Abstract: A continuous sintering apparatus to be used for sintering nuclear fuel pellets includes a casing integrally constructed to have an upper portion enclosed in a maintenance glove box. The furnace casing includes a casing body and a ceiling cover removably mounted on the casing body, and the ceiling cover can be opened in the glove box while retaining containment. A furnace member to be accommodated in the casing body comprises a combination of a plurality of divided furnace member units, and the furnace member units can be maintained by glove operations when they are delivered from the inside of the casing body into the glove box. A ceiling crane is disposed at an upper portion of the inside of the glove box, and a ceiling cover tentative space and a maintenance working space are provided in the glove box. A turntable for placing the delivered furnace member unit is preferably disposed in the maintenance working space.

Abstract: In reflow soldering systems the circuit boards are conventionally transported in horizontal direction from a feed portion through a preheating portion, a main heat-treatment portion, a cooling portion and a discharge portion in linear fashion in the longitudinal direction of the system. Such reflow systems, however, are relatively long and therefore require a lot of space.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a lowering of the baking quality of a baked product due to a variation in the temperature distribution in a baking furnace due to the inflow of air into the baking furnace. A baking furnace has an inlet disposed in a clean room and an outlet disposed in a normal pressure room lower in pressure than the clean room. The baking furnace is provided with a differential pressure gauge, a controller, an inverter, and an exhaust fan installed in a return duct, the arrangement being such that the difference in pressure between the clean room and the normal pressure room is detected by the differential pressure gauge and the operation of the exhaust fan is controlled by the controller according to the detected differential pressure, so that the air flowed in through the inlet is discharged through the return duct. Thus, the air is prevented from flowing into the baking furnace.

Abstract: A sintering plant includes an apparatus for transporting sinter material along a sintering section through at least one first zone in which the sinter material heats to a low temperature, and through a second zone in which the sinter material heats to a high temperature. Discharge lines are provided along the sintering section. A dioxin catalytic converter for exhaust gas is provided in the discharge lines disposed along the second zone or directly downstream thereof. In this manner, catalytic breakdown of dioxins can be achieved even in the exhaust gas of a sintering plant, which has not been possible heretofore.

Abstract: The invention disclosed includes a heat treatment aging oven for heating metal parts having a heating chamber with an opening, a first transport mechanism disposed within the heating chamber for moving a first metal part through the heating chamber, and a second transport mechanism disposed within the heating chamber for moving a second metal part through the heating chamber, the first transport mechanism located in a spaced relationship to the second transport mechanism. A two piece door assembly for selectively opening the oven opening is also disclosed.

Abstract: An industrial oven for heat treating a series of articles by transporting the articles through a heated tunnel in an enclosure, the enclosure having air barrier closures at the entrance and exit of the tunnel, the air barrier closure at the entrance of the tunnel having a blower with an inlet for receiving a gaseous medium and a nozzle for expelling the gaseous medium in a flow and directing the medium flow across the tunnel, the blower having a heater adapted to raise the temperature of the gaseous medium expelled through the nozzle above the temperature within the tunnel, the enclosure also having an exhaust port between the air barrier closures and an exhaust blower for removing a portion of the gaseous medium from within the tunnel and reducing the pressure of the gaseous medium within the tunnel to a pressure below that of the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A furnace installation as an intermediate storage between a mandrel-free coiling mechanism for strip-shaped cast billet, which is arranged downstream of a thin slab casting installation, and an uncoiling mechanism communicating with a downstream rolling mill, and a system for transporting the coiled bundles through the furnace installation. The furnace installation includes an integral coiling mechanism on the charging side. At least one transporting device for transporting the bundles is provided outside and below the furnace installation and is movable along the furnace installation. The transporting device penetrates into the furnace installation by lifting/lowering supports for the bundle to be transported. The uncoiling mechanism is likewise integrated in the furnace installation at a distance from the coiling mechanism which allows a plurality of bundles arranged adjacent to one another to be picked up. The uncoiling mechanism communicates with the coiling mechanism via the transporting device.

