EP2667132A2 - Kiln assembly and method for operating the kiln assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The furnace (1) has a blower producing an airflow (L) circulating inside the furnace. A conveyor belt (3) i.e. chain conveyor, continuously conveys light metal components (2) through the furnace. A heat source e.g. electric heater, heats the light metal components by the airflow in the furnace by convection in a temperature between 200 degree Celsius and 450 degree Celsius. One of the light metal components entering the furnace, and the other light metal components exiting from the furnace are constructed as a barrier for hindering escaping of the airflow from the furnace. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for thermal treatment of light metal components in a furnace (2) a method for operating a furnace.

Description

The present invention relates to a furnace for the thermal treatment of light metal components according to the features in the preamble of claim 1, 16.

The present invention further relates to a method for the thermal treatment of light metal components according to the features in the preamble of claim 11, 25.

For the manufacture of motor vehicle components, the use of sheet metal components has been known for many decades. The sheet metal components are first formed and then assembled into individual modules or to an entire body. Motor vehicle bodies are nowadays predominantly designed as self-supporting bodies, which is why the sheet metal components not only have to assume aesthetic or shaping tasks, but also have to possess rigidity properties in order to be able to do so Vehicle body in operation to give sufficient rigidity. Demands on the crash behavior are also made to the motor vehicle structural components. So they have to dissipate impact energy in forming energy by targeted shaping in an impact case.

As a preferred material steel has been found due to its low producibility at the same time high rigidity. In particular, the hot forming and press-hardening technology gives the steel high-strength or even very high-strength properties, which is why it was still possible to reduce the specific weight of the components, and at the same time to increase the strength values.

Today, however, not only are aesthetic and safety-related expectations placed on motor vehicles, but also ecological and economic aspects for operating the motor vehicle are given priority. So it is particularly important that the motor vehicle has a low fuel consumption while also low CO2 emissions. For this purpose, there are various approaches, such as the use of new drive methods such as the hybrid drive or a special shape, so that the motor vehicle has a low air resistance.

Another approach is the use of light metal components to reduce the specific weight of the vehicle body and thus the entire motor vehicle. In this case, in particular light metal components made of aluminum alloys are used.

For certain applications, for example at high degrees of deformation or when setting specific strength values in aluminum components, it is necessary to thermally influence the boards before forming and / or in intermediate stages during forming and / or molded parts after forming.

From the state of the art continuous furnaces are known, for example from the DE 10 2010 019 215 A1 , Such furnaces have a transport system on which sheet metal components or sheet metal blanks are conveyed continuously through a furnace and are heated within the furnace. There are numerous approaches, for example, the infrared heating or even an inductive heating of the component or the board within the furnace.

However, when such furnaces are used for light alloys, some methods are inefficient because the aluminum is e.g. the thermal radiation is reflected or technically impractical since e.g. Form boards or parts can be heated only unevenly and warp badly often but above all, very lossy, since a large part of the introduced energy is not used. Another disadvantage is the high space requirements of most systems.

Consequently, the furnace systems can only be operated inefficiently, which further increases the production costs of the already more expensive light metal material compared to steel.

Object of the present invention is therefore, starting from the prior art, to provide a furnace for the thermal treatment of light metal components and a method for operating the furnace, with the efficient mass production of light metal components can be carried out and which is inexpensive to operate.

The aforementioned object is achieved with a furnace for the thermal treatment of light metal components according to the features in claim 1 and 16.

The procedural part of the object is further achieved by a method for the thermal treatment of light metal components according to the features in patent claims 11 and 25.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are part of the dependent claims.

The furnace system according to the invention for the thermal treatment of light metal components, wherein the light metal components are continuously conveyed through the furnace and the furnace has a heat source is characterized in that in the furnace system, an air flow is recirculated and therefore only those occurring to the board or the component and as leakage currents Energy must be replenished, the light metal components in the furnace convection are heated by the air flow and each entering the furnace light metal component and each exiting the furnace light metal component as a sealing bulkhead prevent the air flow from escaping from the furnace.

The furnace installation according to the invention uses the convection principle for thermal treatment, in particular for heating the light metal components. In the context of the invention, a light metal component may be an already completely formed component, but also a component in an intermediate molding stage or even a printed circuit board, which is formed after the thermal treatment.

Light metal components made of an aluminum alloy, in particular of an aluminum wrought alloy, are preferably treated with the furnace installation according to the invention. The respective components are placed on a temporally clocked or continuously running conveyor, and then occur one behind the other at a uniform distance and preferably at regular intervals by additional bulkheads separated into the furnace system. In this case, the furnace installation is formed in an inlet such that a light metal component entering the furnace system as well as an outlet of a light metal component exiting from the furnace system acts as a sealing bulkhead, so that the air flow circulated within the furnace system does not escape from the furnace system. Each at a transition from a component in the inlet region to the next component entering the inlet region, and with analogous principle at the outlet of the furnace there are losses due to the distance between the individual components. In addition, overflow losses also occur at a gap between the component or bulkhead and the adjacent terminations. Due to the ability to clocked or continuously promote a number of components over a short distance through the furnace, particularly short cycle times of a few seconds can be realized so that the furnace system can effectively handle large quantities of thermally treated light metal components.

In the context of the invention, in this and all variants of the furnace installation described below, a delivery of the components to be heated is possible in such a way that the delivery is carried out continuously so that there is no interruption. Thus, components are placed on the conveyor belt continuously at the entrance of the furnace, transported through the furnace and removed at the exit of the furnace from the transporters again.

In the context of the invention, the continuous promotion is still to be understood in such a way that it operates in the cycle of production with upstream and downstream production equipment. For example, the conveyor belt can be stopped briefly each for placing a new component and then optionally for simultaneous removal at the outlet of the furnace system of the heated component and then start again, until the next component.

In the context of the invention, it is also possible to choose the conveying speed of the components through the furnace not only depending on the residence time of the components within the furnace itself, but also adapt to the production process so that always provided in a sufficient amount of heat-treated components for further processing become.

