Aug. 13, 1957 J. D.

NESBITT ETA 2,802,657

FAST HEAT AND SOAK FURNACE FOR EXTRUSION
Filed May 7, 1953 3. Sheets-Sheet

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Aug. 13, 1957 J. D. NESBITT ET AL 2,802,657
FAST HEAT AND SOAK FURNACE FOR EXTRUSION
Filed May 7, 1953 3. Sheets-Sheet 2

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Aug. 13, 1957 J. D. NESBITT ETAL 2,802,657
FAS HEAT AND SOAK FURNACE FOR EXTRUSION
Filed May 7, 1953 3. Sheets-Sheet S

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 United States Patent Office 2,802,657
Patented Aug. 13, 1957
2
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the holding
furnace shown in Fig. 1.
2,802,657 Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus
FAST HEAT AND SOAK FURNACE FOR of Fig. 1.
EXTRUSION Fig. 5 is a representation of hydraulic control appa
John D. Nesbitt, Sylvania, and Theodore W. Munford, ratus for the furnace apparatus.
Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Surface Combustion Corpo cuit for6 the Fig. is a representation of the electrical control cir
furnace apparatus.
ration, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Fig. 7 is a detail view of a valve and control.
Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,592 O According to this invention a cylindrical heating fur
6 Claims. (Cl. 263-36) nace 11 is maintained at a temperature substantially
higher than the final desired work temperature, by tan
gential, direct firing; work is advanced through the heat
This invention relates to an improved method and appa ing furnace on a schedule by automatic conveying means
ratus for heating metal billets, and is particularly adapted timed to discharge the work at the final desired tempera
to the uniform, substantially oxide-free heating of non ture; the work W is automatically discharged into a
holding furnace 12, where it is retained so long as is neces
ferrous billets for extrusion operations. sary to equalize its temperature and for such metallurgical
When billets are heated in high heat head, or high
speed, furnaces, some non-uniformity of temperature in from theasholding
reasons may be extant; and the work is then discharged
furnace for the hot working operation.
the billet is obtained, especially in heating copper base In the heating furnace a controlled atmosphere which is
non-ferrous billets whose surface emissivity may vary So
very much due to variations in surface finish or reflec wails by virtue of constant firingwork
non-oxidizing for non-ferrous such as brass pre
tivity. Due to the high temperature of the furnace walls, and air to maintain at least 0.7% CO2 inmixtureof a rich of fuel
the furnace.
the work must be promptly discharged upon attaining the The holding furnace is also a controlled atmosphere fur
desired working temperature. nace by virtue of burners 13, or by admission of steam
When billets are heated in furnaces whose walls are or specially prepared flue gas or other atmosphere gas
maintained at the desired final work temperature, such through an atmosphere gas inlet 14. Where it is not
as conventional rotary furnaces, it is necessary to carry feasible to maintain rich combustion products from direct
a large "float" of work in the furnace to maintain a fired 30
desired rate of delivery of heated work, often as many burners 13, a muffle or radiant tube furnace may be
as 10 or more times as many billets being in such a rotary provided as is well known and is more common in the
heating of ferrous work.
furnace at any given time as would be in the high speed The conveying and control mechanism is designed to
furnace. When heating relatively large billets of 4 to 10 35 normally load work into the heating furnace on a short
inches diameter, in non-ferrous extrusion, often the entire stroke push by the pusher i5, discharging one billet at
run of a given analysis is in the furnace at once, and after a time, or to empty the heating furnace one billet at a
that run the furnace must be adjusted to a new tempera time by a successively longer stroke by the pusher, re
ture and "soaked' at that temperature before the next sponsive to the operator's selection; and to normally dis
heat may be charged into the furnace. With the rela 40 charge work from the holding furnace by long strokes
tively large mass of furnace refractory and relatively low of its pushers, or to store work in the holding furnace by
heat input, a large proportion of furnace time is lost in short pusher strokes, the work from the heating furnace
such rotaries for changing stock whereas the high speed being alternately delivered to the rows of the holding
furnace is easily and quickly adjusted to such a change furnace, and the holding furnace pushers 16 and 17 being
by rapid change of wall temperature or firing rate, or by automatically, alternately actuated. The controls are
merely resetting the time clock for the pusher mechanism. also designed to provide for independently discharging
Some materials require a definite period of time at one of the holding furnace billets responsive to operator
extrusion temperature before they will extrude properly. Selection without disturbing the automatic cycle opera
For example, some Admiralty brass must be "soaked' tion of the heating furnace.
