Patent ID: 6074204
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: F27B,F27D

Abstract:
In an assembly for treating hot and cold metal products, the assembly comprising:a preheat furnace having an outlet oppositely confronting an inlet of a reheat furnace;first conveyance means for conveying cold products along a first path leading to an inlet of the preheat furnace, the cold products being initially heated in the preheat furnace during movement of the cold products through the preheat furnace along a second path that is substantially perpendicular to the first path;second conveyance means for conveying hot products along a third path substantially parallel to the first path and leading to the inlet of the reheat furnace thereby bypassing the preheat furnace;a material handling device for transferring preheated products from the outlet of the preheat furnace to the inlet of the reheat furnace, and/or for transferring hot products from a point between the furnaces to the inlet of the reheat furnace,the material handling device includingsupport means extending between the outlet of the preheat furnace and the inlet of the reheat furnace for receiving preheated cold products from the preheat furnace or hot products from the third path;means located below the support means for lifting and translating these products from the support means to the inlet of the reheating and forselectively reversing movement of products from the support means to the preheat furnace, through the outlet thereof, for temporary hot storage therein.