Abstract: A steel strip continuous annealing furnace comprises a heating zone, a soaking zone and cooling zones, wherein bridle rolls for isolating tension of a steel strip from those in adjacent sections of the steel strip are provided at the inlet and outlet of the furnace and in the furnace so as to define a plurality of tension control blocks and provide tension control mechanisms for controlling the tensions of the steel strip in the respective tension control blocks, so that appropriate tensions can be rendered to the steel strip in the respective zones of the furnace, thereby enabling to secure the safe and satisfactory operating conditions.

Abstract: Heat-treating device for prolonging the life of a pressure vessel formed of thermally resistant material subject to time-dependent structural changes due to neutron fluence includes a heating device positionable within a pressure vessel adjacent to a wall portion thereof which is to be heat-treated; a mounting support for the heating device including a substantially cylindrical, heat-insulating holding member insertable into and removable from the pressure vessel through an opening in the pressure vessel; supply lines for an energy carrier supplying the heat; insulating means for keeping the heat away from heat-sensitive parts of the pressure vessel which are not to be heat-treated and for reducing heat losses during the heat treatment; a hollow substantially cylindrical thermal shield disposed in the pressure vessel and, with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure vessel, defining an annular gap; and a reactor chamber wherein at least part of the pressure vessel is located, the reactor chamber being ot

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for heat treating a tubular type heat exchanger. A heat fluid is passed through the tube bundle in order to heat the exchanger from within.

Abstract: Carbonaceous combustion products (i.e., principally carbon dioxide) and water are removed from nitrogen generator gas by molecular sieve adsorption thereof. The molecular sieve material is regenerated by an initial extended purging with ambient air under vacuum followed by a short burst of pure nitrogen under vacuum to remove any entrapped oxygen.

Abstract: A furnace for the heat-treatment of metallic articles with a protective atmosphere such as a reductive gas mainly consisting of H.sub.2, CO, N.sub.2. Said protective atmospheric gas is made from LPG, LNG, urban gas and other raw natural gases which have been supplied into the furnace directly from their sources by heating them by heating elements within the furnace and simultaneously converting them by a plurality of catalytic means extending along said heating elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to the generation of an atmosphere for the heat treatment of metals, incorporating an alcohol of the methanol type that decomposes by cracking.A generating plant comprises a nitrogen circuit connected to a pressure source, an alcohol circuit connected to a pressurized tank containing the alcohol in the liquid phase and an injector arranged to feed the alcohol and nitrogen into the furnace in the form of a mist of alcohol within a jet of nitrogen.The invention is applicable in particular to the hardening, heating prior to quenching, and annealing of steels.

Abstract: An apparatus or system for cooling the interior of an autoclave furnace vessel after it has been pressurized with a gas and heated. The system comprises a heat conducting conduit opening at one end to the furnace interior and at the other end to a shut-off valve exterior to the vessel. Intermediate the two ends of the conduit is a coil portion comprising a heat exchanger positioned at a location in the furnace where hot vessel gases may be forced through or past the coil. Furnace gases are forced into the conduit and therefore through the coiled portion where they are heated prior to being exhausted. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is a Joule-Thomson valve before the coiled portion of the conduit to reduce the temperature of the exhausting gases prior to arriving at the coiled portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treatment of metal pieces such as billets, ingots, bars and the like, by pre-heating using hot gas impingement in a pre-heating furnace, and then transference into a holding furnace using forced hot air circulation where the metal pieces are held for the time required at the desired heat treatment temperature.

Abstract: Individual charges of silicon steel are passed through a tunnel type furnace provided with charge and discharge vestibules. The annealing takes place in a hydrogen atmosphere and the vestibules are purged with nitrogen and then with hydrogen. The hydrogen used for purging is taken from the hydrogen in the annealing atmosphere and additional new hydrogen is added to the annealing atmosphere at the same time to maintain the pressure constant.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a workpiece at elevated temperatures and pressures comprising an elongate cylindrical pressure vessel. Within the pressure vessel a hearth sits upon a pedestal. Surrounding the pedestal and the workspace immediately thereabove is an insulated furnace enclosure. A cavity near the base of the pedestal defines an impeller chamber. An impeller is positioned in the chamber and has a downwardly extending drive shaft. The impeller circulates the pressurized atmosphere. A remotely actuated gate directs the circulating atmosphere to either circulate totally within the furnace enclosure or partially within the furnace enclosure and partially along the interior wall of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for heat-treating parts in a furnace system which uses a minimum total amount of energy. The self-contained, continuous heat-treating system includes components such as a carburizer, a tempering furnace, and a part cooler. Energy transfer between these and other components operable at different temperatures and/or energy requirements are used to maximize thermal efficiency of the system.

