Method of and an apparatus for soaking steel pieces

An apparatus for soaking steel pieces comprising a heated soaking furnace having an inlet, an outlet and troughs for guiding the pieces through said furnace, a chamber for preheating cold steel pieces, means for transferring at least a portion of the heat from said furnace to said chamber, said chamber having an inlet for receiving cold pieces, means for moving the cold pieces through said chamber to preheat the same and an outlet in communication with the inlet of said furnace, and means for conveying the preheated pieces from the outlet of said chamber to the inlet of said furnace, whereby said pieces are introduced in preheated condition to said furnace including feed means for cross-feeding said cold pieces to said chamber, normally of the direction of said soaking furnace, means for effecting a translatory change in direction of said cold pieces of 90.degree. on to said means for moving said cold pieces through said chamber, and means for effecting a second translatory change in direction of said cold pieces of 90.degree. from said means for moving said cold pieces on to said conveying means for introduction into said furnace.