Abstract: A skid beam for use in a walking beam type heating furnace which has operating temperature exceeding 1000.degree. C. comprises a hollow skid pipe of heat resistant alloy, skid buttons provided upright on the skid pipe and arranged axially thereof at a predetermined spacing, and a refractory lining covering the outer peripheral surface of the skid pipe and each of the skid buttons over the base portion thereof toward its upper portion. Each of the skid buttons comprises a first member attached to the skid pipe and made of a heat-resistant alloy, and a second member to be brought into contact with the material to be heated. The second member is made of a composite material composed of a heat-resistant alloy and ceramic particles dispersed therein in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight based on the composite material. The skid button has a height exceeding 120 mm.

Abstract: A walking beam type reheating furnace which is provided with a furnace housing, stationary beams fixedly mounted in the furnace housing, first movable beams arranged on the charge side in the furnace housing, second movable beams arranged separately from the first movable beams on the discharge side in the furnace housing and a steel workpiece transfer device capable of transferring a steel workpiece which is placed in a zone where the first movable beams are located to a predetermined position in the vicinity of a separating portion of the first and second movable beams by passing the steel workpiece over the stationary beams and the first movable beams, wherein the first and second movable beams can be independently driven from each other.

Abstract: A refractory sheathing (1) of incombustible, compressed, flat insulating bodies (8) made of mineral or ceramic fiber for thermally insulating pipes (10) in preheating furnaces fired from below in the steel industry is described. The insulating bodies (8) have an inner and, if desired, also an outer arc-shaped profile, they enclose the pipes (10) to be insulated totally or almost totally in circumferential direction, and they are secured at the pipe in close mutual abutment by at least two retainers which engage the ends of a plurality of adjacent insulating bodies (8) forming a stack of insulating bodies. The risk of separating from the pipe during the constant vibrations of the same is reduced and the space requirement for installation at the building site as well as the cost of mounting involved are scaled down by the line-up of a plurality of insulating bodies (8) on a plurality of spaced apart rods (11) to form a highly compressed insulating body stack.

Abstract: A skid system for carrying a charge in a pusher or walking-beam furnace incorporating a cooled skid pipe 3 and at least one rider 1 fitted on the skid pipe for carrying the charge in the furnace is, for permanent and effective insulation of the cooled skid pipe in the rider area designed for the rider 1 to comprise a charge-carrying support land and two channel-shaped leg portions 2 adjoining the land, the leg portions surrounding part of the periphery of the cooled skid pipe 3 in a spaced-apart relationship and for the space between the cooled skid pipe 3 and the inner surfaces of the leg portions 2 to form insulating spaces 4 filled with a thermal insulation material 4'.

Abstract: A refractory insulator for insulating the joint between a long skid pipe, a supporting crossover pipe at right angles, and a riser for supporting both. The insulator comprises two halves each having a top portion and two pivoted lower side portions. When the halves are abutted, and the pivoted lower side portions are wrapped around the crossover pipe, the insulator will effectively seal the joint between these two pipes at the point of support by the riser. The pivoted portions are formed by reticulated wires embedded along the inner surface of the insulator and which provide pivotal joints between the upper portion and two lower side portions. The gaps at the pivoted joints can then be filled with insulating grout material.

Abstract: A superheater tube shield of refractory material comprises a pair of elongated half shields of identical interchangeable interlocking size and shape, each half shield having a semi-circular sidewall portion extending between and to diametrically opposite tongue and groove side wall portions which are assembled together about the tubes by axially inserting elongaged tongues into the elongated grooves. Refractory cement may be applied to attach the half sheilds to the tubes.

Abstract: Spaced-apart skid frames support workpieces in a reheat furnace. Each skid frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart rails arranged to extend along the path of travel of the workpieces in the furnace for engaging the underside faces of the workpieces. A tubular top cord member carries rail members. Two horizontally-spaced tubular lower cord members extend parallel and below the top cord member. Tubular web members extend angularly between joints which intersect with the top and lower cord members to form a lattice structure having triangular open spaces between the top cord member in each of the lower cord members for passage or radiation to heat the underside faces of workpieces along either side of the skid frames. Coolant is supplied to each of the top and lower cord members and the tubular web members to prevent overheating.

