Abstract: The brackets connecting the furnace roof support beams to the buckstays of an open hearth furnace sidewall are reversible to provide for vertical shifting of the furnace roof support structure. The support brackets comprise a pair of symmetrical bracket pieces each having two generally vertically aligned sidewall connection points, and a support beam connection point vertically offset from the centerpoint defined by the sidewall connection points, such that the elevation of the support beam connection point is shifted when the vertical orientation of the sidewall connection points is reversed. The elevation of the roof support structure is thereby easily shifted, and refractory blocks of differing longitudinal lengths may therefore readily be incorporated into the furnace roof structure.

Abstract: A thermal-insulating panel for use in an electric furnace. A refractory fiber mat is formed of discrete refractory fibers bonded together by an inorganic bonding agent having a hot face, a cold face and a plurality of side faces. A plurality of individual ceramic supports are partially embedded in said mat and protrude outward from the hot face. The embedded portions are shaped so as to be firmly anchored within the mat, and the protruding portions are shaped to support an electrical resistance heating ribbon in the interior of the furnace.The modules are preferably formed in a felting box where the ceramic supports extend horizontally from cavities in the front wall. The layers of fibers build up upon the bottom screen in planes perpendicular to the hot face of the module.

Abstract: A canopy kiln system is provided in the form of a flat-topped tent of flexible material (lightweight canvas, etc.) having depending walls to form, when in use, an enclosure for housing one or more articles to be treated or cured, one example being in the curing of cast concrete pipe. One end of the roof of the tent is attached to a wall or the like and is stretched out overlying the articles and has its free end provided with a transverse stiffener, referred to as a strongback. The strongback is detachably connected to support structure remote from the wall and the sides or curtains of the canopy form walls. The folding mechanism comprises an overhead hoist that picks up the strong-back and moves it--and of course the canopy--toward the wall. During this movement, intermediate lift mechanism picks up an intermediate part of the roof to keep it from sagging.

Abstract: A forge furnace chamber has rear, side and top walls each defined by an expanded sheet metal member and U-shaped mats of ceramic fiber insulating material supported thereon. First ones of the U-shaped mats have the closed ends thereof abutting the corresponding expanded sheet metal member with the legs of each mat extending inwardly of the chamber, and second ones of the mats have their closed ends facing inwardly of the chamber with the legs of each mat receiving the adjacent legs of an adjacent pair of the first mats therebetween, whereby the closed ends of the second mats extend across the inner ends of the adjacent legs of the first mats. The interleaved mats of insulating material are supported on the corresponding expanded sheet metal member by metal rods extending between the legs of the first mats adjacent the closed ends thereof and wire ties fastening the rods to the expanded sheet metal member.

Abstract: Equipment for heating pulverulent products, including a relatively flat, vertically standing vessel for receiving the product, and a rotatable agitator whose axis of rotation is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the vessel. There are heating facilities in the bottom of the vessel. With these heating facilities, the bottom and side wall of the vessel are heated. The top of the vessel is insulated. The product is introduced into the vessel through the top and discharged in the region of the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: When coating the inner surfaces of a furnace with strips of refractory mineral material or synthetic material such as felt, one often uses anchors which are welded to the shell of the furnace, which anchors are provided with recesses such that little plates can be secured to the anchor after having made a quarter of a revolution. These anchors represent energy loss and it is a time consuming job to weld all those anchors. This is eliminated by using metal strips with recesses which are punched out to at least one side. One can make now felt packages and some strips are provided with slots so that they can simply be attached to the furnace frame. If the side walls are coated by vertical packages, there also is no sag under the influence of their own weight.

Abstract: A refractory component which is vacuum-formed from ceramic fibres and which is to be mounted on the external casing or frame structure of a furnace to form part of heat-resisting lining is provided with an internal reinforcement in those parts of the component nearest the casing or frame structure and by which the component is to be mounted on the casing or frame structure. The reinforcement is embedded in the component during formation thereof and is of stiff open mesh form extending in a plane parallel to the general plane of the part of the casing or frame structure on which the component is mounted. The reinforcement is made from heat-resisting metal alloy, refractory clay or recrystallized alumina and is preferably of channel-section or other three dimensional form to increase its stiffness.

