Abstract: Methods and apparatus to case harden titanium alloys are disclosed. A disclosed example method for case hardening a substrate including titanium comprises providing the substrate to a chamber; evacuating the chamber to achieve a vacuum therein, heating the substrate, providing a process gas to the chamber to diffuse hydrogen and a case hardening addition into the substrate, and evacuating the chamber to cause at least a portion of the hydrogen to diffuse from the substrate.

Abstract: Based on the nitriding potential in the processing furnace calculated by the in-furnace nitriding potential calculator and the target nitriding potential, the introduction amount of the ammonia gas is changed while the introduction amount of the ammonia decomposition gas is kept constant, such that the nitriding potential in the processing furnace is brought close to the target nitriding potential.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device and method for continuously performing grain boundary diffusion and heat treatment, characterized in that the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece are arranged in a relatively independent processing box together with a diffusion source; the device comprises, in successive arrangement, a grain boundary diffusion chamber, a first cooling chamber, a heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber, and a transfer system provided between various chambers for delivering the processing box; each of the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber uses an air cooling system, and the cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is above 25° C. and at least differs by 550° C. from the grain boundary diffusion temperature of the grain boundary diffusion chamber; the cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is above 25° C. and at least differs by 300° C.

Abstract: Process for producing an electronic subassembly by low-temperature pressure sintering, comprising the following steps: arranging an electronic component on a circuit carrier having a conductor track, connecting the electronic component to the circuit carrier by the low-temperature pressure sintering of a joining material which connects the electronic component to the circuit carrier, characterized in that, to avoid the oxidation of the electronic component or of the conductor track, the low-temperature pressure sintering is carried out in a low-oxygen atmosphere having a relative oxygen content of 0.005 to 0.3%.

Abstract: Disclosed are a continuous heat treatment device and method for a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet workpiece. The device comprises a first heat treatment chamber, a first cooling chamber, a second heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber continuously disposed in sequence, as well as a transfer system disposed among the chambers to transfer the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece; both the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber adopt a air cooling system, wherein a cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the first heat treatment chamber by at least 450° C.; a cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the second heat treatment chamber by at least 300° C. The continuous heat treatment device and method can improve the cooling rate and production efficiency and improve the properties and consistency of the products.

Abstract: A cemented carbide comprising 55-90 parts by mass of WC particles, and 10-45 parts by mass of an Fe-based binder phase, the binder phase having a composition comprising 2.5-10% by mass of Ni, 0.2-1.2% by mass of C, 0.5-5% by mass of Cr, 0.2-2.0% by mass of Si, 0.1-3% by mass of W, 0-5% by mass of Co, and 0-1% by mass of Mn, the balance being substantially Fe and inevitable impurities, and the cemented carbide being substantially free from composite carbides having major axes of 5 ?m or more. This cemented carbide is produced by cooling at a cooling rate of 60° C./hour or more between 900° C. and 600° C., after vacuum sintering.

Abstract: A method of producing a press-formed product includes a steel plate heating step, a hot forging step and a hot stamping step. In the steel plate heating step, a steel plate is heated to 950° C. or more. In the hot forging step, the heated steel plate is forged to form a varying-thickness steel plate. In the hot stamping step, the heated varying-thickness steel plate is subjected to press-working by a press tooling to form a press-formed product, and the press-formed product that is formed is cooled inside the press tooling. Thus, a press-formed product that has high strength and for which a reduction in weight is possible can be produced.

Abstract: An asphalt processing system is formed from a heating chamber, a transfer system and an induction heating system. A plurality of paddles, conveyor flights, or conveyor belts having a U-shaped blade move the asphalt through the system while concurrently mixing the material to ensure consistent temperatures through the asphalt cement. The asphalt is heating using one or more induction heating systems to quickly heat the asphalt to between 300° F. and 350° F. The system can include a convection system designed to collect air from the heating chamber, further heat it, and recirculate the air to enhance the asphalt heating. A water condenser can be employed to remove moisture during air recirculation, reducing moisture content in the asphalt cement. The asphalt cement is optionally then modified by addition of one or more rejuvenation oils. This system is particularly useful for recycled asphalt pavement, but can be used for all asphalt products.

