The present invention is a processing method for a metal component by using a processing furnace. The method includes the steps of: introducing an activation atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; heating the activation atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a first temperature; introducing a nitriding atmospheric gas or a nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; and heating the nitriding atmospheric gas or the nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a second temperature. The activation atmospheric gas is introduced into the processing furnace through a pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas. A liquid organic solvent is introduced intermittently a plurality of times into the pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas which is under a state wherein the activation atmosphere gas continues to be introduced.

The present invention is a processing method for a metal component by using a processing furnace. The method includes the steps of: introducing an activation atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; heating the activation atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a first temperature; introducing a nitriding atmospheric gas or a nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; and heating the nitriding atmospheric gas or the nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a second temperature. The activation atmospheric gas is introduced into the processing furnace through a pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas. A liquid organic solvent is introduced intermittently a plurality of times into the pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas which is under a state wherein the activation atmosphere gas continues to be introduced.

A heating furnace for heating an annular component, includes a furnace body, a heat medium driving component, a support part, a guide component, and a hollow cylinder. Part of the heat medium is ejected to the outer circumferential surface of the annular component through the guide part, and part of the heat medium flows through the inner channel of the hollow cylinder, and be ejected to the inner circumferential surface of the bearing via the second heat medium channel arranged on the hollow cylinder to heat the inner circumferential surface of the bearing. In this way, the hollow cylinder plays a role of distributing the gas to some extent, and as the upper end of the hollow cylinder is a sealed structure, the flowing gas is all converted into effective heat exchange gas flow and restricted to a heat exchange space on the bearing surface.

In order to achieve an increase in energy efficiency and a faster quenching of the workpieces, a device according to the invention is proposed for the treatment of metallic workpieces with cooling gas, comprising a horizontally arranged cylindrical housing (1) with at least one closable opening for the introduction and extraction of the workpieces to be treated, with a quenching chamber (2) located inside the housing (1) for receiving the workpieces to be treated, with two high-performance fans (5 and 6) arranged laterally and outside the quenching chamber (2) for guiding a cooling gas through the quenching chamber (2) and with two heat exchangers (11 and 12) for cooling the cooling gas, that heat exchanger (11 or 12) is respectively associated with a high-performance fan (5 or 6) and that closable guide devices (17 or 18) are arranged above and below the quenching chamber (2).

In order to achieve an increase in energy efficiency and a faster quenching of the workpieces, a device according to the invention is proposed for the treatment of metallic workpieces with cooling gas, comprising a horizontally arranged cylindrical housing (1) with at least one closable opening for the introduction and extraction of the workpieces to be treated, with a quenching chamber (2) located inside the housing (1) for receiving the workpieces to be treated, with two high-performance fans (5 and 6) arranged laterally and outside the quenching chamber (2) for guiding a cooling gas through the quenching chamber (2) and with two heat exchangers (11 and 12) for cooling the cooling gas, that heat exchanger (11 or 12) is respectively associated with a high-performance fan (5 or 6) and that closable guide devices (17 or 18) are arranged above and below the quenching chamber (2).

A heat treatment device includes: a heat treatment chamber which accommodates an object to be treated; a cooling gas supply unit which supplies a cooling gas into the heat treatment chamber; a cooling gas circulation unit which circulates the cooling gas in the heat treatment chamber; and a gas purge unit which gas-purges, with an inert gas, a portion in which there is a possibility of mixing of the cooling gas supplied into the heat treatment chamber and an oxygen gas, in which the cooling gas supply unit supplies a hydrogen gas into the heat treatment chamber as the cooling gas.

A heat treatment device includes: a heat treatment chamber which accommodates an object to be treated; a cooling gas supply unit which supplies a cooling gas into the heat treatment chamber; a cooling gas circulation unit which circulates the cooling gas in the heat treatment chamber; and a gas purge unit which gas-purges, with an inert gas, a portion in which there is a possibility of mixing of the cooling gas supplied into the heat treatment chamber and an oxygen gas, in which the cooling gas supply unit supplies a hydrogen gas into the heat treatment chamber as the cooling gas.

This heat treatment apparatus is configured such that a treating target is conveyed via an intermediate conveyance chamber and accommodated in a heating chamber. The heat treatment apparatus is provided with a gas cooling chamber that is disposed adjacent to the intermediate conveyance chamber and in which the treating target is cooled using a cooling gas containing an oxidizer.

This heat treatment apparatus is configured such that a treating target is conveyed via an intermediate conveyance chamber and accommodated in a heating chamber. The heat treatment apparatus is provided with a gas cooling chamber that is disposed adjacent to the intermediate conveyance chamber and in which the treating target is cooled using a cooling gas containing an oxidizer.

The present invention enables quick cooling of steam-treated objects and thus reduces the manufacturing time of steam-treated products such as black coated steel sheets. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing steam-treated products, which involves a steam treatment step that introduces steam into a closed container (10) containing a treatment object (1) and brings the treatment object (1) into contact with the steam, and a treated object cooling step that cools the object (1) treated with steam in the steam treatment step, wherein said treated object cooling step introduces coolant gas into said closed container (10), brings said treated object (1) into contact with the coolant gas, and discharges the introduced coolant gas from said closed container (10).