Roller hearth furnace and method for heating a workpiece

摘要

The invention relates to a roller hearth furnace for heating workpieces, comprising at least one furnace chamber for receiving the workpieces, the chamber having at least two lateral furnace walls. At least one transport roller for transporting the workpieces through the furnace chamber is arranged inside the furnace chamber, and each of the furnace walls has at least one opening through which the transport roller can be guided. At least one rolling bearing unit is arranged on each of the outer sides of the furnace walls, said rolling bearing unit being designed to accommodate and support the transport roller outside the furnace chamber. The roller hearth furnace comprises a flushing system for the rolling bearing unit, said flushing system being designed to conduct a flushing gas through the rolling bearing unit, wherein the flushing gas can be conducted from a side of the rolling bearing unit facing away from the furnace wall through the rolling bearing unit and through the opening of the furnace wall into the furnace chamber of the roller hearth furnace. The invention further relates to a method for heating workpieces in such a roller hearth furnace.