Abstract: A method for accommodating increasing outward pressures in the tap holes of a hearth furnace includes configuring a tap hole lining and disposing it inside a hollow cylindrical conduit such that the tap hole lining can slide in response to outward pressures and growth in the hearth brick. The tap hole lining is retained inside the hollow cylindrical conduit with a retaining ring and spring assemblies.

Abstract: A brick hearth system includes a rigid containment shell in which a concave bottom is lined with a hearth refractory sub-layer and hearth brick working layer. The outer perimeter of the hearth refractory is ringed with thrust blocks to compress the whole toward the center and to thereby deny gaps from forming between the separate bricks. Many individual thrust rods penetrate the outer bottom of the containment shell, and such are used to transmit compression forces generated outside the shell to be applied against the thrust blocks in unison. Each thrust rod receives an adjustable amount of inward force from a spring, acting either directly or through a beam or rocker arm. These are anchored to and use the hoop strength of the containment shell as leverage. As the hearth brick working layer grows during its service life, the ring of thrust blocks grows in diameter as well inside the margins provided within the containment shell.

Abstract: There is provided a melt supply pipe for aluminum die casting which is strong to mechanical impact and is excellent in the melting loss resistance to a molten aluminum alloy and which has a significantly extended life. The melt supply pipe for connecting a melting furnace and a plunger sleeve of a die casting machine, includes an inner ceramic pipe and an outer steel pipe fitted to the inner pipe, wherein a Ni alloy layer is formed over the inner circumferential surface of the outer steel pipe, and TiC particles are bonded to the surface of the Ni alloy layer.

Abstract: A brick hearth system comprises a rigid containment shell in which a concave bottom is lined with a hearth refractory sub-layer and hearth brick working layer. The outer perimeter of the hearth refractory is ringed with thrust blocks to compress the whole toward the center and to thereby deny gaps from forming between the separate bricks. Many individual thrust rods penetrate the outer bottom of the containment shell, and such are used to transmit compression forces generated outside the shell to be applied against the thrust blocks in unison. Each thrust rod receives an adjustable amount of inward force from a spring, acting either directly or through a beam or rocker arm. These are anchored to and use the hoop strength of the containment shell as leverage. As the hearth brick working layer grows during its service life, the ring of thrust blocks grows in diameter as well inside the margins provided within the containment shell.

Abstract: A refractory lining system comprises an inner refractory layer; and an outer layer located outside of the inner refractory layer, the outer layer comprising: a plurality of layer segments; and at least one control joint located between the plurality of layer segments, the at least one control joint configured to allow expansion and contraction in the outer layer. A segment of an outer layer of a refractory lining comprises an edge shaped corresponding to a control joint configured to allow expansion and contraction in the outer layer.

Abstract: Expansion joints located in the upper part of the hearth walls of a reduction furnace are filled with a plate-shaped compressible graphite filler having a density of 0.1 to 0.2 g/cm3. A method of manufacturing such a joint filler is also provided.

Abstract: A CMC wall (20F) may be attached to a metal wall (22F) by a plurality of bolts (28A, 28B, 28C) passing through respective holes (24A, 24B, 24C) in the CMC wall (20F) and holes in the metal wall (22F), clamping the walls (20F, 22F) together with a force that allows sliding thermal expansion but does not allow vibrational shifting. Distal ones of the holes (24A, 24B) in the CMC wall (20F) or in the metal wall (22F) are elongated toward a central one of the bolts (24C) or at alternate angles to guide differential thermal expansion (20T) of the CMC wall (20F) versus the metal wall (22F) between desired cold and hot geometries. A second CMC wall (20R) may be mounted similarly to a second metal wall (22R) by pins (39A, 39B, 39C) that allow expansion of the CMC component (201) in a direction normal to the walls (20F, 20R).

Abstract: A binding system for applying a vertical compressive force to the refractory walls of a rectangular or circular furnace comprises a compressive member engaging a laterally extending surface of the furnace wall and a support member to which the compressive member is connected. The compressive member preferably comprises a coil spring which acts directly on the laterally extending surface or indirectly through a force-applying member. The force applied by the compressive member is sufficient to control vertical expansion and substantially prevent vertical expansion of the furnace walls due to infiltration of material into the joints between the refractory bricks during operation of the furnace.