Within the furnace installation according to the invention, one or more heat sources are arranged which generate at least one predetermined temperature. The temperature is preferably a temperature between 100 ° C. and 600 ° C., which then generates a flow of air through a circulating device, in particular through an air circulation device arranged inside the furnace in conjunction with a channel system formed in the furnace system Furnace transported light metal components flows. The heated air flow then exchanges heat due to the forced convection with the surface of the light metal components, so that there is a heat transfer from air flow to light metal component. In this case, the furnace system according to the invention uses the high thermal conductivity of aluminum in conjunction with the relatively large surface relative to the mass of the light metal component, so that within a very short time a thermal treatment, in particular a heating of the light metal component is feasible.

At the outlet of the furnace then an exit region is again formed such that the air flow is prevented from escaping from the furnace by the emerging from the furnace light metal components.

For the convection heating, both foreign-heated air and hot exhaust gas streams can be used. Within the scope of the invention, the air stream may be any type of gas stream, for example also the stream of a reaction gas.

Overall, the furnace installation according to the invention has the advantage that the entire installation does not first have to be heated when it starts up at the start of production, but only the air circulated in the furnace installation has to be appropriately tempered. The furnace system according to the invention can thus work with an effective efficiency, at significantly lower energy costs in relation to a heating system that operates on the heat radiation or even the induction principle. Just By circulating the air flow and preventing the escape of the air flow, it is possible, in conjunction with a thermal encapsulation of the furnace, to reheat the once heated air flow through the heat source again and again only slightly, as a result of which the energy costs during operation of the furnace installation according to the invention are very low ,

In particular, the heat source is designed as an electric heater and / or as a fuel heater. The heat source is installed inside the furnace after and / or in front of the circulation system. The thus heated air flow or gas flow is particularly preferably passed directly to the light metal components, so that no flow losses between heated directly from the heat source air flow and a long flow channel system. After passing through the air flow of the light metal components, this meets a channel system and in turn is supplied to the circulation device, wherein it is reheated shortly before or after the circulation then again by a heat source arranged there to the desired temperature.

The choice of the heat source as an electric heater or as a fuel heater is particularly dependent on the energy availability, the energy costs and the size of the furnace installation according to the invention. For smaller quantities, it makes sense to use an electric heater. In the context of the invention, however, both types of heating can be combined, so that the furnace system can be used modularly for various purposes.

Further preferably, the circulating means are arranged as circulating air blowers within the furnace. Depending on the temperature to be generated, the circulating air blowers may for example also be arranged in the duct system or after passing through the air flow of the light metal components, so that the initially sometimes up to 600 ° C hot air flow or gas flow has cooled to the light metal components, before he the circulating air blower happens. The circulating air fans are thus not the temperature maxima of more than 400 ° C or even more than 500 ° C exposed, but can be operated in a warm air flow at about 100 ° C to 400 ° C.

In the context of the invention, the circulating air blower can then be used in different blower stages, so that the air or gas flow velocity with which the air flow flows over the light metal components is adjustable. This allows in conjunction with a temperature control two adjustment parameters, so that the heating of the light metal components by the flow velocity and / or the temperature of the air flow can be adjusted.

Further preferably, the furnace system is thermally encapsulated, wherein further preferably at the inlet and / or outlet of the furnace sealing elements are arranged, wherein the sealing elements are very particularly preferably designed as exchangeable mold panels. The thermal encapsulation is, for example, a jacket insulation of the furnace, so that residual heat does not escape after passing through the light metal components or when passing the channel system from the furnace.

Furthermore, especially in the pulsed or continuous mass production of light metal components in the furnace system and out of the furnace out the input and the output area, thus the inlet and the outlet, critical, since heat, but also due to the convection principle of the furnace system according to the invention the air flow can escape. For this purpose, the inlet and the outlet are each designed so that successive light metal components that continuously enter the furnace system or emerge from this, the inlet and / or the outlet seal such that too small an amount of air circulating within the furnace air flow escapes , Unavoidable hot air / gas flow passing through gaps at the inlet and outlet can be collected by means of overlapping hoods and returned to the circulation, whereby the efficiency can be further increased.

When using the component geometry for sealing to increase the tightness of sealing elements are formed at the inlet and / or at the outlet, wherein the sealing elements are preferably formed as a form of aperture. When using different light metal components, in particular with different sized boards, it is thus possible by replacing the mold apertures that each map the cross-sectional area or orthogonal to the conveying direction spanning transverse surface of the light metal components through the mold apertures such that only a small gap occurs at a peripheral edge region , The furnace system according to the invention is thus optionally available for light metal components with different geometric dimensions.

Furthermore, at least two temperature zones are preferably formed in the furnace installation, wherein the light metal components can be used as a sealing bulkhead between the zones, in particular interchangeable mold panels are arranged at a transition between the zones. In the context of the invention, a first temperature zone and a second temperature zone is thus formed in an oven with two different temperature zones such that each passing from one zone to the other zone light metal component as a sealing bulkhead of a crossing, analogous to the principle at the entrance or on Exit the furnace system acts. Again, interchangeable mold panels are arranged so that in light metal components with different geometric dimensions from each other high air tightness is also formed between the zones.

In turn, in the respective temperature zones, a different thermal heat treatment can take place by selecting the air flow velocity and / or the air temperature. In the context of the invention, two circulating air fans can then also be arranged, for example, which generate different flow velocities in the respective zone. Also, two heat sources can be used to generate different temperatures within the furnace be arranged. In the context of the invention, the furnace installation can also have 3, 4, 5 or more zones, wherein it is again possible to assign a circulating-air blower and a heat source corresponding to each zone. In the context of the invention, it is likewise possible to adjust the flow velocity within a respective zone individually by way of variable cross-sectional nozzles at the zones associated with the zones, so that only one circulating-air blower is used. In the context of the invention, a temperature zone may also be formed as a cooling zone, so that here flows around in relation to the heat treatment zone cold air flow of, for example, only 50 ° C or even only 10 ° C, the light metal components.

Particularly preferably, the mold apertures on an opening, which correspond substantially to an orthogonal to the conveying direction arranged transverse surface of the light metal components. This ensures that even with a slightly inclined light metal plate only small gaps in the passage of the board through the mold aperture are given, so that a loss of air flow is avoided.

Furthermore, the furnace installation has a drying zone in the region of its inlet and / or a cooling zone in the region of its outlet. This makes it possible to first dry in the drying zone located on the light metal components lubricant or other coating or to remove it from the light metal components. Subsequently, the light metal components are thermally treated in the at least one temperature zone and optionally then cooled again in a cooling zone located at the outlet of the furnace. The cooling can be carried out at a component temperature of 100 ° C or even 50 ° C or even at room temperature. As a result, e.g. a thermal treatment, solution annealing, aging, annealing, controlled to be completed.

