seated above the upper sealing gasket 44 and positioned about the first segment of the drive shaft is one of two or more mechanical shaft coolers 46 comprising the drive shaft 16 the oven drive assembly 10 is supported by a support and stabilization structure 48 comprising a frame 50 a tension wire 52 and a tension spring 54 mounted above the oven 14 fig2 is a side view of the oven drive assembly 10 shown in fig1 the caterpillar 18 is supported within the oven 14 by a support tower 60 the location of caterpillar s 18 within the oven 14 may vary and is determined according to load analysis of the conveyor in order to achieve an optimal location between all load points of the conveyor located above the support tower 60 is an expansion bearing 62 supported by a frame 64 the expansion bearing 62 surrounds the first segment 22 and accordingly allows movement thereabout as the first segment 22 of the drive shaft 16 expands due to increased oven temperature the frame components located inside the oven 14 are thermally decoupled from the frame components located outside the oven by ceramic insert pads 65 fig3 and 4 comprise top and perspective views of the caterpillar 18 respectively the caterpillar 18 comprises a chain 66 having conveyor engaging teeth 68 mounted thereon at equally spaced intervals the chain 66.