Abstract: A furnace binding and adjustment system for maintaining a refractory furnace hearth under compression utilizes a plurality of buckstays connected at their upper and lower ends by tie members. A fluid-pressurized tensioning device, preferably a hydraulics device, is provided at the ends of at least some of the tie members to permit some relative movement between the tie member end and the buckstay to permit adjustment of compressive forces applied to the refractory hearth. The use of multiple hydraulic devices permits simultaneous activation of the tensioning devices, and also permits the hydraulic pressure in the cylinders to be accurately adjusted and monitored from a remote location.

Abstract: An article and method for its manufacture are described. The article is preferably a ladle used in the manufacture of metals and receives molten metal for further chemical processing in the ladle or for transportation. The ladle is transparent to a wide range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths which allows the metal to be heated or stirred by induction without heating the ladle itself. The ladle is made of glass fibers and an inorganic cement, and this provides strength along with high temperature resistance. The article is manufactured by winding glass fiber around a mandrel, the glass fiber having an inorganic cement adhered to it. In one technique, the cement is provided on the fiber as an aqueous slurry, and the product is allowed to air cure after winding. In a second technique, the cement is adhered to the fiber by electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: A support device for a furnace, particularly the bottom furnace of a flash smelting furnace, includes a fastening device flexibly connecting a pillar element to a support structure. The pillar element includes a support part having a slot for receiving a counterpart attached to the support structure. The engagement of the counterpart with the slot controls the horizontal motion of the pillar element as the furnace walls move caused by thermal expansion.

Abstract: Diffusion bonding techniques are extended to the simultaneous bonding of an array of multilevel piece parts. The problems of uneven expansion and contraction of different levels of different piece parts in the array are obviated by positioning each level of the array within a frame. The stack of frames is pinned in one corner. The opposite corner of the array has a slot at a 45° angle with respect to the x and y axes of the array. The slot engages a pin and allows the entire array to expand and contract along the slot in a manner to maintain the registration of features between respective levels of each piece part.

Abstract: A refractory-lined high temperature reaction vessel comprises a refractory ring lining constructed of refractory brick, a cooler, and a heat transfer medium disposed between the refractory ring lining and the cooler. The refractory brick comprises magnesia (MgO) and graphite. The heat transfer medium contacts the refractory brick and a cooling surface of the cooler, and is composed of a material that accommodates relative movement between the refractory brick and the cooler. The brick is manufactured such that the graphite has an orientation providing a high thermal conductivity in the lengthwise direction through the brick that is higher than the thermal conductivity in directions perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. The graphite preferably is flake graphite, in the range of about 10 to 20 wt %, and has a size distribution selected to provide maximum brick density.

Abstract: A multi-piece crucible for high temperature applications comprises a tubular side wall member having a lip on the inside surface and a bottom member or members forming a container for containing a melt of a material during a high temperature melt-casting operations. The multi-piece design prevents cracking of the crucible or leakage of the melt from the crucible during the melt-casting operation. The lip of the tubular member supports the bottom member. The contacting surfaces where the lip of the tubular side wall member contacts the bottom member of the multi-piece crucible contains a ceramic sealing material. The ceramic sealing material forms a seal sufficient to prevent the melt of the material from leaking out of the multi-piece crucible during the melt-casting process. The multi-piece crucible is made of a material which is chemically inert to the melt and has structural integrity at the melting point temperature of the melt, or of a material coated with such a material.

Abstract: In the construction of a hot blast stove, walls are made of pre-formed and baked bricks. At the joint between two walls, cast joining elements of complex shape are incorporated. The cast joining elements may be cast in situ. This avoids the need for pressing joining bricks of a variety of shapes.

