Abstract: A reheat furnace work supporting member has a full length support bar protruding outwardly from precise locations on each of its opposite sides. The support bars extend the full length of the portion of the member which is to be insulated. A sectioned refractory barrier is suspended on the member by metal hangers which rest on the support bars. A method is also disclosed which includes providing a horizontal member having support bars positioned accurately on its opposite sides by preparation of the member outside a reheat furnace, then installing the member in the furnace where a refractory barrier having downwardly extending metal hangers can be attached quickly and easily at proper locations anywhere along the length of the member without requiring welding inside the furnace.

Abstract: A mill roll balance system for incorporation within a rolling mill is provided. The balance system includes a rigid beam assembly for guiding a portion of the mechanism utilized to stabilize the top roll and for preventing any resultant horizontal forces due to an unbalanced counterweight apparatus utilized to provide an upward force to the upper roll in the mill. A plurality of steelyard rods are provided and are continuous in their length from a point below the bottom of the roll housing through the housing to their upper terminus switches proximate the upper roll for providing the necessary counter-balancing upward force to the screw-down mechanism's downward force on the upper roll.