GB1050690A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,050,690. Muffle furnaces. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. Sept. 27, 1965 [Oct. 2, 1964; July 20, 1965], No. 41009/65. Heading F4B. [Also in Division G6] A muffle furnace for producing radioactive iodine 131 by heating irradiated tellurium in a stream of argon comprises a stainless steel muffle 1 heated by electric heating coils 10, 11, 12, an inlet passage 4 for the argon, a gas discharge passage 5 with heating elements 14, a closure plug 2 for the other end of the muffle movable axially by pneumatic motor 25, and pivotally mounted cranked arms 26, Fig. 2 (not shown), carrying said plug 2 and motor 25 and adapted to swing these latter clear of the muffle entrance by pneumatic motor 29. The latter is connected to the arms 26 by a pivoted block 30 on a slide 28. The plug 2 includes insulating material 21 and a heating element 15 and carries a hook 33 engaging a charge carriage 9 guided by a rail 8. End wall 3 incorporates a heating element 13. Tellurium is distributed in 3-5 mm. layers in boats or crucibles 31 disposed on carriage 9, which is raised or lowered in front of the muffle by an elevator 35, Fig. 2 (not shown), and moved into or out of engagement with rail 8 by remote controlled grippers. The muffle has a heat insulating easing 17 with water jackets 18, 19 and 20 disposed respectively around the muffle, against end wall 3, and on an inlet flange 7. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the inner muffle surface is lined with alumina, the gas outlet is in end wall 3, and the plug carries an inner core of glass or silica with a perforated end through which the argon enters.