Abstract: Pyrolysis system and method wherein used batteries other than lead-acid batteries for reclamation and recovery of the constituents therein or environmentally safe disposal are placed in rail carts and moved on rails through an entry zone into a central heating zone of a pyrolysis chamber maintained under a negative pressure and then into an exit zone.

Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin. The apparatus includes at least one gas burner for producing hot combustion gases which is to be distributed to the top and/or bottom surfaces of a glass sheet within the apparatus housing. Spent hot working fluid, which has impinged the top and bottom surfaces of the glass sheet, is drawn into a mixing chamber operably positioned about a gas burner. The spent hot working fluid and newly produced hot combustion gases from the gas burner are mixed within the mixing chamber and then distributed toward and into operable contact with at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A ring section furnace for the calcination of carbon bodies, has a number of chambers (K1-Kn) in which the carbon bodies are placed when performing the calcination process. During the calcination process, a part of the furnace comprising a minor number of chambers is divided into a preheating zone (K3-K2), a combustion zone (K7-K14), and a cooling zone (K8-K10) that together in a successive manner, are advanced relative to the furnace. Flue gases formed under the process are sucked out from the first chamber (K2) in the preheating zone through a pipe connection to a common ring duct (10). To eliminate the entrance of false air from the first chamber (K1) adjacent the preheating zone, a counterpressure fan (17) is arranged in connection with the first chamber (K1).

Abstract: A device for heat-treating metallic workpieces in a vacuum has a revolving vacuum furnace with an inlet transfer lock for introducing a batch of workpieces into the revolving vacuum furnace and with an outlet transfer lock for removing the batch of workpieces from the revolving vacuum furnace. The revolving vacuum furnace has also an annular turntable for transporting the batch of workpieces from the inlet transfer lock to the outlet transfer lock. At least one carburization furnace, for carburization treatment of the batch of workpieces, is connected to the revolving vacuum furnace at least at a peripheral location of the revolving vacuum furnace between the inlet transfer lock and the outlet transfer lock in the direction of transportation of the batch of workpieces. The annular turntable transports the batch of workpieces to the at least one carburization furnace.

Abstract: A walking hearth furnace comprising fixed and walking hearths (1 to 3 respectively 4,5) on the refractory lining of which the work (6) is placed. Slanted surfaces are worked into the refractory lining forming depressions (15) and causing the work to be heated from underneath. The pieces of work are arranged in such a manner that spaces form between them, through which the heat from above can act on the slanted surfaces. Furthermore, the slanted surfaces serve to remove the scale both through the slots between the hearths and through scale chutes (16) which lead downwards out of the depressions (15) and operate in conjunction with scale removal devices (22).

Abstract: A convection furnace is provided for brazing workpieces in a heated recirculating atmosphere, in which the workpieces are positioned within a heating chamber of the furnace and are alternately heated from different sides in a controlled manner such that a substantially uniform temperature is maintained throughout the workpieces while their temperatures are increased by the heated atmosphere, preferably an inert gas. The braze furnace is adapted to intermittently divert the heated atmosphere to one side of the heating chamber, through one or more stacked workpieces, to an opposite side of the heating chamber. As such, a pulsed multi-directional convective atmosphere flow is achieved through the workpieces that promotes a more rapid and uniform heat transfer to the workpieces. As a result, each structure as a unit reaches a suitable braze temperature more effectively and efficiently than previously possible.

Abstract: A method of transporting an article through a processing housing while minimizing the loss of a controlled atmosphere from the process housing. This method includes the steps of placing an article on a first carriage member, then vertically displacing the article from the entry level through an entry opening of entry housing to a processing level. The article is then transferred from the first carriage member to an endless conveyor for transporting, horizontally, through the process housing. The article is then transferred to a second carriage member which moves the article vertically through a exit housing to and through an exit opening near an exit level. The processed article is then removed at the exit level. The vertical distance between the process level and the entry opening and the exit opening separates the controlled atmosphere from the ambient atmosphere exterior of the housings.

