Patent ID: 9316406
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: B60S,F24F,F26B

Claim Text:
1. A process chamber defining an interior space, the process chamber comprising: a ceiling and a floor conjointly defining a tunnel-shaped receiving region in said interior space for accommodating workpieces therein; a portal through which said workpieces are passed into or out from said receiving region; an arrangement for blowing a gaseous fluid into said interior space; said arrangement including a slit-shaped nozzle or aperture extending transversely to said interior space and being configured for generating a fluid flow curtain between said portal and said receiving region; said arrangement further including a guide contour disposed in said interior space; said guide contour defining a side facing toward said portal; said slit-shaped nozzle or aperture being configured to feed said gaseous fluid from above said ceiling into said interior space along said guide contour with a flow direction inclined with respect to said floor; a lock in said interior space facing toward said portal; said lock including a wall arranged facing toward said side of said guide contour; said wall and said guide contour conjointly delimiting a mixing chamber disposed above said portal and set back upwardly with reference to said ceiling wherein air accumulates originating from the region of said portal; and, said mixing chamber being configured so as to permit said gaseous fluid flowing from said slit-shaped nozzle or aperture to draw said air into said interior space and entrain said air in said mixing chamber to form said fluid flow curtain extending from said ceiling down to said floor of said tunnel-shaped receiving region.