A method is provided for heating a furnace arranged with a heating zone heated with a burner providing a flame extending in a longitudinal direction and fed with a fuel and a primary oxidant, the burner is operated with a mass relationship between the fed fuel and primary oxidant permitting less than 50% of the fed fuel to be combusted using the primary oxidant, and a respective pair of secondary oxidant lances are provided one either side of the furnace pointing into the heating zone, lancing a secondary oxidant into the heating zone downstream of the burner substantially parallel with a cross plane, such that a temperature is measured downstream of the lances and that each of the lance pairs includes an upstream, low-speed first and a downstream, high-speed second lance, wherein the amount of secondary oxidant supplied via the first lance is regulated to achieve a homogenous lateral temperature profile. A related furnace is also provided.

A furnace for relieving glass products of stress is provided. The furnace has a furnace interior and a thermal element that measures temperatures in the furnace interior. The thermal element is enclosed by an enveloping tube composed of an inorganic material.

A reverse catenary muffle, and method of forming same, includes a planar lower surface, and first and second sidewalls extending upwardly in parallel relation from opposite, first and second edges, respectively, of the lower surface. A concave arch-shaped upper surface extending from upper ends of the first and second sidewalls wherein upper portions of the arch-shaped upper surface are defined at an interconnection of the upper surface with the sidewalls, and a central portion of the upper surface spaced from the lower surface.

A reverse catenary muffle, and method of forming same, includes a planar lower surface, and first and second sidewalls extending upwardly in parallel relation from opposite, first and second edges, respectively, of the lower surface. A concave arch-shaped upper surface extending from upper ends of the first and second sidewalls wherein upper portions of the arch-shaped upper surface are defined at an interconnection of the upper surface with the sidewalls, and a central portion of the upper surface spaced from the lower surface.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a metal strip to be heat-treated, contained in a continuously operated heat treatment furnace and proceeding in an essentially horizontal direction and suspended position in a zone arranged between elements meant for supporting the metal strip when said metal strip is being cooled. The trajectory of the metal strip is measured by a measuring device, and on the basis of the obtained measurement results, the metal strip is subjected to a controlled cooling agent jet, so that the trajectory of the metal strip, at least in the zone located between the elements meant for supporting the metal strip, is made to proceed in between devices installed around the trajectory and meant for conveying the cooling agent.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a metal strip to be heat-treated, contained in a continuously operated heat treatment furnace and proceeding in an essentially horizontal direction and suspended position in a zone arranged between elements meant for supporting the metal strip when said metal strip is being cooled. The trajectory of the metal strip is measured by a measuring device, and on the basis of the obtained measurement results, the metal strip is subjected to a controlled cooling agent jet, so that the trajectory of the metal strip, at least in the zone located between the elements meant for supporting the metal strip, is made to proceed in between devices installed around the trajectory and meant for conveying the cooling agent.

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for the press hardening of components (2), having at least one furnace (3), having a press (8), which is arranged downstream of the at least one furnace (3), and having a transporting apparatus (4). In order to provide for cycle times which are as short as possible, means (5) for transporting the components (2) are mounted in a moveable manner in the transporting apparatus (4), wherein the means (5) with the components (2) can be moved, along the transporting apparatus (4), through the furnace (3) and into the press (8), wherein the transporting apparatus (4) is continuous between the furnace (3) and the press (8), and wherein the components (2) can be transported from the furnace (3) to the press (8) without being manipulated.

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for the press hardening of components (2), having at least one furnace (3), having a press (8), which is arranged downstream of the at least one furnace (3), and having a transporting apparatus (4). In order to provide for cycle times which are as short as possible, means (5) for transporting the components (2) are mounted in a moveable manner in the transporting apparatus (4), wherein the means (5) with the components (2) can be moved, along the transporting apparatus (4), through the furnace (3) and into the press (8), wherein the transporting apparatus (4) is continuous between the furnace (3) and the press (8), and wherein the components (2) can be transported from the furnace (3) to the press (8) without being manipulated.

A furnace for heating metal strips, and to a device and a method for producing metal strips by continuous casting and rolling. The device includes a casting machine, a furnace through which a metal strip can be transported in a conveying direction, a first external cutting apparatus and a second external cutting apparatus, the first external cutting apparatus being upstream of the furnace and the second external cutting apparatus being downstream of the furnace, in the conveying direction of the metal strip, and at least one rolling mill. A first internal cutting apparatus and a second internal cutting apparatus are provided inside the furnace. A segment of the metal strip between said internal cutting apparatuses can be separated by actuating the latter.

A method and a device for charging a plurality of reduced iron raw materials into a traveling hearth reduction-melting furnace and treating the raw materials, allowing sufficient input of heat to the reduced iron raw materials on a hearth covering material to improve treatment efficiency are provided. The reduced iron raw materials are released downward from the lower surface of a ceiling of the reduction-melting furnace to be set on a hearth covering material on a hearth and reduced on the hearth covering material. The falling reduced iron raw materials are given a horizontal velocity having a direction equal to the travel direction of the hearth and being greater than the travel speed of the hearth to enable the reduced iron raw materials to roll in the same direction as the travel direction of the hearth after landing on the hearth covering material.