Sealing Device for a Continuous Furnace

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat treatment device (100) for thermally treating a workpiece (101), in particular a strip-shaped workpiece (101). The heat treatment device (100) comprises a housing (102), which surrounds a chamber (103), in which the workpiece (101) can be positioned for carrying out a thermal treatment. The workpiece (101) is supported by a first roller (110) and can be moved along the direction of travel (105). The first roller (110) and a first brush seal (111) are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that a first side of the workpiece (101) is in contact with the first roller (110) and a second side of the workpiece (101), which is opposite the first side, is in contact with the first brush seal (111), such that, via the roller (110) and the first brush seal (111), at least one first section (I) of the chamber (103) is sealed in relation to a second section (II) of the chamber (103).

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A heat treatment device (100) for a thermal treatment of a workpiece (101), the heat treatment device (100) comprising: a housing (102) housing a chamber (103) configured to accommodate the workpiece (101) for providing the thermal treatment; a first roller (110) configured to support the workpiece (101) and move the workpiece (101) in a moving direction (105); a first brush seal (111), wherein the first roller (110) and the first brush seal (111) are arranged relative to each other such that a first side of the workpiece (101) contacts the first roller (110) and a second side of the workpiece (101), which second side is opposed to the first side, contacts the first brush seal (111) such that the first roller (110) and the first brush seal (111) seal at least a first section (I) of the chamber (103) from a second section (II) of the chamber (103).

17. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising a driving unit operatively connected to the first roller (110) to drive the first roller (110) such that the first roller (110) drives the workpiece (101) along in the moving direction (105).

18. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first roller (110) is adjustable relative to the first brush seal (111) such that a distance between the first roller (110) and the first brush seal (111) is adjustable.

19. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first roller (110) is adjustable in the moving direction (105).

20. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first brush seal (111) is adjustable relative to the first roller (110) such that a distance between the first roller (110) and the first brush seal (111) is adjustable.

21. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 20, further comprising a pretensioning device (104) configured to pretension the first brush seal (111) relative to the first roller (110) such that the pretensioning device (104) presses the first brush seal (111) in a direction toward the first roller (110).

22. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first brush seal (111) is adjustable in the moving direction (105).

23. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first brush seal (111) is adjustable in the moving direction (105) and is adjustable in a direction parallel to an axial direction of a rotary axis of the first roller (110).

24. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first brush seal (111) is adjustable in a direction parallel to an axial direction of a rotary axis of the first roller (110).

25. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first brush seal (111) comprises brushes (201) and further comprises a brush holder (202) for holding the brushes (201).

26. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 25, wherein the first brush seal (111) further comprises a brush adjusting device (203), wherein the brush adjusting device (203) is configured to move the brushes (201) relative to the brush holder (202) such that a length of the brushes between the brush holder (202) and the first roller (110) is adjustable.

27. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising a dividing wall (114) dividing partially the first section (I) from the second section (II), wherein the dividing wall (114) extends from the housing (102) into the chamber (103), and wherein the first brush seal (110) is fixed to the dividing wall (114).

28. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising a second brush seal (112), wherein the second brush seal (112) contacts the first roller (110) such that the first roller (110) and the second brush seal (112) additionally seal the first section (I) of the chamber (103) from the second section (II) of the chamber (103).

29. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising two second brush seals (112, 113) spaced apart from each other, wherein the two second brush seals (112, 113) contact the first roller (110) such that the first roller (110) and the two second brush seals (112, 113) additionally seal the first section (I) of the chamber (103) from the second section (II) of the chamber (103).

30. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising a second roller (120) and a third brush seal (334) arranged spaced apart from the second roller (12) in the moving direction (105), wherein the third brush seal (334) is arranged spaced apart in the moving direction (105) from the first brush seal (111), wherein the first roller (110) and the third brush seal (334) are arranged relative to each other such that the first side of the workpiece (101) contacts the first roller (110) and the second side of the workpiece (101) contacts the third brush seal (334).

31. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, further comprising: a second roller (120) spaced apart from the first roller (110) in the moving direction (105) and configured to support the workpiece (101); a further first brush seal (121); wherein the second roller (120) and the further first brush seal (121) are arranged relative to each other such that a further first side of the workpiece (101) contacts the second roller (120) and a further second side of the workpiece (101), which further second side is opposed to the further first side, contacts the further first brush seal (121) such that the second roller (120) and the further first brush seal (121) seal at least the first section (I) or a further section of the chamber (103) from a third section (III) of the chamber (103).

