US1832933A - Annealing box - Google Patents

Description

P. E. HUNTER Nov. 24, 1931.

ANNEALING BOX Filed July 1'7, 1930 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PERCY E. HUNTER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA ANNEALING BOX Application filed July 17,

My invention relates to annealing boxes, and has for one object to provide an effective annealing box composed of sheet steel or of heat-resisting alloy which shall be formed to 'provide the requisite strength and rigidlinother object of my invention is to provide an annealing box of corrugated sheet metal which shallbe of simple and rugged construction and to provide such box with novel and effective means to prevent it from collapsing when highly heated.

Another object of my invention is to provide an annealing box of corrugated metal plates wherein means are provided for preventing the tendency of the corrugations in the plates from spreading and flattening when the box is. subjected to annealing temperatures.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an annealing box composed of metal plates that are assembled in such a manner that substantially all portions of the box will have the same degree of expansion and con: traction, thereby preventing bending and "distortion of the box when in use.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the detailed description whichollows, taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of an annealing box composed of steel plates and assembled in one manner in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified construction of the structure of Fig. 3, and. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof partly in section, mainly accordant with Fig. 4. I

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of. the drawings, I show an annealing box having walls composed of side plates 6, end plates 7 and a top plate 8. Each end plate 7 is provided r with flanges 9 to which the side plates 6 and the top plate 8 are suitably secured, preferably b welding, thereb assuming a rigid, air-tig t connection. he upper ed e of each side plate is shown as turne inwardly to provide a longitudinally-extending strengthening flange 10 for the upper por- 1930. Serial No. 468,552.

tion of the side plate, and the top plate 8 is welded to the flange 10 to secure a completelfi closed joint between the plates, although t e flange 10 may be omitted, if desired. The lower edges of the side and end plates are flanged to provide a reinforced rim for the open endof the box and serve as a seat therefor.

In order to reinforce the end plates7 against bulging, corrugations 11 are provided therein, and preferably the corrugations extend m a horizontal direction transversely of the plates, but other corrugations may be provided which extend in any desired direction. The top plate 8 is also stifi'ened and strengthened by means of corrugations 12. Likewise,

the side plates 6 are provided with stiffening corrugations 13 that extend preferably in a vertical direction to reinforce the side plates against buckling and sagging.

However, in annealing boxes composed of corrugated plates, owing to the intense long continued heat to which the boxes are subjected, the plates become warped and distorted due to the tendency of the corrugations to flatten and spread, thereby permitting the roof of the box, as formed by the top plate 8, to sag and to eventually collapse entirely.

One feature of my invention is to prevent such spreading of the corrugations, and consists of strap or tie members 14 which extend across the base of the corrugations in the plates and are welded or otherwise secured at their ends to the plates, either at points inside the corrugations or at points to either side thereof. In this manner, the corrugations 11, 12 and 13 in the plates 7, 8

and 6, respectively, are prevented from spreading under the influence of the high temperatures. .Any number of such strap or tie members 14 may be secured across or to the corrugations, as desired.

Each side plate 6 is preferably formed umform expansive and contractive characteristics. Of course, longitudinally-extending corrugations having strap members l4 may be employed to serve as longitudinal reinforcing members for the side plates, and yet retain the uniform expansive and contractive characteristics. 1

It is to be noted that the flanges 15 and 17 are positioned in abutting relation so that the upper and lower portions of the flanges will'be subject to the heat equally thereby causing equal and simultaneous expansion of the flanges to prevent shearing strains at this point.

Also, it is to be noted that the plates constituting the box are of the same thickness throughout, and fully reinforced for strength, thereby affording uniform expansion and contraction during heating and cooling periods thus eliminating to a great extent the tendency of the box to bulge and warp.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I show a modified construction for an annealingbox especially suitable for use in an electric heater type annealing furnace. In this structure corrugated side and top plates 20 and 21 are Welded to corrugated end plates 22 in a man-. ner above-described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. However, in this structure the corrugations in the end plates 22 and the side plates 20 project inwardly of the box, thus leaving the box free from external projections. The top plate 21 is provided with transverse corrugations 23 that extend completely across the width of the plate. The side plates 20 extend upwardly to anpoint adjacent to the upper side of the corrugations, and are welded to the top plate along the edges thereof, to form a tight, rigid joint between the side walls and the top of the box.

The upper portion of the box is thereby reinforced against bulging and sagging. Spreading of the corrugations is prevented by the use of strap members 24 which are welded across the corrugations at points intermediate the-ends thereof.

While I have shown the box as having a flat roof plate, it isto be understood that arched or other types of roof may be used, and other modifications and arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

changes in temperature as the upper portions of the box.

I claim as my invention 1. A sheet metal annealing box having corrugations in the walls thereof for reinforcement, and tie members extending transversely of said corrugations and welded to said walls at points between the corrugations.

2. A sheet metal annealing box having corrugations in the walls thereof for reinforcement, and a tie member welded across each corrugation, the said members being positioned intermediate the ends of said corrugations.

3. A sheet metal annealing box comprising corrugated side and end walls having their adjacent edges welded together, a corrugated top connected to said walls, and tie members extending transversely of the said corrug'ations in said walls and top and secured thereto.

4. An annealing box provided with a wall composed of sheet metal plates having longitudinally-extending abutting flanges on their adjacent edges, and secured together to form a longitudinal reinforcement therefor, a plurality of reinforcing corrugations formed in said plates for stiffening the same transversely of the said flanges, and tie members extending transversely of said corrugations and welded to said lates.

5. A sheet metal annealing box having corrugations in the walls thereof for reinforcement, and tie members extending transverse ly of said corrugations and secured to said walls at points between the corrugations.

In testimony whereof I, the said PERCY E. HUNTER have hereunto set my hand.

PERCY E. HUNTER.

Referring further to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, be-

neath the horizontal reinforcing flanges or ribs 15, the side walls are provided with vertically-extending corru atlons 25 whose lower portions are relative y free to expand and contract under temperature changes. This feature is of utility by reason of the fact that the lower edge of the box is commonly embedded in sand which is used as a seal, and 'is therefore not subject to so great

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