Heat treating apparatus

An apparatus for metallurgically heat treating workpieces comprising a rotatable retort having an elongated treating chamber therein, a helical member having a centrally located elongated passageway therein secured to said retort within said treating chamber, said helical member extending inwardly of said retort toward said passageway, a gas distributor being within said passageway, a plurality of partitions closing said passageway at selected positions thereby defining with said treating chamber and said helical member a plurality of distinct spaced-apart atmospherically isolated chambers within said treating chamber, and means including said gas distributor for jetting a reactive atmosphere into said workpieces within selected ones of said chambers.

An apparatus for metallurgically heat treating workpieces comprising a rotatable retort having an elongated treating chamber therein, a helical member having a centrally located elongated passageway therein secured to said retort within said treating chamber, said helical member extending inwardly of said chamber toward said passageway, a gas distribution pipe positioned within said passageway and extending the entire length of said helical member, a plurality of spaced-apart gas distribution pipe supports connected to said pipe, said pipe supports being within the said passageway and supported by said helical member, said pipe supports positioning said pipe generally coaxial of said treating chamber and said helical member whereby fatigue stresses exerted on said distribution pipe are reduced, said pipe supports and treating chamber and helical chamber defining a plurality of spaced-apart atmospherically isolated chambers in said treating chamber.

An apparatus for metallurgically heat treating workpieces comprising a rotatable retort having an elongated treating chamber with an entrance and an exit, a workpiece conveyor secured within said treating chamber whereby said workpieces are moved along said treating chamber from said entrance to said exit upon the rotation of said retort, a plurality of partitions within said treating chamber, said partitions cooperating with said conveyor and said treating chamber to divide said treating chamber into a plurality of distinct atmospherically isolated chambers and to allow for the movement of said workpieces into and out of said chambers, and a plurality of reactive gas distributors, and means including said gas distributors for jetting a reactive atmosphere into selected ones of said chambers.