Patent ID: 11971216
Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES, INC.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 16:
17. A method of processing parts in a furnace comprising:
removing a removable window from at least one shell of a multilevel retort assembly, wherein the multilevel retort assembly comprises a base defining a base perimeter, a plurality of shells, each shell having a diffuser plate support and an outer shell perimeter with a substantially similar shape as the base perimeter, wherein the plurality of shells are stacked on each other, mechanically supported by the base, and surround an inner retort volume, and wherein at least one shell of the plurality of shells defines a removable window, wherein the removable window is a portion of the outer shell for accommodating loading one or more parts from the side of the multilevel retort;
loading one or more parts into the inner retort volume of the multilevel retort assembly through the removable window such that the one or more parts are supported by one or more plate of a plurality of diffuser plates, wherein each diffuser plate defines a plurality of apertures and each diffuser plate is supported by a corresponding diffuser plate support; and
securing the removable window of the multilevel retort assembly to the at least one shell of the plurality of shells.