32. The heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the workpiece is a strip-shaped workpiece (101).

33. A method of operating a heat treatment device (100) according to claim 16 for thermal treatment of a workpiece (101), the method comprising: arranging the workpiece (101) in the chamber (103) for providing a thermal treatment; moving the workpiece (101) along in a moving direction (105) between the first section (I) for providing a thermal treatment and the second section (II) for providing a thermal treatment.

34. The method according to claim 16, wherein the workpiece is a strip-shaped workpiece (101).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to the examples of embodiment. The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodiment but to which the invention is not limited.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a heat treatment device, in particular a sealing device, comprising two rollers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a brush seal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a heat treatment device comprising three rollers and a third brush seal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a heat treatment system comprising a heat treatment zone coupled to a housing forming a sealing unit as shown in FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The illustrations in the drawings are schematic. It is noted that in different figures similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a heat treatment device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The heat treatment device 100 may be a sealing device which is installed at an entrance of a furnace (e.g. shown in FIG. 4). The heat treatment device 100 comprises two rollers 110, 120 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The heat treatment device 100 is for thermal treatment of a workpiece 101, in particular a strip shaped workpiece 101. The heat treatment device 100 comprises a housing 102 which houses a chamber 103 in which the workpiece 101 is arrangeable for providing a thermal treatment. The workpiece 101 is supportable by a first roller 110 and is movable along a moving direction 105. The first roller 110 and a first brush seal 111 are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that a first side of the workpiece 101 contacts the first roller 110 element and a second side of the workpiece 101, which second side is opposed to the first side, contacts the first brush seal 111 such that at least a first section I (e.g. a first sealing chamber) of the chamber 103 is sealed by the first roller 110 and the first brush seal 111 from a second section II (e.g. a second sealing chamber of the chamber 103).

[0041] The heat treatment device further comprises the second roller 120 spaced apart from the first roller 110 along the moving direction 105. The workpiece 101 is supportable by the second roller 120. The heat treatment device 100 further comprises a further first brush seal 121, wherein the second roller 120 and the further first brush seal 121 are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that the second side of the workpiece 101 contacts the second roller 120 and the first side of the workpiece 101 contacts the further first brush seal 121 such that the first section I is sealed by the second roller 120 and the further first brush seal 121 from a third section III (e.g. a third sealing chamber) of the chamber 103.

[0042] The heat treatment device 100 in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 is a pre sealing chamber, which is arranged with respect to an entrance of a furnace, for example. In the chamber 103, temperatures of about 100 C. to 1200 C. may be provided.

[0043] The heat treated workpiece 101 is in FIG. 1 for example a metal strip-shaped workpiece 101. The strip-shaped workpiece 101 is guided through the heat treatment device 100 in a continuous forward movement or a sequential forward movement along a moving direction 105 of the workpiece 101.

[0044] The rollers 110, 120 form a support for the workpiece 101. The workpiece 101 is carried by the first roller 110 and/or deflected by the second roller 120. In particular, the first side of the workpiece 101 contacts the outer surface of the respective roller 110, 120. Herein the rollers 110, 120 are hollow formed rollers.

[0045] The rollers 110, 120 rotate around respective rotating axis 117. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the rollers 110, 120 is driveable by a driving unit in order to drive the workpiece 101 through the chamber 103. The rotating axis 117 of the two adjacent rollers 110, 120 are spaced apart along a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. The rollers 110, 120 are fixed to and sealed against the housing 102 by one or possibly two second brush seals 112, 113, 122, 123. Between an axial end of a roller 110, 120, an axial sealing between the axial end and the housing 102 may be arranged.

[0046] The first brush seal 111 and the further first brush seal 121 comprise brushes which contact the second side of the workpiece 101. The first brush seals 111, 121 are arranged with respect to the workpiece 101 opposed to the respective roller 110, 120. Hence, the brushes of the first brush seals 111, 121 contact the second side of the workpiece 101 and the respective opposed roller 110, 120 contacts the first side of the workpiece 101. Thereby, a sealing arrangement is provided, because a process gas flow from one side of the first brush 111, 121 to the other side of the first brush 111, 121 (i.e. along the moving direction 105) is reduced or prevented.

[0047] The brushes of the first brush seals 111, 121 are flexible, in particular elastically deformable, and are made for example of high temperature resistant material.