Abstract: A walking beam type heating furnace for steels has a conventional skid pipe through which a coolant flows, a skid button made of a ceramic material, a base fixed to an upper portion of the skid pipe, an attachment frame attached to the base for holding the skid button in its supporting position, and a thermal insulating material placed at a bottom portion of the skid button for supporting the skid button. The thermal insulating material has a high strength, high density, low thermal conductivity and high coefficient of thermal expansion such as quartz glass, vycol glass, hard glass and soda lime glass.

Abstract: The present hearth is composed of a plurality of support bars, which are made of graphite in the preferred embodiment, and which are arranged to be parallel to the length of the hot zone chamber and orthogonal to the mouth of the vacuum furnace. Each of the support bars has a groove, or a channel, formed in its upper surface and disposed in each of said channels is one or more rotatable molybdenum load support rods each of which has been impregnated, or coated, with titanium nitride. To the underside of each support bar there are secured molybdenum bar support rods which are located and secured to hold the support bars away from coming in contact with the heating elements of the hot zone.

Abstract: A skid rail for a reheat furnace which supports the slabs or work pieces moving therethrough without excessive cooling or tiger striping of such work pieces including a hollow structural member having an upper surface, a wear bar having a plurality of support blocks secured thereto for supporting the wear bar in a position above the upper surface of the structural member, cleats engaging the blocks to secure the wear bar on the surface and insulation under the wear bar and around the blocks and cleats, the material of the wear bar and the blocks having low thermal conductivity and high strength when subjected to the elevated temperatures of the reheat furnace.

Abstract: A refractory insulating shield for water-cooled pipes in reheating furnaces and the like. The refractory insulating shield has an inner surface in which metallic mesh is partially embedded for reinforcing the shield. A portion of the mesh is exposed and devoid of insulating covering to provide a free pivot for two parts of the insulating shield. The shield may be of substantially trapezoidal cross-section and said free pivot enables mounting on any portion of the cross-rail without the necessity of sliding it onto the end thereof. A modification is to provide a two-part covering for only the lower half of the skid by having a readily detachable connection between the two parts.

Abstract: An improved ingot pusher furnace having a base carrying a plurality of laterally slidable shoes with upper surfaces smoothly tapering into said base. A pair of side walls is connected to said base with a top wall connected to said side walls to define a heating enclosure. A pair of end walls are connected to the base, side walls and top walls, each of the end walls having a vestibule, including a pair of double doors therein. A baffle assembly is movably connected to the top wall to be held in spaced proximity from an ingot to be heated.

Abstract: The material to be processed through a furnace is carried on skid rails by sliding shoes. In order to reduce the friction between the skid rails and the sliding shoes, and the breakaway forces at the start of the pushing motion, slip plates are fitted in shallow recesses in the top of the skid rails.

Abstract: A lightweight ceramic refractory covering for water cooled members forming the structural portion of a metalliurgical furnace which is thermally insulating and resists wet scale attack, corrosion and vibrational stresses. The covering comprise an inner layer of thermal insulating ceramic refractory fiber blanket, an open weave ceramic cloth about the blanket, an inner layer of veneering mortar, compressed rings or strips of ceramic fiber material, and a hot face layer of veneering coating.

Abstract: An improved furnace support member including a hollow structural member with an insulator having segments fitting tightly on the structural member with longitudinal abutting edges interrupted by a recess, and fastening means including anchor bands secured in the segments and having tabs extending outward in the recesses, means for retaining the tabs which are deformed to secure the insulator on the structural member and insulating plugs filling the recesses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for cooling an object which is exposed to high temperatures and particularly to cooling by heat transfer to a liquid. According to the invention an internal hose is disposed in a fluid conduit. The hose is permeable to the coolant liquid which is circulated therein so that there is created a substantially stagnant fluid boundary layer between the walls of the tube and the internal hose for efficient heat transfer to the circulating fluid within the hose.

Abstract: A pushing furnace for heating steel has a housing with inlet and outlet ends, heating elements in the housing, a plurality of cooled supporting members extending in a longitudinal direction and each having two parts which are offset relative to one another in a lateral direction, and the outlet end part has a length of between 10% and 30% of the length of the furnace, and a plurality of attachment elements arranged on the outlet end part of the supporting elements and including a frame-shaped support placed on the outer end part of the supporting members, a plurality of pressure-resistant heat-insulating intermediate pieces received in the supports, and a metallic slider resting on the intermediate pieces.

