Sheathing for metal furnace members

Claim 2

A refractory tile for sheathing a horizontal metal furnace member and consisting of a substantially C-shaped block with a hollow side to embrace one lateral side portion of a furnace member of appropriate size, an upper end to engage over the furnace member and a lower end designed to swing, under gravity, beneath the furnace member so as to extend more than half-way thereunder in engagement with a complementary tile, characterised thereby that the lower end of the block includes means for interengaging with a complementary tile to form a collar around the furnace member and oppose axial separation of the tile from its complementary tile, said means comprising a circumferentially projecting terminal portion with a reduced cross-sectional dimension and with circumferential surfaces facing respectively with a component in both axial directions and so constructed, arranged and oriented that when said terminal portion of the tile is interengaged with a complementary tile to form a collar around the furnace member, said circumferential surfaces provide abutments to oppose axial separation of the tile from its complementary tile.

Claim 3

A refractory tile according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the lower end terminal portion extends from one axial face of the block for not more than half the axial width of the block and in the other half of the width of the block there is a circumferential recess with surfaces complementary to the said circumferential surfaces of the terminal portion whereby any two such tiles can form a complementary pair to interengage by their lower ends and form a collar around a furnace member.

Claim 4

A refractory tile according to claim 2, characterised thereby that said circumferential surfaces of the terminal portion comprise respectively a plane transverse inner axial surface which is contiguous with an inner circumferential surface of the recess and a segmental frusto-conical surface of the terminal portion sloping from the inner axial surface to an outer axial surface of the terminal portion.

Claim 5

A refractory tile according to claim 3, characterised thereby that the substantially radial overall transverse thickness of the block increases towards its lower end.

Claim 6

A refractory tile according to claim 2, characterised thereby that the circumferential projection of the terminal portion is greater than the circumferential extent of its recess.

Claim 7

A refractory tile according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the upper end has a half-width tongue and groove to interengage with the upper end of a similar tile.

Claim 8

In combination in a furnace, a generally horizontal, elongate member, and refractory sheathing carried by and surrounding a substantial portion of said member, said sheathing comprising at least in part a plurality of refractory tiles arranged in pairs such that each pair sheathes an axial section of said member, each pair comprising a first tile member having an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, an intermediate portion extending downwardly along one lateral side of said member, and a lower end with a terminal portion extending beyond a vertical plane passing through the centre of said member, said terminal portion being of reduced axial and radial dimensions relative to said intermediate body portion, said intermediate body portion having a recess formed therein axially adjacent said terminal portion for receiving a corresponding terminal portion of an oppositely disposed tile, and a second tile disposed oppositely from said first tile, said second tile having an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, an intermediate portion extending downwardly along the other lateral side of said member, and a lower end with a terminal portion extending beyond said vertical plane, said terminal portion of said second tile being of reduced axial and radial dimensions relative to said intermediate body portion of said second tile and projecting into said recess in the intermediate body portion of said first tile, and said intermediate body portion of said second tile having a recess therein formed axially adjacent said terminal portion of said second tile, into which recess said terminal portion of said first tile projects, the terminal portion of each tile lying radially outwardly of the innermost surface of the recess of the other tile so as to oppose pivoting apart of the upper ends.

Claim 9

In combination in a furnace, a generally horizontal, elongate member, and refractory sheathing carried by and surrounding a substantial portion of said member, said sheathing comprising at least in part a plurality of refractory tiles arranged in pairs such that each pair sheathes an axial section of said member, each pair comprising a first tile member having an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, an intermediate portion extending downwardly along one lateral side of said member, and a lower end with a terminal portion extending beyond a vertical plane passing through the centre of said member, said terminal portion being of reduced axial and radial dimensions relative to said intermediate body portion, said intermediate body portion having a recess formed therein axially adjacent said terminal portion for receiving a corresponding terminal portion of an oppositely disposed tile, and a second tile disposed oppositely from said first tile, said second tile having an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, an intermediate portion extending downwardly along the other lateral side of said member, and a lower end with a terminal portion extending beyond said vertical plane, said terminal portion of said second tile being of reduced axial and radial dimensions relative to said intermediate body portion of said second tile and projecting into said recess in the intermediate body portion of said first tile, and said intermediate body portion of said second tile having a recess therein formed axially adjacent said terminal portion of said second tile, into which recess said terminal portion of said first tile projects, the terminal portion of each tile lying radially outwardly of the innermost surface of the recess of the other tile so as to oppose pivoting apart of the upper ends.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said terminal portions and said recesses have adjacent surface portions opposing axial separation of the two tiles.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, when the two tiles are engaged to the maximum extent, the extreme ends of the terminal portions abut surfaces of the recesses, and thus define the maximum degree of interengagement.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, when the two tiles are engaged to their maximum extent, opposing faces of the intermediate body portions are in abutting engagement to define the maximum degree of interengagement.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the radially innermost surface of each terminal portion lies radially outwardly of the interior surface of the intermediate body portion of the same tile.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein one axial end surface of each terminal portion is a smooth continuation of one axial end surface of the intermediate body portion, and the axial extent of the terminal portion is approximately one-half the axial length of the intermediate body portion, such that the inner axial end surface of the terminal portion lies approximately in the centre of the axial length of the intermediate body portion.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second tiles are identical.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said member has a skid rail extending along its upper surface, and the upper ends of said tiles lie on opposite sides of and adjacent to said skid rail.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the upper ends of said tiles contact each other so as to sheathe the entire periphery of an axial section of said member, said upper ends having mating projections and recesses for sealing their line of contact.