[0048] The first brush seals 111, 121 are arranged with respect to the roller in such a way, that without the presence of the workpiece 101, the brushes of the first brush seals 111, 121 contact the surface of the first and second roller 110, 120, respectively. The workpiece 101 is moved in operation of the heat treatment device 100 between the first brush seals 111, 121 and the respective roller 110, 120 so that the workpiece 101 bends the brushes of the respective the first brush seals 111, 121 away, so that the brushes contact the second side of the workpiece 101 while the workpiece 101 is supported by its first side onto the respective roller 110, 120. Hence, the sections I, II are sealed by the respective roller 110, 120/first brush seal 111, 121 arrangement. The workpiece 101 can be moved and the sections I, II, III are always hermetically sealed from each other as the flexible bristles (brushes) of the first brush seals 111, 121 are adjusted automatically by its flexible properties.

[0049] Summarizing, a sealing arrangement is defined by a respective roller 110, 120 and a respective first brush seal 111, 121. A sealing arrangement thereby separates the first section I of the chamber 103 from a second section II of the chamber 103. Inside a respective section I, II, III of the chamber 103, predefined process parameters of the atmosphere inside the respective section I, II, III can be predefined. For example, in the first section I of the chamber, an atmosphere having a first gas composition, such as Nitrogen N.sub.2 having a first pressure is generated. The first gas atmosphere may be injected by a first inlet 106. Accordingly, in the second section II of the chamber 103, an atmosphere having a second gas composition, such as the ambient air having ambient temperature can be defined. In the third section III of the chamber 103, an atmosphere having a third gas composition, such as the hydrogen H2 having a second temperature can be defined. The chamber 103 may have also a controllable outlet, such that a desired amount of gas may be exhausted in an controllable manner.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second section II is defined as the ambient section of the heat treatment device 100 and the first section I is within the chamber 103 of the heat treatment device 100. In this embodiment, the first roller 110 and the respective first brush seal 111 forms an entrance or an exit of the housing 102. Furthermore, the first and third section I, III define inner sections of the chamber which are separated by a respective second roller 120/further first brush seal 121 arrangement. For example, in the first section I, an inert gas atmosphere made of nitrogen N.sub.2 can be provided, whereas in the third section III, a high concentrated hydrogen H.sub.2 atmosphere may be provided. Furthermore, between both sections I, III different process pressures with a pressure difference between 0.1 mbar to 20 mbar may be adjusted. By providing a pressure difference between two adjacent sections I, III, a desired process gas flow caused by sealing leakage may be provided, so that an uncontrolled exit of hazardous process gas may be prevented. Furthermore, while in the first section I the first temperature may be adjusted, the third section III may comprise a different higher or lower temperature with respect to the temperature of the atmosphere and the first section I.

[0051] In operation, the brushes of the first brush seals 111, 121 touches e.g. the roller surface of a respective roller 110, 120 and/or the workpiece 101. The workpiece 101 passes through interface between the bristles of the first brush seals 111, 121 and deflects the bristles which then contacts the workpiece surface. The flexible bristles of the first brush seals 111, 121 are deflected across the workpiece width. The remaining bristles of the first brush seals 111, 121, which were not bent away by the workpiece 101, are still in contact with the surface of the respective roller 110, 120. Hence, in each section the workpiece 101 is (hermetically) sealed over the environment II resp. the other sections I, III of the chamber 103.

[0052] The first roller 110 and/or the second roller 120 is adjustable with respect to the respective first brush seal 111, 121 such that a distance between the respective roller 110, 120 and the respective first brush seal 111, 121 is adjustable. The rollers 110, 120 can be adjusted e.g. perpendicular to the strip pass line (moving direction 105) in the direction to or away the workpiece 101 e.g. to deflect the workpiece 101 as it may be required (position controlled).

[0053] Furthermore, the first brush seals 111, 121 are adjustable with respect to the first roller 110 and the second roller 120, respectively, such that a distance between the respective roller 110, 120 and the respective first brush seal 111, 121 adjustable. In an exemplary embodiment, the complete first brush seals 111, 121 may be adjustable in the direction to the respective rollers 110, 120.

[0054] The first brush seal 111, 121 is pretensioned by a pretensioning device with respect to the respective rollers 110, 120 such that the pretensioning device presses the first brush seal 111, 121 in direction to the respective rollers 110, 120.

