Abstract: The invention relates to a partition wall, made up of a multiplicity of segments intended for a multi-compartment furnace as used for firing graphite electrodes, for instance. The invention calls for expansion joints to be incorporated between the segments in a row of segments.

Abstract: A pressure relief door for an enclosed vessel such as a combustion chamber for an incinerator. The door is pivotally attached to the combustion chamber and is movable between a closed position wherein it confronts and seals a vent duct attached to the chamber and an open position wherein said vent duct is unsealed to permit excessive pressure to be relieved from the chamber. A liquid holding trough is attached around the perimeter of the duct and is adapted to retain therein a liquid at a predetermined level. A seal member is attached around the perimeter of the door and is adapted to extend into the liquid to achieve an airtight seal between the door and duct when the door is in a closed position.

Abstract: A method and means of heat insulating the opening in a heat chamber, e.g., a soaking pit, comprises applying a cover including an inside lining of ceramic fibres, under a load which is selected so that the fibres contact a peripheral wall of the opening under a pressure which is sufficient to form a seal with the wall but insufficient to cause the fibres to be crushed.

Abstract: A reheating furnace has a row of heating chambers and a mobile roof whose sections can be moved relative to each other so as to expose the tops of selected chambers for admission or evacuation of slabs. The slabs are lowered into and lifted out of selected heating chambers by an elevator which is mounted on tracks at a level above the motors for carriages which shift the roof sections relative to the chambers. Each chamber can be heated by a set of burners independently of the other chambers. The elevator stacks the slabs in such a way that one marginal portion of each slab is exposed for pronounced heating by combustion products and the other marginal portion is nested between and is heated by the neighboring slabs.

Abstract: A lightweight, refractory soaking pit cover is formed from a plurality of trapezoidally shaped modules, with adjacent modules positioned wide-face-up and wide-face-down, and contained within a periphery of higher density rim blocks. The rim blocks and wide-face-down modules are attached to a structural steel frame, while the wide-face-up modules rest by gravity on the edges of the rim blocks and wide-face-down modules. The modules are readily replaceable and provide a lightweight construction and good insulation properties.

Abstract: A cover for a top charged melting furnace includes an annular ring of downwardly extending blocks or modules of ceramic fiber insulating material. A plurality of T-bar anchors cooperate with the blocks to provide an anchor system for the annular ring. This anchor system allows the ring's attachment to the cover to be tightened in compensation for heat and compressionally related block size reductions. The anchoring system prevents the ring of blocks from sagging during cover elevation while not interfering with upward movement of the blocks during cover positioning on the furnace. The annular ring of blocks protects the main portion of the cover's insulation from damage and any damaged blocks in the ring are readily replaceable.

Abstract: A lightweight cover provides heat insulation for a heated vessel such as a soaking pit. The cover can be readily assembled in a manner providing for ease of repair plus simplicity of maintenance. The cover has a pair of opposing frame members with ceramic fiber insulation positioned therebetween. The insulation is secured in movable engagement such as a draped and swinging engagement. In this mode, compression can be exerted against the insulation to most desirably reduce heat loss otherwise caused by heat induced ceramic fiber shrinkage. Moreover, with this structure a ceramic fiber heat seal can be achieved around edges of the soaking pit.

Abstract: A pit cover for retaining heat in an open top, ring-shaped, carbon anode baking furnace comprises an insulating cement cast into the form of the cover, at least one metal beam embedded in the insulating cement, and a plurality of stainless steel needles interspersed substantially throughout the insulating cement for reinforcement purposes. The insulating cement has a K factor of approximately 2 to 4, a density of approximately 80 to 100 lb./ft..sup.3, a cold crushing strength in the range of 1,000 to 5,000 psi, and a low iron content, preferably, less than 2%.

Abstract: A novel and improved cover structure is provided for a furnace, particularly a soaking pit cover. The cover comprises a one-piece cast ferrous metal shell or body having a shallow recess at one side, a plurality of anchor devices secured in spaced relation to the base surface of the recess, and an insulating refractory lining disposed in and filling the recess and retained by the anchor devices. Preferably, the anchor devices are in the form of C-shaped metal hangers affixed to the base surface of the recess and refractory ribbed anchor blocks mounted in the hangers. The refractory lining is preferably a monolithic layer of rammable plastic or castable refractory, particularly a light weight refractory having a bulk density not greater than about 80 lb/ft.sup.3 (1280 kg/m.sup.3).

Abstract: A peripheral seal for a furnace, e.g. a soaking pit, comprising an elongate rectangular section fibre assembly mountable on the furnace roof or door such that a flat face of the assembly can bear on a mating face of the furnace wall, means being provided for advancing the assembly such that the flat face thereof can be maintained in contact with the wall face whereby to compensate for wear and erosion of the fibre assembly.

Abstract: A flexible insulating blanket attached to a metal backing with adjustable panels about the backing is used to cover the opening of a carbon anode baking furnace to bring about sealing contact between the cover and the furnace walls so as to minimize thermal requirements and losses from the furnace.

Abstract: A beam structure is described for supporting rails that carry wheeled cover carriages employed to close the openings of chambers in an industrial furnace of the soaking pit type. Each beam is disposed on the median wall between adjacent chambers and is arranged to mount a pair of rails, each of which is associated with one of the two adjacent chamber openings. The beam is structured and arranged to rapidly dissipate heat acquired during periods of furnace operation and especially due to exposure to the interior of the furnace when the associated cover is removed to thereby protect against undue thermal stressing. Ancillary insulating means may be appended to the structure in the most severely affected regions thereof.