Abstract: A retort for a fluidized bed is disclosed having a retort wall including an outer wall segment and an inner wall segment. The inner wall segment includes a plurality of plate segments. A support mechanism is provided for securing the plurality of plate segments to an inner side of the outer wall. The plate segments are disposed spaced from the outer wall. The plate segments are further disposed in sliding overlapping relation to permit independent thermal expansion and contraction of the plate segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a high-melting-point and high-toughness metal, comprising: reducing a high-melting point and high-toughness metal chloride with an activated metal to form a high-melting-point and high-toughness sponge metal in a reducing vessel arranged sideways relative to a condensing vessel, wherein the condensing vessel is integrally connected to the reducing vessel through a conduit, and at least one of the reducing vessel and/or the condensing vessel is supported so as to move with thermal expansion of said conduit; and measuring a weight-change of the vessel supported so as to move with thermal expansion of the conduit to estimate the degree of progress of a separating and recovering process on the basis of the detected weight-change when nonreacted activated metal and its chloride remaining in the sponge metal formed in the reducing vessel are recovered into the condensing vessel by vacuum separation.

Abstract: To diminish cracking due to differential expansion of refractory channels conducting molten materials, e.g. in an iron runner or iron trough, lateral pressure is exerted inwardly on the wear lining of such a channel through intermediate layers of permanent lining. These may include low friction slide plates and at least one layer having a high thermal conductivity. The means exerting the pressure react against an external frame structure and are preferably such that the pressure exerted is independent of the degree of expansion of the channel.

Abstract: An article and method for its manufacture are described. The article is preferably a ladle used in the manufacture of metals and receives molten metal for further chemical processing in the ladle or for transportation. The ladle is transparent to a wide range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths which allows the metal to be heated or stirred by induction without heating the ladle itself. The ladle is made of glass fibers and an inorganic cement, and this provides strength along with high temperature resistance. The article is manufactured by winding glass fiber around a mandrel, the glass fiber having an inorganic cement adhered to it. In one technique, the cement is provided on the fiber as an aqueous slurry, and the product is allowed to air cure after winding. In a second technique, the cement is adhered to the fiber by electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: Molten steel in tundishes can be contacted with high surface area ceramic shapes which remove the alumina and other impurities contained in steel. Certain ceramic shapes, in particular tundish baffles, having a large surface area which acts as alumina traps for molten steel contained in tundishes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A refractory sheet member is positioned in a cut-out portion of graphite side and end plates of an aluminum holding and refining vessel to create an effective barrier to the flow of molten aluminum through the channel formed upon the pulling of the plates apart when the vessel is heated to operating temperature.

Abstract: Expansive forces in a furnace of cylindrical shape (e.g. a ladle furnace) are absorbed by means of a metallic ring positioned in the bottom of the furnace which substantially fits the inner, lower side wall of the cylindrical steel shell of the furnace and absorbs the expansive forces directed against this side wall.

Abstract: A bottom construction for a shaft furnace, has a plurality of horizontal layers of refractory material, and a gastight metal membrane located above at least the lowest layer of refractory material. So that the membrane is easily constructed, can accommodate thermal movements and has a level upper surface, the layer of refractory material immediately underneath the metal membrane is formed of blocks and has a level top surface and the metal membrane is formed of loosely laid, mutually abutting metal plates which are stacked in at least three layers. The pattern of the joints of the plates of each of these three layers is offset, as seen in plan view, with respect to the pattern of the joints of both the other two layers. The plates may be copper sheets. The membrane may have a peripheral flange cemented in a slot at the furnace wall.

Abstract: A tank furnace for the metallurgical treatment of non-ferrous metals, consisting of a refractory hearth in the form of an inverted arch disposed on perimetral plate assemblies which are able to move in order to compensate for hearth expansion, a containing belt formed of metal box elements, and walls and a crown of refractory material, said elements being separately supported by an external frame and being able to slide relative to each other due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: A self-adjusting refractory joint which finds principle utility in teeming valves in which a pair of overlapping collars are provided on a plate and on the pour tube, the collar on the plate extending downwardly in surrounding relationship to the teeming orifice, and the collar on the pour tube extending from its upper portion in overlapping interfering relationship with the collar on the plate. Ideally the tangent of the angle (theta) of undercut between the respective collars where they overlap is the ratio of the height of the collar of the inner member divided by the radius of the outside diameter (O.D.). In the precast environment, an independent preformed retainer is used to define the extension from the bottom of the plate. In both instances a holder surrounds the extension from the bottom of the plate to essentially the bottom of the plate collar forming member.