Abstract: A furnace system includes a pre-heating zone disposed on a conveyer device, a furnace facility located behind the pre-heating zone and having a gas heating zone and an electrical heating zone for heating the work piece to the required or predetermined temperature, and a cooling zone for lowering the work piece to a room temperature, the furnace facility includes a heat recycling device connected to the cooling zone and the heating zone, and connected to the pre-heating zone, for collecting a heat energy in the cooling zone and in the heating zone and for supplying the collected heat energy to the pre-heating zone for pre-heating the work piece and for saving the energy.

Abstract: A double-solenoid directional control valve comprising a valve body and a valve spool within the valve body, where the valve spool is configured to move within the valve body between a first position, a second position and a third position, where the third spool position lies between the first and second spool positions. In certain embodiments, the spool is maintained in the first and third positions by energizing at least a first or a second solenoid actuator, and where the spool is maintained in the second position by de-energizing both solenoid actuators.

Abstract: A carburizing device is configured to perform a carburizing treatment on a treatment target, and includes a furnace body, an insulating container provided inside the furnace body, a furnace bed provided inside the insulating container and on which the treatment target is mounted, and a heat source provided inside the insulating container, in which at least surfaces of main components of the furnace bed, the heat source and the insulating container are made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: In an aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hot isostatic pressing arrangement for treatment of articles by hot isostatic pressing. The arrangement includes a pressure vessel including a furnace chamber including a heat insulated casing and a furnace for heating of a pressure medium during pressing, and a ‘heat exchanger unit’ or heat absorbing material located below the furnace chamber. In another aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for treatment of articles in a hot isostatic press. The press further includes a pressure vessel enclosing a furnace chamber and a ‘heat exchanger unit’. The method includes the steps of loading the articles into the furnace chamber, performing pressurized and heated treatment of the articles, cooling the articles and unloading of the articles. All the steps are performed while the ‘heat exchanger unit’ remains located inside the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An installation for the dry transformation of a material microstructure of semi-finished products, especially for dry bainitization, includes a quenching chamber and a microstructure transformation chamber situated downstream from it in the processing flow, in each case the inner space of the two chambers having applied to it excess gas pressure, at least during the respective method step, for the transformation of the material microstructure. Device(s) are provided for maintaining a minimum excess gas pressure acting on the semi-finished product, during the moving of the semi-finished product from the quenching chamber into the microstructure transformation chamber.

Abstract: A conveyor oven is described. The conveyor oven includes a frame made of load-bearing structural members. The conveyor oven has a modular construction, with the structural members defining a rectangular prism. Blocks of insulation are placed in the frame openings, and a flexible insulating material, such as a multi-layer insulating textile, is used to cover joints between adjacent modules. Along the length of the conveyor oven, idler rollers that support the conveyor belt have ends that penetrate the sides of the oven and are supported such that the rollers can shift as the oven expands and contracts without creating openings for heat or air leakage. Air flow within the oven is managed using sets of adjustable baffle plates above and below the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and gas atmosphere for a metal component in a continuous furnace. In one embodiment, the method and gas atmosphere comprises the use of an effective amount, or about 1 to about 10 percent volume of endo-gas, into an atmosphere comprising nitrogen and hydrogen. In another embodiment, there is provided a method sintering metal components in a furnace at a one or more operating temperatures comprising: providing a furnace comprising a belt comprising a wire mesh material wherein the metal components are supported thereupon; and sintering the components in the furnace in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen, hydrogen, and effective amount of endothermic gas at the one or more operating temperatures ranging from about 1800° F. to about 2200° F. wherein the amount of endothermic gas in the atmosphere is such that it is oxidizing to the wire mesh material and reducing to the metal components.