Abstract: A multipurpose controlled atmosphere heat treatment system applicable to small-quantity production of multiple items as well as mass-production. A delivery path is provided so as to pass through a workstation and the heat treatment system and an automatic guided vehicle travels along this delivery path. The automatic guided vehicle shuts out external air, comprises a holding chamber in which an inert gas atmosphere can be created, and shifts workpieces from an elevator provided in a high-rise warehouse into treatment cells. Each treatment cell has a sealing door on the side confronting to the automatic guided vehicle and pipes and various devices on a back face, ceiling or front face thereof.

Abstract: A waste car disposer which includes a plurality of tunnel-like furnaces connected in series and separately controlled to heat waste cars at different temperatures so that plastic, rubber, glass, lead, zinc, nickel, copper, iron and steel parts of waste cars are separately melted and respectively collected for reclamation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoke and heat source recycling device for a tunnel kiln in order to prevent smoke pollution. It has an exhaust fan in the preheating zone, the exhaust fan absorbing heat from the preheating zone and delivering such heat to a heat energy adjustment zone and waste gas treatment system for treating pollutants such as coal dust. Heat in the dry zone is delivered into the exhaust duct through an exhaust collector. A and pollution controller detects the pollution and enters signal into an electronic control to control gates for exhaust gas to enter either a gas treatment system or to be emitted into the air through the chimney.

Abstract: A method for sintering industrial waste into environment conserving stones. The process mixes waste industrial earth and industrial waste in a predetermined ratio, and forms sterile environment protecting stones with high strength by the following processes: vacuum ejection, drying, breaking, screening, separating, sintering, and vibrating screening. The stones can be uses in the construction of civil engineering projects, or used as stone additives in asphalt pavement.

Abstract: A furnace comprises a furnace shell rotatable about a rotational axis. The furnace shell provides a furnace chamber for holding a solid particulate reagent as the furnace shell rotates. At least two electrodes are exposed to the chamber and are mounted in electrically insulated fashion therein. The electrodes are spaced apart so that solid particulate reagent in the furnace chamber can be heated up by direct resistance heating thereof, utilizing the electrodes.

Abstract: A hybrid furnace includes a vacuum furnace for heat treating a workpiece and a transportable oven removably attached to the vacuum furnace for holding the workpiece and maintaining it at an elevated temperature. The workpiece is transferred from the vacuum furnace to the transportable oven under an inert atmosphere to prevent the workpiece from being exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere or from undergoing a phase transition. The transportable oven is adapted to be detached from the vacuum furnace and transported to a work station for further processing of the workpiece. Heating means is provided in the transportable oven to maintain the temperature of the workpiece above a preselected warming temperature while the workpiece is waiting to be processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for vitrifying a soot preform from which an optical fiber is produced by drawing, is composed of a main vacuum chamber 20 in which a muffle tube 70 for vitrifying the soot preform PF is located, and an auxiliary vacuum chamber 30 mounted on the main vacuum chamber 20 and communicated therewith through a passage, and a gate valve 60 for opening and closing the passage. The muffle tube 70 has a inner surface covered with silicon carbide layer 70a.

Abstract: Device for the heat treatment of moving yarns, during, for example, a texturizing stretching operation. The yarn is subject to two successive treatments, one at a high temperature, the other at a normal treatment temperature. The device is one wherein these successive phases are obtained by means of a heating unit formed by a cylindrical assembly comprising two heating zones on either side of which are provided guide means for the yarn. The zones are heated by means of two resistance elements embedded inside the cylindrical assembly. The two resistance elements are mounted in parallel, offset with respect to each other along the length of the unit, and each associated with a thermocouple element enabling temperature to be regulated accurately.

