Movable hearth furnace

Claim 2

A heat-treating furnace comprising: an elongated furnace chamber formed of a high-temperature material and having a hearth which includes shoulder portions disposed along the length thereof and adapted to support product carriers thereon; an elongated member at least coextensive with the active length of said furnace chamber, said member being formed of a hightemperature material and having an upper surface confronting said chamber and serving as part of the furnace hearth, said member being adapted for cyclic vertical and horizontal movement; first means coupled to said member and operative to elevate said member to a position above the plane of said shoulder portions to raise product carriers off of said shoulder portions, and to lower said member to a position below the plane of said shoulder portions to replace product carriers onto said shoulder portions; second means coupled to said member and to said first means and operative to provide lateral movement of said member along the axis of said furnace in a first direction when said beam is in its uppermost position and in an opposite direction when said beam is in its lowermost position; and means for providing cyclic operation of said beam to transport product carriers in stepwise fashion through said furnace chamber; wherein said first means includes a first elongated structural member disposed below and supporting said elongated hearth member; a plurality of inclined planes disposed in pairs below said furnace chamber along the length thereof on respective opposite sides of said first structural member, each having a like inclined surface confronting said furnace chamber; a plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member each roller being rotatably supported on a respective inclined plane to maintain said elongated hearth member in level disposition within said furnace chamber; said second means including a second elongated structural member attached to and supporting said elongated hearth member and slidably attached to said first structural member; said rollers cooperative with each pair of inclined planes being rotatably attached to a shaft which also rotatably supports rollers arranged for slidable movement of said second structural member; said cyclic-operating means including a first driving element disposed at an end of said furnace and coupled to said first structural member and operative to raise and lower said first structural member on said inclined planes; and a second driving element disposed on an end of said furnace and coupled to said second structural member to provide lateral movement thereof in a first direction along the axis of said furnace and in an opposite direction.

Claim 3

A heat-treating furnace comprising: an elongated furnace chamber formed of a high-temperature material and having a hearth which includes shoulder portions disposed along the length thereof and adapted to support product carriers thereon; an elongated member at least coextensive with the active length of said furnace chamber, said member being formed of a high-temperature material and having an upper surface confronting said chamber and serving as part of the furnace hearth, said member being adapted for cyclic vertical and horizontal movement; first means coupled to said member and operative to elevate said member to a position above the plane of said shoulder portions to raise product carriers off of said shoulder portions, and to lower said member to a position below the plane of said shoulder portions to replace product carriers onto said shoulder portions; second means coupled to said member and to said first means and operative to provide lateral movement of said member along the axis of said furnace in a first direction when said beam is in its uppermost position and in an opposite direction when said beam is in its lowermost position; and means for providing cyclic operation of said beam to transport product carriers in stepwise fashion through said furnace chamber; wherein said first means includes a first elongated structural member disposed below said elongated hearth member; a plurality of stationary inclined planes disposed below said furnace chamber and along the length thereof and each having a like inclined surface confronting said furnace chamber; a first plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member, each roller being rotatably supported on a respective inclined plane to maintain said elongated hearth member in level disposition within said furnace chamber; a second plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member and rotatable independently of said first plurality of rollers; said second means including a second elongated structural member attached to and supporting said elongated hearth member and supported by said second plurality of rollers for slidable motion with respect to said first structural member; said cyclic-operating means including a first driving means disposed at an end of said furnace and coupled to said first structural member and operative to raise and lower said first structural member, said second structural member and said elongated member on said inclined planes; and a second driving means disposed at an end of said furnace and coupled to said second structural member and operative to provide longitudinal movement thereof in a first direction and in an opposite direction along the axis of said furnace with respect to said first structural member.

