Method and apparatus for heating an elongated metal workpiece

Claim 2

In a furnace for heating an elongated metal workpiece having a longitudinal axis, said furnace including a heating chamber, means for heating said chamber, and a lower workpiece supporting structure within said chamber, the improvement comprising: said workpiece supporting structure comprising first and second groups of supporting elements spaced axially along said workpiece and extending transversely of the workpiece, each of said elements having workpiece engaging surfaces, and means for periodically and alternately engaging said workpiece with said first and second group of elements, said elements of said first group are movable vertically with respect to said elements of said second group and said means for periodically and alternately engaging said workpiece comprises means for moving said elements in said first group vertically with respect to said elements of said second group between a first position with said workpiece supported on said first group of elements and a second position with said workpiece supported on said second group of elements, and means for moving said elements in said first group vertically to a third position spaced substantially above said first and second position whereby said workpiece is raised for removal from said chamber.

Claim 3

In a furnace for heating an elongated metal workpiece, said furnace including a heating chamber, means for heating said workpiece, and a lower workpiece supporting structure within said chamber, the improvement comprising: said supporting structure including a first group of spaced supporting elements spaced along the length of said workpiece, and each having upper first workpiece supporting surfaces, a second group of spaced supporting elements spaced along the length of said workpiece and each having uppeR second workpiece supporting surfaces, said elements of said first group alternating with said elements of said second group along the length of said workpiece and means for alternately moving said elements in said first group between a first position with said first surface below said second surfaces and a second position with said first surfaces above said second surfaces whereby said workpiece is alternately supported by said first and said second group of elements, including a first group of recesses below said workpiece and above said first surfaces when said first group of elements is in said first position, and a second group of recesses below said workpiece and above said second surfaces when said first group of elements is in said second position and said heating means includes a first bank of burners having a burner directed transverse to said workpiece and into each of a plurality of said first recesses, and a second bank of burners having a burner directed transverse to said workpiece and into each of a plurality of said second recesses.

Claim 4

In a furnace for heating an elongated metal workpiece, said furnace including a heating chamber, means for heating said workpiece, and a lower workpiece supporting structure within said chamber, the improvement comprising: said supporting structure including a first group of spaced supporting elements spaced along the length of said workpiece, and each having upper first workpiece supporting surfaces, a second group of spaced supporting elements spaced along the length of said workpiece and each having uppeR second workpiece supporting surfaces, said elements of said first group alternating with said elements of said second group along the length of said workpiece and means for alternately moving said elements in said first group between a first position with said first surface below said second surfaces and a second position with said first surfaces above said second surfaces whereby said workpiece is alternately supported by said first and said second group of elements, including a first group of recesses below said workpiece and above said first surfaces when said first group of elements is in said first position, and a second group of recesses below said workpiece and above said second surfaces when said first group of elements is in said second position and said heating means includes a first bank of burners having a burner directed transverse to said workpiece and into each of a plurality of said first recesses, and a second bank of burners having a burner directed transverse to said workpiece and into each of a plurality of said second recesses.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 2 including means for activating said first bank of burners when said first group of elements is in said first position and means for activating said second bank of burners when said first group of elements is in said second position.

Claim 8

In a furnace for heating an elongated metal workpiece having a lower surface, said furnace including a heating chamber, means for heating said chamber and a lower, elongated workpiece supporting structure within said chamber, the improvement comprising: said supporting structure having a first, generally flat workpiece supporting surface; a plurality of openings spaced along said surface in a direction longitudinal of said workpiece; a support element reciprocally mounted within each of said openings, said elements having upper workpiece engaging surfaces; and power means for reciprocally moving said elements alternately between a first vertical position with said element surfaces below said supporting surface and a second vertical position with said element surfaces above said supporting surface whereby said workpiece is lifted with respect to said supporting surface, said power means including a frame, means on said frame for engaging said elements, and means for moving said frame in a vertical direction and means for moving said frame and elements upwardly to a position with said element surfaces in a third position substantially above said second position.

Claim 9

In a furnace for heating an elongated metal workpiece having a lower surface, said furnace including a heating chamber, means for heating said chamber and a lower, elongated workpiece supporting structure within said chamber, the improvement comprising: said supporting structure having a first, generally flat workpiece supporting surface; a plurality of openings spaced along said surface in a direction longitudinal of said workpiece; a support element reciprocally mounted within each of said openings, said elements having upper workpiece engaging surfaces; and power means for reciprocally moving said elements alternately between a first vertical position with said element surfaces below said supporting surface and a second vertical position with said element surfaces above said supporting surface whereby said workpiece is lifted with respect to said supporting surface, said power means including a frame, means on said frame for engaging said elements, and means for moving said frame in a vertical direction and means for moving said frame and elements upwardly to a position with said element surfaces in a third position substantially above said second position.