Abstract: A steel workpiece reheating apparatus and method for raising the temperature of a thin continuously-cast hot workpiece to a required working temperature without causing harm to the workpiece. The apparatus includes a high intensity heating chamber provided at the charging end of a reheat furnace structure which briefly and intensely heats the workpiece above its melting temperature before it enters the remainder of the reheat furnace. The provision of the high intensity heat chamber at the charging end of the reheat furnace structure permits substantial reduction in the length normally required of the reheat furnace to raise the workpiece to the desired working temperature and thus reduces the time spent by the workpiece in the reheat furnace. The high intensity heating chamber uses in its combustion process combustion air preferably preheated by a heat recovery system associated with the heat derived from the combustion occurring within other portions of the reheat furnace.

Abstract: An atmospheric oven containing an atmospheric gas kept at a predetermined purity accommodates a transport for transporting an object to be heated along a predetermined transporting path. A rectangular sectioned tubular body for preventing the gas from flowing outside the oven extends a certain length from an entrance of the oven and an exit of the oven and has a sectional area necessary for passing the object through the tubular body.

Abstract: The pusher type furnace comprises an entry chamber (2) associated with a charging device (30) to transfer charge holding devices (a through q) carrying the charges to be heat-treated. The entry chamber is followed by a rectilinear heat treatment chamber (3) and the latter by an exit chamber (4). The entry chamber and the exit chamber may each be separated from the heat treatment chamber by means of doors (15, 16). A pusher device (5) operating in a cyclic mode pushes all charge holding devices in each cycle forward by the length of one charge holding device in the direction of charge travel (X). For separate temperature and atmosphere control in subsequent sections (8, 9 and 10) of the heat treatment chamber (3), two doors (11, 12) are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soldering apparatus comprising: a soldering chamber; transporting means for transporting the objects to be soldered through the soldering chamber; and heating means for heating the objects to be soldered in the soldering chamber, wherein the heating means are formed by means for feeding heated gas to the chamber. A simple device is thus obtained which heats uniformly. Such an apparatus can be embodied in both closed and open form. According to one of the preferred embodiments the means for feeding heated gas are formed by at least one heating unit, wherein the heating units are each formed by a fan and at least one heating device, for instance an electrical heating filament, connected forwardly thereof. Cooling units can also be used.

Abstract: An atmospheric oven containing an atmospheric gas kept at a predetermined purity and accommodates a transporting means for transport an object to be heated along a predetermined transporting path. A includes a cylindrical portion for preventing the gas from flowing outside the oven, extends in a certain length from an entrance of the oven and an exit of the oven and has a sectional area necessary for passing the object through the portion.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: An oven comprises a housing and at least one heater and a conveyor belt which runs through the housing and on which food products to be heated can be accommodated. The belt runs in two helical paths about spaced parallel vertical axes, the direction of movement of the belt along one helical path, as seen from above, being opposite the direction of movement of the belt about the other helical path. The housing comprises two chambers separated by a partition, one of the helical paths of the conveyor being disposed in one chamber and the other helical path being disposed in the other chamber. The partition has an opening through which the belt runs between the chambers. In this way, different temperature levels can be maintained in the two chambers.

Abstract: A muffle furnace assembly for brazing aluminum heat exchanger workparts comprises a tubular muffle having a workpart conveyer extending therethrough. A pair of fans disposed inside the muffle circulate high temperature atmosphere through the workparts. The muffle is surrounded by an insulative outer shell spaced to form an interstitial cavity therebetween. High temperature combustion gasses are directed into the interstitial cavity and flow in a helical path about the muffle. Louvers are provided in the muffle, between the workparts and the fans, for regulating the amount of inert gas flow within the muffle. Inlet and exit vestibules usher workparts into and out of the furnace assembly to minimize oxygen contamination within the muffle.