Abstract: Furnace for heat treating an annealing material, wherein the furnace comprises a sealable first furnace chamber designed to receiving and heat treating annealing material by thermal interaction of the annealing material with a heatable or coolable first annealing gas in the first furnace chamber, a first heat exchanger which is arranged in the first furnace chamber and which is designed for an exchange of heat between the first annealing gas and a transport fluid, wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged within a housing section of the first furnace chamber, which housing section confines the first annealing gas within the first furnace chamber, a sealable second furnace chamber which is designed for receiving and for heat treating annealing material by means of a thermal interaction of the annealing material with a heatable or coolable second annealing gas in the second furnace chamber, a second heat exchanger which is arranged in the second furnace chamber and which is designed for an exchange of heat b

Abstract: An alloy flake production apparatus (1) includes a crystallinity control device (2) for controlling an alloy crystal structure of fed alloy flakes to a desired state, a cooling device (3) for cooling the alloy flakes discharged from the crystallinity control device (2), and a chamber for keeping these devices under reduced pressure or under an inert gas atmosphere. The crystallinity control device (2) has a rotary heating drum (21) in a cylindrical shape for heating the fed alloy flakes, and a switching device (23) for switching between storage and discharge of the alloy flakes fed to an inner wall side of the heating drum (21), so that long-time heat treatment is uniformly applied to the alloy flakes immediately after being made by ingot crushing. The heating drum (21) preferably has a scooping blade plate (22) for scooping up alloy flakes fed to the inner wall side with its rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the treatment of a flat steel product, taking place in throughput. The apparatus includes an indirectly heated annealing furnace chamber, a conveyor device for continuously conveying the flat steel product over a conveyor path leading from an entry to an exit of the annealing furnace chamber, and nozzle arrangements for feeding atmosphere gas, which is reactive in relation to the flat steel product, into the annealing furnace chamber. A controlled treatment of the flat steel product includes a first nozzle arrangement, from which a gas jet induces a first gas flow towards the entry of the annealing furnace chamber and sweeping over the surface of flat steel product to be treated. A second nozzle arrangement includes a gas jet which induces a second gas flow directed towards the exit of the annealing furnace chamber and sweeping over the surface of flat steel product.

Abstract: In order to provide a further uniform carburizing treatment to an article to be treated, a carburizing treatment apparatus which performs carburizing treatment by heating the article to be treated in a treatment chamber, the inside of which is under reduced pressure and in a carburizing gas atmosphere, includes a temperature measurement means for measuring temperatures in a plurality of regions inside the treatment chamber and a temperature adjustment means for individually adjusting temperatures in the plurality of regions on the basis of measurement results of the temperature measurement means so that the article to be treated is given a uniform carburizing treatment.

Abstract: In a device for preparing process gases (3) for heat treatments of metallic materials/workpieces, the respective process gas (3) is to be fed into at least one treatment chamber (1.1) in an industrial furnace (1) having been practically fully prepared, homogenised and heated, and the method is to be carried out both with newly built and particularly with already existing installations of industrial furnaces (1) with the aid of the device, wherein the process gas (3) is prepared with compression at temperatures uncoupled from the temperature in the treatment chamber (1.1), in a process separate from the heat treatment process in the treatment chamber (1.1), and in a temperature range up to about 1250° C., and is rendered usable for economical and low-emission heat treatment (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A hood-type annealing furnace for the thermal treatment of cold-rolled steel strip includes a base, a protective hood which can be placed on the latter and under which a protective gas heated by a gas burner is circulated by a blower, to heat the steel strip, rolled up particularly into a coil, under the protective hood to a temperature of at least 500° C. in a protective gas atmosphere. An electric heater fed by the public power network has a heating capacity correspondingly substantially to the heating capacity of the gas burner. The protective gas can be independently heated with the electric heater, alternatively to the gas burner, with the gas burner switched off, to a temperature above the recrystallization annealing temperature. A method for operating a hood-type annealing furnace is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for annealing cylindrical cases for ammunition cartridges or other tubular casings is provided. In one embodiment, a case annealing apparatus is provided. The case annealing apparatus includes a base, a feeding device having a first end tapering to a second end that is coupled to the base, a rotatable feed wheel assembly disposed adjacent a second end of the feeding device, a linear slide mechanism disposed adjacent the rotatable feed wheel assembly defining a portion of a case receiving region, and a heating device disposed adjacent the case receiving region, the heating device operable to heat a portion of a case retained in the case receiving region.