Further preferably, the circulated air flow within the furnace system when passing the light metal components is guided over this area, so that the air flow flows over the light metal components areally. During the Overflow takes place in this case a heat exchange of the heated / cold air or the warm gas to the colder or warmer in this light metal component instead. In the context of the invention, in particular the front side, but also due to the continuous passing of the light metal component whose rear surface is overflowed by the air flow, so that a uniform heating takes place from both sides. The respectively set in the light metal component temperature can then be adjusted in turn by selecting mutually different air temperatures or else from different flow rates. It is possible to adjust the parameters of temperature and flow rate in only one temperature zone, so that different components on the same furnace system are thermally treated. In the case of two or more temperature zones, it is also possible to individually adjust the flow rate and the temperature in each individual zone.

Furthermore, the light metal components are preferably transported on a conveyor belt, in particular on a chain conveyor, through the furnace system. In the context of the invention, the conveyor belt, in particular the chain conveyor, recordings with fixations, in which the light metal components, in particular in the form of boards are substantially vertically oriented storable. In addition, the system becomes more compact. so that the air flow flows over the components substantially in the vertical orientation from bottom to top or from top to bottom. The transport direction is then substantially in the horizontal direction, so that the vertically oriented components between the zones and at the inlet and at the outlet take over the respective Strömungsleit- and sealing function. Components can be arranged at an angle.

Preferably, the light metal components themselves are heatable to a temperature between 200 ° and 450 ° C within the furnace. Here then find metallurgical processes of the aluminum alloy used in each case, in particular aluminum wrought alloy, which later produces a good formability or a corresponding homogeneous structure with the desired strength properties.

• Bestücken eines Transportbandes mit einer Vielzahl von hintereinander gereihten Leichtmetallbauteilen, insbesondere Leichtmetallplatinen
• Befördern der Leichtmetallbauteile durch die Ofenanlage, wobei an einem Eintritt der Ofenanlage die Eintrittsöffnung durch das jeweils die Eintrittsöffnung passierende Leichtmetallbauteil abgedichtet wird,
• Erzeugen eines kontinuierlich umgewälzten warmen Luftstromes und Überströmen der Leichtmetallbauteile in mindestens einer Temperaturzone innerhalb der Ofenanlage, während das Leichtmetallbauteil getaktet oder kontinuierlich weiter durch die Ofenanlage transportiert wird,
• Austreten der thermisch behandelten Leichtmetallbauteile aus der Ofenanlage, wobei an einem Austrittsbereich der Ofenanlage eine Austrittsöffnung durch das jeweils die Austrittsöffnung passierende Leichtmetallbauteil abgedichtet wird.

The present invention further relates to a method for the thermal treatment of light metal components in a furnace installation, wherein the furnace installation has at least one of the aforementioned features and the method comprises the following method steps:

• Equipping a conveyor belt with a plurality of successively lined light metal components, in particular light metal blanks
• Conveying the light metal components through the furnace installation, the inlet opening being sealed by the light metal component passing through the inlet opening at each inlet of the furnace installation,
• Generating a continuously circulated warm air flow and overflow of the light metal components in at least one temperature zone within the furnace plant, while the light metal component is clocked or continuously transported through the furnace,
• Exiting the thermally treated light metal components from the furnace, wherein at an outlet region of the furnace system, an outlet opening is sealed by the respectively passing the outlet opening light metal component.

With the method according to the invention, it is possible, in particular light alloy components arranged one behind the other, very particularly preferably to provide light metal blanks on a conveyor belt and to guide them continuously through a furnace installation. Within the furnace, a warm air or gas stream is then generated by means of a heat source and circulated by a circulating air blower, so that the warm air or Gas stream overflows the light metal components. The light metal component itself then heats up due to convection forced on the surface of the light metal component, in particular on an upper side and also a lower side of the light metal component, whereby the light metal component, in particular when using an aluminum alloy due to the good thermal conductivity in a very short time of sometimes only a few seconds warm up.

According to the invention, the respective inlet opening or outlet opening is sealed by the respectively passing light metal component at an inlet and also at an outlet of the furnace system, so that the air or gas flow generated within the furnace system hardly escapes to the air surrounding the furnace. In the context of the invention, two or three light metal components passing successively through the inlet opening can then assume a sealing function, as it were. The same applies to the outlet opening.

Within the furnace itself, it is possible to adjust the heating of the light metal component by selecting the flow rate of the air or gas stream and / or the air or gas temperature of the air or gas stream. Also, two, three or more temperature zones may be subdivided within the furnace system, wherein in each zone then different heating effects are carried out on the light metal component by the parameters flow velocity of the air flow or else the temperature of the air flow.

The thermally treated light metal components can be supplied in the context of the invention, in particular in a cycle time of less than 15 seconds per component to another processing method.

Further preferably, the furnace has a drying zone and a cooling zone, wherein in the drying zone, the light metal components passing through the drying zone are dried, in particular a Dried on the light metal components existing lubricant. Furthermore, in a cooling zone, the light metal component can be cooled to a cold aging temperature. In the context of the invention, a cooling zone is particularly preferably arranged at the end of the furnace installation, however, one or more cooling zones can also be arranged between the individual temperature zones so that a heated component is cooled and subsequently reheated.

Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, the mold apertures arranged in the furnace installation, in particular in the inlet and outlet, but also at a transition between the zones in the case of a multi-zone furnace installation, are preferably exchanged depending on the light metal components to be treated. The mold apertures are selected in particular such that a transverse cutting surface, which is arranged orthogonally to the transport direction, seals in the best possible manner in conjunction with the light metal component passing through the mold aperture or even with two or three passing light metal components, so that the air flow can not escape.

The aforementioned features can be combined with each other in the context of the invention with the associated features without departing from their scope. Also, the parameters described above are fully applicable to the embodiments described below.

In a further embodiment, the object of the invention with a furnace for the thermal treatment of light metal components, wherein the light metal components are continuously conveyed through the furnace and the furnace has a heat source, achieved in that in the furnace system, an air flow is recirculated, wherein the light metal components in the Furnace convection are heated by the air flow and the light metal components can be transported on a conveyor through the furnace system, wherein at intervals to each other partitions on the Conveyor are arranged and at least one light metal component between two partitions can be arranged.

