Steel sheets for hot stamping accommodated in a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace are stably supported 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 includes: heating units and a ceiling unit arranged in a vertical direction with multiple stages to accommodate aluminum-coated steel sheets or zinc- coated steel sheets for hot stamping; 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.

A radiant element for heating an oven is disclosed. The radiant element comprises a first end; a second free end; a radiant structure between said first end and second end; a conduit for an energy feed inside said radiant structure; a first attachment leg for mechanically coupling the radiant structure to a support, a first coupling means comprising a first portion arranged to be stationary with respect to said support, and a second portion stationary relative to said first leg, the first portion and the second portion being mechanically coupled via a first interface so as to allow a relative displacement between the first portion and second portion.

The present disclosure relates to a device for indirect heating by radiation in the form of a radiant housing having two front walls and two side walls and comprising at least one heat source, the radiant housing having front walls joining one another such that the housing has a lenticular shape in cross-section.

A method for heating a blank or a preformed steel sheet component for hot forming and/or quench hardening purposes. In at least some regions, the heating is carried out to a temperature above AC3; the heating of the Hank is embodied as a rapid heating and to this end, the blank is heated in a first zone at an average heating rate of >25 K/s up to about 600° C. and above this temperature, is heated at an average heating rate of >10 K/s up to a maximum of the AC3 temperature and then is transferred to a second zone in which the blank that has been preheated in the first zone is heated in at least some regions to temperatures greater than AC3, in particular >850° C., with the heating rate in the second zone being >10 K/s. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Support device for a radiant pipe (TR), usable in thermal treatment furnaces, for lines for continuous galvanising and annealing of metal strips or sheets and/or other products made of steel and/or other metals or for revamping pre-existing furnaces, including a support for radiant pipe or shank and a furnace-side support or socket, wherein the support for the radiant pipe or shank includes at least one outer surface, facing—during use—towards the furnace-side support or socket and a thickness, wherein the furnace-side support or socket includes at least one first surface and one second surface, the latter facing—during use—towards the support for radiant pipe or shank, and a thickness, including at least one rotary means and at least one seat for housing the at least one rotary means.

A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and at least one controllable heating zone. At least one buffer zone disposed is at each of the distal ends, the buffer zones and at least one heating zone of the thermal processing chamber forming a heating element assembly having an inner and outer surface. At least one layer of insulating material is disposed along the at least one buffer and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber and forming part of the heating element assembly, the at least one layer of insulating material having a controlled efficiency being applied non-uniformly across an axial length of the heating assembly.

A method for heating a blank or a preformed steel sheet component for hot forming and/or quench hardening purposes. In at least some regions, the heating is carried out to a temperature above AC3; the heating of the blank is embodied as a rapid heating and to this end, the blank is heated in a first zone at an average heating rate of >25 K/s up to about 600 C. and above this temperature, is heated at an average heating rate of >10 K/s up to a maximum of the AC3 temperature and then is transferred to a second zone in which the blank that has been preheated in the first zone is heated in at least some regions to temperatures greater than AC3, in particular >850 C., with the heating rate in the second zone being >10 K/s. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

The present disclosure relates to a device for indirect heating by radiation in the form of a radiant housing having two front walls and two side walls and comprising at least one heat source, said radiant housing having front walls joining one another such that the housing has a lenticular shape in cross-section.

The present disclosure relates to a device for indirect heating by radiation in the form of a radiant housing having two front walls and two side walls and comprising at least one heat source, the radiant housing having front walls joining one another such that the housing has a lenticular shape in cross-section.

Support device for a radiant pipe (TR), usable in thermal treatment furnaces, for lines for continuous galvanising and annealing of metal strips or sheets and/or other products made of steel and/or other metals or for revamping pre-existing furnaces, including a support for radiant pipe or shank and a furnace-side support or socket, wherein the support for the radiant pipe or shank includes at least one outer surface, facingduring usetowards the furnace-side support or socket and a thickness, wherein the furnace-side support or socket includes at least one first surface and one second surface, the latter facingduring usetowards the support for radiant pipe or shank, and a thickness, including at least one rotary means and at least one seat for housing the at least one rotary means.