Abstract: A vacuum electric furnace is disclosed for operation with a hostile environment therein which may be above the melting temperature of most metals, other than refractory metals, with apparatus in the furnace for advancing the work, the advancing apparatus being a walking beam with provisions for protecting the exposed portions of the walking beam by the use of graphite and with work supporting buttons of molybdenum to prevent the work from reacting with the graphite at high temperatures, and with separation and shielding of portions of the walking beam from the hot zone and with liquid cooling of the shielded portions.

Abstract: A furnace workpiece-support system has at least one horizontal workpiece-support tube through which a fluid coolant is circulated and which is supported on at least one vertical tube that is connected at its upper end to this horizontal tube and that has a blind lower end. A flow-diversion pipe has an upper intake end opening in an upstream direction into the horizontal tube and a lower end opening downwardly into the vertical tube. This pipe is received with clearance in the vertical tube so that coolant diverted by the pipe from the horizontal tube is injected downwardly into the vertical pipe to cool it and then rises vertically in the vertical tube around the pipe to reenter the horizontal tube after cooling the vertical tube.

Abstract: A grate is formed of a plurality of grate elements each in turn having a horizontal elongated support tube extending above and parallel to a supply tube. One end of the supply tube is connected via an upright connector tube or the corresponding end of the support tube and a plurality of posts extend vertically down from the support tube to the supply tube with their lower ends connected to the support tube. One end of the supply tube is fixed and the rest of the supply tube can move relative to its fixed end so when a heat-exchange fluid is passed through the supply tube, connector tube, and support tube the supply and support tubes will expand or contract thermally and displace the upper and lower ends of the connector tube and posts to the same extent.

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: An arrangement by which a jacket of preformed insulating material is readily installed around the outer surface of a water cooled pipe that is to be used as a structural support or a skid rail for a heat treating furnace.

Abstract: A method and means of insulating water-cooled pipes in a reheating furnace for metal workpieces. The pipes are wrapped with flexible ceramic fiber blankets held in place with an organic adhesive capable of withstanding temperatures up to about 500.degree. F.

Abstract: A metal tubular supporting member in a furnace is sheathed by refractory tiles held in place, over an inner layer of refractory fibrous material, by metal coupling links which grip around the furnace member and have projections engaging holes in the tiles.

Abstract: A metal tubular supporting member in a furnace sheathed by refractory sheathing comprising an inner layer of fibrous refractory material and an outer layer of refractory tiles held in place by metal links which are secured together around the furnace member and have radial studs which extend through the inner layer into socket holes in the tiles so that the metal fittings can first be secured to the furnace member and then covered by the fibrous refractory material and the tiles which are engaged with the radial studs.

Abstract: A precast reinforced insulating member and a method of manufacturing same. The reinforced insulating member is used for covering a furnace pipe or the like and comprises a body of insulating material, a plurality of reinforcing coil members and weldable lugs secured at each end of the reinforcing coil members. The body of insulating material has an arcuate shaped inner surface adapted to extend in intimate contact with the surface of a furnace tube in use and a pair of transverse side faces. The reinforcing coil members are embedded in the body and extend circumferentially thereof at longitudinally spaced intervals along the length of the body. Each of the coil members has oppositely disposed ends thereof disposed at adjacent side faces of the body. Passages open through the body between the inner and outer surfaces thereof adjacent each end of each reinforcing coil member. The weldable lugs are secured to each end of the reinforcing coil member.

Abstract: In a metal reheating furnace, a resilient, vibration resistant and easily installed thermal insulative structure is defined by an inner batt of refractory fibers held in place by an outer wrapping of woven refractory fibers and so arranged as to be self-retaining. This relatively soft, resilient structure supports an outer shell of refractory mortar which adheres to but does not substantially penetrate the woven wrapping, such that vibration and mechanical shock are absorbed in the soft insulation while the exterior layer protects against molten slag and high speed impinging gas flows.

Abstract: A method is described for the thermal insulation of steel mill reheat furnace skid pipes, which comprises adhering to the pipes an unbonded, unreinforced batt of refractory fiber, and, preferably, thereafter applying a layer of refractory cement to the top of the adhered batt. The insulation structure formed by this method is also described.