The above-mentioned features with respect to, for example, different temperature zones, the heat source itself, the flow velocity or air flow temperature or even the sealing elements in the form of mold apertures can also be combined with the second embodiment, without departing from the scope of the invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, in which the light metal components themselves are arranged as a sealing bulkhead, corresponding partitions are arranged on the conveyor in the second embodiment. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible to form a hybrid form of the first and the second embodiment, after which the partitions are each heated as a larger light metal component in the furnace and between the partitions, hence between the larger light metal components, smaller light metal components or even complex molded light metal components are arrangeable.

This is also the advantage of the second embodiment, according to which light metal components can be arranged between the two partitions, which may have different sized component dimensions, the outer geometry of the light metal components must be smaller than the outer dimensions of the partitions, so that in a continuous transport process the partitions occupy a sealing function and the light metal components do not protrude beyond the partitions.

Furthermore, it is possible to arrange at the same time two, three or even four or more light metal components between two partition walls and at the same time heat treat, wherein the light metal components can also have three-dimensional complex shaped geometries.

In the context of the invention, the furnace installation can be used in the use of partitions and arranging at least one light metal components between two partitions for different production series, without having to be retrofitted. Thus, it is possible, for example, in their outer dimensions different sized light metal components, in particular light metal boards to convey directly successively through the furnace installation according to the invention, wherein the sealing function is taken over by the partitions and the boards are easy to insert in plug-in or recording devices between the partitions. As a result, the furnace installation according to the invention can be used flexibly without the need for set-up times for retrofitting the furnace installation to a new production series. This saves acquisition and maintenance costs of the furnace installation according to the invention.

Furthermore, in the embodiment variant with partition walls, the furnace installation also optionally has at least two temperature zones which are different from one another, in which the components are heated to different temperatures from one another. It is thus possible, for example, first to heat the component in stages and / or to cool it in stages.

In the context of the invention, the partitions are in particular designed such that they act as a sealing bulkhead, wherein when passing through a partition wall of an inlet and / or outlet and / or a transfer occurs a seal, so that the air flow is prevented from escaping from the furnace , In particular, a continuous seal by two successive partitions at the inlet and / or the outlet and / or the crossing takes place. In the context of the invention, the crossing is arranged between two temperature zones, so that the component to be conveyed passes from one temperature zone into the other temperature zone.

In the context of the invention, therefore, at at an angle between preferably 10 ° and 85 ° arranged partitions to the conveying direction takes place a seal by two successive partitions.

The dividing walls are preferably arranged within the scope of the invention such that, by virtue of their angular position, the inlet and / or the outlet and / or the passage is essentially sealed by two partition walls, so that a respective air flow is at the outlet from the furnace installation or else at is prevented from a transition from one temperature zone to the other temperature zone.

In a further preferred embodiment, the partitions are arranged interchangeably on the conveyor. In the context of the invention, it is thus possible to arrange differently sized partitions on the conveyor itself or to vary the distance between two partitions. Thus, for example, with simultaneous heating of two, three, four or more light metal components, the partitions can be arranged at a greater distance on the conveyor, whereas when heating only one light metal component between two partitions, the partitions can be arranged at a distance to each other, the only one small gap between partition, component and component and next partition leaves, so that the air flow can flow over the light metal component.

In the context of the invention, the conveyor is designed in particular as a chain conveyor or as a conveyor belt. This makes it possible to operate the conveyor continuously, wherein in a further preferred embodiment, the partitions can be arranged before entering the chain conveyor and are removable after the exit of the chain conveyor. This ensures that in a return of the chain conveyor only a small footprint is needed, which would otherwise be significantly larger by opposite the chain conveyor projecting partitions. It is thus a much smaller return cross-sectional area required in relation to the cross-sectional area of the conveyor through the furnace, wherein on the conveyor corresponding partitions are placed.

Further preferably, the air flow in the furnace system of the partitions itself is conducted, in particular two different air streams in two different temperature zones are separated by a partition wall, wherein the air flow flows over the light metal components areally. This makes it possible, in the context of the invention in each case specifically exploit an air flow in a separate temperature zone due to the very good thermal properties of the material aluminum, that in the temperature zone by selectively overflowing the air flow of the light metal component in this targeted the desired temperature is adjustable.

By the partitions, it is again possible to separate different temperature zones from each other, wherein the individual air streams are passed through the partitions such that they do not substantially transgress into a different temperature zone. In the context of the invention, the partitions can furthermore preferably be designed as insulated, so that the heat conduction from a temperature zone into the second temperature zone is kept low by the partition wall itself. Furthermore, the partitions may be particularly preferably coated in the context of the invention, so that the partitions absorb only a small amount of heat energy from the air flow which also flows over the partitions. In particular, this is a thermally insulating coating.

Further preferably, the partitions are arranged at an angle on the conveyor, in particular at an angle between 10 ° and 80 °, more preferably at an angle between 20 ° and 70 °, most preferably at an angle between 30 ° and 60 ° and preferably at an angle between 40 ° and 50 °. This results in the context of the invention, two advantages. On the one hand, it is possible to ensure a continuous seal by the arrangement at an angle by two successive partitions in an inlet and / or outlet and / or crossing. A second advantage is that the angular arrangement Air flows from mutually different temperature zones are also separated from each other.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for operating a furnace, wherein the furnace system comprises a continuous conveyor for light metal components and at least two partitions are arranged on the conveyor, wherein in each case a light metal component is positioned between two partitions and then passes through the furnace system, wherein further in particular from each other different temperature zones are separated by the partitions. In the context of the invention, a sealing of the interior of the furnace system thus takes place by means of the partitions running continuously on the conveyor, wherein the light metal components arranged between the partitions are thermally treated by an air stream circulated within the furnace.

For this purpose, two successive partitions in particular seal off the inlet region and / or the outlet region and / or a transition region, wherein the air flow circulated in the furnace system, in particular in the respective temperature zone of the furnace circulated air flow at an escape from the furnace or at a trespassing be prevented in a different temperature zone.