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: The refractory bottom of a shaft furnace, e.g. a blast furnace has a graphite layer, above it an intermediate layer of lower coefficient of thermal conductivity (.lambda.-value) and above the intermediate layer a third layer of yet lower .lambda.-value. To control the penetration of molten metal into the bottom and in particular to achieve a stable location of the solidification isotherm in the intermediate layer, the material of the intermediate layer is one having a .lambda.-value of 12 to 30 kcal/m.h. .degree.C. This material may be semi-graphite. Such material does not undergo a change of .lambda.-value when permeated by the molten metal.

Abstract: Reheat furnaces for steel mills are constructed using resilient supporting mechanisms for restraining and supporting the binder structure within a rigid steel frame. This construction enables the furnace to be rebricked without affecting other furnaces in the battery and also allows the refractory lined wall to distort without disturbing the rigid frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to the insulating of furnace walls with a double layer of insulating modules of the type having refractory fibers disposed end on to the oven wall when disposed in place. The modules are first compressed and held that way with easily combustible material and the compression released during the firing of the furnace to destroy the wrapping material. The first layer is preferably non-aligned with the second layer to limit the loss of insulation due to aligned seams.

Abstract: An insulated furnace, method of manufacture and purging operation which includes a plurality of interconnected modular panels of fibrous material forming a furnace chamber, a heat source for the furnace chamber and a furnace shell surrounding the fibrous material panels so as to form a space between the shell and the fibrous material panels and to provide a thermal break of greater than 10.degree. F. such that the furnace can be rapidly heated and water vapor and air can be rapidly purged from the furnace. An insulation panel is formed of at least one block of fibrous material in a molded form which includes mixed fibers and a frame member to which the at least one block of material is secured.

Abstract: A furnace for isostatic hot pressing includes a furnace compartment contained within a pressure chamber, the compartment being surrounded by a insulating sheath, comprising a cup-shaped insulating portion. Such portion comprises a supporting tube of graphite surrounded by a plurality of layers of carbon or of graphite fibers. Convection-preventing layers of graphite foils are disposed between the layers and between the innermost layer and the tube. The layers are maintained pressured against the tube and against one another by a plurality of surrounding graphite strands. A plurality of cover discs of foamed graphite having graphite foils on one side thereof are seated against upper ends of the layers and of the tube, the foils on the discs extending upwardly to lie against the peripheral end walls of the discs.

Abstract: An installation for calcining finely divided particles such as for the preparation of cement including a building which houses a pre-heater, a relatively short rotary tubular kiln which receives the pre-heated particles from the pre-heater, and a rotary cooler which receives the discharge from the rotary kiln, the rotary cooler having a discharge end received in a portion of the building below the pre-heater, the discharge end of the rotary cooler being surrounded by sound absorbing material.

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 device is provided for heating a room by convection using the heat from a conventional radiation heat source. The heating device further acts as a fireplace guard when the heat source is a fire to substantially prevent sparks or other small particles of combustion from entering the room in which the fireplace is located. The device includes a threshold unit and a plurality of spaced pipes. The pipes are supported by the threshold unit while a screen member such as metal gauze is connected between the pipes. An opening in the threshold unit is adjacent the floor surface of the room in which the heat source is located. The radiation from the heat source raises the temperature of the pipes while relatively cool air enters the opening in the threshold unit and passes into the pipes. The temperature of the air is increased by the heated pipes and exits from the top thereof to heat the room by convection.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The side wall panels include vertical buckstays to which the modules are secured by retainer clips including sharp spikes inserted into side edge surfaces of the insulating modules. Modules with offset stepped side profiles are disclosed, arranged to provide for ready removal of a single module without disturbing adjacent modules. Atmosphere furnace insulation arrangements also are disclosed utilizing ceramic modules secured to the furnace shell by special retainer clips embedded in side edge surfaces of the modules.