Abstract: An installation for the dry transformation of a material structure of semifinished products, particularly for dry bainitization, includes a quenching chamber and heating and/or cooling mechanism for setting the temperature prevailing on the inside of the quenching chamber, wherein the heating and/or cooling mechanism is developed as heating or cooling mechanism of a wall that borders on an inner chamber of the quenching chamber.

Abstract: A method for forming a part having a dual property microstructure includes the steps of: forming a blank having a narrow top portion and a wide base portion; heating the blank to an elevated temperature; and forming a dual property microstructure in the blank by cooling different portions of the blank at different cooling rates.

Abstract: A continuous gas carburizing furnace includes a gas carburizing processing chamber (a preheating chamber 2, a heating chamber 3, a carburizing chamber 4, a diffusion chamber 5 and a temperature decrease chamber 6) in which a gas carburizing process is performed on a workpiece 50, an oil quenching chamber 8 in which oil quenching is performed on the workpiece 50, and a gas quenching chamber 7 in which gas quenching is performed on the workpiece 50. The gas carburizing processing chamber includes a temperature decrease chamber 6 in which the temperature of the workpiece heated by a gas carburizing process is lowered. The temperature decrease chamber 6, the gas quenching chamber 7 and the oil quenching chamber 8 are arranged in that order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the workpiece 50, and are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Light metal components and/or plates are transported through a furnace in a clocked or continuous transport process and heated and optionally cooled inside the furnace by an air or gas flow. For this purpose, a continuous air-/gas circulation is generated, wherein circulating air-/gas flow flows across the light metal components and/or plates, heating and cooling them as necessary. The light metal components and/or plates entering into or exiting from the furnace perform a sealing function and prevent the air-/gas flow circulating in the furnace from escaping from the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates according to a first aspect to a method for the heat treatment of a batch of castings, in which an air quench is applied to the castings of the batch that are arranged in a single layer. The invention also extends to a system for the heat treatment of a batch of castings that includes a ventilation system in order to cause a flow of cooling air, characterized in that it includes means for placing the castings of the batch in a single layer and means for bringing the single layer of castings beneath the ventilation system so as to apply an air quench to the single layer comprising the castings of the batch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a metal material. The method comprises a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature of a silver material having undergone final plastic working to 700° C. or more and less than a melting point of the silver material in a vacuum or a helium gas atmosphere, a heating step of maintaining the silver material at 700° C. or more and less than the melting point, and a cooling step of cooling the silver material to room temperature in a vacuum or a helium gas atmosphere. For a part of the period of the heating step, the silver material is heated in a mixed atmosphere in which hydrogen gas is mixed with helium gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a part. The part may be positioned in a chamber. The part may be comprised of a metal and may be a positioned part. A gas containing nitrogen may be sent into the chamber. An electromagnetic field may be generated in the chamber with the gas. The electromagnetic field may heat a portion of the metal in the positioned part to a temperature from about 60 percent to about 99 percent of the melting point of the metal such that the portion of the metal has a desired hardness. The portion of the metal may extend from a surface of the positioned part to a selected depth from the surface.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace that allows the atmosphere in the heat treatment furnace to be controlled with favorable accuracy includes a second heating zone identified as a reaction chamber, having a floor belt to hold a workpiece, and an atmosphere collect pipe having an opening in the second heating zone to collect an atmosphere in the second heating zone through the opening. The atmosphere collect pipe is installed to allow the distance between the opening and the floor belt to be modified.

Abstract: A furnace system includes a furnace facility disposed on a conveyer device and having a pre-heating zone, a high temperature heating zone, and two cooling zones, and the conveyer device moves the work piece from the pre-heating zone through the high temperature heating zone and the cooling zones, two heating members disposed in the heating zones for pre-heating and heating the work piece, two piping members coupled between the cooling zones and the heating zones for recycling the waste heat gas, and two blowing devices draw the waste gas from the cooling zones to the heating zones for recycling and economizing the heat energy and for preventing the steel materials from being distorted or twisted.

