Abstract: A system for the heat treatment of metallic annealing material (1, 12) comprising a distributor (3) for the heating or cooling medium consisting of air or a gas, where for the formation of an oblique blast the distributor (3) has tubular or slot-shaped nozzles (4, 4a) directed against the annealing material (1, 12) possibly lying on a transport means (2). For changing the distance of the nozzle orifice from the workpiece surface, the nozzles (4, 4a) are provided with retractable extensions (5, 5a) for increasing the distance between nozzle orifice and annealing material (1, 12).

Abstract: A cooling system for annealing material (4) in the form of plates, strips or bulk material moving on a transport means (5) consists of a plurality of zones (1, 2, 3), in which the annealing material (4) is treated on its lower and/or upper surface with an oblique blast of cooling medium in the form of air or gas emerging from nozzles of nozzle bars (10, 10a, 10b) fed by a compressor-type blower (7, 8, 8a, 11). In order to reduce the required amount of cooling medium, and to reduce the technical effort involved, only the last zone (3) disposed on the outlet end for the annealing material (4) is connected to the supply (7) of pressurized fresh cooling medium. In this zone (3) a collecting fan (8, 11) is provided, which upon formation of the oblique blast urges the cooling medium into a distribution box (9). To the distribution box (9, 12) the nozzle bars (10) of the penultimate zone (2) are connected.