Patent ID: 6036793
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: F27B,F27D

Abstract:
A method of heat-treating an oxygen-sensitive workpiece comprising:a. Providing an oven having an oven chamber and an outer housing defining an enclosure between the oven chamber and the outer housing;b. Placing the oxygen-sensitive workpiece into the oven chamber and sealing the oven chamber from the exterior environment and the enclosure;c. circulating heated inert gas within the enclosure to increase the temperature within the oven chamber from a threshold temperature which Promotes oxidation damage to the workpiece to a higher treatment temperature;d. circulating heated inert gas within the enclosure to hold the temperature within the oven chamber at or above said treatment temperature;e. circulating inert gas within the enclosure to reduce the temperature within the oven chamber from said treatment temperature to said threshold temperature; andf. circulating an aerobic gas within the enclosure to reduce the temperature within the oven chamber from said threshold temperature to a cooler terminal temperature.