Rotary retort furnace for heat treating parts in controlled atmosphere

Claim 1

IN A FURNACE FOR HEAT TREATING PARTS IN A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, THE COMBINATION OF A SUBSTANTIALLY GAS TIGHT HEATING CHAMBER HAVING ENCLOSING WALLS INCLUDING OPPOSITE END WALLS DEFINING THE LENGTHWISE EXTENT OF SAID CHAMBER, A METALLIC CYLINDRICAL RETORT OF LENGTH LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID END WALLS HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS WITHIN SAID HEATING CHAMBER, ROLLERS BENEATH SAID CYLINDRICAL RETORT FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE SAME, SAID ROLLERS HAVING ROLLING SUPPORTING CONTACT FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID CYLINDRICAL RETORT, MEANS OUTSIDE SAID HEATING CHAMBER FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS TO THEREBY CAUSE ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL RETORT, SAID RETORT BEING PROVIDED WITH INTERNAL SECTIONS FOR ENGAGING THE PARTS WITHIN THE RETORT TO THEREBY OBTAIN A TUMBLING ACTION DURING ROTATION, AND A DISCHARGE CHUTE FROM SAID CHAMBER EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO A QUENCH TANK BELOW SAID HEATING CHAMBER.