Abstract: The radiant tube burner assembly comprises a radiant tube having a burner leg and an exhaust leg. A plenum for mixing combustion air and products of combustion from the exhaust leg is positioned to direct the resultant mixture into the burner leg. A jet pump for directing high velocity combustion air through a nozzle and along a central longitudinal axis of the plenum aspirates the products of combustion from the exhaust leg through a duct in registry with the plenum and the exhaust leg. A restricted orifice associated with the duct is dimensioned and sized in relation to the jet pump nozzle to control the amount of products of combustion aspirated to the plenum. A conventional fuel source including a fuel pipe and conventional exhaust means also form a part of the assembly.

Abstract: A protective refractory member for protecting heat-absorptive elements in a high-temperature furnace comprises a refractory shape, an interconnected, reticulated metal mesh embedded within the shape and positioned substantially adjacent an inner surface of the shape and at least one opening extending through a thickness of the shape and through the mesh. A tubular insert is located within the opening and is welded to the spirals which define the mesh. Both the insert and certain of the spirals engage the heat-absorptive element and the insert is welded to the element to retain the member thereto.

Abstract: An adjustable flame burner for an industrial furnace comprises a burner body having a baffle with a discharge face forming a forward wall thereof. A first set of space combustion sustaining gas apertures extend axially through the baffle and a second set of apertures also extend axially through the baffle but at an acute angle to the first apertures and also offset from the burner center line in skewed relationship thereto. The apertures of the respective sets intersect at the discharge face and the relative amount of combustion sustaining gas is controlled between the two sets of apertures to provide a tunable, flame release pattern varying between a short cylindrical flame and a long intense all radial flame.

Abstract: A ladle preheat station includes a wall, a ladle base for holding a ladle juxtapositioned to the wall on one side thereof, and burner extending through the wall for firing into the ladle interior. The wall includes a sight tube extending therethrough. An infrared pyrometer is mounted and spaced from the side of the wall opposite the ladle and is positioned to transmit a signal through the sight tube to measure the radiation of the ladle bottom and convert it into an electrical signal for control purposes.

Abstract: A ladle preheat station includes a firing wall through which a burner fires into an open end of a ladle juxtapositioned with respect to the wall, an air curtain means positioned about the firing wall so as to direct a curtain of air toward the ladle to eliminate ambient air infiltration between the firing wall and the ladle lip. In a preferred form an insulating refractory is placed along the inner-most edge of the air curtain means to reradiate the radiated heat and minimize slot radiation heat losses.

Abstract: The improvement in a walking beam oil country tube reheat furnace comprises a first row of burners positioned in spaced relationship and transverse the furnace hearth with each of the burners containing a refractory housing positioned in the limited space between the walking beam pass line and the hearth of the furnace. The burner includes a burner body and a centrally disposed fuel tube so as to define an annular air chamber thereabout. The burner includes a 90.degree. bend so as to fire in parallel relationship to the pass line. The method of retrofitting a top fired walking beam furnace includes inserting at least one unitized bung of said spaced burners through the furnace floor and into the space between the pass line and floor and firing the burners in parallel relationship with the pass line.

Abstract: A discharge door assembly for a reheat pusher furnace having a drop out slope includes a refractory lined main frame, a hood extending out from the main frame, a fluid plenum extending substantially the length of the door beneath the hood and a plurality of fluid jets spaced along and extending from the plenum to direct a stream of fluid such as air parallel or convergent with the drop out slope.

Abstract: A protective refractory elongated hollow member for protecting pipe and the like in high temperature metallurgical furnaces comprises an arcuately shaped male part and an arcuately shaped female part interconnected at their respective longitudinal edges. The male part includes a clip partially embedded therewithin, which clip includes at least one hook and preferably two extending outward from the longitudinal edge of the part. The female part includes hook-receiving members such as loops partially embedded and extending from its longitudinal edge to receive the hooks. The hooks include locking means or preventive disengaging means for retaining the parts in assembled relationship.

