Production of coated soft iron and steel sheets

Claim 1

A PROCESS OF SOFTENING COLD REDUCED IRON OR MILD STEEL SHEET STOCK WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING SAID STOCK TO A STRAND ANNEARL IN AN ELONGATED FURNACE WITH TWO SUCCESSIVE PORTIONS SEPARATED BY BAFFLES INTRODUCING INTO SAID FURNACE IN COUNTERCURRENT TO THE STOCK PASSING THERETHROUGH A DRY, HYDROGEN-BEARING ATMOSPHERE, WHICH FILLS THE FINAL PORTION OF SAID FURNACE BEYOND SAID BAFFLES, INTRODUCING MOISTURE INTO THE INITIAL PORTION OF SAID FURNACE AHEAD OF SAID BAFFLES WHEREBY TO BRING THE HYDROGEN-BEARING ATMOSPHERE THEREIN TO A DEW POINT OF SUBSTANTIALLY 110* TO 170* F., MAINTAINING THE SAID FORWARD PORTION OF SAID FURNACE AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN SUBSTANTIALLY 1300 TO 1650* F., MAINTAINING THE FINAL PORTION OF SAID FURNACE AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE SUBSTANTIALLY 1700* F., COOLING SAID STOCK FROM THE TEMPERATURE OF THE FINAL PORTION OF SAID FURNACE IN A HOOD CONNECTED THEREWITH AND SUPPLIED WITH SAID DRY HYDROGEN-BEARING ATMOSPHERE, AND, WITHOUT REEXPOSING SAID STOCK TO THE EXTERNAL ATMOSPHERE, PASSING IT BENEATH THE SURFACE OF A MOLTEN COATING METAL.