Abstract: A multiple tier oven which comprises a plurality of superimposed oven chambers, each being of tunnel character having an ingress at one end and an egress at the opposite end; each oven being heated at its top and bottom, and individually controllable heating means for each oven to allow of preselected temperature differentials. Associated with each oven chamber and surfacewise aligned with the floor thereof is a service deck for introduction of articles or products to be heated, such as, for example, food, into the related oven chamber and for receipt of heated articles from the egress end thereof. Endless conveyor means are associated with each deck and having a preselected number of sweep arms engageable thereon for directing articles into, through, and from each oven chamber.

Abstract: Tunnel kiln preheat and firing section arrangement. The firing section includes a plurality of excess air burners based along each side thereof and a plurality of exhaust ports disposed between adjacent burners. The hot combustion products from the burners plus entrained air are directed upward through damper controlled slots disposed adjacent the walls of the kiln firing section. The hot gases stream upward along the kiln wall, over along the kiln roof, downward and through the stacks of ware to be fired and then are drawn upward again with the stream of burner combustion products so as to form a powerful current of recirculating hot gases which provides a uniform firing temperature throughout the stacks of ware to be processed. The preheat section uses the hot gases exhausted from the firing section, such gases being introduced at the bottom, circulated upward, in the same manner and with the same effect as the gases in the firing section.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating materials such as aluminum billets to a temperature suitable for extrusion is disclosed. The apparatus has at least two zones arranged in tandem, a preheat zone and one or more primary heating zones. Every zone has inner and outer chambers. The outer chamber is supplied with high temperature gas at a pressure in excess of that of the inner chamber. The chambers are separated by baffles which define narrow slot-like aspirating throats through which secondary gases from a secondary source are jetted after entraining high temperature gases from the primary chamber. The secondary gases are at a lower temperature to provide efficient impingement of the gases on a target such as a billet with the primary gases providing the principle heat source. The apparatus is of the closed type utilizing rapid recycling of gases for efficient use of thermal energy.

Abstract: A furnace for flux-free soldering of aluminum-containing workpieces in a controlled atmosphere has a furnace chamber through which workpieces to be soldered are made to travel. The furnace chamber itself is a gas-tight metallic muffle which is thermally insulated from the outer part of the furnace and has an inlet for the workpieces and an outlet for them. A first lock chamber is interposed between the furnace chamber and the inlet, and a second lock chamber is interposed between the outlet and the furnace chamber. Arrangements are provided for admitting vacuum and protective gas into the lock chambers, and protective gas into the muffle and a heating arrangement is provided for heating the controlled atmosphere in the muffle.

Abstract: Heat treatment tunnel kiln for products having a circular cross-section, comprising a main heat treatment zone for circulating tubes or bars perpendicular to their axis, ensuring the rolling of the tubes or bars inside the supports, and zones for circulating the supports parallel to their axis, connected to flow circuits for gases different from those in the main zone.

Abstract: A preheating system for an aluminum remelt furnace, the preheating system extracting hot flue gases from the melting furnace and passing them through cartridges specially designed to hold various forms of aluminum stock in a manner permitting effective transfer of heat from the flue gas.

Abstract: The heating unit is constructed from two horizontally reciprocating parts having complementary recesses to define several, vertically stacked, cylindrical heating chambers, each with a central heating core extending from a common rear wall plate. The arrangement is movable in axial direction to receiving tube ends positioned in aligned and vertically stacked, horizontal position, in front of the heating chambers. Conveyor and transport facilities move tubes laterally in and out of these positions and cause each of them to be heated, in sequence, in all of the chambers.

Abstract: An oven for heating tubular parisons to a target or orientation temperature. A first plenum on one side of the oven and a second plenum on the opposite side of the oven, both exhaust to a common chamber disposed therebetween. The parisons are heated by a high velocity fluid above the target temperature in the zone defined by the first plenum and the chamber and the parisons are tempered by a lower velocity fluid at the target temperature in the zone defined by the second plenum and the chamber.