Abstract: A fixture assembly for accommodating variance in size and number of pipe materials lying in a horizontal plane is provided. The fixture assembly includes plural pairs of fixture bodies 15A and 15B defining a pair of inclined portions 11A and 11B and a horizontal support surface 12A. A spacer member 25 is disposed between the pair of fixture bodies. The spacer member including a support surface 12B for the pipe material, the support surface 12B being coplanar with the horizontal support surface 12A. The plurality of pairs of fixture bodies with the spacer member therebetween are clamped, together with a bar member disposed between adjacent pairs of fixture bodies, between clamp frames 17A and 17B in an aligned manner. The fixture bodies and the spacer members may be formed from recycled plastic material.

Abstract: A furnace for heating pipes each having an upset portion at least at one of its opposite ends includes a housing defining a heating chamber filled with high temperature gas, and a conveying apparatus for sequentially conveying the pipes in the housing in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the pipes. A blowing device is provided on one side of a path of the upset portion, and a waving plate is provided on the other side of the path, whereby the upset portion, when passing through a space between the blowing device and the plate, is heated locally by the high temperature gas blown out from the blowing device and also by the reflected high temperature gas and radiant heat from the plate.