Ronald Keith Lucas

US Patent:

59972866, Dec 7, 1999

Filed:

Sep 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/927508

Inventors:

Klaus Heinrich Hemsath - Toledo OH
Arvind Chhotalal Thekdi - Rockford IL
Rodney G. Whitbeck - Northville MI
Mark George Shapona - Canton MI
Ronald Scott Lucas - Livonia MI
Claude Melvin Mack - Ypsilanti MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI
Indugas, Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

F27B 928

US Classification:

432 59

Abstract:

A thermal treating apparatus and process providing convection thermal transfer for elevated processing temperatures and chemical treatment. A recirculation plenum for passage of spent treatment fluid from and fresh treatment fluid to a treatment chamber may contain a thermal control source, a chemical control source, and a blower to provide predetermined programmable temperatures and chemical environments to articles in the treatment chamber. Decreasing cross sectional areas along the length of the treatment chamber cause introduction of fresh treatment fluid at different locations along the length of the treatment chamber to achieve desired uniform thermal and chemical treatment of articles along the length of the treatment chamber.