Abstract: A conveyor tube construction for transporting particulate material as it passes through a furnace, the heating elements being a plurality of parallel radiant heating rods parallel to the conveyor tube and surrounding the tube in spaced relation to the tube and to each other. The tube has baffles on its inner surface to insure adequate tumbling so that the particulate material will be fully heated as it passes through the furnace.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting particulate metallic matter into a billet or a forged article in which the material is fed in measured quantity from a hopper to a furnace for outgassing and other heat treatment and thence to a press in which the particulate material is compacted into a container or mold to form either a billet or forged article. When the billet is formed, the press also applies a cover to the container to keep the material free of contamination until a later heat treatment or forging operation. Mechanism is provided for removing the completed billet or mold from the press and insertion of a new container.