Claims
- 1. A set of components that are assemblable atop a base support structure of a single-stack annealing furnace to provide a rigid ceramic refractory base for extending in substantially concentric, annular relationship about a centrally located blower mount of the furnace, for underlying and extending perimetrically about charge support structure of the furnace that is of generally circular shape and that is configured to overlie the blower mount to centrally support a charge of metal that is to be annealed, and for defining a concentrically extending, relatively resilient annular inner seal that extends perimetrically about the charge support structure, atop which an inner enclosure of the furnace can be removably supported for defining a controlled environment treatment chamber within which a charge of metal that is positioned atop the charge support structure can be confined for treatment during an annealing process, comprising:
- a) inner cast ceramic refractory segment means for defining an annular inner portion of the rigid ceramic refractory base for extending substantially concentrically about a blower mount of a single-stack annealing furnace, for underlying and supporting a generally circular charge support structure of the furnace, and for defining a substantially continuous, radially outwardly facing surface that extends substantially concentrically with respect to the circular charge support structure near the periphery thereof;
- b) outer cast ceramic refractory segment means for defining an annular outer portion of the rigid ceramic refractory base for extending substantially concentrically about said annular inner portion, and for defining a substantially continuous, radially inwardly facing surface that extends substantially concentrically with respect to said radially outwardly facing surface so as to cooperate with said radially outwardly facing surface to define opposite, radially spaced sides of an inner seal positioning trough that extends circumferentially about the circular charge support structure;
- c) inner seal means for being positioned in said inner seal positioning trough atop the base support structure of the furnace for defining an inner seal that extends in a substantially uninterrupted manner about said periphery of the circular charge support structure, that is capable of supporting the weight of an open-bottom inner enclosure of the furnace when bottom rim portions of the inner enclosure are seated atop the inner seal, and that is sufficiently resilient to cooperate with said seated bottom rim portions to form a gas impervious seal between the inner segment means and the inner enclosure;
- d) wherein the inner seal means includes a plurality of ceramic fiber blocks for being arranged serially in a circumferentially extending, endless array within the confines of said inner seal positioning trough, with the array also including a plurality of relatively thin, perforated metal members for being interspersed among the ceramic fiber blocks to extend substantially radially at circumferentially spaced intervals within the confines of said trough, with said blocks having radially extending widths that are sufficient to extend substantially the full radially-measured distance between said radially outwardly facing surface and said radially outwardly facing surface at such locations within said trough as are to be occupied by said blocks, and with said blocks being sufficient in number and in size to require that said blocks be compressed in directions extending circumferentially with respect to said trough in order for all of said blocks to be inserted serially into said trough to form said array.
- 2. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 1 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 3. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner segment means includes a plurality of generally arcuate-shaped cast refractory inner segments that are configured to be positioned side by side to cooperatively define said annular inner portion of the rigid ceramic refractory base, and to cooperatively define said radially outwardly facing surface.
- 4. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 3 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 5. The set of components of claim 3 wherein all of the generally arcuate-shaped inner segments that comprise the inner segment means are of substantially identical configuration and are therefore interchangeable one with another.
- 6. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 5 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 7. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner segment means includes a pair of substantially identically configured, half-circle shaped inner segments.
- 8. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 7 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 9. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner segment means includes a plurality of inner segments that are positionable side by side to define said radially outwardly facing surface as having a truncated conical form that is inclined with respect to said radially inwardly facing surface so as to narrow the width of bottom portions of said inner seal positioning trough so that, as said inner seal means is compressed within said trough by the seating of the inner enclosure of the furnace atop said inner seal means, said inner seal means will continue to extend substantially the full radially measured distance between said radially outwardly facing surface and said radially outwardly facing surface.
- 10. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 9 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 11. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner segment means and the outer segment means are configured such that at least a selected one of said radially outwardly facing surface and said radially outwardly facing surface is of a truncated conical form that serves to narrow the width of bottom portions of said inner seal positioning trough so that, as said inner seal means is compressed within said trough by the seating of the inner enclosure of the furnace atop said inner seal means, said inner seal means will continue to extend substantially the full radially measured distance between said radially outwardly facing surface and said radially outwardly facing surface.
- 12. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 11 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 13. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner segment means and the outer segment means are configured such that the inner seal positioning trough that is defined therebetween maintains a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration as it extends circumferentially about the charge support structure of the furnace, with the cross-sectional configuration being tapered such that said inner seal positioning trough narrows toward its bottom region and widens thereabove.
- 14. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 13 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 15. The set of components of claim 1 wherein said inner seal means also includes a relatively thin lower blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material that is installed in said inner seal positioning trough to underlie said array.
- 16. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 15 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 17. The set of components of claim 1 wherein said inner seal means also includes a relatively thin upper blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material that is installed in said inner seal positioning trough to overlie said array.
