US2431905A - Quick locking furnace base plate - Google Patents

Description

R. J. ANICETTI I 2,431,905

QUICK LOCKING FURNACE BASE PLATE Filed March 16, 1945 I7 I l6 l7 J' W Robe/f J. Am'ceffi Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .QUICKLOCKING'FURNACEBASE PLATE Robert J. Anicetti, Beverly, Mass, assignor to the United States of America asrepresentedlby the Atomic Energy Commission ,-Appli cat.ion March 16, 1945,- Serial No. 583129 3 Claims. .1

This invention relates to improvements in bottom closures for receptacles such as furnaces, crucibles and the like, and more particularly :to an improved means for removablysecuring abottom closure to a receptacle of the class described.

In receptacles of the type herein described, it is highly desirable to fill the receptacle from the to? and to have the bottom removable to facilitate cleaning of the receptacle. The invention is shown applied to a furnace or crucible of cylindrical construction and an important object of the present invention is the provision of an improved bottom construction which may be applied to existing furnace structures.

A further object of the present invention is the pro-vision of a bottom closure for furnaces and crucibles comprising a plate adapted to cooperate with raceways secured to the lower ends of a cylindrical wall member for ready assembly and disassembly.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a bottom closure for furnaces and crucibles which is relatively simple in construction, rugged and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the lower end of a furnace showing my improved closure structure applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing certain details of the improved bottom construction;

Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the raceways; and

Fig, 5 is a top View of the same.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration only is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates a cylindrical furnace or crucible to which the present invention is applied. The furnace or crucible comprises inner and outer cylindrical wall memhers I l and I2 and to these there is welded a bottom annular flange l3 as indicated at M and 15.

A plurality of raceways l6 are spaced at equal intervals circumferentially about the periphery of the flange member [3, and secured thereto as hereinafter described. In the present embodiment of the invention four such raceways are provided but it is clear that any number may be used dependin On the F5123 the :iurnace or crucib-le. Each raceway lficomprises; rectans l y-s ap :m mb benttoiconformt nth ad sa he :na e base :flanse .3- uita l :Qpenings -11 are provided in the raceways l6 and pins It may be used to properly position the raceways for welding the same to the base flange l3. Each raceway i6 is provided with a laterally extending slot or runway I!) having its lower edge sloping upwardly in an inward direction.

Referring to Fig. 2, the bottom structure comprises a double walled member consisting of an upper plate 20 and a lower plate 2| welded to said upper plate. If desired, a cooling liquid may be provided in the space between the two plates. A plurality of threaded bolts 22 herein shown as four and corresponding to the number of raceways, are threaded into the periphery of the plate member 20 and are equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the bottom closure. A groove 23 is provided on the upper surface of the plate member 20 to receive a gasket 24.

To apply the bottom closure, it is placed between the raceways I6 with the bolts 22 facing the slots l9. A slight turn in a clockwise direction serves to engage the bolts 22 within the runways I9 and continued rotation of the bottom closure causes it to be firmly positioned against the base flange [3 in which position it may be secured by tightening the bolts 22. The sealing gasket 24 provides a proper seal between the upper plate 20 and the flange 13. To remove the closure, the bolts 22 may be loosened and then lightly tapped to free the closure, which then can be rotated easily so as to clear the raceways l6 and drop onto a stacker or other support (not shown).

From the above description, it is believed that the construction of the device will be clear to those skilled in the art and the advantages thereof readily apparent. It is understood, however, that I do not confine myself to the structural details illustrated, and that certain changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention within the limitations of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A furnace including, in combination, a cylindrical wall, an annular flange secured to an end of said wall, a plurality of depending raceways fastened at spaced intervals around the outer periphery of the annular flange, an inclined slot extending from a side of each of said raceways, a disk shaped closure member, an annular groove in said member, a deformable gasket carried in said roove adapted to engage the annular flange, a plurality of bolts spaced about the periphery of the closure member and adapted to secure the closure member to said depending raceways and to provide a tight fit between said annular flange and said gasket.

2. A furnace including, in combination, a, cylindrical wall, an annular flange secured to an end of said wall, a plurality of depending raceways fastened at spaced intervals around the outer Deriphery of the annular flange, an inclined slot ex-.

tending from a, side of each of said raceways, said slots converging at a constant rate inwardly from the sides of said raceways, a disk shaped closure member, an annular groove in said member, a, deformable gasket in said groove adapted to engage the annular flange, a plurality of bolts spaced about the periphery of the closure member and adapted to secure the closure member to. said depending raceways and to provide a tight flt between said annular flange and said gasket.

3. A furnace including, in combination a double cylindrical wall adapted to contain a fluid coolant therebetween, an annular flange secured to an end of said double wall and forming a fluid tight joint about the periphery of the closure member and' adapted to secure the closure member to said depending raceways and to provide a tight fit betweensaid annular flange and said gasket.

1 ROBERT J. ANICETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,919,213 Emens July 25, 1933 1,477,819 Godley Dec. 18, 1923

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