Induction furnace for heating a workpiece in an inert atmosphere or vacuum
View Patent ↗An induction furnace, according to one embodiment of the invention, includes an induction heating system and a chamber that comprises a quartz cylinder, a top cover for sealing the top end of the cylinder, and a bottom cover for sealing the bottom end of the cylinder. The induction heating system includes a power supply and a coil. The coil surrounds the chamber. Contained within the chamber is a susceptor that is susceptable to induction heating. Also contained in the chamber is a thermal insulator that is disposed between the susceptor and the inner walls of the chamber. The insulator includes a fused quartz container in which the susceptor and the workpiece are contained.
1. An induction heating furnace, comprising:
a cylinder having a first end and a second end;
a first cover for sealing the first end of the cylinder;
a second cover for sealing the second end of the cylinder; and
a coil surrounding the cylinder,
wherein, contained within the cylinder there is:
a first thermal insulating container comprising fused quartz, the first thermal insulating container comprising a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece is connected to the first cover and the second piece is connected to the second cover and a gap exists between the first piece and the second piece;
a second thermal insulating container comprising fused quarts, the second thermal insulating container being positioned inside of the first thermal insulating container and comprising a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece is connected to the first piece of the first thermal insulating container and the second piece is connected to the second piece of the first thermal insulating container and a gap exists between the first piece of the second thermal insulating container and the second piece of the second thermal insulating container; and
a susceptor that is susceptable to induction heating, wherein the susceptor is placed within the second thermal insulating container, wherein
the gap between the first and second piece of the first thermal insulating container is not aligned with the gap between the first and second piece of the first thermal insulating container.