Abstract: A charging device for the heat treatment of workpieces being provided with a hub, comprising a charging support, a shaft and at least one auxiliary hub, wherein the workpiece can be vertically supported on the shaft by auxiliary hub(s) precisely fitted into the hub, and the shaft being supported by the charging support as well as use of auxiliary hubs for the dimensionally stable hardening of gear-wheels in vertical position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charging apparatus for the dimensionally stable heat treatment of workpieces (1), in particular those of a disk or ring shape, having a charging rack (10) for horizontally mounting the workpiece (1), wherein at least s three screw-type mandrels or ball joint mandrels (2) are arranged on the charging rack (10), the ball joint mandrels (2) having a base plate (3) with a female thread (7), a screw element (4) with a male thread (7) matched to the female thread (7) and a head that has a spherical segment surface, as well as a pressure piece (5) matched precisely to the spherical segment surface of the head and arranged movably thereon.