Abstract: A high-pressure furnace having a pressure chamber which includes an insulating mantle which encloses the furnace space, the insulating mantle itself including an inner tube which has at least one layer of felt-like, fibrous insulating material mounted on the side which faces the furnace space.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a metal shell enclosing a spaced adapted to be heated, low heat retention, thermal shock resistant insulation on one substantially entire surface of the metal shell, a heater to heat the space enclosed by the metal shell, a vent for heated gases from the shell-enclosed space, a conduit and nozzle to supply atomized water into the shell-enclosed space to controllably cool the shell-enclosed space, and a vent for steam from the shell-enclosed space.A method comprising applying a low heat retention, thermal shock resistant insulation on one substantially entire surface of a metal shell enclosing a space, heating the space enclosed by the metal shell by means of hot gases with venting of the hot gases from the shell-enclosed space, supplying atomized water into the shell-enclosed heated space to controllably cool said space, and venting steam from the cooling shell-enclosed space.

Abstract: A refractory brickwork wall having an opening therethrough has incorporated therein, at a position above the opening, a relief brickwork configuration in the form of a gable or roof. The relief brickwork includes a plurality of relief bricks each having an upper inclined surface, a lower inclined surface and a lower, generally horizontal step surface. The relief bricks are arranged one above the other in an inclined formation with the lower inclined surface of the upper relief brick of each pair of adjacent relief bricks resting on the upper inclined surface of the lower relief brick of such pair of adjacent relief bricks, and with the upper relief brick of each pair of adjacent relief bricks being partially offset in a horizontal direction from the lower relief brick of such pair of adjacent relief bricks.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls and roof comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The roof modules are suspended by a structure comprising a support grid embedded in situ in the ceramic module. The grid includes four holding rods each parallel to the corresponding side of the module. Hanger rods are attached to the grid at the corners thereof, and extend out from the module to pass through holes in the furnace roof member where the rods are secured in place by nuts. The module may also carry electric heating coil embedded in situ in the ceramic material adjacent the surface thereof facing the furnace interior.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The side wall panels include vertical buckstays to which the modules are secured by retainer clips including sharp spikes inserted into side edge surfaces of the insulating modules. Modules with offset stepped side profiles are disclosed, arranged to provide for ready removal of a single module without disturbing adjacent modules. Atmosphere furnace insulation arrangements also are disclosed utilizing ceramic modules secured to the furnace shell by special retainer clips embedded in side edge surfaces of the modules.

Abstract: A furnace lining is composed of a plurality of layers of fiber insulation. The innermost layer is formed by stacking flat, elastically-compressible fibrous strips. The stacked strips are compressed and held down in compressed condition by a plurality of anchor members secured to and projecting perpendicularly from the furace wall and extending between selected strips of said innermost layer. The elastic compression applied to the strips creates a frictional grip between the strips and the anchor members, which maintains the lining in a stable mounted position. The lining may also include an intermediate layer between the innermost layer and the furnace wall, this intermediate layer being also formed of superimposed, strips stacked flat upon one another, with the intermediate layer frictionally anchored to the outermost layer.

Abstract: A waist construction for a tank-type glass melting furnace having a lower tank covered by an independently supported sprung arch roof. The side walls forming the lower tank are inset for defining a waist section having a reduced passage interconnecting the melting and conditioning zones of the furnace. An open framework is provided above the inset breast walls for suspending portions of upright closure walls closing the ends of the melting and working zones adjacent the entrance and exit ends of the reduced passage; the suspended portions extending across the entrance and exit ends of the reduced passage closely adjacent the upper surface of the molten glass therein. The suspended portion of each wall is centrally located and flanked by bottom supported wing walls. Additionally, a segmented, suspended cover is provided between the suspended portions of the upright closure walls for enclosing the open top region of the reduced passage.

Abstract: Refractory vertically extending front wall for industrial furnaces which is suspended at its upper end. The refractory front wall includes several vertical individual segments which are mounted by shifting towards each other in a direction transverse to the axis of the furnace, whereby the adjacent individual segments intermesh by means of a groove/tongue arrangement.

Abstract: A combination safety and heat conservation panel is disclosed for use with coal or wood heaters or the like. Where the stove flue passes through a wall, the panel is placed between the wall and stove. The panel is hollow, permitting heat radiating from the stove to pass through the panel wall to the panel interior. From the panel interior, the hot air is directed by appropriate means, including fans, baffle and fins, out an end of the panel where it may more freely circulate within the room itself, or whereby, with appropriate connecting pipes, the heat may be directed to other rooms of the house.By thus absorbing and transferring heat which would otherwise tend to collect in hot spots between the heater and the wall, enhanced safety against fire and heat damage is provided. A further benefit derives from providing better circulation of heat in the room by removing the heat from the unneeded area proximate the heater and the wall and transferring it or allowing it to flow naturally to other parts of the room.

