Abstract: A diffuser (24) for an annealing furnace has a plurality of radially extending generally and vertically oriented vanes (40) for radially directing furnace gases. The vanes have top edges (42) defining a generally planar support and the top edges of the vanes have a notch (38) therein for receiving a conduit (34) preferably ring shaped that extend substantially around a center portion of the diffuser plate. The conduit (34) is connected to an inlet (32) for receiving enriching gases and exit ports (50) circumferentially space about said conduit (34) passing the enriching gases into the diffuser (24) to be mixed with ambient furnace gases.

Abstract: There is provided a heat treatment unit which uses a multi-layered heat treatment furnace (1) comprising a layer of fluidized bed (2) composed of particles and another layer of atmosphere layer (3) composed of gases, the former being excellent in thermal efficiency and uniformity of heat distribution and the latter being positioned in the free board section over the fluidized bed (2), in which these layers operate at temperature levels different from each other, and the work piece is heat-treated by being partly immersed in the fluidized bed (2) having a given temperature with the other part being exposed in the atmosphere layer (3) also operating at a given temperature, according to desired mechanical properties of the work piece at each position. This heat treatment unit is improved from the conventional one in that it can give desired mechanical properties which are required by each part of metallic work requires without increasing the investment cost.

Abstract: The oxygen-fuel torch includes a torch body having fuel gas and oxygen conduits for conducting the respective gas to the torch head and therethrough to a torch tip. The torch tip is connected through an adaptor to the torch head and includes an elongated tip stem that is joined to an arcuately curved tip head. The tip head extends angularly through an angle of at least about 245 degrees and has three outlet orifices opening toward a common point to direct three flames to substantially surround tubing for soldering or otherwise heating. If three orifices are provided, the orifices are angularly spaced about 120 degrees from one another.

Abstract: A device for heating an article such as a heat-shrinkable sleeve (12) by means of a gas torch comprising an element (8) which is mounted on the torch and will deflect hot gases from the torch burner (7) and side arms (9) that are movable between two positions. In one position the article is heated substantially by radiation while in the other position it is heated principally by hot gases which have been produced by the burner and have been deflected by the element.

Abstract: For a heating of a coil of strip with hot gas without an increased formation of scale, a coiler-furnace unit comprising a heat-insulating housing, a coiler mandrel disposed in said housing, and a heating tube which is adapted to surround the coiler mandrel and to heat the latter, is characterized in that the heating tube consists of a radiant inner tube, which is enclosed by a shell, at least one hot gas passage is defined between the inner tube and the shell, the heat-insulating housing is double-walled to define at least one flow passage, and the outlet opening of the hot gas passage of the heating tube communicates with an inlet opening of the flow passage of the heat-insulating housing in at least one axial position of the heating tube.