[0055] As can be taken from FIG. 1, the heat treatment device 100 further comprises dividing walls 114, 115, 116. The respective dividing walls 114, 115, 116 divides two adjacent sections I, III. The dividing walls 114, 115, 116 extend from the housing 102 into the chamber 103. The first brush seal 111 is fixed to the dividing wall 114. The second brush seal 112 and the further second brush seal 113 are fixed to a respective further dividing walls 115, 116. The dividing walls 114, 115, 116 may comprise a free end to which the respective brush seals 111, 112, 113 are fixed to. Thereby, e.g. between the first brush seal 111 and the housing 102, a separation of the respective sections I, II by the dividing wall 114 is provided. The respective further brush seals 121, 122, 123 are fixed to respective dividing walls 114, 115, 116.

[0056] The second brush seals 112 contacts the first roller 110 such that the first section I of the chamber 103 is further sealed by the first roller 110 and the second brush seal 112 from the second section II of the chamber 102. Thus, by the second brush seal 112, the volume between the first roller 110 and the housing 102 may be sealed. In other words, the second brush seal 112 provides a sealing with the first roller 110 at a region where no workpiece 101 is guided through. At the same time, the first roller 110 may be rotated with respect to the second brush seal 112. The second brush seal 112 may have a similar design and may be made of a similar material as the above described first brush seal 111.

[0057] Additionally, a further second brush seal 113 is arranged spaced apart from the second brush seal 112. The further second brush seal 113 contacts the first roller 110 such that the first section I of the chamber 103 is further sealed from the second section II of the chamber 103 by the first roller 110 and the further second brush seal 113. The further second brush seal 113 may have a similar design and may be made from corresponding material as the second brush seal 112. The second brush seal 112 and the further second brush seal 113 are spaced apart from each other in such a way, that the respective brushes of the second brush seal 112 and the second brush seal 113 contacts the surface of the respective roller 110 at different locations in circumferential direction of the roller 110. Between the second brush seal 112 and the further second brush seal 113 an intermediate section 109 e.g. having a pre-determined atmosphere (for example nitrogen N.sub.2) may be generated by injecting the gas through a second inlet 107.

[0058] Additionally, a further second brush seal 123 is arranged spaced apart from the second brush seal 122. The second brush seals 122, 123 contact the second roller 120 such that the first section I of the chamber 103 is further sealed from the third section III of the chamber 103. The second brush seal 122 and the further second brush seal 123 are spaced apart from each other in such a way, that the respective brushes of the second brush seal 122 and the second brush seal 123 contact the surface of the respective roller 120 at different locations in circumferential direction of the roller 120. Between the second brush seal 122 and the further second brush seal 123 an intermediate section 109 e.g. having a pre-determined atmosphere (for example nitrogen N.sub.2) may be generated by injecting the gas through a third inlet 108.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed view of a brush seal 111, 112, 121, 122 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, the respective brush seal comprises brushes 201 and a brush holder 202 for holding the brushes resp. bristles 201. The brushes 201 may be clamped or glued within the brush holder 202, wherein an extending part BH of the brushes extends from an end of the brush holder 202 in the direction to e.g. the first roller 110. Depending on the length of the brushes 201 between the end of the brush holder 202 and the roller surface and the workpiece 101, respectively, the flexible and elastic character of the brushes 201 is adjustable.

[0060] The brush seal further comprises a brush adjusting device 203, wherein the brush adjusting device 203 is configured for moving the brushes 201 with respect to the brush holder 202 such that a length of the brushes 201 (e.g. length BH) between the (end of the) brush holder 202 and the respective roller is adjustable. However, it is also possible to arrange the brush holder 202 together with the brushes 201 to the brush adjusting device 203, so that the brush holder 202 is moved with respect to the brush adjusting device 203.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a heat treatment device comprising three rollers 110, 120, 130 and a third brush seal 334 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises similar first and second brush seal/roller arrangement as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, the exemplary embodiment comprises a third brush seal/roller arrangement.

[0062] The heat treatment device 100 further comprises the third roller 330 spaced apart from the second roller 120 along the moving direction 105. The workpiece 101 is supportable by the third roller 330. The heat treatment device 100 further comprises a further first brush seal 331, wherein the third roller 330 and the further first brush seal 331 are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that the second side of the workpiece 101 contacts the third roller 330 and the first side of the workpiece 101 contacts the further first brush seal 331 such that the shown third section III is sealed by the third roller 330 and the further first brush seal 331 from a fourth section IV of the chamber 103.