Abstract: Honeycomb muffle in tank furnaces for glass melting, comprising blocks of refractory material, characterized in that at least the crown of each furnace is made of blocks of refractory material, the free surface of which facing inwardly of the furnace is shaped with at least one recess defined by projecting ribs.

Abstract: A high temperature furnace having an access opening and a thick-walled heat resistant lining comprising at least one homogeneous tubular member of multiple generally-tubular layers of vacuum deposited refractory fibers. Larger furnaces utilize two or more liner tubes in end-to-end abutment. The abutting ends may be rabbeted and internested to assure a heat barrier.

Abstract: A furnace construction capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 3500.degree. F. A uniquely suspended floor structure permits thermal expansion to occur as required within the furnace while permitting the admission of a cooling fluid to metal plate members therewithin. The furnace chamber is provided with an open bottom which is closed with a refractory raw material in a container and sealed by a skirt member attached directly to the superstructure of the furnace which penetrates the refractory material. Track and elevation means permits the refractory filled loaded container to be pushed into position and lifted until it seals the furnace chamber and the refractory material is heated above its melting point to form a fused ingot. Thereafter, the fused ingot is lowered in the container onto the track means and pushed away while another container of raw material is pushed into position.

Abstract: A high temperature industrial furnace comprising a clean interior face of a metal furnace casing, a corrosion inhibitor/adhesive, and a ceramic fiber insulation module attached to the casing with the adhesive to provide an elastic or flexible bond between the casing and the insulation material is disclosed. The corrosion inhibitor/adhesive may be applied over a relatively large surface area of the casing to provide a vapor impervious membrane. A silicone compound is a preferred corrosion inhibitor/adhesive material.

Abstract: A scrap preheating system in which scrap metal is preheated and contaminants such as grease removed therefrom by direct impingement of flames upon the scrap. The system includes a tunnel like preheater hood through which a conveyor passes conveying the scrap. The preheater hood includes parallel side walls positioned adjacent the conveyor and a roof assembly in which are positioned a plurality of burners for directing flames upon the scrap. The roof assembly of the preheater hood is formed into a plurality of substantially identical modular roof assemblies which are carried by the side walls and are positioned in side by side relationship along the side walls transverse to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor.

Abstract: A coke oven construction for the fastening of furnace door frames to the armor of horizontal, blockwise arranged coke oven furnaces, comprises a furnace which has an armor plate with a portion offset inwardly toward the furnace which carries a furnace frame which is sealed to the armor plate. A metal plate overlies the portion of the armor plate which extends outwardly from the frame and it has an edge which projects from the armor plate in a direction toward the frame. A hooked member is engaged over the edge of the plate and an eye bolt is threaded into the hooked member and provides a bolt for the pivotal mounting of a toggle which has one arm which bears against the frame and another arm which extends upwardly alongside an anchor stand which is mounted over the plate of the armor.

Abstract: A high temperature industrial furnace roof assembly wherein two refractory bricks are held in adjacent position by suitable securement and have a hanger rod extending from the assembly to suspend the roof assembly from a support structure in desired position in a furnace roof. The hanger rod is maintained in locked position when the weight of the roof assembly is placed upon it. The hanger rod may be depressed into the refractory bricks permitting free rotation of the hanger rod with respect to the hanger and brick assembly and locked into desired position at 90.degree. increments by a force applied to the hanger rod in a direction away from the brick assembly. The roof assembly of this invention is particularly desirable for furnace roof repair and provides for easy installation in operating high temperature furnaces permitting the long axes of the repair assembly to be changed on the jobsite by rotation of the hanger.

Abstract: A shield for protecting a pyrometric cone of the kind conventionally used in the control of ceramic firing kilns comprises an annular or arcuate member open at both ends and provided with means for mounting it within the cone in a position to protect the kiln against dislodgement or other adverse consequences due to the tipping or falling of greenware within the kiln.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed having an inner shell forming a heatable oven chamber, a conveyor within the oven chamber, a layer of insulation around the inner shell, an exterior cabinet shell spaced outward from the insulation, and a fan for moving a flow of cooling air between the insulation and the exterior shell; also disclosed in the oven is an inlet to the oven chamber having separate inner and outer doors operatively connected together, an outlet from the oven chamber having a discharge chute directed into an exterior outlet frame with insulation between the chute and the frame, and a single electric motor connected to operate both the cooling fan and a friction drive connected to drive the conveyor.

