Method and apparatus for chemical heat treatment of steel parts utilizing a continuous electric furnace

A continuous furnace for chemical heat treatment of parts, comprising:

• a heating chamber for heating said parts, a first hearth situated in said heating chamber to support said parts in said heating chamber, with the parts arranged in succession in a linear direction, said first hearth being mounted for reciprocal motion in a path which is substantially parallel to said linear direction;
• a cooling chamber for cooling said parts, a second hearth situated in said cooling chamber to support said parts in said cooling chamber with the parts arranged in succession in said linear direction, said second hearth being mounted for reciprocal motion in a path which is substantially parallel to said linear direction;
• a processing chamber for chemical heat treatment of said parts;
• support means disposed between said heating and cooling chambers for movement between a first position wherein said support means is adapted to receive and support at least a leading one of said parts from said heating chamber and a second position wherein said at least one supported part is situated in said processing chamber;
• stop means installed in said heating and cooling chambers for restraining movement of the parts with respect to the respective hearths supporting the same when said first and second hearths are moved in directions towards each other to an intermediate position;
• heat screens installed in said heating and cooling chambers on the sides of said support means;
• and
• means associated with said support means for sealing said processing chamber when said support means is in said second position.