two minutes to avoid crumbling in the die or severe blis 50 The combination taught herein of a high speed, direct
tering of the extruded shape. The “soak” time serves to fired heating furnace, a controlled atmosphere holding
diffuse the dendritic structure out of a cast billet, after furnace, and automatic conveying means for moving
which it will extrude properly. billets through the heating furnace and into the holding
If on the other hand, the billet is exposed to working furnace at the desired working temperature has provided
temperature for too long a time, as when it is by-passed 55 industry with a new heating tool which, with a minimum
in a rotary furnace and is allowed to remain 90 minutes investment in space and equipment, delivers a higher
or so longer in the furnace, the billet may develop large quality product than heretofore obtainable it equipment
grain structures, low zinc surface, oxidized surface, or
other undesirable conditions. herebytheprovided.
with high heating capacity and degree of fiexibility
60 It is well known that excessive scale from long ex
This invention is designed to avoid the shortcomings poSlire to high temperature oxidizing conditions changes
of the prior art and to provide superior heating of billets
in a more flexible, yet economical apparatus. billet dimensions and useful metal volume, and causes
For a consideration of what we believe to be novel and severe shortening of die life, or scored tubing, or requires
our invention, attention is directed to the following por Scale removal operations which at best are quite unsatis
tion of the specification and the drawings and concluding factory. It is also known that excessive time at working
claims thereof. temperatures, varying from 700° F. to 2000° F. for non
In the drawings: ferrous work, causes undesirable metallurgical effects
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of furnace appa Such as grain growth or dezincification which are com
ratus embodying this invention. monly encountered in heating in controlled atmosphere
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the heating furnaces held at the desired work temperature; and it has
furnace shown in Fig. 1. been found that due to variations of surface condition of
work to be heated, the rate and character of oxide forma
 2,802,857
3 4.
tion varies from piece to piece and around one piece,
so that uniform heating from just a high speed heater is
not generally possible due to the resulting variations of
surface emissivity of the work.
These inherently poor heating characteristics are all 5 rails 23 by the pusher 15 actuated by a hydraulic pusher
“washed out" by the proper combination of a high speed
heater and an atmospheric holding furnace. The high
speed heating furnace may form a very insignificant
amount of scale or oxide unless combustion therein is
properly controlled, and heats rapidly with good economy
and with few pieces under heat at any time. For ex
ample, the heating of an 8 inch diameter Admiralty
brass billet to 1485 F. normally requires 90 minutes in
a 1485 F. furnace. To deliver one per minute requires
a furnace of 90 billets capacity. With a rapid heating
furnace wall temperature of about 2600 F., giving a
1115° F. heat head, heating time is reduced to one-tenth,
9 minutes, and a furnace capacity of 9 billets will deliver
one billet per minute. Thus a change in billet size or
material can be accommodated by a changed push rate
or wall tenperature in a very few minutes, rather than
a matter of hours, due to relatively high heat input
rate/heat storage capacity ratio in the high speed furnace.
Once the billet is at temperature, even though scale free, 2 5 con
it must be maintained so for a period, hence a small,
controlled atmosphere holding furnace is used. It nor
mally holds only one billet per row, so that each billet
is held therein two minutes; but when short production
delay requires, work is charged into the heating furnace, 30 delivered
and the heating furnace is discharged into the holding
furnace without delivering billets therefrom. When
ready to operate the press again, the stored billets are
ready in the holding furnace. If a long delay is encoun
tered, loading is stopped at the heating furnace, and its
billets are stored as above. The holding furnace may
be cooled below scaling temperatures, and the billets dis
charged for reheating, when the delay becomes exces
sively long,
Ordinarily the control mechanism for the valve 40 iO is advancing
(shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7) is set to maintain the
internal temperature of the heating furnace at the desired
high level, the expected heat absorption by billets of pre
determined size passing through the heating furnace at
a predetermined rate being a factor that is considered in
setting the valve control mechanism. If, for hypothetical
example, billets of a size such that a row of mine billets
will occupy the furnace from inlet end to exit end are
to be heated to a temperature of 1485 F. and then dis
charged at the rate of one per minute, the valve control
mechanism may be set to maintain the internal wall of
the heating furnace at some such temperature as 2600 F.