The furnace system according to the invention for the thermal treatment of light metal components, wherein the light metal components are continuously conveyed through the furnace and the furnace has a heat source is characterized in a third embodiment, characterized in that in the furnace an air flow is circulated, wherein the light metal components in the furnace convection through the air flow can be heated and the light metal components can be transported on a conveyor through the furnace, wherein an inlet and / or outlet of the furnace are sealed by relatively movable bulkhead.

For this purpose, the relatively movable bulkheads are designed in particular as quick-opening and quick-closing bulkheads, the bulkheads, as a relative movement, particularly preferably performing a translational movement. Thus, a mounted on the conveyor light metal component is transported in the direction of the furnace and shortly before entering the furnace opens the bulkhead, then enters the light metal component in the furnace and immediately after entering the furnace closes the bulkhead again. By this embodiment, it is possible, regardless of the outer dimensions to transport light metal components of different sizes by the furnace.

The already mentioned features with respect to the heat source, the circulating air blower and the adjustable temperatures and the different temperature zones apply analogously to the third embodiment.

Further preferably, a relatively movable bulkhead is arranged between two different temperature zones. Thus, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that three relatively movable bulkhead to arrange at the entry, at least one transition between two different temperature zones and at an outlet of the furnace system according to the invention, each briefly open when passing a light metal component and immediately close again. The bulkheads can be actuated simultaneously within the scope of the invention; in particular, this embodiment offers itself at light metal components arranged on the conveyor at continuous intervals. All bulkheads then open at the same time, in the variant with three bulkheads, three light metal components then enter a respectively adjacent room of the kiln plant and the bulkheads close on top of it. In particular, when switching off or shutdown of the circulated air flow, this embodiment is advantageous. Within the scope of the invention, however, each bulkhead can also be opened and closed individually and thus separately. In particular, when discontinuously arranged on the conveyor light metal components an individual opening and closing of each bulkhead is advantageous.

In the context of the invention, a relatively movable, in particular fast-opening bulkhead is preferably designed as a sliding gate, wherein the bulkhead with respect to the conveying direction of the light metal components is movable upwards or to one side, wherein the bulkhead is further preferably in two parts, so that in each case one Part of the bulkhead is slidable to one side of the furnace. In particular, in a two-part embodiment variant of the relatively movable bulkhead to a long travel path to open against a one-piece bulkhead is avoided. Thus, even with opening sizes of 1 m or more, it is possible by the division of the bulkhead that each bulkhead in this case only needs to be opened by 0.5 m and then closed again. As a result, the opening and closing time is shortened, especially in the case of two-part bulkheads.

For opening and closing the bulkhead in particular an actuator is connected to this, wherein the actuator further preferably performs a linear movement and is pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically driven. An electromechanically drivable actuator is also possible within the scope of the invention. The actuator itself should be mechanically robust and simple, so that it is not susceptible to thermal expansions due to the thermal stresses of the furnace system and possibly control electronics as possible in the edge region or outside the furnace itself is arranged, which here no defects occur due to the thermal loads.

For this purpose, it is possible in the invention in particular that the furnace is surrounded by a shell, the bulkhead themselves are arranged in particular within the shell or that the bulkhead pass through the shell and are movable to open and close in a slot through the shell , In the first embodiment is especially at Bulk at a transition area from a temperature zone to a second temperature zone, which are arranged within the shell, avoiding escape of heat energy through slots for opening and closing the bulkhead. However, this is only practicable with smaller opening widths of the bulkhead in order to keep the outer dimensions of the shell also small or low. However, if an opening of the bulkhead of 1 m or more is necessary, it is within the scope of the invention advantageous if the bulkheads are movable through a respective slot of the shell. The bulkheads then leave at least partially when opening the interior of the furnace and return when closing turn back into this.

Further preferably, thermal insulation measures are provided in the slot area to reduce heat loss through the slot. For example, this is a thermal seal. Further preferably, the bulkheads themselves are coated and / or thermally insulated. In this way, it is again possible, on the one hand, to keep low the heat input due to the air stream passing over the bulkhead and, on the other hand, to prevent the heat from escaping by heat conduction through the bulkhead at the inlet and / or outlet and the different temperature zones by a heat-insulated bulkhead at a heat transfer from one temperature zone to the next by heat conduction over the bulkhead also to prevent.

Another part of the invention is a method for operating the furnace system with relatively movable bulkhead, wherein the conveyor is fitted with a light metal component and the light metal component is conveyed into the furnace, wherein the bulkhead is opened at the entrance of the furnace system shortly before the light metal component enters and directly after entering the light metal component is closed and / or wherein the bulkhead at the outlet of the furnace system is opened shortly before the light metal component exits and is closed again directly after the light metal component exits the furnace system.

In the context of the invention, it is also advantageous if the circulating within the furnace air flow is exposed or reduced when opening a bulkhead and started again after the closing of the bulkhead or increased. This prevents that the heat leakage from the furnace or the heat transfer is reduced to different temperature zones during the opening and closing of the bulkhead to a minimum. The energy costs for operating the system are thereby reduced.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention also possible that when opening a bulkhead pass two or more light metal components the bulkhead and after passing through the light metal components, the bulkhead is closed again. As a result, the furnace installation according to the invention and the method for operating the furnace installation can be used so flexibly that different production lines of metal components to be heated can be thermally treated with the furnace installation without long set-up times. Thus, it is possible, for example, to thermally treat light metal components with different external geometrical dimensions, in the form of a circuit board or even three-dimensionally complex metal components with the same furnace installation, without the furnace installation having to be retrofitted or modified.

In the context of the invention, it is furthermore advantageous that the relatively movable bulkheads are only opened so far by a control that a sufficiently large opening area for passing the component with its outer geometric dimensions is created. Then, after passing through the component, the bulkhead or bulkhead is closed again. Thus, it is possible to release, for example, in a 1 m ² large board an opening area, which is correspondingly slightly larger than 1 m ² . With a board, however, which is only 1/4 m ^{2 in} size, it is possible to open the bulkhead only so that an opening area of slightly more than 1/4 m ² given is, so that the board can pass through the opening area and then the bulkhead is closed again.

Thus, in the context of the invention, it is particularly preferably possible to select a bulkhead which opens in three directions, so that the bulkhead is formed from two bulkheads running to each side of the conveyor and is designed to be movable vertically upwards to the conveyor, so that the bulkhead respective opening areas are individually adjustable. The energy leakage over column when passing the components in the furnace system is thereby reduced to a minimum.