Abstract: An elongated unitary refractory member having a horseshoe-shaped configuration is defined by opposing legs, each having a distal section, an interior surface adjacent to and extending between the distal sections, an outer surface and slot-like openings extending radially through the distal sections adjacent the interior surface. An interconnected reticulated metal structure is solidly embedded within the member and positioned adjacent the interior surface. A connecting plate is secured to the metal structure at each distal section and includes tabs in registry with the slots to permit access to the tabs for attachment to a water-cooled pipe or the like which is to be protected in a high temperature heat treating furnace.

Abstract: A thermally insulating member for protecting water cooled pipes in the supporting structures for work pieces in heat treating furnaces comprises a cast refractory insulating member into which is solidly embedded a reticulated metal mesh reinforcement member. To provide further substantial reductions in the amount of heat loss by decreasing the thermal conductivity of the insulating member a fibrous insulating material is engaged within mesh loops of the reticulated metal structure. The fibrous insulating material has better heat insulating properties than the cast refractory material.

Abstract: A protective refractory member which protects heat absorptive elements such as pipe in a furnace comprises two parts connected at their respective longitudinal edges to form a peripherally continuous hollow member. Both parts include a reticulated metal structure solidly embedded within a castable refractory matrix. In one of the parts the reticulated metal structure extends outward from each longitudinal edge to form two closed loops. The other part has associated with it a clip connected to the reticulated metal structure. The clip is partially embedded within the part and has hook-like projections, preferably two or more, extending outward from the longitudinal edge which engage the closed loops of the other part to form the hollow protective member. The hook-like connection can also be used to form protective members having discontinuous peripheries.

Abstract: The method for heating the furnace chamber produces high momentum levels during the heat treating cycle so as to obtain substantially uniform temperature throughout the charge. The method includes initially firing a plurality of high velocity burners at substantially maximum fuel input and in substantially stoichiometric ratio. Thereafter, the fuel input is reduced while maintaining the stoichiometric ratio at least during the high input portion of the cycle. Excess air is introduced external of the combustion zones of the burners on a predetermined signal such as a given fuel input reduction to maintain the desired momentum level within the furnace. The apparatus comprises a high velocity burner having associated therewith an excess air unit for discharging excess air external of the combustion chamber or port block of the burner.

Abstract: Fuel is injected into a combustion chamber by a central burner. Combustion air is fed through an air supply passage provided in a plurality of air ejection holes on an annular plate surrounding the front end of said air supply passage.

Abstract: A closure for an opening into a combustion chamber or a distillation chamber which tightly seals said opening. The closure has a central portion with a lip at its periphery having at least one sealing surface thereon. A member adjacent to the opening has a seat portion located out of proximity of said opening which contacts the sealing surface of the lip when the closure is closed. A hinge mechanism mounting the closure adjacent to the opening and permitting removal of the closure from the opening and a locking lever supported adjacent to the opening to force the sealing surface of the lip against the seat portion to seal the opening when the closure is closed. The seal is located out of proximity of a passageway in communication with the opening.

Abstract: The method for heating the furnace chamber produces high momentum levels during the heat treating cycle so as to obtain substantially uniform temperature throughout the charge. The method includes initially firing a plurality of high velocity burners at substantially maximum fuel input and in substantially stoichiometric ratio. Thereafter, the fuel input is reduced while maintaining the stoichiometric ratio at least during the high input portion of the cycle. Excess air is introduced external of the combustion zones of the burners on a predetermined signal such as a given fuel input reduction to maintain the desired momentum level within the furnace. The apparatus comprises a high velocity burner having associated therewith an excess air unit for discharging excess air external of the combustion chamber or port block of the burner.

Abstract: A leveler door for sealing the leveler opening in a coke oven door; the oven door of the type having leveler door mounting and latching apparatus associated therewith. The leveler door comprising a flexible closure member possessing spring-like properties at elevated temperatures and having a generally concave shape, terminating in a flexible sealing edge at its outer periphery. The sealing edge is formed at an angle of less than 90.degree. relative to the plane of the leveler opening. Means for securing the closure member to the mounting and latching apparatus of the coke oven door are disclosed, whereby the compressive closing force supplied by the mounting and latching apparatus causes the concave closure member to move toward the leveler opening causing the sealing edge to concurrently flex outwardly from the leveler opening while sealably engaging the coke oven door adjacent the leveler opening.