Abstract: In order to achieve an increase in energy efficiency and a faster quenching of the workpieces, a device according to the invention is proposed for the treatment of metallic workpieces with cooling gas, comprising a horizontally arranged cylindrical housing (1) with at least one closable opening for the introduction and extraction of the workpieces to be treated, with a quenching chamber (2) located inside the housing (1) for receiving the workpieces to be treated, with two high-performance fans (5 and 6) arranged laterally and outside the quenching chamber (2) for guiding a cooling gas through the quenching chamber (2) and with two heat exchangers (11 and 12) for cooling the cooling gas, that heat exchanger (11 or 12) is respectively associated with a high-performance fan (5 or 6) and that closable guide devices (17 or 18) are arranged above and below the quenching chamber (2).

Abstract: In order to achieve an increase in energy efficiency and a faster quenching of the workpieces, a device according to the invention is proposed for the treatment of metallic workpieces with cooling gas, comprising a horizontally arranged cylindrical housing (1) with at least one closable opening for the introduction and extraction of the workpieces to be treated, with a quenching chamber (2) located inside the housing (1) for receiving the workpieces to be treated, with two high-performance fans (5 and 6) arranged laterally and outside the quenching chamber (2) for guiding a cooling gas through the quenching chamber (2) and with two heat exchangers (11 and 12) for cooling the cooling gas, that heat exchanger (11 or 12) is respectively associated with a high-performance fan (5 or 6) and that closable guide devices (17 or 18) are arranged above and below the quenching chamber (2).

Abstract: An industrial furnace (1) into which protective gas is admitted for the heat treatment of batches (5) of metal workpieces is described. The heat treating furnace includes an entrance lock (2) which can be sealed with respect to the surrounding environment by means of a first gas-tight closure device (2.2.1). The heat treating furnace also includes a third gas-tight closure device (3.1) disposed between a heat treatment chamber (3) of the furnace and a quenching facility (4) at the exit of the heat treatment chamber. With the foregoing arrangement a pressure of the protective gas admitted into the heat treatment chamber (3) can be maintained during loading and unloading of a batch of metal workpieces (5). The entrance lock may be configured as a dual-chamber vertical arrangement or as a single chamber horizontal arrangement.

Abstract: In order to increase energy efficiency in an industrial furnace (1) operated by heating gas and protective gas for thermally treating materials, a first burner (3.1) is actuated for heating with priority over a second burner (3.2), the second burner (3.2) is engaged additionally and operated when the output from the first burner (3.1) falls below the level necessary to heat the industrial furnace (1) up to a temperature setpoint, and the second burner (3.2) is switched off when the temperature setpoint has been reached.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating an industrial furnace, wherein, apart from heating gas, a combustible process gas is also fed to a burner arrangement (9) of the industrial furnace for heating an interior space in the course of a heat treatment cycle. In order to optimize the use of the combustible process gas for the heating of the industrial furnace, the heat treatment cycle is split up into a plurality of process phases, wherein the supply of the process gas to the burner arrangement (9) is regulated depending on the process phase. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating device (8) for an industrial furnace, as well as an industrial furnace that includes the heating device.

Abstract: An industrial furnace (1) into which protective gas is admitted for the heat treatment of batches (5) of metal workpieces is described. The heat treating furnace includes an entrance lock (2) which can be sealed with respect to the surrounding environment by means of a first gas-tight closure device (2.2.1). The heat treating furnace also includes a third gas-tight closure device (3.1) disposed between a heat treatment chamber (3) of the furnace and a quenching facility (4) at the exit of the heat treatment chamber. With the foregoing arrangement a pressure of the protective gas admitted into the heat treatment chamber (3) can be maintained during loading and unloading of a batch of metal workpieces (5). The entrance lock may be configured as a dual-chamber vertical arrangement or as a single chamber horizontal arrangement.

Abstract: In order to increase energy efficiency in an industrial furnace (1) operated by heating gas and protective gas for thermally treating materials, a first burner (3.1) is actuated for heating with priority over a second burner (3.2), the second burner (3.2) is engaged additionally and operated when the output from the first burner (3.1) falls below the level necessary to heat the industrial furnace (1) up to a temperature setpoint, and the second burner (3.2) is switched off when the temperature setpoint has been reached.

Abstract: A furnace (1), which, for the heat treatment of metal workpieces, has a tubular metal retort (3) and a furnace housing (2) enclosing the retort (3), the retort (3) comprising a gastight closable treatment or batch space (10), which receives the protective and reactive gases, for the heat treatment of the workpieces and a receptacle framework (8) as a batch receptacle for the positioning thereof, the weight of the batch and the receptacle framework (8) is decoupled from the retort (3), the receptacle framework (8) is connected to means (5) for support on the furnace housing (2), and the means (5) are guided gastight in passages (6) of a wall (2.1) of the furnace housing (2) and a wall (3.1) of the retort (3).

Abstract: To increase the usage value and for increased availability of retort furnaces (1), which, for the heat treatment of metal workpieces, have a tubular metal retort (3) and a furnace housing (2) enclosing the retort (3), the retort (3) comprising a gastight closable treatment or batch space (10), which receives the protective and reactive gases, for the heat treatment of the workpieces and a receptacle framework (8) as a batch receptacle for the positioning thereof, the weight of the batch and the receptacle framework (8) is decoupled from the retort (3), the receptacle framework (8) is connected to means (5) for support on the furnace housing (2), and the means (5) are guided gastight in passages (6) of a wall (2.1) of the furnace housing (2) and a wall (3.1) of the retort (3) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In a retort furnace having a heating assembly, a circulation unit, and an assigned cooling unit, uniform and rapid cooling of the heat-treated workpieces is achieved by three solution variants. The first variant includes a second floor (9.1) assembled to a floor (9) to form an intermediate space which is divided into two ring spaces which are isolated gastight from one another including a first volume space (16) and a second volume space (17). The second variant includes situating throttle valves (20, 21) in a housing (36), each valve having a receptacle space (33), into which a valve plug is movable. In the third variant which is a combination of the first and second variants, the first volume space (16) and the second volume space (17) are adapted to interact for flow technology in such a manner that in the open position of the plug, the flow cross-section of each line (11, 14) is completely unblocked and provides circulation of a cold gas with favorable flow and therefore rapid cooling of the batch (7).

Abstract: An electrically heated retort furnace for the heat treatment of metal workpieces comprises a furnace housing having retort, a heating unit, and a circulation unit, in which, to increase the efficiency of the heat treatment by more uniform heating of the retort, the heating unit has multiple heating elements, which are situated so they are at least individually replaceable in the first volume space using closable first openings incorporated in the furnace housing, a second circulation unit for circulating the air in the first volume space is received by the furnace housing and is situated so it is replaceable as a module using a closable second opening, and the heating elements and circulation unit are received in the first volume space.