second chamber component, in particular a door (120). One or more recesses are provided in a circumferential connecting area (130) between the first chamber component (110) and the second chamber component (120). (131) ordered,wherein a negative pressure can be generated in the recess(s) (131) independently of the pressure in the sintering chamber (101) to provide a sealing force in order to seal the sintering chamber (101) against the environment (200) in a pressure-tight and/or fluid-tight manner.