US Patent 7514035 Versatile high velocity integral vacuum furnace

Versatile vacuum furnace (also having high internal pressure capability) designed for facilitating directed gas flow has a treating chamber including a long, low profile work zone configuration, and powerful gas recirculation equipment with unique structure supporting gas flow patterns that facilitate high velocity gas flow into and through the chamber. The furnace can be used for single or multiple step metal treatment processes. An entire multi step process, for example, carburizing, including gas quenching, is accomplished relatively quickly in a single self-contained chamber of the furnace.