Claim 18

For use in sheathing an elongate member oriented generally horizontally in a furnace, a refractory sheathing tile comprising a refractory body having a concave side for encompassing at least a substantial portion of one side of an axial section of the member, the upper portion of said concave side terminating in an upper end for resting on an upper surface of the member, the lower portion of said concave side terminating in a face extending generally normally and downwardly therefrom, a projecting portion extending generally normally from said face, the innermost surface of said projecting portion lying radially outwardly from the lower portion of said concave side, a recess opening into said face axially adjacent said projecting portion and radially outwardly from the lower portion of said concave side, said recess being of generally complementary configuration with said projecting portion so as to be capable of matingly receiving the projecting portion of an identical but oppositely disposed tile.

Claim 19

For use in sheathing an elongate member oriented generally horizontally in a furnace, a refractory sheathing tile comprising a refractory body having a concave side for encompassing at least a substantial portion of one side of an axial section of the member, the upper portion of said concave side terminating in an upper end for resting on an upper surface of the member, the lower portion of said concave side terminating in a face extending generally normally and downwardly therefrom, a projecting portion extending generally normally from said face, the innermost surface of said projecting portion lying radially outwardly from the lower portion of said concave side, a recess opening into said face axially adjacent said projecting portion and radially outwardly from the lower portion of said concave side, said recess being of generally complementary configuration with said projecting portion so as to be capable of matingly receiving the projecting portion of an identical but oppositely disposed tile.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the radially innermost surface of said projecting portion includes a surface portion having an axially facing component, and wherein the base surface of said recess has a surface portion of complementary orientation, such that said surface portions would oppose pure axial separation of an identical but oppositely disposed tile mated with said tile.

Claim 21

For forming a refractory sheathing collar around at least a substantial portion of the periphery of an elongate generally horizontal member, a pair of identical tiles each having a concave inner face, an upper end, and, at the lower end, a circumferentially extending, radially outwardly open recess underlying the lower end of said concave inner surface, and an axially adjacent projection extending generally oppositely from said recess for fitting into the recess of the other tile of the pair when oppositely disposed, such that the projection of each tile of an engaged pair underlies the lower end of the concave surface of the other tile so as to limit pivoting apart of the upper ends of the pair, the tiles being so configured that their centres of gravity tend to pivot each tile of an engaged pair toward the other about their respective upper ends.

Claim 22

For forming a refractory sheathing collar around at least a substantial portion of the periphery of an elongate generally horizontal member, a pair of identical tiles each having a concave inner face, an upper end, and, at the lower end, a circumferentially extending, radially outwardly open recess underlying the lower end of said concave inner surface, and an axially adjacent projection extending generally oppositely from said recess for fitting into the recess of the other tile of the pair when oppositely disposed, such that the projection of each tile of an engaged pair underlies the lower end of the concave surface of the other tile so as to limit pivoting apart of the upper ends of the pair, the tiles being so configured that their centres of gravity tend to pivot each tile of an engaged pair toward the other about their respective upper ends.

Claim 23

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the projection and recess of each tile have surface portions configured to engage with and prevent axial separation of an engaged pair.

Claim 24

In combination in a furnace, a generally horizontal elongate member, and a refractory sheathing collar carried by and surrounding a substantial portion of the periphery of said member, said collar comprising two refractory tiles disposed oppositely on opposite sides of said member, each tile having a concave inner face facing said member, an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, a radially outwardly open recess at its lower end, and a terminal portion which overlaps the lower end of the opposite tile, lies in said recess of the opposite tile, and opposes pivoting apart of said upper ends by bearing radially inwardly against the base surface of said recess in the opposite tile, the centres of gravity of the two tiles being located so as to urge the two tiles to pivot about their upper ends into engagement at their lower ends.

Claim 25

In combination in a furnace, a generally horizontal elongate member, and a refractory sheathing collar carried by and surrounding a substantial portion of the periphery of said member, said collar comprising two refractory tiles disposed oppositely on opposite sides of said member, each tile having a concave inner face facing said member, an upper end resting on an upper surface of said member, a radially outwardly open recess at its lower end, and a terminal portion which overlaps the lower end of the opposite tile, lies in said recess of the opposite tile, and opposes pivoting apart of said upper ends by bearing radially inwardly against the base surface of said recess in the opposite tile, the centres of gravity of the two tiles being located so as to urge the two tiles to pivot about their upper ends into engagement at their lower ends.

Claim 26

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 further comprising means for opposing axial separation of the engaged tiles of said collar.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said last mentioned means comprise surface portions on each tile configured to engage with and prevent axial separation of the tiles.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the two tiles of an engaged pair are substantially identical.