Abstract: A bracing tube construction for pusher type or rocker bar furnaces comprising a bracing tube having a carrier bracket secured thereto. A rider is secured to the carrier bracket and thereby to the tube. The rider has a recess in which the carrier bracket is received and a bore in the rider extends perpendicularly to the tube for receiving a bolt which extends transversely to the tube and is engaged in a groove in the carrier bracket. The carrier bracket has ends engaging corresponding surfaces in the recess in the rider to prevent relative axial movement between the rider and the tube. The bolt and the bore in the carrier bracket are trapezoidal in shape.

Abstract: A metal tubular supporting member in a furnace sheathed by a refractory sheathing comprising refractory tiles held in place by metal coupling links covered and positively engaged by adjacent tiles so that tiles and links respectively clasp together and embrace around the furnace member.

Abstract: A metallurgical furnace for the high temperature heating of heavy metal objects for subsequent operation, such as rolling or forging, has a work support for the pieces being heated comprised of water-cooled tubes and supports enclosed with sectional heat insulating tile enclosing the tubes where the sections of tile are immovably secured to the tubes by fasteners each having a tubular shank extending from a flanged head portion embedded in the refractory radially inward to the inner surface of the tile where it is welded to the exterior of the water-cooled tube to prevent relative movement between the tile and the tube under the heavy impacts to which the support is subjected and to more effectively cool the refractory tile immediately adjacent the fasteners.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a succession of metal plates edgewise and downwardly into a metal melt from a position spaced above the top level of the melt, is provided by a plate support forming a declining surface down which the plates can gravitationally fall edgewise, this surface extending from the charging position downwardly to a position adjacent to the melt level, and releasable means being provided for releasably engaging each successive plate prior to it falling from the declining surface into the melt, and for thereafter releasing the plate so that it can immerse edgewise into the melt more gently than if it fell freely down the surface, thus avoiding splashing the melt.

Abstract: A furnace for heat treating of workpieces includes a workpiece-engaging member mounted on an elongated, internally cooled supporting member for supporting workpieces from below which are to be advanced through and heat treated in the furnace. A ceramic material heat-insulating jacket partially surrounds the supporting member for insulating the latter from heat. A protective arrangement is provided on at least one of said members for protecting the ceramic jacket from damage by a workpiece in the event that a workpiece slides off the workpiece-engaging member.

Abstract: A furnace for the heat treating of workpieces includes an elongated internally-cooled supporting member which supports workpieces which are to be advanced through the furnace and a plurality of workpiece-engaging elements, each having a lower portion mounted on the supporting member and an upper portion which is larger than the lower portion and which has an upwardly-directed planar surface which is adapted to support the workpieces from below.

Abstract: Pipe insulating units are disclosed which can be slipped radially over the pipe. The units are formed such that two adjacent pieces interlock to form a set which completely surrounds the pipe and which has parallel faces which are abutted by the parallel faces of adjacent sets. The units and sets are then held together by bolting or other means. Each unit comprises a circular piece of insulating material having a hole in the center thus forming an annular disc. This annular disc has a portion of the annulus omitted with this omitted portion having sides which are parallel to each other and which are tangent to the periphery of the hole in the center. The sides of this omitted portion extend outwardly to the periphery of the disc. Formed integrally therewith on one face of the disc is an outwardly extending portion in the area bonded by extensions of the parallel sides of the omitted portion and on the opposite of the center hole from the omitted portion.

Abstract: In a furnace for heat treating of workpieces, a workpiece-engaging element which is adapted to support a workpiece which is to be advanced through and heat treated in the furnace is mounted upon a mounting surface of an elongated, internally-cooled supporting member. The supporting member includes a first section having first walls which diverge from each other in direction away from the mounting surface until the first walls define a maximum spacing therebetween. The supporting member also includes a second section adjoining the first section and having second walls which are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance not exceeding the maximum spacing so as to permit heat to flow towards the underside of the workpiece without being screened by the second walls.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention relates to a preburned ceramic refractory covering for a water cooled member forming a structural portion of a metallurgical furnace. The covering comprises an inner layer of split ceramic refractory tiles at least partially encircling the structural member, and a C-shaped ceramic refractory collar which slideably engages the split tiles disposed about the member and supports the tiles thereon.