- 18. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 17 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 19. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the outer segment means includes a plurality of generally arcuate-shaped cast refractory outer segments that are configured to be positioned side by side to cooperatively define said outer portion of the rigid ceramic base, and to cooperatively define said radially inwardly facing surface.
- 20. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 19 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 21. The set of components of claim 19 wherein all of the generally arcuate-shaped outer segments that comprise the outer segment means are of substantially identical configuration and are therefore interchangeable one with another.
- 22. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 21 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 23. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the outer segment means includes four of substantially identically configured, quarter-circle shaped outer segments.
- 24. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 23 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 25. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the outer segment means includes a plurality of outer segments that are positionable side by side to define said radially inwardly facing surface as having a truncated conical form that is inclined with respect to said radially inwardly facing surface so as to narrow the width of bottom portions of said inner seal positioning trough so that, as said inner seal means is compressed within said trough by the seating of the inner enclosure of the furnace atop said inner seal means, said inner seal means will continue to extend substantially the full radially measured distance between said radially outwardly facing surface and said radially outwardly facing surface.
- 26. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 25 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 27. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the outer segment means includes formation means for defining an outer seal trough that extends substantially concentrically about said inner seal trough but at a location spaced radially outwardly with respect thereto.
- 28. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 27 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 29. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the outer segment means includes a plurality of outer components that are configured such that they may be positioned side by side to cooperatively define an outer seal trough that extends substantially concentrically about said inner seal trough but at a location spaced radially outwardly with respect thereto.
- 30. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 29 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 31. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the cast refractory outer segment means includes steel structure means that is partially embedded within the cast refractory material that is mold-formed to fabricate the cast refractory outer segment means, for defining an outer seal trough that extends substantially concentrically about said inner seal trough but at a location spaced radially outwardly with respect thereto.
- 32. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 31 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 33. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the cast refractory outer segment means includes a plurality of cast refractory outer segments that each have steel structure means that is partially embedded within the cast refractory material that is mold-formed to fabricate the cast refractory outer segments, for defining connection formations that can be rigidly connected by means of threaded fasteners.
- 34. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 33 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 35. The set of components of claim 33 wherein the cast refractory outer segments and the steel structure means are configured such that, when the steel structure means are connected by means of threaded fasteners, the steel structure means cooperate to define an outer seal trough that extends substantially concentrically about said inner seal trough but at a location spaced radially outwardly with respect thereto.
- 36. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 35 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 37. The set of components of claim 1 wherein a selected set of adjacent ones of the ceramic fiber blocks of the inner seal means and such ones of the thin, perforated metal members as are interspersed among the selected set of fiber blocks are coupled together by connecting means for forming an elongate module that can be lifted and installed as a unit in said inner seal positioning trough.
- 38. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 37 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 39. The set of components of claim 37 wherein the selected set of fiber blocks that is included in the elongate module includes two fiber blocks that are end blocks located at opposite ends of the elongate module, and at least one central fiber block that is located between the two end blocks, and the connecting means includes at least one thin, elongate member that extends substantially centrally through the elongate module so as to extend through not only the end and central blocks but also through the perforated metal members that are included in the module.
- 40. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 39 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 41. The set of components of claim 39 wherein the at least one central fiber block includes at least four central fiber blocks arranged serially between the two end blocks, and the elongate member that extends substantially centrally through the module extends serially through all of the end and central blocks.
- 42. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 41 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 43. The set of components of claim 39 wherein the perforated metal members that are included in the module include two metal members that are end blocks located at extreme opposite ends of the elongate module, and at least two central metal members that each are interposed between a separate adjacent pair of the set of fiber blocks that is included in the module, and the elongate member that extends substantially centrally through the module has its opposite ends connected to said end members.
- 44. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 43 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 45. The set of components of claim 43 wherein the connecting means includes at least two thin, elongate metal members that extend in spaced, side by side relationship substantially centrally through the elongate module so as to extend through not only the end and central blocks but also through the perforated metal members that are included in the module, with opposite ends of each of the two metal members being connected to said end members.
- 46. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 45 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 47. The set of components of claim 45 wherein the set of fiber blocks that is included in the module are substantially uniformly compressed when the module is formed so that the length of the module as measured by the distance between the end members is less than it would be if the module were formed utilizing non-compressed fiber blocks.
- 48. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 47 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 49. The set of components of claim 47 wherein the substantially uniform compression of the set of fiber blocks causes each of the blocks of the set to have a length, when compressed to form the module, that is about two-thirds of its non-compressed length.
- 50. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 49 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 51. The set of components of claim 37 wherein the elongate module is substantially straight when it is formed, but is sufficiently bendable to enable it to be bent to an arcuate shape prior to being installed in said inner seal positioning trough, with the arcuate shape to which the module can be bent corresponding to the curvature of said inner seal positioning trough.