Abstract: A tunnel kiln consisting of a succession of tunnel sections assembled from prefabricated large-surface side panels and ceiling panels supported on a tunnel frame of structural steel, at least some of the panels being removable for access to the kiln. Similar panels mounted on railcars form the bottom portion of the kiln. The panels are composed of multiple layers of different materials, the material and thickness of the surface layers being adapted to different heat resistance requirements, while the overall dimensions of the composite panels remain the same.

Abstract: A device for mounting panels of fibrous refractory material against the inner surface of the wall of an industrial furnace, comprising a plug of refractory material in the form of a bolt with a square head and a non-threaded cylindrical shank provided with a plurality of circular ribs arranged in planes perpendicular to the axis of the plug, the panels to be attached thereby having spaced-apart apertures of dimensions intermediate those of the head and of the ribs on the shank, and the wall of the furnace having corresponding cavities filled with a sealing material and for receiving the shank of the plug.

Abstract: Baking pit furnaces have flues cast in several inter-related parts in refractory concrete and which are assembled from the cast parts which are compacted during casting in mould means by inducing small vibrations at high frequency to the moulds in which they are cast; flues assembled from the cast parts preferably include baffles extending between side walls thereof midway of their lengths and means tying the side walls together over each length thereof defined between a control baffle and each of the two end walls of the flue. Central baffles may be rooted in the bottom walls of the flues, and all corners and free baggle edges are preferably rounded. Directional vanes are disclosed with the free baffle edges, each of said vanes being of arcuate cross-sectional shape and extending between the side walls of the flue spaced from the associated free baffle edge.

Abstract: A set of components for use in the construction of a kiln comprising a number of holding devices adapted to be mounted on the outside of a kiln, a number of tie bars engageable in the holding devices so that the tie bars project into the kiln through the insulated walls thereof, and slabs or sheets of lightweight lining material adapted to be supported by the tie bars at the inner surface of the kiln wall.

Abstract: In a cylindrical elongated furnace for treating materials at high temperature in a gaseous atmosphere under high pressure, there is a vertical cylindrical pressure chamber forming a furnace space surrounded by a cylindrical heater, with an insulating sheath around the furnace space and the heater formed of a number of metal tubes with insulation between them. At least one of the metal tubes is suspended from a supporting member at the upper part of the insulating sheath and is provided at its lower part with a number of slots extending upwardly from the bottom edge.

Abstract: The roof of an elongated heating chamber of a refractory walled industrial furnace includes a plurality of transverse rafters which are spaced along the chamber, and each rafter is formed of a pair of arch bricks and an arch key brick between the inner ends thereof. A plurality of longitudinally extending roof bricks are supported between successive rafters by the means of notches in the ends of the roof bricks which rest upon horizontal surfaces defined on the central portion of each rafter.

Abstract: An oven for uniformly heating parisons to a target temperature, including a movable wall portion which is raised and lowered to accommodate parisons of various axial lengths. The movable portion maintains a confined flow path to minimize stray air currents.

Abstract: A gas pressure bonding furnace having a convection shield with (1) monolithic tubular refractory insulation having its upper end surrounding the work receiving hot zone of the furnace and its lower end depending to a cool zone, (2) an impervious tubular metal shell surrounding the tubular insulation and holding it under compression by differential thermal expansion, (3) a cover closing the top of the shell by a gas tight gasket seal and (4) a piston actuated by the gas working pressure to hold the cover closed. In a preferred form, the insulation is cast in the shell and the composition is an alumina cement with embedded alumina balloons.

Abstract: A novel insulation module for lining the interior surfaces of high temperature chambers such as furnaces, is described. The module comprises in its basic form a first block of high temperature insulating material and a second block overlying the first block but rotated 90.degree. with respect thereto. Each of these blocks is formed from a mass of ceramic fibers, all of which are oriented generally in planes substantially perpendicular to the surface of the furnace wall.