[0063] The heat treatment device 100 further comprises a third brush seal 334. The third brush seal 334 is arranged spaced apart along the moving direction 105 from the further first brush seal 331. The third roller 330 and the third brush seal 334 are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that the second side of the workpiece 100 contacts the third roller 330 and the first side of the workpiece 100 contacts the third brush seal 334. The third brush seal 334 may have a similar design and may be made from corresponding material as the first brush seal 111. The further first brush seal 331 and the third brush seal 334 are spaced apart from each other in such a way, that the respective brushes of the first brush seal 331 and the third brush seal 334 contacts the workpiece 101 and/or the surface of the third roller 330 at different locations. Between the further first brush seal 331 and the third brush seal 334 an intermediate section 109 e.g. having a predetermined atmosphere, such as Nitrogen N.sub.2 may be generated. Furthermore, a respective second brush seal 332 and a further second brush seal 333 are arranged and contact a surface of the third roller 330.

[0064] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first roller 110/first brush seal 111 arrangement seals the first section I from the second section II of the chamber 103. The first section I may have a Hydrogen/Water (H.sub.2/H.sub.2O) atmosphere for oxidation purposes of the workpiece 101. The second roller 120/further first brush seal 121 arrangement seals the second section II from the third section III of the chamber 103. The second and third section II, III may have an inert gas atmosphere, e.g. filled with nitrogen N.sub.2. The third roller 130/further brush seal 331, 334 arrangement seals the third section III from the fourth section IV of the chamber 103. The fourth section IV may have a hydrogen H.sub.2 atmosphere, e.g. for reduction purposes of the workpiece 101.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a heat treatment system 400 comprising a heat treatment zone functioning as e.g. a furnace which is coupled to a heat treatment device 100 shown in FIG. 1. The heat treatment device 100 comprises the same features as the heat treatment device 100 shown in FIG. 1. For example the ambient surrounding the heat treatment device 100, is indicated by section II. In the first section I, a nitrogen atmosphere with the pressure p1 is adjusted. Between the second brush seal 112 and the further second brush seal 113, an intermediate section 109 is defined in which an atmosphere with the pressure p2 is shown. Similarly, between the second brush seal 121 and the further second brush seal 123 a further intermediate section 109 having the pressure p2 is provided. In the third section III of the chamber 103, a process gas atmosphere with the pressure p3 is generated. The pressure p3 is smaller than the pressure p1. The pressure p1 is larger than the ambient pressure p0 and smaller than the pressure p2.

[0066] The heat treatment device 100 may be integrally coupled to the heat treatment system 400. Alternatively, the heat treatment device 100 may be exchangeably coupled to the heat treatment system 400. The heat treatment device 100 may therefore be retrofitted to conventional heat treatment systems 400, i.e. furnaces.

[0067] At an exit of the housing 102, a first shutter element 402 and a second shutter element 403 are arranged. The workpiece 101 is driven between the first shutter element 42 and the second shutter element 403. The shutter elements 402, 403 may be driven in the direction to each other until both shutter elements 402, 403 contacts the workpiece 101 for sealing purposes. For example, in an emergency (e.g. if the strip shaped workpiece cracks, both shutter elements 402, 403 may seal the exit of the housing 102.

[0068] Downstream of the exit with respect to the moving direction 105 of the workpiece 101 an intermediate tunnel section 406 is arranged between the housing 102 and a heat treatment system 400. The intermediate tunnel section 406 may comprise cooling elements 404, 405, in particular water cooling elements. Alternatively, the intermediate tunnel section 406 may also comprise heating elements for heating the workpiece 101, for example. In the intermediate tunnel section 406, a fourth section IV is defined. Downstream of the intermediate tunnel section 406, the workpiece 101 runs through the heat treatment system 400 forming a fifth section V. In the heat treatment zone 400, a high purity atmosphere up to a high hydrogen concentration may be generated. The heat treatment system 400 may be a high temperature furnace, for example. The workpiece 101 may be driven by a further roller 401.

[0069] It should be noted that the terms containing/comprised of/including do not exclude other elements or steps and a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference characters in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference characters: 100 heat treatment device 101 workpiece 102 housing 103 chamber 104 pretensioning device 105 moving direction 106 first inlet 107 second inlet 108 third inlet 109 intermediate section 110 first roller 111 first brush seal 112 second brush seal 113 further second brush seal 114 dividing wall 115 further dividing wall 116 further dividing wall 117 rotating axis 120 second roller 121 first brush seal 122 second brush seal 123 further second brush seal 201 brushes 202 brush holder 203 brush adjusting device 330 third roller 331 further first brush seal 332 second brush seal 333 further second brush seal 334 third brush seal 400 heat treatment system 401 further roller 402 shutter element 403 shutter element 404 water cooling element 405 water cooling element 406 intermediate tunnel section I first section II second section III third section IV fourth section V fifth section