Design of glass furnace for analysis of rocks to determine nature and amount of trapped gas is described. Furnace heats specimen in vacuum conditions by radio frequency induction. Diagram of apparatus to show construction and operation is provided

Wilkin, R. B.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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To Prev 
From Bec 
Vacu 
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Shie 
Molybdeni 
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Steel Ball 
In Open 
Position 
cket of 
eable Glass 
Ring Seal Where 
Water Jacket Is 
Glass Blown To 
Vacuum Jacket 
Jacket of 
ipermeable Glass 
Water 
View 
September 1972 
•	 NASA TECH BRIEF 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
B72-10544 
NASA Tech Briefs announce now technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
An Improved Gas Extraction Furnace
As part of the analysis of rocks, gas that is trapped 
within a rock is extracted by placing the specimen in a 
specially designed glass furnace where it is vacuum heated 
to melting by rf induction. Because of its ability to 
penetrate through most substances, helium presents 
special problems in this extraction. At these high 
temperatures, the helium will leak through the walls of 
the glass furnace unless a special glass of low helium 
permeability is used. But, because the impermeable glass 
will melt at the temperatures used in the extraction, the 
glass furnace must be jacketed and water cooled. Figure 
• I is a drawing of a conventional gas extraction furnace. 
This impermeable glass is very difficult to work, and 
therefore, sealing the water jacket , to the vacuum jacket 
is a costly procedure that can be done by only a few 
specially skilled glass blowers. 
To avoid this expense, the water jacket may be 
sealed to the impermeable 'glass with a reusable Teflon 
0-ring. This is a much simpler operation. Also, since 
the two glass jackets are not directly fused, the water 
jacket does not need to be made out of the expensive 
impermeable glass. Figure 2 is a drawing of the improved 
furnace. This improved seal will last longer than a glass 
blown seal which often breaks from the strain of rapid 
heating and cooling.
Figure 1. Conventional Gas Extraction Furnace 
•
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000543 2020-03-17T03:35:01+00:00Z
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Code JM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: TSP72-1 0544 
Vacuum Jacket of 
He Impermeable Glass 
2 Piece Teflon Nut
Assembly Used To
Squeeze The 0-Ring
Between Jackets
-I I 
si 
ITI I I-
I	 Il 
Figure 2. Improved Gas Extraction Furnace
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: Randolph B. Wilkin of

Brown & Root-Northrop
under contract to

Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-14138) 
Water 
Jacket 
B72-10544
	
Category 04
	
is


An improved gas extraction furnace

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