Abstract: A furnace is provided for continuous high-temperature heat processing in which a work product is conveyed through a furnace muffle by rectilinear beam motion. An inner and an outer beam are equipped with interleaved rods which are used to alternately lift the work product and advance it through the muffle. A continuous cycle of sequentially raising and advancing the rods attached to one beam, while lowering and retracting the rods of the other beam causes stepwise movement of the work product through the furnace. At no point in the cycle does the work product, rods, or beams make contact with the muffle, nor do the interleaved rods touch each other. The result is frictionless conveyance of the work product through the muffle which virtually eliminates particle generation.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for rolling hot wide strips from continuously cast thin slabs in successive steps of operation of a rolling line which includes a continuous finishing train. One or more casting lines and individual thin slabs are severed from the cast strand. The thin slabs are homogenized and adjusted to rolling temperature in an equalizing furnace and the thin slabs are transferred from the equalizing furnace to the rolling line. Roller-type turning furnaces provided in each of the casting lines and in the rolling line are use by turning the roller-type turning furnaces toward each other into positions which are inclined relative to the casting and rolling lines in the manner of switches for alternatingly conveying thin slabs from one of the casting lines through the roller-type turning furnaces into the rolling line.

Abstract: The roller-hearth continuous furnace of the present invention comprises a tunnel-shaped furnace housing provided with a larger number of rollers shielded from outside, the inside of the furnace being divided into a heating section, a soaking section and a cooling section in this order with the heating section located close to the inlet of the furnace housing. The cooling section has a means for feeding of atmosphere-controlling gas and a means for detection of furnace inside pressure. The heating section has a means for forced gas exhaustion, capable of sucking a furnace inside gas correspondingly to the furnace inside pressure detected by said means for detection of the pressure. The present roller-hearth continuous furnace having the above constitution ensures cooling in a stable atmosphere and can provide household or industrial ceramic wares of stable quality.

Abstract: The present invention enables a tile or other ceramic wares to have a deep reduced color. A roller hurse kiln 210 includes rollers 214, and a burner mounted in a firing zone adjacent to the outlet so as to provide a reducing gas. The burner has gas injection holes. The injection holes may be circular holes having a diameter of 1 to 5 mm or may be in the form of a slit having a width of 1 to 5 mm. The burner is located 15 to 80 mm above a material to be fired.

Abstract: A rotary, continuous pyrolytic conversion system converts solid hydrocarbons into gases, liquid hydrocarbons and char by pyrolyzing feed stocks including: plastic waste, tires and plastic from automobile shredding operations; containers and trays of styrofoam and other plastic materials such as used in "fast food" restaurants; rubber; leather; tires; garbage; sewage sludge; coal; oil shale; broken asphalt and the like. These materials are preferably shredded and kinds thereof having different melting points are mixed to facilitate movement of the feed stock through the converter without clogging. Preferably, the materials are baled and injected into the converter where they are severed as they are injected. The materials are fed by gravity from the input end of a converter drum to the discharge end thereof; the input end being elevated above the discharge end.

Abstract: A convection braze furnace for brazing aluminum heat exchangers in an inert gas rich atmosphere includes entrance and exit vestibules forming atmosphere barriers of suspended stainless steel strips. The interior of the braze furnace is divided into multiple zones for progressively heating the heat exchangers to a brazing temperature and then cooling the heat exchangers in the final zone. An impeller circulates the heated inert gas atmosphere within each zone to accelerate heat transfer. A chain type conveyor supports the heat exchangers as they are moved through the braze furnace. An isolated return tube surrounds the lower return side of the conveyor chain as it passes through the braze furnace. The braze furnace housing is comprised of inner and outer shells having an inert gas pressurized cavity interstitial therebetween. The inner shell includes a plurality of expansion strips having generally ellipsoidal corner expansion joints.

Abstract: An improved vacuum treatment system includes containers for accommodating articles to be treated, a tunnel-like casing in which a plurality of the casings can move contiguously, a driving device for making the containers move in the casing, a plurality of evacuation ducts open to the casing at a plurality of locations, sealing devices for sealing the clearance between the outer surfaces of the containers and the inner surface of the casing at the positions between the openings, and an evacuation facility for evacuating the inside of the casings through the evacuation ducts. The locations of the evacuation ducts closest to the opposite ends of the casing are spaced apart from the ends of the casing by distances greater than the length of the container. The intervals between the locations of the evacuation ducts are preferably longer than the length of the container.

