Fabrication of furnace linings with support frame

Claim 1

A unit for use in the fabrication of furnaces, comprising in combination: a. a cluster of refractory blocks, said cluster comprising a lower row of blocks having a generally horizontal centre line and an upper row of blocks located above the lower row of blocks, each of at least some of the blocks in the lower row having therein at least one bore that extends through the block from the front to the back face of the block in a horizontal direction generally perpendicular to the centre line of the lower row of blocks, b. a support frame resting upon the upper row of blocks, c. a connecting element extending through each of said bores, each said element having a first portion, projecting beyond the front face and a second portion projecting beyond the back face of the block through which said bore passes, d. a pair of vertically extending load bearing members associated with each connecting element, one of said members being connected to said first portion and the other being connected to the second portion of the element, the upper ends of the members being secured to the support frame, e. wire ropes strung obliquely from the support frame to the points of connection of at least some of the load bearing members and connecting elements, the wire ropes being under sufficient tension to apply a force to hold the cluster of blocks together laterally.