U.S. Patent Awarded for Large Vacuum Heat-Treating Furnace Loading System
The new loading system from Ipsen contains unrestricted length or load weight and jackscrew mechanisms that gently raise and lower loads onto the hearth to avoid any potential damage.
Posted: June 9, 2014
Ipsen USA (Cherry Valley, IL) was recently awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,662,888 B2 for the development of a new loading system. The chief engineer Craig Moller, named inventor on the patent, began formulating this design five years ago for use with a large vacuum heat-treating furnace, which was used by a company in the Aerospace industry.
With this invention, Ipsen solved one of the inherent problems associated with the design of car bottom loading systems: the need to disconnect the heating elements each time the system is used. The company’s loading system functions as an alternative with its ability to leave the furnace’s heating elements intact in the bottom of the hot zone.
The newly patented system contains other notable elements, including: unrestricted length or load weight and jackscrew mechanisms that gently raise and lower loads onto the hearth to avoid any potential damage.
The loading system also uses wheels that permit sideways movements, allowing it to function as a cross-transfer unit between furnaces. The loader’s sideways position is further accomplished with encoder strips mounted in the floor.
In addition to these options, the system incorporates advanced safety features. By utilizing scanning lasers, the operator is able to prevent the loader from running over anything in its path. This helps prevent unnecessary damage to valuable equipment or injuries to employees.
Ipsen is proud to add this newly patented loading system to its long list of reliable, innovative creations as their team continuously engineers and manufactures advanced, highly technical technologies for unique or special applications. With more than 120 approved and 50 pending patents worldwide, Ipsen’s loading system is just one invention among many that helps improve customers’ day-to-day operations.
To view a video of the loading system entering a large vacuum furnace and utilizing these jackscrew mechanisms, please click here.
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