Abstract: A refractory plate assembly includes a refractory plate having therethrough at least one discharge opening and a sheath tightly fitted around the periphery of the plate. The plate is formed of separate plate portions separated along planar surfaces extending outwardly from the discharge opening at positions where cracks would be formed during use of the plate if the plate were of unitary construction. The planar surfaces are separated by compressible refractory packing material, thereby forming expansion joints. The sheath compresses the packing material of the expansion joints.

Abstract: A longitudinally expansible and contractible duct characterized by the employment of a pair of expansible and contractible bellows protected by internal, thermally insulated, baffles which are slidably secured to the external shell members of the duct to accommodate differential thermal expansion both longitudinally and radially of the duct.

Abstract: A metallurgical vessel having a bottom, a side wall structure defining an opening remote from the bottom, a refractory lining for the interior of the vessel and a unitary metal flange fixed to the vessel and extending around the opening and over the lining, and having an inner periphery directed towards the opening and an outer periphery wherein in order to reduce thermal stresses in the flange there are a plurality of holes in the flange metal spaced from the inner periphery and extending over the refractory lining and distributed circumferentially around the flange whereby heat flow through the flange from its inner periphery to its outer periphery is restricted.

Abstract: Unfired refractory structural member in the form of a plate for the expendable lining of metallurgical vessels, especially for tundishes used in continuous steel casting, and comprising magnesia sinter and possibly olivine with a grading of 30-45% by weight under 0.09 mm, and 55-70% by weight 0.09 to 4 mm, including 20-40% by weight over 1 mm; cork or granulated ceramic fibers as a pore-forming material; an inorganic binder; and possibly other additives. This refractory structural member has good strength, a small ignition loss, a low content of volatile hydrogen-containing substances, a favorable peeling behavior, and good resistance to slag and molten steel.

Abstract: A refractory assembly for use in a roof in an ore reduction furnace is provided having a pair of refractory blocks with matchable corrugated surfaces. A corrugated plate is provided, with its corrugations having the same wavelength as and a different amplitude than the block corrugations. The plate is bound between the corrugated surfaces of the blocks so that the blocks are spaced apart by and supported on the plate. In the preferred embodiment, the corrugations are sine waves with the plate sine wave having an amplitude greater than the sine wave of the blocks. The entire assembly may be suspending as part of a furnace roof.

Abstract: A melting furnace of a rigid structure includes a hollow body for receiving a material to be melted, the body comprising bricks joined together. A shell of iron surrounds the brick body so as to restrain a thermal expansion of the brick body during an operation of the furnace. A heating device is mounted around the iron shell for heating it to control the degree of thermal expansion of the iron shell, thereby controlling compressive forces exerted by the iron shell on the brick body when the brick body is thermally expanded during the operation of the furnace.

Abstract: A tie back assembly for holding in place loose bricks forming an interior furnace wall is disclosed comprising a hold back plate, an adjustable stud holder assembly attachable at one end to the plate and extending through the furnace wall, and a locking means positioned outside the furnace for securely fixing the plate against the loose bricks.

Abstract: A smelting furnace, the refractory sole (3) of which is contained in a metallic casing (5) having expansion joints (6, 7, 7'), comprises means (18, 19) for cooling the expansion joints, these means enabling to solidify actually any liquid phase that might tend to infiltrate into the joints.

Abstract: A brickwork construction is disclosed as specifically useful for making the gas distribution chamber of a shaft kiln. In this construction the collapse of the wall into the shaft kiln is prevented by using bricks which are thinner at one end than the other and are laid to make a wall in which there is a straight inner surface to the shaft kiln and an arched side to the gas distribution chamber.