Abstract: A system for treating metallic articles in an atmospheric furnace while injecting at least one fluid material within the furnace and/or in a catalyst bed connected to the furnace.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an atmosphere heat treatment apparatus that is operable without relying on experiences and/or intuitions of an operator, and a method of operating the same. The atmosphere heat treatment apparatus includes an entrance side exhaust path (26) for exhausting an inside atmosphere from an entrance side of a carburizing chamber (10) to which a transforming gas is supplied, an exit side exhaust path (35) for exhausting the inside atmosphere from an exit side of the heat treatment chamber, and an opening degree adjusting lid (28) attached for adjusting an opening degree of the entrance side exhaust path (26), in which a part or whole of the exit side exhaust path (35) is constituted of a pipe (46) having a predetermined inside diameter.

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: A heat treatment or heat soak furnace for use in both galvannealing and galvanizing processes including a heating apparatus configured to supply heat and remove heat. The heating apparatus may draw hot air from the exhaust of a direct fire strip annealing furnace, gas burners or electric heat exchangers as necessary. The furnace also may include a plurality of cooling mechanisms in order to ensure heat is removed and the temperature within the furnace regulated. In addition, the furnace may include baffles configured to allow portions of the interior of the furnace to be separated into different temperature zones.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.

Abstract: A high-temperature furnace for the annealing of sheet-metal joints (4) is described, having an annealing base (2), having a support device (3), which forms a placement surface (17) for coaxially receiving a sheet-metal joint (4) with spacing above the annealing base (2), having a protective hood (6), which coaxially encloses the annealing base (2) with the support device (3), and is connected to a protective gas supply line (10) and a protective gas exhaust, made of a cylindrical jacket (7) and a cupola (16) which terminates the jacket (7) on top, having a peripheral seal (9) between the annealing base (2) and the protective hood (6), and having a heating hood (13) which encloses the protective hood (6) with spacing.

Abstract: A method and device for the heat treatment of a profile, in particular an extruded profile for aircraft. The profile may be formed by one or more different, in particular curable, aluminium alloys. The method provides that at least two regions of a profile are subjected to a different heat treatment. The device includes a first chamber that encloses a first region of a profile and a second chamber that encloses a second region of the profile, wherein different temperatures can be set in the first and second chambers. The profile has at least two regions that each have different material properties and are formed by differential heat treatment.

Abstract: A heat treating furnace is disclosed for nitride case hardening and gas cooling a stationary workload in the same furnace which is comprised of a single chamber and an access door. The chamber is segregated into an outer portion and an inner portion, with the inner portion being adapted to receive the workload to be nitride case hardened through the access door. The inner portion is surrounded by graphite insulation to retain the gas used to nitride case harden the workload. The inner portion further includes a plurality of graphite resistance heating elements and a plurality of graphite plates juxtaposed in near proximity to the graphite resistance heating elements forming a conduit or plenum between them. The inner portion further includes a fan assembly including a graphite radial fan wheel adapted to circulate the nitriding gas within the inner portion and through the conduit to provide uniform nitride case hardening of the workload.

Abstract: Steel-sheet continuous annealing equipment includes, in sequence, a pre-heating zone, a heating zone, a soaking zone, a cooling zone, a reheating zone, an overaging zone, and a final cooling zone, and further includes a rapid heating region and a rapid cooling region that are provided within a range from the reheating zone to the final cooling zone (including the reheating zone and the final cooling zone), the rapid heating region allowing rapid heating of a steel sheet at a heating rate of 15° C./s or more and the rapid cooling region allowing rapid cooling, at a cooling rate of 10° C./s or more, of the steel sheet that has been rapidly heated in the rapid heating region. Various steel-sheet products ranging from mild steel sheets to ultrahigh-tensile steel sheets can be produced by performing a heat treatment with such steel-sheet continuous annealing equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reduction of time in gas-carburizing process and cooling apparatus to perform carburization by step heating of a part during carburizing heating from 800° C., 850° C., 900° C. onwards to a carburization temperature of 930° C. with the part being held at each mentioned temperature for 10 minutes by adding LPG or propane along with methanol in the furnace for activation/diffusion, the holding time is thereby reduced for carburization, thereafter the carburized parts are quenched in the invented apparatus to discharge high severity of quenching.

