The purpose of the present invention is to provide a melting material supply apparatus which is capable of contributing to improvements in the working environment and the melting efficiency of a metal melting furnace, and which is also capable of making melting work more efficient. This melting material supply apparatus for supplying a melting material to a crucible is provided with: a melting material supply unit for supplying the melting material to the crucible; and a furnace lid for closing an opening provided in the upper part of the crucible. The furnace lid is supported in a horizontal state by a furnace lid-supporter, and is capable of being moved between a position in which the opening is closed, and a standby position located above a hood. When the furnace lid is in the standby position, the opening is open, and the melting material can be supplied into the crucible therefrom.

A hybrid metal melting furnace uses a furnace lid to hold molten metal, while inhibiting reduction in the service life of burners of the furnace lid caused by long periods of exposure to high heat. This hybrid metal melting furnace includes a crucible for accommodating metal to be melted; and an induction coil causing induced current to flow through and heat the metal. A furnace lid which closes an opening in the crucible includes: a first furnace lid having burners for injecting flames into the crucible; and a second furnace lid which does not have the burners. When melting the metal, the first furnace lid is disposed in a position in which the opening is closed. When holding the molten metal in the crucible, the first furnace lid is removed from the opening, and the second furnace lid is disposed in the position in which the opening is closed.

A hybrid metal melting furnace uses a furnace lid to hold molten metal, while inhibiting reduction in the service life of burners of the furnace lid caused by long periods of exposure to high heat. This hybrid metal melting furnace includes a crucible for accommodating metal to be melted; and an induction coil causing induced current to flow through and heat the metal. A furnace lid which closes an opening in the crucible includes: a first furnace lid having burners for injecting flames into the crucible; and a second furnace lid which does not have the burners. When melting the metal, the first furnace lid is disposed in a position in which the opening is closed. When holding the molten metal in the crucible, the first furnace lid is removed from the opening, and the second furnace lid is disposed in the position in which the opening is closed.

In various aspects, a preheater, a directed flow chemical vapor infiltration/chemical vapor deposition (CVI/CVD) furnace, and/or an installation jig are described. In one example, a preheater includes a central inlet; a circuitous gas flow path downstream of the central inlet; a plenum section downstream of the circuitous gas flow path; and an outlet diffuser plate defining a plurality of apertures fluidly configured to couple the preheater to a furnace working zone, wherein the outlet diffuser plate is downstream of the plenum section, wherein the circuitous gas flow path is fluidly coupled to the plenum section by an outer circumferential slot opening.

In various aspects, a preheater, a directed flow chemical vapor infiltration/chemical vapor deposition (CVI/CVD) furnace, and/or an installation jig are described. In one example, a preheater includes a central inlet; a circuitous gas flow path downstream of the central inlet; a plenum section downstream of the circuitous gas flow path; and an outlet diffuser plate defining a plurality of apertures fluidly configured to couple the preheater to a furnace working zone, wherein the outlet diffuser plate is downstream of the plenum section, wherein the circuitous gas flow path is fluidly coupled to the plenum section by an outer circumferential slot opening.

Provided are a method and an arrangement for adjusting characteristics of a furnace process in a furnace space limited by a furnace shell of a metallurgical furnace. The arrangement comprises an injection unit having a frame mounted by means of a mounting means on the metallurgical furnace outside the furnace space of the furnace shell. Also provided is an injection unit for use in the method and in the arrangement.

Provided are a method and an arrangement for adjusting characteristics of a furnace process in a furnace space limited by a furnace shell of a metallurgical furnace. The arrangement comprises an injection unit having a frame mounted by means of a mounting means on the metallurgical furnace outside the furnace space of the furnace shell. Also provided is an injection unit for use in the method and in the arrangement.

Heating reaction container comprises: a first member; a second member; and a third member. An opening is closed by the second member being detachably fitted in the first member and by the third member being detachably fitted in the second member. 1, 2, and 3 satisfy a relation of 3>2>1, 3=2>1, or 3>2=1, where 1 represents a thermal expansion coefficient of a first material of the first member, 2 represents a thermal expansion coefficient of a second material of the second member, and 3 represents a thermal expansion coefficient of a third material of the third member. A gap is present before heating, and a space is sealed, through the heating, by a first contact surface coming into intimate contact with a second contact surface and by a third contact surface coming into intimate contact with a fourth contact surface.

An industrial furnace system, particularly for producing ceramic materials and/or carbides, includes at least one furnace with a chamber having a loading opening for loading the chamber, a heating device and a closure device for the opening, a control device and a transfer device for transferring a crucible that can be placed in the chamber to and/or from the furnace. To remove the crucible from the chamber, the control device is configured to bring the closure deviceby actuating the transfer device and/or depending on the position of the transfer device and/or an end effector thereofinto the release position and/or to allow for a crucible to be removed through the opening when the closure device is in the release position by actuating the transfer device and/or preferably depending on the transfer device and/or end effector position by actuating a removal device separate from the transfer device.

An industrial furnace system, particularly for producing ceramic materials and/or carbides, includes at least one furnace with a chamber having a loading opening for loading the chamber, a heating device and a closure device for the opening, a control device and a transfer device for transferring a crucible that can be placed in the chamber to and/or from the furnace. To remove the crucible from the chamber, the control device is configured to bring the closure deviceby actuating the transfer device and/or depending on the position of the transfer device and/or an end effector thereofinto the release position and/or to allow for a crucible to be removed through the opening when the closure device is in the release position by actuating the transfer device and/or preferably depending on the transfer device and/or end effector position by actuating a removal device separate from the transfer device.