Abstract: In a process for forming the bottom of a metallurgical container, especially the bottom of a converter for refining pig iron, of the type which comprises a metallic base, at least one layer of refractory material superimposed on the metallic base, a first layer of refractory bricks superimposed on the layer of refractory material, and a second layer of refractory bricks on said first layer, the steps of placing, spaced from each other, on said first layer a plurality of refractory elements permeable to gas and each enclosed in a metal casing open at the top, circumferentially surrounding the metal casing of each of the elements with bricks of a material which expands during rise of the temperature and thereafter completing the second layer with refractory bricks.

Abstract: The invention relates to reducing the thermal inertia of furnace or oven walls. Insulating modules under compression are secured to the wall and released from compression upon firing of the furnace.

Abstract: An industrial oven for heating products therein of the type having four insulated side walls, an insulated top, and also a bottom which together define an interior heating chamber. Each of the walls has an inner skin and an outer skin spaced apart from one another, and further has insulation material between those skins. A structural steel framework supports and is located between the skins, and the inner skin is of a generally vertically corrugated sheet metal. Means are provided between the skins for holding the insulation material against the inner skin and spaced from the outer skin to thereby provide an air space between the insulating material and the interior surface of the outer skin.

Abstract: A bottom outlet or discharge for metallurgical vessels includes a sleeve brick, a nozzle brick positioned in the sleeve brick, the nozzle brick having therethrough a discharge opening, and a highly wear-resistant tubular sleeve fitted within the discharge opening of the nozzle brick. The sleeve brick, the nozzle brick and the sleeve are formed of materials such that they have thermal expansions at 1400.degree. C. of from 1.0 to 1.15%, from 0.5 to 0.8% and from 1.1 to 1.25%, respectively.

Abstract: A hearth structure of an oxygen-bottom-blowing converter comprises hearth bricks including a number of brick row units, each of which is provided with or without one tuyere therein to eliminate thermal stresses otherwise be caused by two tuyeres included in one brick row unit. The hearth bricks preferably include at least one row of bricks not including a tuyere arranged between the brick row units. Bricks around tuyeres are unburned magnesia-carbon or magnesia-dolomite-carbon bricks including an amount of carbon 7-35%, preferably 10-30% or the most preferably 20% by weight and including magnesia or magnesia-dolomite as grains and thicknesses of refractory mortar as joints between the bricks corresponding to 0.5-2.5% of the maximum width of the bricks, thereby improving the durability of the hearth structure and hence the converter.

Abstract: In the operation of a furnace for the production of iron or steel, the air preheater and the pipe communicating the preheater with the furnace are constructed of steel shells lined with an acid-resisting cement, with refractory lining overlying the cement. The acid-resisting cement is composed of quartz sand and refractory material in the form of hollow spheres, silicate binder, and hardener. The spheres are 10 - 40 vol.% of the total volume of quartz sand and spheres.

Abstract: A vessel adapted for maintaining metal in a molten state comprising, in combination:A. an insulating refractory shell impervious to molten metal;B. a lining for a major proportion of that interior surface of said shell, which will be below the surface of the melt, said lining comprising graphite or silicon carbide blocks, which are free to expand in at least one direction in response to the application of heat; andC. at least one heating means disposed within any of the blocks.

Abstract: A hermetic expansion joint for use between conduits lined with refractory material and a tuyere stock for blast furnaces utilizing a plurality of such expansion joints. The expansion joints include a bellows coaxial with and connected to the exterior of the conduits to be coupled and, located within the bellows, a shielding tube and a protective layer of compressible refractory material. The compressible refractory layer is positioned within the shielding tube and bridges the joint between the conduits.

Abstract: A metallurgical furnace has an annular conduit or hot blast plenum encircling and formed as a part of the shell of the furnace, and such plenum has a variable venturi throat or passageway through which the wind or hot blast enters the furnace proper. The furnace shell above the plenum is supported by fluid-actuated cylinder-piston means connected to conventional shell supporting legs anchored to a fixed support.