Electric furnace wall construction

Claim 2

In a furnace having an outer wall, a plurality of ceramic fiber batts compressibly stacked to form a thermally insulating inner liner, and a plurality of electrically insulating hanger members for supporting an electrical heating element within the furnace, the improvement comprising: anchoring means associated with the respective hanger members and placed between a pair of adjacent ceramic fiber batts for securing the respective hanger members within the furnace in a projecting relationship inwardly of the inner liner.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the anchoring means includes at least one plate placed between a pair of adjacent ceramic fiber batts, the plate being secured to at least one hanger member.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the at least one plate including at least one aperture for receiving a pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt to secure the plate in place.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 wherein the at least one plate is provided with at least one tab for engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts for holding the plate in place.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 2 wherein the at least one plate is fixedly attached to the furnace outer wall at least at one point.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein: each hanger member is formed of ceramic; and the anchoring means is formed in the shape of a paddle as an integral part of at least one hanger member.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein the paddle includes at least one aperture for receiving a pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt to secure the paddle in place.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein the paddle is provided with at least one groove for engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts for holding the paddle in place.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 wherein: the anchoring means includes an elongated plate placed between a pair of adjacent ceramic fiber batts; and each hanger member includes a ceramic spool removably attached to a rod, a plurality of rods being fixedly attached to the plate.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9 wherein the plate includes at least one aperture for receiving a pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt to secure the plate in place.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein the plate is provided with at least one tab for engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts for holding the plate in place.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein the plate is fixedly attached to the furnace outer wall at least at one point.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 9 wherein: at least two angle members are secured to the furnace outer wall in a level, spaced-apart relationship; and the plate is fixedly attached to each of the angle members.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 1 wherein: each hanger member is formed of ceramic; and the anchoring means is formed of ceramic in the shape of a widened paddle integral with a portion of the plurality of hanger members.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 14 wherein the widened paddle includes at least one aperture for receiving a pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts to secure the paddle in place.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 14 wherein the paddle is provided with at least one groove for engaging at least one of the adjacent fiber batts for holding the paddle in place.

Claim 18

An electric furnace wall comprising: a metallic outer wall portion; a thermally insulating liner including a plurality of ceramic fiber batts compressibly layer stacked, the insulating liner being placed contiguous to the outer wall portion and forming an inner furnace wall portion; a plurality of electrically insulating hanger members for supporting at least one electrical heating element within the furnace; anchoring means associated with each hanger member, the anchoring means being placed between a pair of adjacent ceramic fiber batts for securing the hanger members in a projecting relationship inwardly and away from the inner furnace wall portion.

Claim 19

An electric furnace wall comprising: a metallic outer wall portion; a thermally insulating liner including a plurality of ceramic fiber batts compressibly layer stacked, the insulating liner being placed contiguous to the outer wall portion and forming an inner furnace wall portion; a plurality of electrically insulating hanger members for supporting at least one electrical heating element within the furnace; anchoring means associated with each hanger member, the anchoring means being placed between a pair of adjacent ceramic fiber batts for securing the hanger members in a projecting relationship inwardly and away from the inner furnace wall portion.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 17 wherein the anchoring means includes at least one plate secured to at least one hanger member.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 18 wherein the at least one plate includes at least one aperture for receiving an elongated pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt for securing the plate in place.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 18 wherein the at least one plate includes at least one tab for engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts for holding the plate in place.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 18 wherein the at least one plate is metallic and is secured to the metallic outer wall portion at least at one point.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 18 wherein the metallic outer wall portion includes at least one metallic inwardly projecting member; and the at least one plate is secured to the at least one metallic inwardly projecting member.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 18 wherein: the electrically insulating hanger members include, respectively, a ceramic spool removably secured to a rod; a plurality of the rods being secured to the at least one plate.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 17 wherein each hanger member is formed of ceramic; and the anchoring means is formed in the shape of a paddle as an integral part of at least one hanger member.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 24 wherein the paddle includes at least one aperture for receiving an elongated pin therethrough, the pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt for securing the paddle in place.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 24 wherein the paddle is provided with at least one groove for engaging at least one of the adjacent ceramic fiber batts for securing the paddle in place.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 24 wherein the anchoring means is formed as an integral part with a portion of the plurality of hanger members.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 17 wherein: the metallic outer wall portion includes a pair of inwardly projecting members secured thereto in a vertically spaced apart relationship, each inwardly projecting member having at least one aperture therethrough, the apertures being aligned with one another; the plurality of ceramic fiber batts are compressibly layer stacked between the inwardly projecting members; and a rod is placed through the respective apertures and through the ceramic fiber batts and in engaging relationship with both inwardly projecting members for holding the ceramic fiber batts in place contiguous to the metallic outer wall portion.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 28 wherein: the first and second inwardly projecting members are spaced apart and vertically aligned, the ceramic fiber batts being compressibly layer stacked therebetween; the second and upper inwardly projecting member includes a second aperture; a third inwardly projecting member is spaced apart and vertically aligned above the second inwardly projecting member and includes an aperture in alignment with the second aperture on the second inwardly projecting member; a second portion of the plurality of ceramic fiber batts is compressibly layer stacked between the second and third inwardly projecting members; a second rod is placed through the aperture in the third inwardly projecting member thence through the ceramic fiber batts and through the second aperture in the second inwardly projecting member, the second rod maintained in engaging relationship with the second and third inwardly projecting members.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 29 wherein: the anchoring means includes an elongated plate; and, each electrically insulating hanger member includes a ceramic spool removably secured to a rod, a plurality of the rods being secured to the plate.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 30 wherein the plate includes a pair of spaced apart apertures for receiving an elongated pin therethrough, respectively, each pin engaging at least one adjcent ceramic fiber batt.

Claim 34

The invention of claim 30 wherein the plate includes a pair of spaced apart tabs for engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt.

Claim 35

The invention of claim 30 wherein the plate is secured to the outer wall portion at least at one point.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 29 wherein: each hanger member is formed of ceramic; and the anchoring means is formed of ceramic in the shape of a paddle as an integral part of at least one hanger member.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 34 wherein the paddle includes a pair of spaced apart apertures for receiving, respectively, and elongated pin therethrough, each pin engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt.

Claim 38

The invention of claim 34 wherein the paddle is provided with at least one groove for engaging at least one adjacent ceramic fiber batt.