Electric slot furnace

A slot furnace for heating steel to forging temperatures, comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber in said housing for receiving forging stock, a refractory lining in said housing the inner surface of which generally defines said chamber;
• a refractory hearth;
• a slot at the front of the housing adjacent said hearth and having communication through said lining to said chamber through which forging stock is inserted and withdrawn;
• an electrical heating element at each side of said chamber inwardly adjacent the respective side walls of said lining;
• a refractory ceiling defining the top of said chamber and protruding inwardly thereof between said electrical heating elements and above said slot;
• means for connecting said heating elements to an electrical power source;
• a temperature sensor disposed adjacent said hearth;
• and means connected to said sensor for controlling the electrical power applied to said elements in response to said sensor.

A slot furnace for heating steel to forging temperatures, comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber in said housing for receiving forging stock, a refractory lining in said housing the inner surface of which generally defines said chamber;
• a refractory hearth;
• a slot at the front of the housing adjacent said hearth and having communication through said lining to said chamber through which forging stock is inserted and withdrawn;
• an electrical heating element at each side of said chamber inwardly adjacent the respective side walls of said lining;
• a refractory ceiling defining the top of said chamber having a portion protruding inwardly thereof between said electrical heating elements and above said slot, said portion having a generally rectangular cross section;
• means for connecting said heating elements to an electrical power source;
• a temperature sensor disposed adjacent said hearth;
• and means connected to said sensor for controlling the electrical power applied to said elements in response to said sensor.