The controls shown in diagrammatic Fig. 6 are set to
actuate the solenoids B1 and Bg shown in diagrammatic
Fig. 5 to operate the valve 64 and thus reciprocate the
pusher 15 at one minute intervals and to operate the
valve 65 and thus swing the rail switch 27 from one side
to the other at one minute intervals. Hence, the rail
switch delivers a billet alternately to each holding furnace
rail every other minute.
In this hypothetical example the controlled atmosphere
of the holding furnace is maintained at about 1485 F.
After remaining in the holding furnace for two minutes
the billets are alternately discharged, being pushed out
of the exit end of the holding furnace by the pushers 16
and 17 which are acted upon by liquid admitted to cylin
ders 62 and 63 by valves 66 and 67 operated by solenoids
D and C as indicated in Fig. 5.
Roth the heating and the holding furnaces are designed
to be self-emptying on an automatic cycle for any size
of billet, without requiring the loading of dummy or
scrap billets to push out the billets to be worked, and each
billet heated including the last one is suitable for normal
production sc. Other novel and desirable features will
be apparent as the apparatus is described.
The heating furnace is preferably of the type disclosed
in patent to Bastress et al. 2,563,908, and comprises a
shell 18 lined with refractory 21 and some insulation 22.
Work is moved through the furnace on water cooled skid
cylinder 24 through carriage 9.
The pusher 15 is internally cooled by water supplied
thereto by flexibly coupled pipes 19. This pusher is
normally operated on a short stroke which scarcely ex
() poses it to the heat of the furnace, so water flow will
normally be about five gallons per minute. When the
heating furnace is to be emptied, the pusher will be more
severly exposed and will require up to 135 gallons per
minute of cooling water with the same temperature rise
as before. This variation of flow is provided by a by
pass solenoid surge valve 20, as will be described in some
detail. The skid rails are supported on piers 25. Work
in the form of billets W is delivered to the charging plat
form 26, pushed through the furnace on the skid rails,
20 and delivered therefrom by a rail switch 27 which is
actuated by its hydraulic cylinder 61 to deliver the work
to alternate left and right hand sides of the holding fur
Inace, as will appear. The heating furnace is supported
framework 30 above base 8 by a plurality of rollers
in hinged arms 31 which are adjustable by bolts 32, to
allow the furnace to expand from the switch end, or the
discharge end of the furnace, where it is fixed to the
framework rails 30. Aerated fuel for combustion is
from a gas main 39 with a valve 40, through
ports 33 by nozzles 34, and is controlled to maintain over
().7% CO in the furnace, preferably about 1.5%. A tem
perature reading pyrometer may be used to determine
work temperature, but generally speaking the rate of
advancing work must be predetermined because such
pyrometers are not reliable controls due to surface tem
perature variations and surface emissivity variations.
Flue gas exhausts from the heating furnace through end
flueS 36. A discharge door 37 is desirably adjusted to
close down the furnace opening to a minimum while work
to reduce heat loss from the furnace.
The holding furnace may be of any controlled atmos
phere type; and for non-ferrous work such as brass, cop
per and the like, a direct fired furnace heated by "rich'
burners, augmented where necessary with steam or a pre
pared atmosphere gas such as flue gas, is preferred.
