Abstract: An oven for the continuous baking of Arabic bread and the like. An endless mesh conveyor has gas burners adjustably positioned beneath the upper run thereof at the inlet of the oven and for more than one-half the length of the oven and a vertically adjustable overhead gas burner assembly is provided at the tail end of the oven. Venting of the interior of the oven is provided through openings in a side wall and exhaust stacks connected into the opening and extending upwardly from the top of the oven housing.

Abstract: An annealing lehr comprised of a plurality of serially arranged heating and cooling sections which form a continuous treating chamber through which the ware passes during the annealing operation. An endless foraminous conveyor belt moves through the treating chamber and supports the ware to be annealed, with both the charging and return flights of the belt being located within the heating section to pre-heat the return flight. At least one burner is mounted adjacent the top and at each side of each heating section, and the burners fire directly into a duct which communicates with the inlet of a fan positioned centrally above the treating chamber. The circulating system includes down ducts at each side of the treating chamber and electrical heating elements can be located in the down ducts for providing the necessary heating, in lieu of the gas burners.

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: A scrap preheating system of the type employing a conveyor upon which the scrap is placed, an elongate burner hood surrounding the conveyor and burners within the hood which direct flames upon the scrap. The side walls of the burner hood include an elongate exhaust chamber and side wall ports between the exhaust chamber and the interior of the hood. An exhaust fan induces a negative pressure under the hood through the exhaust chambers which pulls the unburned hydrocarbons from under the hood through the side wall ports into the exhaust chamber. Additionally, air is drawn upwardly between the conveyor and side walls of the hood and through the side wall ports into the exhaust chambers wherein combustion is completed and pollution reduced. The length of hood and burner array exceeds the length of scrap material on the conveyor. The conveyor is periodically jogged during the preheating cycle to slightly advance and mix the scrap and only those burners positioned above the scrap are operated as it advances.