GB274730A - Improvements in or relating to furnaces - Google Patents

Abstract

274,730. Smallwood, A., and Fallon, J. Jan. 22, 1927. Charging and discharging; cooling discharged materials; steam, supplying.-In a furnace in which metals are annealed or otherwise heattreated in an inert atmosphere the charge is inserted and withdrawn by a mechanical device which is vertically movable within a chamber in alignment with the heating-chamber a so that the heated charge may be lowered into a quenching bath p and then raised into proximity to a loading and unloading aperture normally closed by a hinged sealing-door e. The furnace a is of the muffle type heated by gas or oil burners a<3> and the floor a<1> formed with grooves b into which the arms c of the charger are lowered to deposit the charge on the floor and from which they are withdrawn to allow the heating chamber to be closed by a counterweighted sliding door. The arms c are pivoted at c<1> in a frame which is fitted with an eccentric c<2> for raising and lowering the arms and is suspended by ropes f passing over pulleys g, h to a drum i which is rotated by a handle k and worm gearing to raise or lower the frame. The arms c are inserted into and withdrawn from the chamber a by chains o coupled to the arms and operated by a hand-lever l. The quenching bath p contains water through which pass steam pipes q which serve to create in the charging and discharging chamber a slight pressure of steam.