A method for heat treating a superalloy component includes heating a superalloy component to a first temperature, cooling the superalloy from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first cooling rate in a furnace, and cooling the superalloy component from the second temperature to a final temperature at a second cooling rate. The second cooling rate is higher than the first cooling rate.

A method for heat treating a superalloy component includes heating a superalloy component to a first temperature, cooling the superalloy from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first cooling rate in a furnace, and cooling the superalloy component from the second temperature to a final temperature at a second cooling rate. The second cooling rate is higher than the first cooling rate.

A powder sintering device is disclosed. The powder sintering device includes a furnace body, a first heating device, and a vibration device. The furnace body includes a bottom wall and a side wall cooperatively defining a reaction chamber. The first heating device is located outside the furnace body, and configured to heat the furnace body. The vibration device is located outside the furnace body, and configured to vibrate the furnace body.

A powder sintering device is disclosed. The powder sintering device includes a furnace body, a first heating device, and a vibration device. The furnace body includes a bottom wall and a side wall cooperatively defining a reaction chamber. The first heating device is located outside the furnace body, and configured to heat the furnace body. The vibration device is located outside the furnace body, and configured to vibrate the furnace body.

An object of the present invention is to stably support steel sheets for hot stamping accommodated in a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace over a long period of time using steel sheet support members having a small projected area and inhibited from thermally deforming. The far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace of the present invention includes: heating units and a ceiling unit arranged in a vertical direction with multiple stages to accommodate steel sheets for hot stamping that are aluminum-coated steel sheets or zinc-coated steel sheets; and far-infrared radiation heaters disposed within the heating units and the ceiling unit to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping to a temperature ranging from the Ac.sub.3 transformation temperature to 950 C. Steel sheet support members are mounted to the heating units to support the steel sheets for hot stamping by point contact or line contact with the steel sheets for hot stamping. The steel sheet support members are supported so as to be expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction by thermal expansion or thermal contraction.

A heat engine that utilizes a controllable heat source that includes a body comprising a dopant that has an affinity for a fuel species, preferably a hydrogen isotope. The production of heat by the heat source can be modulated by the application of electric and/or magnetic fields to the body. The hear engine includes safety features that prevent excessive heat generation.

A heat engine that utilizes a controllable heat source that includes a body comprising a dopant that has an affinity for a fuel species, preferably a hydrogen isotope. The production of heat by the heat source can be modulated by the application of electric and/or magnetic fields to the body. The hear engine includes safety features that prevent excessive heat generation.

The vacuum heat treatment device includes: a guide plate used to guide a cooling medium supplied by a cooling unit, into a heat-insulating container through one of at least two openings of the heat-insulating container in a state where the two openings of the heat-insulating container are opened; and a movement mechanism used to move the guide plate so that at least part of the guide plate is inserted into a movement area of a cover portion in a state where the two openings of the heat-insulating container are opened and so that the guide plate is retracted from the movement area of the cover portion before the cover portion is moved in order to close the two openings of the heat-insulating container.

The vacuum heat treatment device includes: a guide plate used to guide a cooling medium supplied by a cooling unit, into a heat-insulating container through one of at least two openings of the heat-insulating container in a state where the two openings of the heat-insulating container are opened; and a movement mechanism used to move the guide plate so that at least part of the guide plate is inserted into a movement area of a cover portion in a state where the two openings of the heat-insulating container are opened and so that the guide plate is retracted from the movement area of the cover portion before the cover portion is moved in order to close the two openings of the heat-insulating container.

A batch annealing furnace includes a coil support base on which an end face of a coil is mounted and that supports the coil with an axis of the coil being upright, an inner cover that covers an entire body of the coil mounted on the coil support base, and a cooling pipe that extends downward from the upper part of the inner cover to a cavity of the inner peripheral part of the coil mounted on the coil support base and cools the coil from the inner surface side by passing a coolant through the inside of the cooling pipe.