Abstract: A hot blast stove for preheating combustion air for an associated blast furnace, having a continuous, substantially cylindrical shaped peripheral wall extending from a base to a domed cover. The peripheral wall includes a first cylindrical portion defined by a refractory ring wall of a predetermined thickness, surrounded by insulation, and enclosed by a continuous metal shell; and, a second, diametrically larger, cylindrical portion disposed above the first cylindrical portion, defined by a continuation of the refractory ring wall of the first portion, surrounded by a predetermined thickness of insulating brick and insulation. The second portion is enclosed by a continuous metal shell which joins the domed cover. An annular interconnecting portion joins the cylindrical portions and includes a metal shell that diverges outwardly from the metal shell of the first portion to obliquely join the metal shell of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A blast stove having adjoining combustion and checker chambers, for use with a blast furnace. A support structure, mounted within the checker chamber, supports tiers of interlocked checkerbricks. The support structure includes vertically extending columns which loosely engage a series of transversely extending girders. The girders supportively engage a plurality of grid bar assemblies, each assembly including a plurality of grid bars maintained in a spaced relation by transverse rods and spacers welded to the bars and further including interlocking apparatus for engaging the underlying girders and an adjacent grid bar assembly. The grid bar assemblies support a plurality of grid shoes having grid assembly engaging grooves for interlocking the grid shoes to the grid bar assemblies. The top surface of the grid shoes include recesses which receive bosses located on the underside of the checkerbricks so that the first layer of checkerbricks, is engaged by the shoes.