A dual-purpose sintering furnace including a furnace body having a furnace chamber, a first furnace mouth and a second furnace mouth which are communicated with the furnace chamber, a furnace door hinged to the furnace body and configured for closing the first furnace mouth, a blocking member lap jointed inside the furnace chamber and configured for blocking the second furnace mouth, a sample stage, an ejection rod fixedly arranged on a sample placement face of the sample stage, a lifting device configured for driving the sample stage to raise or lower, so that the ejection rod pushes the blocking member until the second furnace mouth is opened, and so that the sample stage enters the furnace chamber through the second furnace mouth. The dual-purpose sintering furnace can complete a large amount of sintering as conventional sintering and also implement rapid sintering.

An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising: an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner; a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.

An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising: an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner; a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.

An apparatus to move and preheat metal material (M) to be fed to a container comprises a containing structure, having an internal compartment and provided with a support wall, a conveyor for the material (M), a fume transit section whose volume reduces as it is distanced from said container along the longitudinal development of said containing structure, and a collector for hot fumes (F) whose volume increases in a manner correlated to said reduction in the fume transit section. The collector is located below said conveyor inside the internal compartment essentially along the entire longitudinal development of said containing structure. Moreover, one or more through apertures are made in said support wall to put the conveyor and the collector into fluidic connection.

An apparatus to move and preheat metal material (M) to be fed to a container comprises a containing structure, having an internal compartment and provided with a support wall, a conveyor for the material (M), a fume transit section whose volume reduces as it is distanced from said container along the longitudinal development of said containing structure, and a collector for hot fumes (F) whose volume increases in a manner correlated to said reduction in the fume transit section. The collector is located below said conveyor inside the internal compartment essentially along the entire longitudinal development of said containing structure. Moreover, one or more through apertures are made in said support wall to put the conveyor and the collector into fluidic connection.

Heat treating firewood in basket using a kiln having a burner side placement area and an opposite side placement area for receiving baskets containing firewood. The two placement areas separated by a set of downcomers that provide heated air. Loading the kiln with baskets of firewood through the use of at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall. Applying a charge to heat the baskets of firewood. The application of the charge circulating heated air for the kiln from the mixing chamber and returning the heated air to the kiln through the supply duct till the dry bulb temperature reaches an initial target temperature above 230 degrees Fahrenheit. After reaching the initial target temperature for dry bulb temperature, increasing the wet bulb temperature depression target while working to maintain the dry bulb temperature within a selected tolerance with respect to the initial target temperature.

In some examples, a multilevel retort assembly. The assembly includes a base defining a base perimeter; and a plurality of shells. Each shell has a diffuser plate support and a perimeter with a substantially similar shape as the base perimeter. The plurality of shells are stacked on each other, mechanically supported by the base, and surround an inner retort volume. The at least one shell of the plurality of shells defines a removable window. The assembly also includes a plurality of diffuser plates, each diffuser plate supported by a corresponding diffuser plate support of the plurality of diffuser plate supports.

In some examples, a multilevel retort assembly. The assembly includes a base defining a base perimeter; and a plurality of shells. Each shell has a diffuser plate support and a perimeter with a substantially similar shape as the base perimeter. The plurality of shells are stacked on each other, mechanically supported by the base, and surround an inner retort volume. The at least one shell of the plurality of shells defines a removable window. The assembly also includes a plurality of diffuser plates, each diffuser plate supported by a corresponding diffuser plate support of the plurality of diffuser plate supports.

An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising:

an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner;

a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.

An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising:

an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner;

a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.