Insulating module including a heater element support

Claim 2

An insulating module including a heating element support, said module comprising: an insulating body; a plurality of support rods, one end of each rod being embedded in and anchored to said insulating body and the other end of each rod extending outwardly from a surface of said insulating body; a keeper carried by each support rod and shiftable between first and second positions about the extending end of the associated support rod, each of said keepers including fingers extending in opposite directions, generally parallel to said support rod when said keeper is in its first position and transverse to said support rod when said keeper is in its second position; and means for mounting said keeper to provide for rotational movement thereof between said two positions, about an axis transverse to said support rod; said keeper comprising a pin through a transverse hole in said support rod; said fingers being angled end portions of said pin on either side of said support rod.

Claim 3

An insulating module as claimed in claim 1 including a cross pin secured to the embedded end of said support rod to augment the grip of said module on said support.

Claim 4

An insulating module for installation in the roof of an industrial furnace including support means for an electrical heating element of the type comprising a plurality of parallel segments positioned generally side-by-side beneath the roof of said furnace, said module comprising: an insulating body; a plurality of support rods, one end of each rod being fixedly embedded in and thereby anchored integrally to said insulating body, the other end of each rod extending outwardly from a surface of said insulating body; a keeper for each support rod; means mounting each keeper on its support rod to provide for relative movement between the keeper and its rod; said mounting-means providing for shifting movement of said keeper between first and second positions about the extending end of the associated support rod; each of said keepers including at least one finger extending generally parallel to said support rod when said keeper is in its first position and transverse to said support rod when said keeper is in its second position; each keeper further comprising means maintaining its finger in said transverse position when said heating element segments are resting on and supported by said fingers.

Claim 5

An insulating module for installation in the roof of an industrial furnace including support means for an electrical heating element of the type comprising a plurality of parallel segments positioned generally side-by-side beneath the roof of said furnace, said module comprising: an insulating body; a plurality of support rods, one end of each rod being fixedly embedded in and thereby anchored integrally to said insulating body, the other end of each rod extending outwardly from a surface of said insulating body; a keeper for each support rod; means mounting each keeper on its support rod to provide for relative movement between the keeper and its rod; said mounting-means providing for shifting movement of said keeper between first and second positions about the extending end of the associated support rod; each of said keepers including at least one finger extending generally parallel to said support rod when said keeper is in its first position and transverse to said support rod when said keeper is in its second position; each keeper further comprising means maintaining its finger in said transverse position when said heating element segments are resting on and supported by said fingers.

Claim 6

An insulating module as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises means to provide for rotational movement of said keeper between said two positions, about an axis transverse to said support rod.

Claim 7

An insulating module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said keeper comprises a pin through a transverse hole in said support rod.

Claim 8

An insulating module as claimed in claim 3, including cross pins secured to the embedded ends of said support rods.

Claim 9

An insulating module as claimed in claim 3, wherein said insulating body is a ceramic fiber insulating body.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said keepers comprise two fingers on opposite sides of the rod and are in said second position; and a heater element supported by said keepers, said element including portions resting upon said opposite fingers of each keeper and preventing said keeper from rotating.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said keepers comprise two fingers on opposite sides of the rod and arranged in a generally horizontal plane when in said second position to provide for support of two corresponding portions of said element.

Claim 12

An insulating module including a heating element support, said module comprising: a ceramic fiber insulating body; a plurality of support rods, one end of each rod being embedded in said insulating body with the other end of the rod being located remotely from a surface of said insulating body; a cross piece secured to the embedded end of each said support rod; and an element-supporting keeper pin extending through a hole formed in each of said support rods adjacent the remote end thereof and rotatable between first and second positions about a pivot axis transverse to said support rod, the end portions of each of said keeper pins being bent to form fingers extending in opposite directions from said transverse pivot axis, said fingers extending generally parallel to said support rod when said keeper pin is in its first position and transverse to said support rod when said keeper pin is in its second position.

Claim 13

An insulating module including a heating element support, said module comprising: a ceramic fiber insulating body; a plurality of support rods, one end of each rod being embedded in said insulating body with the other end of the rod being located remotely from a surface of said insulating body; a cross piece secured to the embedded end of each said support rod; and an element-supporting keeper pin extending through a hole formed in each of said support rods adjacent the remote end thereof and rotatable between first and second positions about a pivot axis transverse to said support rod, the end portions of each of said keeper pins being bent to form fingers extending in opposite directions from said transverse pivot axis, said fingers extending generally parallel to said support rod when said keeper pin is in its first position and transverse to said support rod when said keeper pin is in its second position.