Abstract: A heat treatment or heat soak furnace for use in both galvannealing and galvanizing processes including a heating apparatus configured to supply heat and remove heat. The heating apparatus may draw hot air from the exhaust of a direct fire strip annealing furnace, gas burners or electric heat exchangers as necessary. The furnace also may include a plurality of cooling mechanisms in order to ensure heat is removed and the temperature within the furnace regulated. In addition, the furnace may include baffles configured to allow portions of the interior of the furnace to be separated into different temperature zones.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility.

Abstract: A system for heat treating an alloy steel component includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure opposed to the first enclosure. The first and second enclosures define a chamber around only a portion of the alloy steel component. The system further includes a heating element in the chamber to heat the portion of the alloy steel component. A method for heat treating an alloy steel component includes placing a first enclosure against a first side of the alloy steel component and placing a second enclosure against a second side of the alloy steel component. The method further includes creating a substantially airtight chamber around only a portion of the alloy steel component between the first and second enclosures and heating the portion of the alloy steel component inside the substantially airtight chamber.

Abstract: A method and measurement system for the control of an active charge surface in a low pressure carburizing process can avoid formation of by-products and achieve regular carburized layers. This can be achieved through sampling of outlet gas at a specified time and comparison with experimentally set model characteristics.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a vertical heat treatment apparatus which is a vertical heat treatment furnace comprising at least: a reaction tube; a heat treatment boat configured to hold a substrate; a heater configured to heat the substrate; a gas introduction tube configured to introduce an atmospheric gas into the reaction tube; a gas supply tube connected to the gas introduction tube; and a gas port portion that is formed at a flange body provided under the reaction tube or the reaction tube and into which the gas introduction tube is inserted, wherein the gas introduction tube is connected to the gas supply tube through a joint outside the reaction tube, the joint has at least a metal short tube having a flange portion, and the gas introduction tube is inserted into a through hole formed by connecting the flange portion of the metal short tube to the flange portion provided at the gas port portion through an O-ring and further connected to the gas supply tube through the joint.

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: Equipment for thermochemical treatment of steels and alloys in gaseous mediums with automatic control includes a heating furnace with/without a muffle, a process gas catalyst impact block located in the furnace, a mechanism for supply, mixing, proportioning and extraction of process gases and a device of indirect monitoring and control of the nitrogen potential in the furnace atmosphere. The device of indirect monitoring and control of the nitrogen potential in the furnace atmosphere is an oxygen sensor, a secondary transducer with indication of the nitrogen potential in weight units of nitrogen content in iron and an actuator, while the process gas catalyst impact block is located in the furnace on the process gas supply line. The technical result achieved is that reliability and stability of processes are significantly increased, as well as the period of nitriding is reduced due to integrated process automation that is available.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and a system for providing a gas mixture containing a fractional concentration of oxygen to oxidize and colorize the surfaces of the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of suture needles pass through the housing.

Abstract: A continuous carburizing furnace includes a furnace having a carburizing zone for performing a carburizing process on a workpiece while the workpiece is conveyed; and a plurality of regions disposed successively in a direction of conveyance upstream from the carburizing zone, the carburizing zone being provided with an intermediate door being opened and closed between the carburizing zone and the upstream side therefrom. Also included is at least a single lift mechanism for lowering the workpiece in a region other than a region of the most upstream side among the plurality of regions; and a plurality of pushers for pushing the workpiece at each of the plurality of regions to regions downstream therefrom or to the carburizing zone, the plurality of pushers being disposed so as to push the workpiece at successively lowered levels of height one after another in the direction of conveyance.