Abstract: A single charge continuous rotary retort furnace for heat treating machine parts in a sealed atmosphere, including a rotary retort furnace housing having an inlet and outlet end with a feeder assembly at the inlet end that has a plurality of chambers for supplying the machine parts to the rotary retort furnace housing to be heat treated. In addition, the rotary retort furnace includes a locking collar assembly for connecting the feeder assembly to the inlet end of the rotary retort furnace housing having locking tabs for locking the feeder assembly to the locking collar assembly; pistons and cylinders for rotating the locking collar assembly relative to the feeder assembly; and a device for sealing the feeder assembly relative to the locking collar assembly to create an atmospheric seal in the retort furnace housing for enabling the machine parts to be heat treated.

Abstract: A rotary furnace volumetric feeder includes a hopper for receiving work pieces, a feed chute which includes two openings disposed therein, a measuring station and discharge chute. The discharge chute is normally sealed, thereby precluding the outside atmosphere from entering the furnace while permitting oven gases to slowly leak to the outside atmosphere providing a more controlled atmosphere in the oven yielding a more controllable process and an improved product.