In the context of the invention, it is possible according to the invention in all three embodiments described above to arrange the light metal components at an angle on the conveyor, in particular at an angle between 30 ° and 90 °, so that many components are continuously conveyed through the furnace continuously, wherein However, the outer longitudinal extent of the furnace but not more than a few meters and not on the conveyor surface mounted boards, and thus boards or light metal components that extend in their lengthwise extension in the conveying direction, a footprint of a furnace of up to several tens or even several hundred meters is needed. The air flow is then within the scope of the invention from bottom to top or from top to bottom within the furnace system circulated and flows over it at an angle to the conveyor the boards arranged thereon and optionally arranged therebetween partitions. Overall, this makes it possible to provide a furnace installation with compact installation space dimensions and universal use for the thermal treatment of light metal components with various geometric dimensions.

Figur 1

die erfindungsgemäße Ofenanlage in einer Seitenansicht;

Figur 2

eine erfindungsgemäße Formblende in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 3

eine Stirnansicht auf den Eintrittsbereich einer Ofenanlage;

Figur 4

eine Stirnansicht bei verschieden großen Platinen;

Figur 5

eine Querschnittsansicht durch die Ofenanlage mit Kettenförderer und Wärmequelle;

Figur 6

eine erfindungsgemäße Ofenanlage in einer Seitenansicht mit mitlaufenden Trennwänden;

Figur 7

eine erfindungsgemäße Ofenanlage mit mitlaufenden Trennwänden;

Figur 8

eine erfindungsgemäße Ofenanlage mit relativbeweglichen Schotts;

Figur 9

eine erfindungsgemäße Ofenanlage in einer Draufsicht mit relativbeweglichen Schotts und

Figur 10a und b

relativbewegliche Schotts in einer erfindungsgemäßen Ofenanlage.

Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the present invention are part of the following description. preferred Embodiment variants are shown in the schematic figures. These are for easy understanding of the invention. Show it:

FIG. 1

the furnace installation according to the invention in a side view;

FIG. 2

a form of the invention in a plan view;

FIG. 3

an end view of the inlet region of a furnace system;

FIG. 4

an end view of different sized boards;

FIG. 5

a cross-sectional view through the furnace system with chain conveyor and heat source;

FIG. 6

an inventive furnace in a side view with rotating partitions;

FIG. 7

an inventive furnace with revolving partitions;

FIG. 8

an inventive furnace system with relatively movable bulkhead;

FIG. 9

an inventive furnace in a plan view with relatively movable bulkhead and

FIGS. 10a and b

relatively movable bulkhead in a furnace installation according to the invention.

In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplicity.

FIG. 1 shows an inventive furnace system 1 for the thermal treatment of light metal components 2 in the form of boards. A conveyor belt 3 is equipped with the light metal components 2 and transports the light metal components 2 in the transport direction 4 in the furnace 1 into it.

For this purpose, the furnace 1 has an inlet E, through which the light metal components 2 enter the furnace 1. The same applies to the outlet A, here the furnace 1 has an outlet A on.

Within the furnace 1, the light metal component 2 then strikes a drying zone T, in which the light metal component 2 is dried by a possible lubricant. Within the drying zone T circulates an air flow L, which flows around both a front side 5 and a rear side 6 of the light metal component 2. From the drying zone T, the light metal component 2 passes into a first temperature zone Z1, in which an air flow L1 flows around the front side 5 and the rear side 6 of the light metal component 2. For this purpose, the air flow L1 in the first temperature zone Z1 has a flow velocity v1 and a temperature T1, with which the light metal component 2 flows around and thus experiences a predetermined component temperature within the temperature zone Z1.

Subsequently, the light metal component 2 enters a second temperature zone Z2, in which it is in turn overflowed with an air flow L2 on a front side 5 and a rear side 6, wherein the air flow L2 of the second temperature zone Z2 has a second flow velocity v2 and a second temperature T2. As a result, a component temperature of the light metal component 2 is set when passing through the second temperature zone T2.

After the second temperature zone T2, the light metal component 2 passes into a cooling zone Z3, the light metal component 2 in the cooling zone Z3 in turn being overflowed with an air flow L3 on the front 5 and back 6, which has a third flow velocity v3 and a third temperature T3 in particular, the temperature T3 is lower than the temperature T1 and T2 and the flow velocity v3 is higher than the flow velocities v1 and v2. As a result, the component is cooled in the variant shown here in the cooling zone Z3 to a cooling temperature. Thereafter, the component occurs at an outlet A from the furnace 1 from and is removed and thus supplied as a thermally treated component 7 of a processing not shown.

The individual air streams L can be generated from a circulating air fan not shown in detail, and then the flow speed v1, v2, v3 of the respective zone can be adjusted by means of variation of a cross section or a valve. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible to assign each zone its own circulating air blower. The same applies to the temperature. This can be heated by a heat source or else from different heat sources, for example, each temperature zone Z1, Z2 is assigned a separate heat source.

In the FIG. 1 In the variant shown, the light metal components 2 are arranged in the form of boards between plug-in devices 8, so that they are transported through the furnace installation 1 oriented substantially vertically in the transport direction 4. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible, as in FIG. 2 shown to convey the boards substantially at an angle α through the furnace 1. Both at the inlet E, as well as at the outlet A, as well as between the individual zones are arranged mold apertures 9, wherein the mold apertures 9 are shown in more detail in FIG FIG. 3 ,

FIG. 3 shows a mold panel 9 according to the invention in a plan view. The light metal component 2 passes in the transport direction 4, so based on the image plane in this, the mold aperture 9, wherein between the outer edge 10 of the light metal component 2 and the opening 11, a gap 12 remains to minimize it, so that as little as possible Air flow L can escape via the gap 12 from the temperature zones Z1, Z2 or from the inlet E or outlet A of the furnace 1.