The holding furnace 12 comprises a shell 38 lined with
refractory 41 and insulation 42, and is supported on
framework rails 43 by rollers 44 in hinged brackets 45 to
expand from the switch end, or charge end, of the fur
nace, where it is fixed to the rails 43. The height of
the furnace is adjusted on the rails by bolts 46, and pin
47 is the pivot for the hinge action. The top half of the
furnace chamber is assembled as a separate unit and
secured to the bottom half by bolts 48. Thus the furnace
is more easily assembled. The rails 51 and 52 are pref
erably of heat resisting alloy steel suitable for the reduc
ing or non-oxidizing atmosphere maintained in this fur
nace chamber. The rails 51 and 52 are set on ties 53
which are supported on piers 54 between which the
(j) tunnel burners 13 are fired.
The hydraulic circuit is illustrated in some detail in
Fig. 5, where a pump 55 is interposed between high and
low pressure hydraulic control main pipes 56 and 57.
The Several hydraulic cylinders 24, 61, 62 and 63 actuate
5 respectively the heating furnace pusher 15, the switch
27, and the left and right hand holding furnace pushers
16 and 17. The hydraulic control valve 64 for the pusher
cylinder 24 is a spring centered valve, springs not shown,
with Solenoid coils B1 and B2 for moving the valve to
() its forward and reverse pusher positions. The switch
cylinder 61 is controlled by valve 65 which is moved
into left and left rail positions by solenoid coils A and
A2. The left holding furinace pusher cylinder 62 is con
trolled by a spring return valve 66 which is moved to
5 its forward position by solenoid coil D and to its return
 2,802,657
5 6
position, when the coil D is de-energized, by a spring ward unless the heating furnace pusher has finished its
68 built into the valve. The right holding furnace forward stroke, nor will the pushbuttons
pusher cylinder 63 is controlled by a spring return valve function unless there is also sufficient time PB6for
and PB7
the hold
67 which is moved to its forward position by a solenoid ing furnace pusher to complete a stroke before start of
coil C and to the return position, when the coil C is de the next cycle. These switches cannot operate unless
energized, by a spring 69. The motions of the cylinders both holding furnace pushers are in the back position.
are integrated by an electrical control system, including
limit switches LS3, LS5 and LS4 contacted by pusher ofThe electrical schematic of Fig. 6 is shown at the start
a cycle with all pushers back and the switch 27 di
15, LS1 and LS2 contacted by the switch 27, LS9, LS10, rected to the left hand row. All limit switch contacts
LS11 and LS14 contacted by pusher 16 and LS7, LS6, O are in normal position except for LS3, LS, LS9 and
LS8 and LS13 contacted by pusher 17, together with LS7. Time delay relay CR9 is set for the elapsed time
photo-electric cells, or photo relays PR1 and PR2 and between the end of one cycle and the start of the next
their corresponding light sources 71 and 72.
The electrical control system, illustrated schematically cycle, as controlled by the timer which controls contact
in Fig. 6, utilizes control relays CR numbered 1 through excess Time
T-1. delay relay CR7 should be set for a time in
of the normal period between two cycles of the
7, 9, 10 and 11, of which CR1, CR2, CR3, CR5 and CR6 heating furnace, so that a push that does not discharge
have latch and trip coils L and T, the balance of the
control relays having single coils and spring trip. The afurnacebillet from the heating furnace will cause the heating
to be shut down by closing the valve in Fig. 7.
system will include conventional safety devices not shown, To initially load the heating furnace, with the holding
and a cycle will ordinarily be initiated by a timer (or furnace empty, PB3 and PB5 are both placed in their
a manual push button) of which only the contact T "Normal" positions. The timer, or a manual push button,
is shown. By setting the timer clock to the desired push
cycle, such as one minute, the contact T-1 will be closed closes the contact T-1 for about 2 seconds, then opens.
each minute to start the cycle, presuming the hydraulic Coil of CR1 is energized, and CR1 latches, closing con
tact CR1-1 and opening contacts CR1-2 and CR-3.
pump is operative and all other necessary safety condi 255 The closing of CR-1 energizes coil A and causes the
tions are met.
