An oven system includes an oven chamber defined by side walls and a top wall. The oven chamber includes a slot formed in the top wall. A conveyor rail extends longitudinally along the slot at a position outside of the oven chamber. A conveyor hanger is coupled to and movable along the conveyor rail to support a material within the oven chamber. A first support bracket and a second support bracket each extend longitudinally along a length of the top wall of the oven chamber. The second support bracket is spaced from the first support bracket to define the slot that extends longitudinally along the top wall of the oven chamber. A closure mechanism is coupled to the first and second support brackets to inhibit heat from releasing out of the oven chamber.

An oven system includes an oven chamber defined by side walls and a top wall. The oven chamber includes a slot formed in the top wall. A conveyor rail extends longitudinally along the slot at a position outside of the oven chamber. A conveyor hanger is coupled to and movable along the conveyor rail to support a material within the oven chamber. A first support bracket and a second support bracket each extend longitudinally along a length of the top wall of the oven chamber. The second support bracket is spaced from the first support bracket to define the slot that extends longitudinally along the top wall of the oven chamber. A closure mechanism is coupled to the first and second support brackets to inhibit heat from releasing out of the oven chamber.

A method of thermally processing work pieces including providing an insulated chamber having a first end, an opposing second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the first end is inclined with respect to middle portion, creating a thermal gradient within an interior of the insulated chamber, and providing a means for gradually moving a workpiece from the first end to the second end within the created thermal gradient.

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 closure mechanism to inhibit escape of heat from an oven chamber of a conveyor oven having a conveyor hanger. The closure mechanism includes a plurality of plates configured to couple to a first and second pluralities of connection tabs of a conveyor oven. Each of the plurality of plates include a connection portion, an angled portion configured to extend downward from the connection portion within a slot of the conveyor oven and an engagement portion extending downward from the angled portion to form an engagement surface.

A method of thermally processing work pieces including providing an insulated chamber having a first end, an opposing second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the first end is inclined with respect to middle portion, creating a thermal gradient within an interior of the insulated chamber, and providing a means for gradually moving a workpiece from the first end to the second end within the created thermal gradient.

A method of thermal processing a work piece using another work piece which includes providing a chamber having a plurality of temperature zones, disposing a first work piece within a first temperature zone of the chamber, allowing a temperature of the first work piece to thermally equilibrate with the first temperature zone, moving the first work piece to a second temperature zone and disposing a second work piece within the second temperature zone of the chamber, in fluid communication with the first work piece, wherein a thermal exchange occurs between the first and second work pieces.

A closure mechanism to inhibit escape of heat from an oven chamber of a conveyor oven having a conveyor hanger. The closure mechanism includes a plurality of plates configured to couple to a first and second pluralities of connection tabs of a conveyor oven. Each of the plurality of plates include a connection portion, an angled portion configured to extend downward from the connection portion within a slot of the conveyor oven and an engagement portion extending downward from the angled portion to form an engagement surface.