Abstract: The invention provides means for processing novel heat treated parts, eliminating danger of contamination of the parts from contaminating ambient or other air and gases. The invention further assures uniform, maximum efficiency in achieving the special hardening and other characteristics of the parts, without contamination thereof, thus obviating the necessity for any supplementary procedures for elimination of warping and other defects which might otherwise occur. The invention automatically and economically achieves the above recited and other objectives, thus assuring uniformity of desired characteristics, qualities and properties in heat treatment procedures, the operations being performed at or above atmospheric pressure thus preventing vaporization of certain alloying elements in the work and container metals.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for automatically heat treating ferrous work rapidly from austenite stage temperature through the martensite state and automatically slowly cooling the same thereafter to impart uniform hardness and other desired characteristics thereto, eliminating risk of warpage, cracking, distortion and variations therein. The invention includes a work holder within which the work is positioned during the automatic heat treating procedures, the work holder being provided with an upstanding vertical perforated wall such that, on positioning the work holder and work, after being preheated in a furnace, into the quenching medium, the work will be automatically quenched and cooled through the rapidly cooling initial and subsequent slow cooling time and temperature stages, achieving uniform transformation and hardness of work having varying forms and thicknesses to the martensitic transformation stage.

Abstract: A novel method of and apparatus for automatically heat treating ferrous work rapidly from austenite stage temperature through the martensite stage and automaticaally slowly cooling the same thereafter to impart uniform hardness and other desired characteristics thereto, eliminating risk of warpage, cracking, distortion and variations therein. The invention includes a work holder within which the work is positioned during the automatic heat treating procedures, the work holder being provided with an upstanding vertical perforated wall such that, on positioning the work holder and work, after being preheated in a furnace, into the quenching medium, the work will be automatically quenched and cooled through the rapidly cooling initial and subsequent slow cooling time and temperature stages, achieving uniform transformation and hardness of work having varying forms and thicknesses to the martensitic transformation stage.