Pushbutton PB3 is a selector switch marked "Normal switch to move from the left to the right row of the hold
Store.” In the "Normal' position the holding furnace ing furnace. At the start of the movement LS1 is re
pushers move forward until reversed when work inter leased, opening LS-1 and LS1-2 and closing LS-3.
rupts the light beam of a photoelectric relay PR2 at the 30
At the end of the motion LS2 is depressed, closing con
discharge end of the holding furnace. When PB3 is in tacts LS2-1 and LS2-2 and opening LS2-3.
the "Store' position, the pushers for the holding furnace The solenoid coils A1 and A2 are shown in the third
are put on short stroke, reversed by LS10 or LS6, so and fourth horizontal leads connected to the vertical line
they just advance the billet into the furnace. at the right side of Fig. 6 and are shown also at left of
Pushbutton PB4 is a "Reset' momentary contact button center of Fig. 5 for moving the hydraulic control valve
used to reset a safety circuit. When a billet discharges 65 for the cylinder 61 which swings the rail switch 27
initially from the heating furnace, it interrupts the light laterally. It is to be remembered that the lines 56 and
beam of a photoelectric relay PR1 at the discharge of 57 of diagrammatic Fig. 5 represent piping and not wiring.
the heating furnace, and starts running of a time clock Closing of LS1-3 latches CR3, opening contacts
in CRT. Unless another billet resets the timer by inter CR.3-2, CR3-3 and CR3-4 and closing CR.3-1. Closing
40 of LS2-2 trips CR1, opens CR1-1 and closes CR1-2
rupting the beam before the clock times out, it will auto and CR1-3. Opening of CR1-1 de-energizes A1; and
matically shut down the heating furnace by closing a closing of CR1-3 latches CR2, closing CR2-1 and CR2-2
fuel valve thereto in the time set, such as six minutes. and opening CR2-3 and CR2-4, and also latches CR5,
This is a safety device to prevent overheating an empty
furnace. which closes CR5-1 and CR5-2 and opens CR5-3 and
Pushbutton PB5 is a selector switch marked “Normal CR5-4. Closing of CR1-3 also energizes B1, causing
Empty Furnace.” When this is in "Normal' position the heating furnace cylinder to move the pusher 15 into
and LS3 is depressed by the heating furnace pusher, the the furnace, pushing the first billet from the loading sta
holding furnace pushers may be operated momentarily tion 26 into the heating furnace,
by pushing pushbuttons PB6 and PB7 for the respective The solenoid coils B1 and B2 are shown in the ninth
pushers 7 and 16. The last billet cannot be discharged and tenth horizontal leads connected to the vertical line
from either row of the holding furnace when PB5 is in at the right side of Fig. 6 and are shown also at the left
the "Normal' position, but it may be discharged by mov side of Fig. 5 for moving the hydraulic control valve 64
ing PB5 to the "Empty Furnace' position, then pressing for the pusher cylinder 24 which is pictorially shown in
PB6 or PB7. Pushbuttons PB6 and PB7 are normally Fig. 1 as operatively connected, through the carriage 9,
to be used to remove stored billets from the holding fur to the pusher 15,
nace after a short delay during which the heating furnace
was not emptied.
At the start of the motion LS3 is released, opening
its normally open contact LS3-1 and closing its normally
Switch S2 is depressed to empty the heating furnace. closed contacts LS3-2 and LS3-3. When the billet is in
Only its three contacts (S12-1, S12-2, and S12-3) are
shown. 60 the furnace, LS5 is depressed, closing LS5-1. On clos
ing of LS3-2, CR9 is energized and CR9-1 closes. Clos
The various limit switches are depressed as follows. ing of LS5-1 trips CR3, opens its contact CR.3-1 and
LS3, LS9 and LS7 by the several furnace pushers in a closes CR.3-2, CR.3-3 and CR3-4. Opening of CR3-1
back position; LS1 and LS2 by the switch cylinder, or de-energizes B1, and closing of CR3-4 energizes B2. The
switch, in the left and right positions thereof; LS5, LS10 heating furnace pusher starts back, releasing LS5 and
and LS6 by the respective furnace pushers when a billet opening LS5-1, and when it gets back LS3 is depressed,
pushed thereby is just within the respective furnaces; LS4, closing LS3-1 and opening LS3-2 and LS3-3.
