Walking beam type heat treatment furnace - for continuous stepwise processing of material esp. plates, comprises alternating gps. of transport beams across furnace width

Heat treatment furnace has two alternating gps. of transport beams across the furnace width. Each transport beam is fitted with two longitudinal load support beams mounted on two pairs of legs each. The gap between load support beams of adjacent transport beams is kept to a min. The heat resisting load support beams (5,6) are pref. formed as hollow box section castings with dovetail retainers (10) for one or more refractory hearth blocks (11). The support legs (7) are mounted in pairs on a common base (8) fixed to the transport beam. A gap formed between hearth block (11) and support beam (5,6) is filled with ceramic fibre or refractory cement, to eliminate machining on beams and blocks. ADVANTAGE - Furnace construction is simplified and less costly. Narrow plate material can be processed in single or multiple rows without additional means of support.