Abstract: An outer receptacle has at least one opening for receiving an elongated article to be treated and an inner metal container, within the receptacle, is arranged to around only that portion of the article that is to receive treatment. An electrode in and insulated from the metal container is spaced from the article so that the receptacle, container and article can be held at one potential while a different potential is applied to the electrode to produce a glow discharge and heat only that portion of the article within the metal container. The structure also provides for introducing a selected gas into the container and receptacle.

Abstract: In a continuous annealing process, the annealing furnace is comprised of two adjacent chambers, one for heating and the other for cooling with a door therebetween. The strip coil to be annealed is brought into the heating chamber, such as by a vehicle on a rail, the heating chamber closed, and the coil heated. After heating, the interconnecting door is opened and the heated coil is moved into the cooling chamber by the vehicle, the cooling chamber is closed and the coil is cooled. Concurrently, the next charge of coil is moved into the heating chamber and heated. Since heat from the previous cycle is still in the heating chamber, the amount of heat required for the next cycle is less and heating efficiency is substantially increased. Also, no movement of other equipment is necessary since only a horizontally movable vehicle is necessary to move the coil from one chamber to the next.

Abstract: A multicathode thermochemical processing oven for the treatment of articles or metals such as steel or steel alloys by subjection thereof to ionic bombardment. The oven structure includes at least one anode and a plurality of cathodes which form individual anode-cathode couples positioned within an air-tight enclosure containing a processing gas for supplying ions. Each of the cathodes is adapted to carry an individual article and subject the article to a particular type of processing depending upon which cathode carries the part. Each of the anode-cathode couples are connected across a power supply, and each of the cathodes are connected through their own individual switching and coupling device for independently couplng to the power source and independent control to supply different types of energy to its respective cathode as well as control the conduction thereof.

Abstract: Individual charges of silicon steel are passed through a tunnel type furnace provided with charge and discharge vestibules. The annealing takes place in a hydrogen atmosphere and the vestibules are purged with nitrogen and then with hydrogen. The hydrogen used for purging is taken from the hydrogen in the annealing atmosphere and additional new hydrogen is added to the annealing atmosphere at the same time to maintain the pressure constant.

Abstract: A vacuum carburizing furnace wherein the concentration of carburizing gas in the furnace atmosphere as well as the furnace pressure may be maintained within predetermined ranges for optimum carburization, and the carburizing atmosphere is forced to circulate by a fan within the heating chamber so that parts or articles may be uniformly carburized.

Abstract: An installation for nitriding-sulphiding of steel and cast-iron articles including an enclosed tank, and a retort containing sulphur and placed in the interior of the tank. The retort is surrounded with a heating device. The tank is provided at its top with two pipe connectors. One connector is connected with the container of ammonia and the other connector is connected with the furnace for chemical and heat treatment of the articles. The ammonia flows from its container to the tank with a retort containing sulphur, wherefrom after being mixed with the vapors of sulphur, it flows out to the furnace in which the articles to be treated are placed. In the furnace at a temperature of 400.degree.-700.degree. C., the nitrogen and sulphur diffuse to the surface layer of the treated articles, thus producing the required sulphides in the nitrided layer.

Abstract: Coils of strip to be annealed are placed in a furnace with their eye vertical and are heated to the annealing temperature by heating elements on the furnace above and below the level of the coils. An improved convector coil support includes a single metal plate having a central opening and grooves in one side extending from the central opening to the outer periphery when used to support a bottom coil and two such plates fastened together with their grooves facing each other when the convector is used to support a coil on top of a coil.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating the weld and heat affected zone between a steel pipe and a steel connector, the apparatus including an induction coil to heat the weld and weld heat affected zone to a selected temperature. A ring shaped manifold having nozzle means to direct flow outwardly is connected with pumping means to pump gas simultaneously against the interior and exterior of the weld and heat affected zone.

Abstract: A preheating furnace having a furnace chamber for preheating an extended metal piece, comprising a transportation means for the metal arranged in the furnace chamber, at least one treatment chamber in the furnace chamber for containing and treating the metal; at least one pressure chamber in the furnace chamber into which hot gas is blown under pressure; and a plurality of rows of slot-type nozzles arranged laterally symmetrically from the metal and extending through a partition which subdivides the furnace chamber into the treatment chamber and the pressure chamber. The slot-type nozzles adduct hot gas to the metal so that warping of the metal is prevented, and the nozzles have elongated openings disposed with the longer axis of each opening transverse to the longitudinal axis of the metal.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for case hardening of ferrous metal work pieces is described in which the work pieces to be processed are placed inside a metal vacuum chamber which is evacuated with a mechanical pump and then backfilled with a partial pressure of a gas containing nitrogen, such as nitrogen or ammonia, or a hydrocarbon such as methane, or mixtures thereof. The work pieces to be processed are electrically connected to the negative (cathode) terminal of a D.C. power supply, the positive terminal being connected to the chamber wall and to ground. The power supply is energized and some of the gas is converted to ions. The work pieces are heated to temperatures of approximately 650.degree. to 1100.degree. F for ionitriding or to temperatures of approximately 1650.degree. to 1900.degree. for ion carburizing. The heating is effected at least in part by the ion activity.