Abstract: A lightweight ceramic refractory covering for water cooled members forming the structural portion of a metallurgical furnace which is thermally insulating and resists wet scale attack, corrosion and vibrational stresses. The covering comprise an inner layer of thermal insulating ceramic refractory fiber blanket, an open weave ceramic cloth about the blanket, an inner layer of veneering mortar, compressed rings or strips of ceramic fiber material, and a hot face layer of veneering coating.

Abstract: Interlocking refractory segments for use in insulating pipes and the like are each formed with wire anchors embedded therein. The anchors have exposed ends at each side edge of the refractory segment. The exposed ends of one segment are formed so as to interlock with the exposed ends of a second segment so as to secure the segments in a fixed position extending around the pipe to be insulated. Preferably, the exposed ends of one segment are shaped to provide a hook configuration and the exposed ends of the anchor of another segment are shaped to provide an eye configuration for receiving the hook shaped configuration.

Abstract: An improved insulation is provided for furnace members, particularly verticals, cross supports and skid pipes in slab reheating furnaces. The insulation includes a metal spring-clip having outward projections on which refractory tiles are formed. An intermediate layer is provided between the outer surface of the clip and the tiles so as to reduce friction and prevent cohesion between the clip and tiles. Thus, when the clip is spread for installation on the pipes, the tiles will not break.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support for products in a steel-making furnace. This support comprises, over a notable part of its height, but not over the whole of its height, from its base, a peripheral recess in which is housed an insulating envelope, the outer diameter of this envelope being substantially equal to that of the upper part of the stud.

Abstract: An insulating tile section, and a process of securing an insulating tile section about a metal pipe about which the tile section is contoured to fit, where the steps comprise forming the refractory insulation about a metal channel section having a bottom, spaced side walls with outwardly extending flanges along the top edges of the side wall. There is likewise provided a novel weld in which the channel embedded in the tile is attached to the pipe by a weld of generally rivet-like contour.

Abstract: Skid pipe insulation for water cooled support piping in a reheating furnace comprising refractory complementary sleeves extending about 270.degree. around the cooling pipe. The sleeves are bolted together at one end and the other ends are provided with substantially U-shaped clips which are adapted to inter-engage with complementary clips integrally welded or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the cooling pipe, which clips also serve as cooling fins.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for cooling the skid pipes of a continuous slab reheating furnace by the circulation of pressurized hot water, not cold water or steam, through the skid pipes where the hot water is heated to even higher temperatures. The heated hot water is relatively cooled by passage through a heat exchanger, after which the relatively cooler hot water is recirculated to the skid pipes. Means are provided for keeping the hot water under a pressure sufficient to maintain the hot water in a liquid state and prevent its evaporation into steam, as the hot water circulates through the apparatus, especially the skid pipes of the furnace.

Abstract: A method of securing a lagging component to a metal surface, comprising: positioning a prefabricated lagged component having one or more holes on the metal surface; inserting a securing element into each hole of the lagging component until its end touches the metal surface; welding the securing element to the surface using a welding gun; and filling the remaining hole cavity with a packing material around the securing element. The securing element is held in place prior to welding by a cardboard retainer.

Abstract: Pipe insulation means for installation around a pipe to cover at least part of the surface thereof comprises two elongate preformed insulating members each comprising a cast refractory insulating material. The two members are hingedly connected together at adjacent radial longitudinal faces, and a cast refractory wedge member is inserted into a wedging groove preformed in the said faces of the members radially outwardly of the hinge whereby the opposite longitudinal edges of the members are urged closer together as the wedge member is driven home into the groove to force the members against the surface of the pipe and cause them to grip the pipe so tightly that other means of fixing, and in particular welding is unnecessary.

Abstract: Fluid containing support members of walking beam mechanisms for moving beams and the like in furnaces are insulated with refractory ceramic fiber blanket modules. The modules are wrapped about the support members and attched with attachment members. Protective coverings are provided to reduce exposure of the fiber materials from slag from the beams.

