Various examples of the design of cast elements of the equipment used in furnaces for the heat treatment of machine parts are given.

Shortcomings in their performance are indicated. Reasons for required stability of equipment are briefly discussed. Elements of equipment

illustrate the possibilities of using a charge-carrying pallet with dimensions of 900×600×45 mm as a basis for multi-component

technological equipment. Introducing additional elements, such as metal baskets, intermediate pallets or crossbars to the main pallet, it

becomes possible to create different configurations of this equipment. The technological equipment presented and discussed here is offered

to different plants which heat-treat a wide variety of produced parts. It was found that the reliability and durability of new designed

equipment can be checked only during practical use. For large plants dealing with the heat treatment of bulk quantities of parts

homogeneous or similar in shape is recommended to use the dedicated tooling.

The results of research on the effect of the type of cooling agent used during heat treatment and thermal-chemical treatment on the formation of temperature gradient and stress-deformation distribution in cast pallets, which are part of furnace accessories used in this treatment, are disclosed. During operation, pallets are exposed to the effect of the same conditions as the charge they are carrying. Cyclic thermal loads are the main cause of excessive deformations or cracks, which after some time of the cast pallet operation result in its withdrawal due to damage. One of the major causes of this damage are stresses formed under the effect of temperature gradient in the unevenly cooled pallet construction. Studies focused on the analysis of heat flow in a charge-loaded pallet, cooled by various cooling agents characterized by different heat transfer coefficients and temperature. Based on the obtained temperature distribution, the stress distribution and the resulting deformation were examined. The results enabled drawing relevant conclusions about the effect of cooling conditions on stresses formed in the direction of the largest temperature gradient.