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Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided simultaneously to quench a tubular on the inside and outside surfaces during horizontal axial movement of the heated tubular into the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical frame carrying two external and internal quench heads mounted 180.degree. apart on the cylindrical frame. The cylindrical frame is mounted for oscillatory motion about the axis of the frame through an angle of 180.degree.. A first heated tubular is delivered to the apparatus for simultaneous inside and outside quenching while the cylindrical frame is in a first position. Thereafter, the cylindrical frame and the first tubular is oscillated through 180.degree. to the second position where the first tubular may be withdrawn from the apparatus. In its second position, the second inside and outside quenching heads are in registry with the heating furnace so that a second tubular may be quenched while the first tubular is being withdrawn from the apparatus. Thereafter, the cylindrical frame and the second quenched tubular are oscillated back to the first position where the first inside and outside quenching heads are in registry with the furnace and the second quenched tubular can be withdrawn. The apparatus and method provide substantially continuous quenching of tubulars in a relatively compact apparatus having a delivery on one side only of the heating furnace.

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First Claim