Abstract: Molten pig iron flows from the hearth of a blast furnace down a runner positioned on the floor of a cast house and into ladles for receiving the iron. The runner is constructed by a plurality of precast refractory side blocks and an interconnecting base of compacted particulate refractory material to form a substantially U-shaped trough extending a preselected distance and along a preselected path from the hearth to one or more ladles for conveying the iron from the blast furnace. The trough has opposed upstanding side walls and a floor extending between the bottom of the side walls. The side walls are formed by individual side blocks positioned in abutting end to end relation on the cast house floor. The compacted base forming the trough floor extends between and interconnects with the side blocks. The adjacent ends of the side blocks are notched to form a joint for receiving castable refractory material which upon setting interlocks the ends of adjacent side blocks.

Abstract: Molten pig iron flows from the hearth of a blast furnace down a runner positioned on the floor of a cast house and into ladles for receiving the iron. The runner is constructed by a plurality of precast refractory side blocks and an interconnecting base of compacted particulate refractory material to form a substantially U-shaped trough extending a preselected distance and along a preselected path from the hearth to one or more ladles for conveying the iron from the blast furnace. The trough has opposed upstanding side walls and a floor extending between the bottom of the side walls. The side walls are formed by individual side blocks positioned in abutting end to end relation on the cast house floor. The compacted base forming the trough floor extends between and interconnects with the side blocks. The adjacent ends of the side blocks are notched to form a joint for receiving castable refractory material which upon setting interlocks the ends of adjacent side blocks.

Abstract: A metal cased refractory is made by first forming a refractory shape, which may be fired if desired, with at least one, and preferably two, shallow depressions in one of its faces. A U-shaped metal casing is also formed having a discontinuous slot running the length of its central portion. The U-shaped casing is then placed over the refractory shape so that the discontinuities in the slot overlie the shallow depressions. These discontinuities form contraction tabs which are pushed into the shallow depressions, drawing the side legs of the U-shaped casing snugly against the sides of the refractory shape and placing the central section of the casing in tension.