The light metal component 2 according to FIG. 3 has an asymmetric configuration, but it is also possible to lead large and small square boards by replacing the mold aperture 9 through the furnace 1. This is in FIG. 4 represented in which a small light metal component 2 is detected by the mold plate 9, and indicated by the dashed line, by exchanging the mold plate 9 also in the geometrical dimensions larger light metal component 2 is conveyed through the kiln 1, wherein between the light metal component 2 and the mold plate 9, a small gap 12 remains ,

Further shows FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view through the furnace installation 1 according to the invention, wherein the light metal component 2 is conveyed through the furnace installation 1 in the transport direction 4 and in the cross-sectional view is a plan view of a mold panel 9 is shown. It is for example shown a cross section through the temperature zone Z1. In the lower part of the furnace 1 is a circulating air fan 13 that generates the air circulation within the temperature zone Z1. The air flow L circulated by the circulating air blower 13 passes through a heating register 14 where it is heated and subsequently flows via the light metal component 2. In an upper region, the air flow L is collected and in turn fed to the circulating air blower 13. Shown here are also additional heating units 15, with which it is possible to heat the air flow L in addition to or also to heat exclusively, so that the heat source upstream of the circulating air blower 13 and not like the heating coil 14 is connected downstream.

FIG. 6 shows a furnace installation 1 according to the invention in a second embodiment, wherein the furnace 1 in turn has a conveyor (4) in the form of a conveyor belt 3, which conveys light metal components 2 in the form of boards 2, 2a, 2b, 2c in the transport direction 4 through the furnace 1. For this purpose, the light metal components 2 are positioned on the conveyor belt 3 and enter through an inlet E in the transport direction 4 in the furnace 1 a. At regular intervals a partitions 16 are arranged on the conveyor belt 3, wherein in each case between two partitions 16 shown here two light metal components 2 are arranged. The furnace 1 according to FIG. 6 has a drying zone T and a first temperature zone Z1 and a second temperature zone Z2, wherein through the drying zone and the temperature zones Z1, Z2 in each case an air flow L, L1, L2 flows over the front side 5 and the rear side 6 of the light metal components 2.

An inventive feature of the second embodiment according to FIG. 6 is that even light metal components 2 with different geometries compared to a board 2, 2 a, 2 b, 2 c are transported through the furnace 1. Thus, it is possible, for example, to transport longer boards 2 a relative to the light metal components 2 through the furnace 1. It is also possible to convey corrugated or corrugated blanks 2b or even three-dimensionally shaped components 2c through the furnace installation. By the partition walls 16 a seal at each inlet E and outlet A and between the temperature zones T, Z1, Z2 is made.

FIG. 7 shows an analogous embodiment FIG. 6 , in which case only one light metal component 2, 2b, 2c is arranged between the partitions 16. In the context of the invention, it is further possible for this purpose to vary the distances a, a1, a2 of the individual partition walls 16 relative to one another, in which case
a ≠ a1 ≠ a2 can be arranged. The partitions 16 according to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are preferably placed before the entry E in the furnace 1 on the conveyor belt 3 and after the exit A from the kiln 1 of the conveyor belt 3 can be removed. As a result, the return 17 of the conveyor belt 3 is to be provided only with a small height h.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the furnace installation 1 according to the invention, in which case relatively movable bulkheads 18 are present at the inlet E as well as at the outlet A and also at crossover Ü between the individual temperature zones T, Z1, Z2. Thus, it is possible to carry out a relative movement R with the bulkheads 18 in order to enable the light metal components 2 positioned on the conveyor belt 3 to be transported in the transport direction 4. Even with the relatively movable bulkhead 18 according to the invention, it is possible components or boards 2, 2a, 2b with mutually different lengths, such as longer boards 2a, or else corrugated components 2b in one and the same furnace system 1 to treat thermally.

In the in FIG. 8 illustrated embodiment, the boards 2a, 2b are arranged on respective connectors 8 substantially at a 90 ° angle to the transport direction 4 on the conveyor belt 3. However, it is also possible, the boards 2a, 2b, as in FIG. 2 . 6 or 7 shown to be arranged at an angle α on the conveyor belt 3. For this purpose, then plug-in devices 8 or other positioning means not shown in detail on the conveyor belt 3 or on the components or boards themselves for insertion on the conveyor belt 3, for example a chain conveyor, provided. The respective relatively movable bulkheads 18 are in FIG. 8 illustrated in relation to the transport direction 4 and the furnace 1 formed upwardly movable relative.

FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment variant with relatively movable bulkheads 19a, 19b, wherein the bulkheads 19a, 19b are formed here in two parts and are also arranged relatively movable in the furnace 1. The two-part bulkhead 19a, 19b thus performs with a part 19a a relative movement R to one side and with the second part 19b a relative movement R to the opposite side. In the FIG. 9 shown view of an inventive furnace system 1 from above thus allows the light metal components 2 by opening the bulkhead 19a, 19b a passage in the transport direction 4. Again, the furnace 1 has two different temperature zones Z1, Z2, in each of which not shown in detail Air flow is recirculated and convectively treated by the furnace 1 conveyed light metal components 2 thermally. Furthermore, the in FIG. 9 shown furnace 1 a shell 20 which surrounds the entire furnace 1, wherein the bulkheads 19 a, 19 b are relatively movable within the shell 20. In the detail view of FIG. 9 Furthermore, the front side of the two-part bulkhead 19a, 19b is shown, wherein here various types of sealing labyrinths 21 may be formed, the one Violation of the circulated air flow L1, L2, L3 and / or the heat between the two different temperature zones Z1, Z2, Z3 or to prevent leakage of heat from the inlet E or outlet A. For example, the sealing labyrinths can be U-shaped or C-shaped in cross-section.

In FIGS. 10a and 10b a further embodiment of the relatively movable bulkhead 18 is shown, wherein the bulkhead 18 here through a slot 22 in the shell 20 perform the relative movement R. In FIG. 10b the bulkhead 18 is further shown coupled to an actuator 23 which performs the relative movement R as linear movement with only one coupling rod 24 passing through the slot 22 in the shell 20 so that the possible escape of airflow L1, L2, L3 and / or heat from the interior of the oven space is avoided. <B><u> reference numerals: </ u></b> 1 - furnace 2 - Light metal component 2a - longer board 2 B - corrugated board 2c - component 3 - conveyor belt 4 - transport direction 5 - Front to 2 6 - Back to 2 7 - thermally treated light metal component 8th - plug-in device 9 - form panel 10- outer edge to 2 11 - Opening to 9 12 - gap 13 - circulation fan 14 - heater 15 - Zusatzheizaggregat 16 - partition wall 17 - returns 18 - bulkhead 19a - two-part bulkhead 19b - two-part bulkhead 20 - shell 21 - sealing labyrinth 22 - slot 23 - actuator 24 - coupling rod a - distance a1 - distance a2 - distance A - exit E - entry H - Height to 17 T - drying zone L - airflow L1 - Air flow to Z1 L2 - Airflow to Z2 L3 - Air flow to Z3 Z1 - first temperature zone Z2 - second temperature zone Z3 - chilling v1 - Flow velocity from L1 to Z1 v2 - Flow rate from L2 to Z2 v3 - Flow rate of L3 in Z3 T1 - Temperature of L1 in Z1 T2 - Temperature of L2 in Z2 T3 - Temperature of L3 in Z3 R - relative movement α - angle

