Abstract: Spaced apart packs of closely spaced steel or other metallic rods, tubes or other elongate articles are annealed or otherwise heat treated by advancing them step by step by a walking beam mechanism through a chamber having a series of independently temperature controlled zones along the path of travel, the articles being disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of travel. The atmosphere within each zone is recirculated therein independently of the recirculation of atmosphere within adjacent zones and without substantial mixing of the atmosphere within adjacent zones.

Abstract: A roll press includes two coacting rolls arranged to form briquettes by engagement of coacting surfaces having suitable depressions formed therein. Each of the rolls includes a central arbor of polygonal cross section including a plurality of flat faces each having a dovetail slot therein, a plurality of segments each slidably received in a corresponding dovetail slot, and retaining plates on each side of the arbor for engaging the ends of the segments and to limit axial displacement. The mounting arrangement for the retaining plates provides for thermal expansion of the segments in one axial direction. Each segment is mounted in its dovetail slot with a slight space between the inner face of the segment and the bottom wall of the slot so that precise machining of the inner face of the segment and the bottom of the dovetail slot is not necessary. A cooling arrangement is provided which comprises a plurality of spaced axially extending passages connected by diagonal passages.