Abstract: In a slab heating furnace of walking beam- or pusher-type, particularly for the heating of steel prior to the hot working of the steel, skid beams are supported by water-cooled posts. In order to reduce the number of the water-cooled posts from that in the prior art, a post head having a trough shaped portion is stationarily located on each of the posts. The length of the post head is longer than the outer diameter of the post provided with said post head. The total withdrawal of heat from heated steel to all of the post heads is considerably small, because the number of posts is reduced from that of the prior art due to the structure of the post heads. The posts are preferably arranged in a zigzag pattern.

Abstract: A covering for insulating a pipe including a U-shaped refractory cast having embedded in the refractory cast a U-bolt, and a plurality of parallel rods welded to the bolt to form a cradle-like frame. The ends of the U-bolt project from the sides of the cast. The cast is seated against the pipe and supported thereto by assembling a collar member on each of the U-bolt ends. The sides of the collar members extend over and are seated against the pipe. Nut members are threaded to the bolt ends and tightened against the collar members. Refractory material in plastic form is applied to the pipe, covering the exposed portion of the pipe, the U-bolt ends, collars and nuts assembled thereto to completely insulate the pipe.

Abstract: A refractory sheathing made from insulating shapes for vertical support members, in particular riser pipes, in heat-treating furnaces, e.g., pusher furnaces, comprises an inner layer made from a refractory, fibrous, insulating material, or an appropriately shaped article, surrounding the support members and an outer layer of positively interengaging, refractory, shell-shaped shapes of, for instance, the same height throughout, surrounding said inner layer. To avoid a large number of different shapes having to be correspondingly expensively manufactured in different moulds to match support members of different dimensions and double pipes, it is proposed that only equal-leg angle pieces of different leg lengths, in particular two different angle pieces, and straight intermediate pieces of different widths, in particular only two or three widths, be provided as shapes. All shapes have grooves on two contiguous sides at right angles and matching tongues on both of the other contiguous sides at right angles.

Abstract: At least part of the weight of a structure (such as a bank of heat recovery tubes) exposed to a hot environment (e.g. the convection region of a furnace) is supported by a multi-pipe heat exchanger of which the outer pipe has dimensions at least adequate to bear the imposed load, and the inner pipe(s) are so dimensioned in relation to the outer pipe as to maintain the outer pipe at a temperature at which its load-bearing strength is maintained for a reasonable and/or acceptable cooling fluid flow rate through the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is of the double pipe type, and the cooling fluid may be circulated from the heat exchanger to the bank of heat recovery tubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to walking beam furnaces. It concerns a skid pad or lug for walking beam furnaces, which comprises a body made of an oxide-based refractory substance and a shell made of refractory metal alloy surrounding the periphery of the body, means being provided to prevent detachment towards the top of the body in relation to its shell.

Abstract: The device for closely securing two insulator segments around a support member includes a resilient brace secured to and connecting the spaced apart insulator segments, a pair of converging upper locking surfaces and contiguous diverging lower surfaces on the insulator segments. A locking bar having a top and a pair of converging sides is conformingly inserted within the brace and upper locking surfaces in order to mechanically secure the insulator segments around the support member. A refractory mortar is applied to the interior of the locking plug and the diverging lower surfaces in order to protect the locking plug from the furnace heat. The arrangement permits the insulator segments to be locked at a single point around the support member.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the heat transfer in a high-temperature environment from a workpiece to an internally cooled skid pipe includes a plurality of alternating and spaced apart skids along an upper surface of the skid pipe. A reinforcement frame is secured to the remainder of the upper surface and an insulating material is placed within and around the reinforcement frame to effectively insulate the exposed part of the upper surface between the skid pipe and the work piece. The skids project from the upper surface more than the reinforced insulator to support the work piece.

Abstract: Skids used to support a workpiece in a reheat furnace are adjustably positioned and anchored to resist longitudinal movement of the skids while workpieces are moved therealong. The anchor apparatus includes a rectangular housing, one end of which is attached by an anchor rod to a foundation while the other end has an aperture to pass an anchor rod into the space between the side walls of the housing. An internal bearing wall subdivides the space in the housing into two cavities. A bearing plate on the movable anchor rod in one cavity is forced by a piston and cylinder assembly to move the rod into the housing to thereby adjust the position of a skid to which it is attached. Shim plates are placed in the second cavity within the housing between an internal wall and a bearing flange attached to the movable anchor rod. Other shim plates are inserted between the end wall of the housing and the actuator to maintain an effective range of adjustment by the actuator.