Claims (26)

Furnace system (1) for the thermal treatment of light metal components (2), wherein the light metal components (2) are continuously conveyed through the kiln plant (1), and the kiln plant (1) has a heat source, characterized in that in the kiln plant (1) Air flow (L) is recirculatable, wherein the light metal components (2) in the furnace system (1) are convectively heated by the air flow (L) and each in the furnace system (1) entering light metal component (2) and each from the furnace plant (1 ) emerging light metal component (2) are formed as a sealing bulkhead, the air flow (L) at an escape from the furnace system (1) hindering. Furnace system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat source is designed as an electric heater and / or that the heat source is designed as a fuel heater. Furnace installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a circulating air blower (13) generates the air flow (L) within the furnace installation (1). Furnace installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the furnace system (1) is thermally encapsulated, preferably at the inlet (E) and / or outlet (A) sealing elements are arranged, in particular, the sealing elements as exchangeable mold apertures (9) educated. Furnace installation according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the furnace installation (1) has at least two temperature zones (Z1, Z2), wherein the light metal components (2) can be used as a sealing bulkhead between the zones (Z1, Z2, Z3), in particular are arranged on a transition between the zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) exchangeable mold apertures (9). Furnace installation according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the mold apertures (9) have an opening (11) substantially corresponding to a transverse to the conveying direction (4) arranged transverse surface of the light metal components (2). Furnace installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the furnace installation (1) in the region of its entrance (E) has a drying zone and / or that the furnace installation (1) in the region of its outlet (A) has a cooling zone (Z3) , Furnace system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the circulated air flow (L) the light metal components (2) when passing through the furnace system (1) overflowed surface, in particular the overflow takes place in the different temperature zones (Z1, Z2) with mutually different Air temperatures and / or with different flow rates. Furnace installation according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the light metal components (2) on a conveyor belt (3), in particular on a chain conveyor through the furnace system (1) are transportable. Furnace installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the light metal components (2) can be heated to a temperature between 200 and 450 ° C. Method for the thermal treatment of light metal components (2) in a furnace installation (1) according to at least Claim 1, characterized by the following method steps: - Equipping a conveyor belt (3) with a plurality of successively lined light metal components (2), in particular light metal blanks Conveying the light metal components (2) through the furnace installation (1), wherein at an inlet (E) of the furnace installation (1) the inlet opening is sealed by the light metal component (2) passing through the inlet opening in each case, Generating a continuously circulated warm air flow (L) and overflowing of the light metal components (2) in at least one temperature zone (Z1, Z2) within the furnace installation (1), while the light metal component (2) is continuously transported through the furnace installation (1), - Exiting the thermally treated light metal components (2) from the furnace system (1), wherein at an outlet region of the furnace system (1) an outlet opening is sealed by each of the outlet opening passing light metal component (2). A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the heating of the light metal components (2) by selecting the flow rate of the air stream (L) and / or the air temperature in the individual temperature zones (Z1, Z2) is set. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the light metal components (2) are fed to a further processing method in a cycle time of less than 15 seconds. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the light metal components (2) are dried in the drying zone of lubricant and / or cooled in the cooling zone to a cold aging temperature. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the mold apertures (9) are exchanged as a function of the light metal components (2) to be treated. Furnace system for the thermal treatment of light metal components, wherein the light metal components (2) are continuously conveyed through the kiln plant (1), and the kiln plant (1) has a heat source, characterized in that in the kiln plant (1) an air flow (L) is recirculated , wherein the light metal components (2) in the furnace system (1) are convectively heated by the air flow (L) and the light metal components (2) on a conveyor (4) through the furnace system (1) are transportable, at intervals (a) to each other Partitions (16) on the conveyor (4) are arranged and at least one light metal component (2) between two partitions (16) can be arranged. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two temperature zones (Z1, Z2) are formed in the furnace installation (1), wherein the temperature zones (Z1, Z2) have mutually different temperatures (T1, T2). Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partition walls (16) are formed as a sealing bulkhead, wherein when passing through a partition wall (16) of an inlet (E) and / or an outlet (A) and / or a transfer occurs a seal in that the air flow (L) is prevented from escaping from the furnace installation (1), in particular a continuous sealing takes place by two successive partitions (16) at the inlet (E) and / or outlet (A) and / or crossing , Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more light metal components (2) between two partitions (16) can be arranged. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partitions (16) on the conveyor (4) are interchangeable. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor (4) is a chain conveyor or a conveyor belt. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partitions (16) can be arranged on the chain conveyor before entry (E) and can be removed from the chain conveyor after exit (A). Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air flow (L) in the furnace installation (1) of the partitions (16) can be conducted, in particular two different air streams (L, L1, L2, L3) in two different from each other Temperature zones (Z1, Z2) by a partition (16) separable and that the air flow (L, L1, L2, L3), the light metal components (2) flows over a surface. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partitions (16) are arranged at an angle on the conveyor (4), in particular an angle between 10 and 80 degrees, particularly preferably an angle between 20 and 70 degrees, most preferably an angle between 30 and 60 degrees and preferably between 40 and 50 degrees. Method for operating a furnace installation according to at least claim 16, characterized in that at least one light metal component (2) between two partitions (16) on the conveyor (4) is positioned and then the furnace system (1) passes through, wherein different temperature zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) are separated by the partitions (16). Method according to claim 25, characterized in that in each case two successive partitions (16) seal the entry area € and / or the exit area (A) and / or a crossing area and thus the one in the furnace installation (1), in particular in the temperature zone (Z1, Z2, Z3) circulated airflow (L1, L2, L3) are prevented from escaping or crossing.

Images