LS14 and LS13 by the pushers at the extreme ends of The solenoid coil C is shown in the fifth horizontal
their forward strokes; and LS11 and LS8 by the holding
furnace pushers when they are within one billet length 70 lead
Fig.
connected to the vertical line at the right side of
6 and is shown also at the right side of Fig. 5 for
of discharging a billet from the holding furnace. These moving the hydraulic valve 67 for the pusher cylinder
limit switches may desirably be adjusted for largely vary 63 that acts upon the pusher 17 which causes billets to
ing billet sizes, but generally will remain fixed. progress through the holding furnace. The pusher 17 is
The circuit is designed to provide certain safety fea
tures. The holding furnace pushers will not move for 75 pictorially shown in Fig. 1.
Similarly the solenoid coil D is shown in the eighth
 2,802,657
7 8
LS4-1, which energizes CR4, which locks in by closing
horizontal lead connected to the vertical line at the right CR4-1, and closes CR4-2 which energizes B2 and reverses
side of Fig. 6 and also at right of center of Fig. 5. the pusher cylinder for pusher 15.
Closing of CR3-3 energizes C and as the right hand If only the heating furnace is to be emptied, storing
pusher 17 for the holding furnace starts forward, LS7 is 5 billets in the holding furnace is provided for by placing
released, opening contacts LS7-1 and LS7-2. When the PB3 in "Store' position. The stored billets can then be
pusher 17 has advanced to within one billet length of the discharged automatically by returning to a "Normal" posi
end of the holding furnace, LS8 is depressed, closing its tilOrff.
contact LS8-1 and opening LS8-2. When emptying the heating furnace, with switch S12
The Solenoid coil D is shown in the eighth horizontal () depressed, as soon as the pusher 15 releases LS3, sole
lead connected to the vertical line at the right side of Fig. noid E for valve 20 in the water pipe 19 by-pass line is
6 and is shown also at right of center of Fig. 5 for mov energized. Flow of water is thus automatically increased
ing the hydraulic valve 66 for the pusher cylinder 62 that for long stroke operation over the flow required for short
acts upon the pusher 16 which causes billets to progress stroke operation. Since this flow may be increased 27
through the holding furnace. times from 5 to 135 G. P. M., this provision economizes
On opening of LS3-3, B2 is de-energized. the use of water for cooling.
On opening of LS3-2, CR9 is de-energized, and CR9-1 We claim:
opens after the set time delay. 1. In apparatus for heating copper base alloy billets
On closing of LS8-1, CR5 trips, opening CR5-1 and to a desired billet temperature for hot working, the com
CR5-2, and closing CR5-3 and CR5-4. bination of a heating furnace; a holding furnace; control
Closing of CR5-3 closes circuits to push buttons PB6 means for maintaining the heating furnace at a tempera
and PB7 until the circuits are broken when CR9-1 opens. ture substantially in excess of said desired billet tempera
Opening of CR5-2 de-energizes C and the right hand
pusher Solenoid valve is moved by its spring, reversing ture by admitting fuel to be burned in the furnace to
maintain a non-scaling atmosphere therein; second con
the motion of the pusher 17. At the start of the reverse 2s trol means maintaining the holding furnace at the desired
motion LS8 is released and at the end of such motion billet temperature means for maintaining a non-scaling
LS7 is again depressed. atmosphere therein; conveyor means for moving billets
The cycle is completed, and the next time the timer into, through and from the heating furnace and into
closes T-1, the left hand holding furnace pusher will be the holding furnace and timing control means for mov
actuated during the cycle, thus pushers 16 and 17 op 3. O ing said conveyor means on an automatic cycle timed to
erate on alternate cycles. These alternate cycles will discharge the billets from the heating furnace at said
continue until a billet from the heating furnace reaches
discharge and as it slides down the rails trips the photo desired billet temperature.
2. In apparatus according to claim 1, the combination
relay PR1, momentarily closing PR-1 and PR1-2. Then which
closing of PR1-1 latches CR6, which energizes CR7, chargingcomprises discharge means for automatically dis
billets from the holding furnace at the rate at
which starts its safety time.