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: Replaceable heat insulation is provided for water-cooled pipes comprising structural supports and skid rails in slab reheating furnaces and like high-temperature metallurgical furnaces wherein the insulation is comprised of two mating sections of convenient length arranged to surround or, in the case of skid rails, largely surround the water-cooled pipes, the sections having metal fastening at their confronting edges brought into interfitting relation by sliding one section along the pipe relative to the other with provision for tightening the sections against the surface of the pipe and bringing portions of the interfitting metal fastenings into heat conducting contact with the water-cooled pipe. When each pair of sections has been fitted about the pipe and interlocked, but before being tightened about the pipe, each pair after the first is slid as a unit along the pipe into abutting position against the exposed end of the preceding pair and when so positioned being then firmly tightened about the pipe.

Abstract: Pipe insulation for water cooled support piping in a reheating furnace comprising refractory semicircular, pivotal complementary sleeves having wire reinforcement embedded in the sleeve refractory material and wherein the wire may be prestretched and located on the inner surface of the refractory insulation to directly contact, metal-to-metal, the outer surface of the cooling pipe. The reinforcing reticulations of the wire are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the refractory sleeve. They enable stressing of the wire reinforcement simply by turning nuts of J-bolts, eliminating the requirement for welding of the reinforcing wire to the pipe. Longitudinal shoulders on the refractory protect the bolts from the effect of heat of the slab. The construction is such that tightening of the bolts and stressing of the reinforcing wire will cause no relative movement between the wire and refractory insulation.

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 light-weight, thermally resistant, shock-resistant refractory for covering a water pipe in a high-temperature environment. The refractory shape is a partial cylinder including a body segment, two protuberances spaced apart from and on either side of the body segment by corresponding recesses and terminating in a void between the two protuberances. Two identical segments, when axially aligned in juxtaposition, are fitted together around a pipe such that the body segment of each refractory shape is intimately received by the corresponding void of the opposite refractory shape and the pair of protuberances of one shape are closely received and interlocked with the corresponding pair of recesses in the opposing shape to form a substantially cylindrical refractory covering around the pipe. The shape requires no additional means to support itself around the pipe.

Abstract: A load support device for supporting metal slabs as they are moved through a heat furnace having therein a plurality of pipe beams through which a coolant is continuously circulated. The load support device consists of a saddle member mountable on the pipe beams, and having therethrough a longitudinally disposed central opening. A replaceable core, supported in the central opening and removably attached to the saddle member, has on the upper end thereof a head for supportively engaging the metal slabs.A projection on the lower end of the replaceable core extends below the saddle member so that it will be surrounded by coolant thereby greatly increasing the rate of heat transfer from the replaceable core, which substantially reduces the operating temperature of the head. Deformation, cracking, spalling and burn-out of the head is thus significantly retarded so that those cores with badly worn heads can be replaced when the furnace is shut down for routing inspection and general maintenance.

Abstract: An insulator suitable for use with a truncated triangular shaped support member or skid pipe having a base member, a pair of converging side members which terminate in an apex member and a pair of shoulders extending oppositely one another from the joinder of the apex member and each corresponding side member. The insulator includes a base unit and a pair of converging side walls. When slidingly received around the skid pipe, the insulator closely conforms to the periphery of the base member and side members of the skid pipe. The side walls of the insulator preferably abut a lower lip of each shoulder so that molten slag and other impurities cannot migrate between the insulator and the skid pipe to degrade and dislodge the insulator.

Abstract: A reheat furnace work supporting member has a full length support bar protruding outwardly from precise locations on each of its opposite sides. The support bars extend the full length of the portion of the member which is to be insulated. A sectioned refractory barrier is suspended on the member by metal hangers which rest on the support bars. A method is also disclosed which includes providing a horizontal member having support bars positioned accurately on its opposite sides by preparation of the member outside a reheat furnace, then installing the member in the furnace where a refractory barrier having downwardly extending metal hangers can be attached quickly and easily at proper locations anywhere along the length of the member without requiring welding inside the furnace.

