Abstract: A process and apparatus for extruding aluminum into products, wherein aluminum logs are first heated to a predetermined temperature in a furnace, then are cut into billets of predetermined lengths, and then the billets, while still hot, are extruded into predetermined products in an extruder. In the process, the logs are cut into billets with a cross cut circular saw immediately after the logs are heated and before the logs are permitted to cool to a temperature below a suitable extruding temperature. The circular saw is cooled and lubricated during the cutting to as to restrain the saw from sticking in the heated aluminum and so as to maintain the temperature of the log at the cut within a predetermined range wherein the aluminum is relatively easy to cut and waste is minimized.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for extruding aluminum into products, wherein aluminum logs are first heated to a predetermined temperature in a furnace, then are cut into billets of predetermined lengths, and then the billets, while still hot, are extruded into predetermined products in an extruder. In the process, the logs are cut into billets with a cross cut circular saw immediately after the logs are heated and before the logs are permitted to cool to a temperature below a suitable extruding temperature. The circular saw is cooled and lubricated during the cutting to as to restrain the saw from sticking in the heated aluminum and so as to maintain the temperature of the log at the cut within a predetermined range wherein the aluminum is relatively easy to cut and waste is minimized.

Abstract: A thermocouple probe assembly for a billet furnace is provided with replaceable contact tips joined to the shanks of the probe rods within a surrounding insulator to inhibit oxidation of the junctions. Two pairs of probes are used, each pair being associated with an independent control circuit as a safety backup system. The assembly is preferably mounted on a bracket that is extendable on an angle forty-five degrees to the horizontal to provide correct probe positioning for various sizes of billets, and has a heat shield correspondingly adjustable along the probe assembly to accommodate various degrees of penetration of the probe assembly into the furnace.

Abstract: This oven has a primary heating chamber containing heat-generating equipment producing hot gases. These gases pass from the primary heating chamber to a secondary heating chamber occupied by an indexing rotary magazine in object-exchanging relationship with a mechanism for inducing movement of the objects through the oven. The secondary heating chamber can be used for either pre-heating or heat-soaking the objects, depending on the direction of movement of the objects through the oven. The objects are loaded on the carrier (or removed, according to the application of the oven) radially at a position angularly spaced from the position of exchange with the movement-inducing means.