Closing of PR1-2 trips CR3, which de-energizes B1 which they are delivered thereinto.
3. In apparatus for heating metal billets to a desired
and energizes B2, reversing the heating furnace pusher, billet temperature for hot working, the combination of a
and the cycle continues as before, the heating furnace heating furnace; a holding furnace; first control means
pusher now being reversed by discharge of billets through for maintaining the heating furnace at a temperature
the PR1 light beam. When a billet has been charged substantially in excess of the desired billet temperature;
into each row of the holding furnace, the next cycle sizcond control means for maintaining the holding fur
changes by reversing the holding furnace pusher 17 when nace at the desired billet temperature; means for main
it pushes a billet past the light beam of the photoelectric taining in the holding furnace a controlled gaseous at
relay PR2, closing PR2-1 and opening PR2-2 momen
tarily. Closing of PR2-1 trips CR5, de-energizing C mosphere about the billets therein; conveyor means for
moving bilets into, through and from the heating furnace
and reversing the pusher, and on subsequent cycles pushers and into the holding furnace and timing control means
16 and 17 will be reversed by tripping photoelectric relay for moving Said conveyor means on an automatic cycle
PR2 instead of by depressing limit switch LS11 or LS8. timed to discharge the bilets from the heating furnace
When there is a short delay, and the furnace operator at the desired billet temperature.
wishes to temporarily store billets in the holding furnace 4. In apparatus for heating billets to a desired tem
without unloading or interrupting the heating furnace, perature for hot working, the combination of a heating
PB3 is placed in the "Store' position, and then during í lirnace; 3. holding filrnace; first control means for main
the next cycles the pushers 16 and 17 for the holding taining the heating furnace at a temperature substantially
furnace will be reversed by depressing limit switches in excess of the desired billet working temperature; sec
LSi0 and LS6, respectively, as will be readily apparent 5 5 (nd control means for maintaining the holding furnace
from Fig. 6. When the delay is over, PB3 is reset to substantially at the desired billet working temperature,
"Normal,” and billets will again be discharged on cycle. and means for conveying work into, through and from
A stored billet may be discharged by depressing push he heating furnace and into the holding furnace and
button PB6 or PB7 immediately after each cycle is com timing arid control means to cause said means for, con
pleted. (i)
veying work to operate on an automatic cycle timed to
To empty the heating furnace, a switch S12 is depressed,
opening S12-2 and S12-3. A third contact S12-1 may discharge billet working
the billets from the heating furnace at said
temperature.
be used to energize a solenoid E in order to open a by 5. in apparatus for heating metal billets to a desired
pass valve 20 in a coolant line 19 to the pusher 15 to
more effectively internally cool it during this unloading 6 billet heating
temperature for inot working, the combination of a
furnace; a holding furnace; conveyor means for
operation. Now the next cycle will advance the pusher Iloving billiets inid, throiigh and from the heating fur
15 until PR1 is tripped. This will energize CR7 and trip nace; a pusher adapted to receive billets from the con
CR3, opening CR3-1 which de-energizes B1 and stops veyor means and move them into, through and from
the heating furnace pusher from moving, and the balance the helding fu rnace: a first contro circuit for controlling
of the cycle continues as before. On the next cycle, the the length of stroke of the pusher to a short stroke which
pusher 15 will advance one billet length more, and it moves billets jiist into the holding furnace; a second con
will continue to so advance until the heating furnace tic circl it c in rising means responsive to discharge of
11 has been emptied. On the first cycle after furnace a liet fri; he hilli?; furnace for reversing the pusher
11 has discharged its last billet, the pusher 15 will ad Stroke after discharge of each billet by the pusher;
vance until limit switch LS4 is depressed. This will close
 2,802,657
and switch means for alternatively connecting said first in a relatively advanced position.rate when the pusher is
and second control circuits.
6. In combination, a furnace comprising wall means
forming a heating chamber; work support means for the first
supporting work pieces to be heated in the heating cham
ber; pusher means for pushing work pieces into the
furnace; and control means comprising a radiating device supporting
and a sensing device arranged to be actuated by a work of work with ameans
piece passing therebetween and adapted to reverse said O alternative continuous paths of travel for work con
pusher means upon the sensing of a work piece passing
between said devices.