Claim 4

A heat-treating furnace comprising: an elongated furnace chamber formed of a high-temperature material and having a hearth which includes shoulder portions disposed along the length thereof and adapted to support product carriers thereon; an elongated member at least coextensive with the active length of said furnace chamber, said member being formed of a high-temperature material and having an upper surface confronting said chamber and serving as part of the furnace hearth, said member being adapted for cyclic vertical and horizontal movement; first means coupled to said member and operative to elevate said member to a position above the plane of said shoulder portions to raise product carriers off of said shoulder portions, and to lower said member to a position below the plane of said shoulder portions to replace product carriers onto said shoulder portions; second means coupled to said member and to said first means and operative to provide lateral movement of said member along the axis of said furnace in a first direction when said beam is in its uppermost position and in an opposite direction when said beam is in its lowermost position; and means for providing cyclic operation of said beam to transport product carriers in stepwise fashion through said furnace chamber; wherein said first means includes a first elongated structural member disposed below said elongated hearth member; a plurality of stationary inclined planes disposed below said furnace chamber and along the length thereof and each having a like inclined surface confronting said furnace chamber; a first plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member, each roller being rotatably supported on a respective inclined plane to maintain said elongated hearth member in level disposition within said furnace chamber; a second plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member and rotatable independently of said first plurality of rollers; said second means including a second elongated structural member attached to and supporting said elongated hearth member and supported by said second plurality of rollers for slidable motion with respect to said first structural member; said cyclic-operating means including a first driving means disposed at an end of said furnace and coupled to said first structural member and operative to raise and lower said first structural member, said second structural member and said elongated member on said inclined planes; and a second driving means disposed at an end of said furnace and coupled to said second structural member and operative to provide longitudinal movement thereof in a first direction and in an opposite direction along the axis of said furnace with respect to said first structural member.

Claim 5

A heat-treating furnace comprising: an elongated furnace chamber formed of a high-temperature material and having a hearth which includes shoulder portions disposed along the length thereof and adapted to support product carriers thereon; an elongated member at least coextensive with the active length of said furnace chamber, said member being formed of a high-temperature material and having an upper surface confronting said chamber and serving as part of the furnace hearth, said member being adapted for cyclic vertical and horizontal movement; first means coupled to said member and operative to elevate said member to a position above the plane of said shoulder portions to raise product carriers off of said shoulder portions, and to lower said member to a position below the plane of said shoulder portions to replace product carriers onto said shoulder portions; second means coupled to said member and to said first means and operative to provide lateral movement of said member along the axis of said furnace in a first direction when said beam is in its uppermost position and in an opposite direction when said beam is in its lowermost position; and means for providing cyclic operation of said beam to transport product carriers in stepwise fashion through said furnace chamber; wherein said first means includes a first elongated structural member disposed below and supporting said elongated hearth member; a plurality of stationary inclined planes disposed in pairs below said furnace chamber along the length thereof on respective opposite sides of said first structural member and each having a like inclined surface confronting said furnace chamber; a first plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member, each roller being rotatably supported on a respEctive inclined plane to maintain said elongated hearth member in level disposition within said furnace chamber; a second plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member each roller being independently rotatable with respect to said first plurality of rollers; wherein said second means includes a second elongated structural member attached to and supporting said elongated hearth member and disposed adjacent and coextensive with said first structural member; and a plurality of support members each attached to said second structural member along the length thereof and supported on said second plurality of rollers for slidable movement thereon with respect to said first structural member.

Claim 6

A heat-treating furnace comprising: an elongated furnace chamber formed of a high-temperature material and having a hearth which includes shoulder portions disposed along the length thereof and adapted to support product carriers thereon; an elongated member at least coextensive with the active length of said furnace chamber, said member being formed of a high-temperature material and having an upper surface confronting said chamber and serving as part of the furnace hearth, said member being adapted for cyclic vertical and horizontal movement; first means coupled to said member and operative to elevate said member to a position above the plane of said shoulder portions to raise product carriers off of said shoulder portions, and to lower said member to a position below the plane of said shoulder portions to replace product carriers onto said shoulder portions; second means coupled to said member and to said first means and operative to provide lateral movement of said member along the axis of said furnace in a first direction when said beam is in its uppermost position and in an opposite direction when said beam is in its lowermost position; and means for providing cyclic operation of said beam to transport product carriers in stepwise fashion through said furnace chamber; wherein said first means includes a first elongated structural member disposed below and supporting said elongated hearth member; a plurality of stationary inclined planes disposed in pairs below said furnace chamber along the length thereof on respective opposite sides of said first structural member and each having a like inclined surface confronting said furnace chamber; a first plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member, each roller being rotatably supported on a respEctive inclined plane to maintain said elongated hearth member in level disposition within said furnace chamber; a second plurality of rollers attached to said first structural member each roller being independently rotatable with respect to said first plurality of rollers; wherein said second means includes a second elongated structural member attached to and supporting said elongated hearth member and disposed adjacent and coextensive with said first structural member; and a plurality of support members each attached to said second structural member along the length thereof and supported on said second plurality of rollers for slidable movement thereon with respect to said first structural member.