Apparatus for removing cold skid marks from objects

Claim 1

IN A FURNACE FOR REHEATING OBJECTS HAVING A HEATING ZONE AND A SOAKING ZONE, SAID HEATING ZONE HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END FOR INTRODUCING SAID OBJECTS THEREINTO AND AN OPENING AT ITS OTHER END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOAKING ZONE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING WATER-COOLED SKIDS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HEATING ZONE FOR SUPPORTING SAID OBJECTS AND HAVING SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH PORTIONS OF THE BOTTOM SURFACES OF SAID OBJECTS, MEANS FOR HEATING SAID OBJECTS WHILE SUPPORTED ON SAID WATER-COOLED SKIDS, A REFRACTORY HEARTH IN SAID SOAKING ZONE, RADIANT TUBES COMPOSED OF A HIGH-STRENGTH, HEAT CONDUCTING MATERIAL, SAID RADIANT TUBES BEING FULLY EMBEDDED BENEATH THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID HEARTH AND SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID WATER-COOLED SKIDS, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING HOT GASES THROUGH SAID TUBES SO AS TO DIRECT LOCALIZED HEAT TO THE SAID PORTIONS OF SAID OBJECTS ENGAGED BY SAID WATER-COOLED SKIDS.