Abstract: Plant (10) to roll flat products which is fed in line by at least one continuous casting line (11) equipped with a shears (12) upstream of a temperature equalization furnace (13), the outlet of which is in the immediate vicinity of and in cooperation with the intake of a rolling train (10), the temperature equalization furnace (13) comprising within itself three walking beams (22-23-24), of which a first walking beam (22) cooperates with an intake roller conveyor (16) of the temperature equalization furnace (13) and is able to take continuously slabs (18) arriving from the at least one continuous casting line (11) and arranged on the intake roller conveyor (16) and to place them on a second intermediate walking beam (23), which is able to transfer these slabs (18) onto a third walking beam (24), which in turn can transfer the slabs (18) onto an outlet roller conveyor (15).

Abstract: A soldering apparatus of a reflow type contains a preheating chamber and a reflow chamber which are provided with a plurality of heaters for heating printed circuit boards with chips temporarily mounted thereon with solder pastes during conveyance by a conveyor. The heaters are mounted on the side walls of the chamber, extending along a direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards. The chambers are also provided with a screening member respectively so as to prevent direct radiation of radiant heat from the heaters into the chambers and onto the printed circuit boards and to provide a uniform air flow so as to be blown uniformly onto the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: An oven for the partial heat treatment of tools, for example, twist drills, omprises a first section, which contains the heating chamber that is constantly at the desired operating temperature. A second section for the loading and unloading and the quenching is provided. Between the two sections there is arranged a transport device for the charges of tools. The oven may be in the form of a one-chamber or three-chamber vacuum oven. The oven provides a high heat transfer rate, because the heating chamber is constantly at the desired operating temperature and the heat transfer by heat radiation under vacuum is started immediately when the charge is at its final position inside the heating chamber.

Abstract: A furnace of decreasing oxygen concentration to ultra low amount is basically characterized by providing a furnace body divided into a plurality of zones, a device for supplying a non-oxidizing or a reducing atmospheric gas into each of the zones so as to increase the internal pressure, shutter devices provided at least at an inlet and an outlet of the furnace body for checking the flowing atmosphere, transferring devices installed at the inside of the furnace, at the interior and at the outside thereof respectively, and a control device for opening the shutter device before the work in a transferring direction, wherein the transferring device installed within the furnace supports the work at its both sides of the under surface and continuously send it while the upper surface of the work is exposed to the atmosphere in the furnace.

Abstract: The process of our invention heats a plurality of partially finished products extruded in an extrusion unit or changed in a transforming unit as a preparation for introduction into subsequent transformation or processing units. In extruding and/or transforming or heating the heat applied to at least one partially finished product length group is transferred during intermediate transport of the partially finished product length group and/or during storage by heat transfer with other partially finished product length groups. The heat transfer is caused by radiation, convention and/or direct contact. An apparatus for performing the process according to our invention comprising a thermal insulating chamber provided with an air flow and air feed devices and if necessary an auxiliary heating unit is also provided.

Abstract: An atmosphere furnace including a plurality of divided furnace units, work transfer devices connecting the adjacent divided furnace units and those for the divided furnace units at both ends of the furnace. Each transfer device includes a tubular connecting frame and a work transfer member housed therein and the work transfer member has a work housing space in it. The work transfer member is rotatable, receives at a first position the work from outside or from an adjacent divided furnace unit into its work housing space, and send it out of the furnace or pass it to the adjacent divided furnace unit at a second position. When the work transfer member is at a middle position between the first and the second positions, the work housing space thereof faces an inner surface of the connecting frame so as to be sealed against the both end openings of the frame.