Abstract: An open-ended continuous sintering furnace and system including means for providing a countercurrent protective gas atmosphere through a portion of the furnace and system and a substantially contaminant-free exit atmosphere throughout the remainder of the system and a continuous conveyor means of substantially solid refractory metal with notched retaining walls. The countercurrent protective gas atmosphere is provided so as to purge volatilized impurities released from workpieces past non-sintered or partially sintered workpieces. Such a flow thereby helps to prevent contamination of more fully sintered workpieces as they are cooled and exit the system. The partial countercurrent protective gas atmosphere is accomplished by multiple gas ejection means for ejecting the protective gas or by multiple sintering chambers with gas ejection between the chambers.

Abstract: A furnace for firing refractory ware including a vertically movable bell adapted to enclose a car of refractory ware. Means is provided to seal the enclosure defined by the bell, to evacuate air from the sealed bell enclosure, and to deliver a fluidized, chemically inert, non-combustible, high thermal absorption material to the evacuated bell. A plurality of lasers are provided on the bell facing spaced locations therein and are adapted to be fired sequentially. When fired, the light and heat energy from each laser beam is diffused and absorbed by the inert material and is then re-radiated throughout the bell enclosure to fire the refractory ware therein.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of circulating a gas through coils of very long tubing during a heat treatment, wherein the coils of tubing are placed on hollow frames through which the clearing gas passes. The frames are fitted with nozzles to which at least one end of each coil can be connected. The invention can be applied to continuous annealing of coils of small-diameter copper tubing with a view to removing the last traces of drawing lubricant.

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed whereby open coils having spaces between the convolutions may be treated in a longitudinally extending furnace by passage of treating gases between the convolutions of the coils, the coils being introduced at one end of the furnace, passed through the furnace while being treated, and removed from the other end of the furnace. Walking beam apparatus is disclosed having sealing means, disclosed as a trough and flange sealing means that prevents gas leakage between the lower portion of the walking beam apparatus and the atmosphere, so that a completely gas sealed enclosure may be provided above the walking beams. Transfer means are disclosed at the entrance and discharge ends of the furnace, for introducing coils into the furnace and removing them from the furnace through purge chambers. A coil support that travels with the coil through the furnace is disclosed. Processes are also disclosed for continuously treating open coils.

Abstract: A continuous furnace for metal slabs in which the side walls of the furnace each include a lower portion extending upwardly from the floor of the furnace and an upper portion extending from the lower portion to the roof of the furnace. The upper and lower portions are shaped so that tangents to the inner surface of the upper portion form an angle of at least 90.degree. with respect to the upper planar surface of the slab while tangents to the inner surface of the lower portion form an obtuse angle with such planar surface to minimize the reflection of heat to the slab to the side walls.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for heating ferromagnetic abrasive shot to a selected temperature substantially above the Curie Point temperature of the metal forming the shot. An elongated generally cylindrical retort, having a central axis and a central passage and being formed from a magnetically permeable material having a Curie Point temperature, is divided into first and second axially spaced heating zones. Each zone is surrounded by a generally cylindrical surface portion of the central passage. A first inductor means is used for inductively heating the generally cylindrical surface portion of the first zone to a temperature below the Curie Point temperature of the retort material so that a major portion of the magnetic flux from the first inductor means is concentrated in the metal forming the retort.

Abstract: An apparatus for hardening a workpiece of steel, according to which the wpiece is heated, for instance in a furnace, to austenitizing temperature and is carburized by a pressurized mixture of purified air and propane surrounding the workpiece, whereupon the workpiece is quenched in a cooling region.

Abstract: More uniform heat treating of a work load is achieved by circulating the gas back and forth past the work with a pulsating reciprocating motion while the work is being heated.

Abstract: A work piece in a hot gas isostatic bonding furnace is cooled by increasing convection within the furnace prior to depressurizing. The convection may be wholly due to thermal gradients or may be supplemented by a compressor. The cooling jacket for the furnace walls may supply the entire cooling or may be supplemental heat exchanger. The quenching takes place within the furnace without changing the atmosphere.

Abstract: There is provided a furnace for tempering and hardening workpieces comprising an annealing chamber and a quenching chamber constructed as a fluidized bed, the quenching chamber is arranged below the annealing chamber, the fluidized bed which is stationary during the annealing treatment serves as bottom temperature insulation for the annealing chamber, and the lateral heat insulation of the annealing chamber is extended to below the surface of the stationary fluidized bed.

Abstract: Burner means for maintaining a weld in a large metal member at a predetermined temperature for extended periods of time regardless of the position of the weld, including two independent burners, and two independent control arrangements for the two burners, such that they maintain the entire weld at substantially the same predetermined temperature, in spite of the unbalancing effect of heat from the other burner.