7. In combination, a furnace comprising wall means
forming a heating chamber; work support means for
supporting work pieces to be heated in the chamber;
pusher means for pushing work pieces into the furnace;
and control means comprising means responsive to dis
charge of a work piece from the furnace for reversing
the pusher whereby to periodically and substantially con
tinuously advance the work pieces through the furnace.
8. In combination, a furnace comprising wall means
forming a heating chamber; work Support means for
supporting work to be heated in the heating chamber;
pusher means for pushing work pieces into the furnace;
and control means comprising a selector adapted to al
ternatively control the pusher to 1, repeatedly advance
new work into the furnace when the selector is in a
first position whereby work is periodically and substan
tially continuously advanced into, through and from the
heating chamber, or 2, repeatedly advance a short dis
tance through the heating chamber when the selector is
in a second position whereby work in the furnace is
periodically discharged therefrom to empty the furnace
chamber.
9. The combination according to claim 8 which com
prises means responsive to the discharge of work for
interrupting the forward motion of the pusher when the
selector is in the second position.
10. The combination according to claim 8 which com
prises means for supplying coolant to the pusher when
the selector is in the second position, and for preventing
said supply of coolant when the selector is in the first
position.
11. In combination, a furnace for heating work pieces
comprising support means for supporting a row of work
pieces in the furnace, to be heated as they advance there
through; a pusher for pushing said row at the charge
end thereof; means for internally cooling the pusher by
flow of coolant thereinto; and control means actuated by
movement of the pusher to an advanced position for
automatically increasing flow of coolant into the pusher
as it progresses into the furnace.
12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein
the control means comprises a limit means for main
taining flow of coolant at a reduced rate when the pusher
is in a relatively receded position, and for maintaining
10
flow of coolant at an increased
13. In combination, a first furnace; a second furnace;
first pusher means for advancing work through and from
furnace; second pusher means for advancing said
work through and from the second furnace; means for
a plurality of rows of work in one of said
furnaces; and for alternatively aligning said rows
row of work in the other furnace to form
secutively through said furnaces.
14. In combination, a direct fired heating furnace; a
controlled atmosphere holding furnace; first support
means for supporting a row of work in the heating fur
nace; second support means for supporting a plurality
of rows in the holding furnace; first pusher means for
moving work into, through and from the heating furnace;
second pusher means for moving work into, through and
from the holding furnace; and means for aligning the
row in the heating furnace alternatively with rows in the
holding furnace to provide alternative paths of travel for
work from the heating furnace moving through the hold
ing furnace.
15. In combination, a heating furnace; a holding fur
nace; first conveyor means for moving work pieces into,
through and from the heating furnace, and onto a sec
ond conveyor means; second conveyor means for mov
ing work pieces into, through and from the holding fur
nace; and control means comprising a selector for con
30 trolling the second conveyor means to alternatively (1)
convey successive work pieces into and through the
holding furnace to short of and adjacent the discharge
end thereof with corresponding discharge of work pieces
therefrom whereby the holding furnace is maintained
35 Substantially empty as work progresses therethrough, or
(2) convey work pieces into and adjacent the charge
end of the holding furnace whereby a plurality of work
pieces shall be conveyed into the holding furnace im
mediately after setting this selection without correspond
40 ing discharge of work pieces from the holding furnace.
16. In the combination according to claim 15, second
control means for controlling the holding furinace con
veyor to advance work in the holding furnace to dis
charge a work piece therefrom without advancing a cor
45 responding work piece into the holding furnace.
References Cited in the file of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
50 1,697,757 Dahlstrom -------------- Jan. 1, 1929
1,742,652 Goodwillie ------------- Jan. 7, 1930
1,865,954 Powers –--------------- July 5, 1932
1,922,888 Engelbertz ------------ Aug. 15, 1933
2,604,577 Strickland et al. -------- July 22, 1952
2,694,246 Hess et al. ------------ Nov. 16, 1954