Abstract: A wafer handling apparatus has a common desk including a top surface having a front zone, a middle zone and a rear zone, the front zone being capable of receiving plural indexers functioning as a wafer sender and/or receiver, a couple of wafer processing units disposed adjacent lateral sides of the middle zone, a wafer baking oven disposed adjacent a middle of the rear zone, and a wafer handling mechanism disposed adjacent a middle of the front zone, the wafer processing units and the oven.

Abstract: A pyrolyzer for gas chromatography having a subsidiary heater and a main heater. The subsidiary heater is set below the pyrolysis temperature of the sample, e.g., at 300 degrees centigrade, to drive volatile components from the sample. The main heater is set at a pyrolysis temperature to pyrolize the sample, e.g., at 600 degrees centigrade. The sample is placed in the pyrolyzer in a sample vessel that can be positioned to be heated by main heater, the subsidiary heater and a position not heated by either the main heater or the subsidiary heater.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement of high thrust burners with control systems for a heating furnace which heat metal or similar product, in order to erase developing cold skid marks. The location of these burners is specified, transversely and longitudinally as well as their position with the product face. This invention considers the flow of gases inside of the furnace and the necessary burner characteristic required for the application of these burners to the developing skid marks and the reasons for the specifications. The burners are required to be such that the maximum available heat in the flame is applied at the spot required in order to heat those spots at a faster rate than the cooling effect of the water cooled parts, which are the initial causes of the cold spots. Moreover, it is specified as to the control systems and to the part in which they play in the operation of the skid mark erasure burners.

Abstract: A method for bringing a plurality of steel slabs to rolling temperature uses a furnace having a controllable energy supply. To accommodate variation of slab temperature at entry, especially mixing of cold and hot slabs, at least one virtual slab corresponding to a group of the steel slabs is determined, and the energy supply is adjusted in dependence on the desired mean temperature at exit from the furnace of the virtual slab. Suitably the furnace has at least two zones each with an individually controllable energy supply, and virtual slabs are determined for the slabs in each zone. Then the energy supply in each zone is adjusted in dependence on the desired mean temperature at exit from the furnace of the virtual slab of that zone and preceding zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of a tunnel furnace partitioned into a plurality of zones for heat treatment of, e.g., ceramic or glass workpieces. As usual the temperatures of the respective zones are controllable individually. Furthermore, in each of selected zones the temperature of that zone is varied from a first level to a second level during the stay of each workpiece in that zone and returned to the first level in a predetermined time after letting the workpiece out of that zone, and the length of stay of each workpiece in that zone is controlled such that another workpiece can be introduced into that zone while the preceding workpiece stays in the next zone and such that a number of workpieces can be heat treated in succession under the same time-temperature conditions.

Abstract: A soldering apparatus of the reflow type contains a preheating chamber and a reflow chamber which are provided with a plurality of heaters for heating printed circuit boards with chips temporarily mounted thereon with solder pastes during conveyance by a conveyor. The heaters are provided with a screening member and/or a partition member so as to prevent direct radiation of radiant heat from the heaters into the chambers and onto the printed circuit boards and to provide a uniform air flow to be blown uniformly onto the printed circuit boards. The heaters are arranged so as to heat them in such a manner as to increase temperatures in the direction from an inlet to an outlet so as to become higher with a predetermined temperature differential from the previous heater, thus removing bubbles generated upon fusion of the solder pastes and minimizing heat shock to the chips as they are heated.

Abstract: A roller hearth type heat treating furnace has a furnace housing, the inside of which is partitioned into first, second and third treating chambers by a plurality of heat insulating intermediate doors. In order to independently control the temperature inside each treating chamber, the first treating chamber is provided with radiant tubes, the second treating chamber with radiant tubes and a cooler with a fan and the third treating chamber with electro tubes and cooling tubes. The furnace accommodates a series of hearth rollers which can be selectively driven by a plurality of electric motors and a plurality of clutches so that a material located in one chamber may be transported into the adjoining chamber only or successively transported within the furnace.