Abstract: In combination, for receiving hot gases, a hollow cylindrical body such as a tube or vessel and an inner lining therefor formed of molded-block walls, the inner lining includes a hollow inner cylindrical member having mutually spaced-apart wedge-shaped keystones with radially inwardly narrowing cross section disposed at the outer circumference thereof, metallic anchors respectively fastening the keystones to the inner cylindrical member, and insulating blocks, respectively, entirely filling in the space between each two keystones whereby intermediate layers for connecting the insulating blocks to the keystones are dispensed with.

Abstract: A two-piece, interlocking insulator suitable for covering a truncated triangular pipe, the conforming insulator having a base unit, a pair of side walls convergingly extending from the ends of the base unit and terminating with an apex unit. The insulator can closely conform to the perimeter of the truncated triangular pipe of, as in another embodiment, to a ceramic fiber blanket located around the perimeter of the pipe. Each segment of the insulator has a body and a pair of spaced apart arms. When the two segments are longitudinally and conformingly aligned around the pipe, they can be urged together to form an interlocking, insulator which remains around the pipe without any other structural support.

Abstract: A precast insulating material member for insulating a furnace skid rail includes a precast insulating material portion containing a crisscross reinforcing structure. The crisscross reinforcing structure is comprised of a pair of arcuate-shaped rods which are welded together intermediate their ends, each rod having end-eye portions which extend outwardly from the corners of the U-shaped precast insulating member. Positioned about the crisscross-shaped rods are coil members which assist in reinforcing the insulating portion of the member when the reinforcing structure is embedded within the insulating portion. The end-eye portions of the rods provide a mechanical lock of the insulating member to a skid rail pipe when the eye portions are moved into engagement with the outer surface of the skid rail pipe.

Abstract: A water-cooled skid pipe suitable for supporting metal shapes such as billets, blooms and slabs in a metallurgical reheat furnace. The skid pipe has a base member, a pair of upwardly extending, converging side members and an apex member connecting the uppermost portions of the side members, all such members defining a passageway therethrough suitable for conducting a fluid. A pair of shoulders extend outwardly of the junction of each side member and the apex member, which shoulders and apex member receive the slag which is deposited by the metal shapes onto the skid pipe and prevent the slag from migrating into the seam between the skid pipe and a surrounding insulator. The shoulders further protect any suitable insulator, which can be applied around the base member and converging side members, from direct contact by the metal shape thereby substantially minimizing the impact of the metal shape upon the insulator.

Abstract: A two-piece, interlocking laminated refractory for covering a waterpipe and method of manufacturing same having a low thermally conductive inner ceramic fiber layer, an outer ceramic fiber layer which is less thermally conductive than the inner layer and a metal mesh reinforcement secured to and disposed between the inner and outer layers. The refractory shape includes two main segments, each having a body segment, two protuberances spaced apart from the body segment by corresponding recesses and a void between the two protuberances. The two segments are fitted together such that the body segment and pair of protuberances of one segment are closely received and interlocked with the void and the pair of recesses on the opposing main segment. The inner and outer layers of the refractory are vacuum-formed by the use of a perforated vacuum mold submerged in a first and second ceramic fiber slurry.

Abstract: Skid pipe insulation for water cooled support piping in a reheating furnace comprising refractory semicircular complementary sleeves having wire reinforcement embedded in the sleeve refractory material and wherein the wire may be prestretched and located on the inner surface of the refractory insulation to directly contact, metal-to-metal, the outer surface of the cooling pipe. The reinforcing reticulations of the wire are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the refractory sleeve. Identical semi-circular portions are provided with interconnecting anchoring studs and eyes to reduce inventory and to enable stressing of the wire reinforcement simply by turning nuts of J-bolts, eliminating the requirement for welding of the reinforcing wire to the pipe. Longitudinal shoulders on the refractory protect the bolts from the effect of heat of the slab.

Abstract: A furnace workpiece-support system has at least one horizontal workpiece-support tube through which a fluid coolant is circulated and at least one vertical support post or tube connected at its upper end at a joint to the horizontal tube and having a blind lower end. A tubular pressure-alteration body is provided in this joint and has an intake mouth directed upstream and an outlet mouth directed downstream and of different flow cross section from the intake mouth. A flow diversion element, either a flat plate or a pipe, extends downwardly from the pressure-alteration body into the vertical tube to conduct into this tube fluid coolant diverted at the pressure-alteration body.