- 52. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 51 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 53. The set of components of claim 37 wherein the array of ceramic fiber blocks and thin, perforated metal members that is provided for insertion into said inner seal positioning trough includes a plurality of elongate modules that each include a separate set of adjacent ceramic fiber blocks and such perforated metal members as are interspersed thereamong.
- 54. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 53 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 55. The set of components of claim 53 wherein the array of ceramic fiber blocks and thin, perforated metal members that is provided for insertion into said inner seal positioning trough includes said plurality of elongate modules and a plurality of spacer fiber blocks, with a sufficient number of spacer blocks being included so that at least one compressed spacer block can be installed between each adjacent pair of the modules when the modules and the spacer blocks are installed in said inner seal positioning trough to form said inner seal means.
- 56. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 55 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 57. The set of components of claim 1 wherein each of the fiber blocks is comprised of elongate fibers of ceramic refractory material, with the fibers of each block being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to said opposed end surfaces of the block, and each of the fiber blocks is installable in said inner seal positioning trough with its end surfaces extending substantially transversely with respect to the length of said trough, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed fiber blocks extends generally in radially oriented planes, not circumferentially, with respect to said inner seal positioning trough.
- 58. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 57 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 59. The set of components of claim 57 wherein the inner seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said inner seal positioning trough, including a lower blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough before the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to underlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said inner seal positioning trough.
- 60. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 59 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 61. The set of components of claim 57 wherein the inner seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said inner seal positioning trough, including an upper blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough after the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to overlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said inner seal positioning trough.
- 62. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 61 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 63. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said inner seal positioning trough, including a lower blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough before the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to underlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said inner seal positioning trough.
- 64. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 63 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 65. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the inner seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said inner seal positioning trough, including an upper blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough after the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to overlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said inner seal positioning trough.
- 66. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 65 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 67. The set of components of claim 1 wherein the ceramic fiber blocks that are provided for insertion into said inner seal positioning trough have a substantially uniform width that is at least substantially equal to the maximum width of such portions of said trough as are to be filled by said blocks, and said trough is of tapered cross section with a progressively diminishing width being encountered at progressively deeper trough depths, whereby, bottom portions of said blocks are caused to be increasingly width-wise compressed as said blocks are pressed more deeply into said trough by the weight of the inner enclosure of the furnace being seated atop said inner seal means.
- 68. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 67 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 69. The set of components of claim 67 wherein the perforated metal members that are provided for insertion into said inner seal positioning trough have a height that is less than the height of the ceramic fiber blocks that are provided for insertion into said inner seal positioning trough so that, when bottom portions of said perforated metal members and bottom portions of said ceramic fiber blocks are installed in said inner seal positioning trough in engagement with a bottom wall of said trough, said metal members do not extend as high in said trough as do said blocks, whereby said metal members do not reinforce such portions of said fiber blocks as extend into upper portions of said trough at locations extending above the height of said metal members.
- 70. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 69 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 71. The set of components of claim 69 wherein said members are sufficiently stiff, when inserted into said trough in said array, to sufficiently reinforce lower portions of said inner seal means to prevent said inner seal means from being crushed within said trough to a height that is less than the height of said metal members.
- 72. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 71 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 73. The set of components of claim 1 wherein said fiber blocks have a non-compressed shape that is substantially cubical, measuring approximately 6 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches; said metal members are formed from thin pieces of perforated metal that are of about 4 inches by 4 inches in size; the portion of said inner seal positioning trough that is to be filled by said array has a depth of about 6 inches, a width at its top of about 6 inches, and a width at its bottom of about 5 inches, said fiber blocks are installed so as to extend into the bottom area of said trough with bottom portions thereof being compressed during installation to accommodate the bottom area width of said trough, and said metal members also are installed so as to extend into the bottom area of said trough.
- 74. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 73 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 75. The set of components of claim 73 wherein said inner seal additionally includes ceramic fiber blanket means including a lower blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material having a height of about 1 inch and a width that is sufficient to fill the width of the bottom area of said trough, for being installed in the bottom area of said trough to underlie said array of fiber blocks and metal members.
- 76. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 75 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 77. The set of components of claim 75 wherein said ceramic fiber blanket means additionally includes an upper blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material having a height of about 1 inch and a width that is sufficient to fill an upper area width of said trough, for being installed in an upper area of said trough atop to overlie said array of fiber blocks and metal members.
- 78. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 77 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 79. The set of components of claim 1 wherein at least a selected one of said inner segment means and said outer segment means includes at least one cast refractory segment that has lift connection means anchored into the cast refractory material from which the segment is formed for defining three spaced lift attachment points to which connection can be made with a crane to permit the segment to be lifted and moved about, with each of the three spaced lift attachment points opening through a single outer surface of the segment that faces upwardly when the segment is installed as a component of said refractory base.
- 80. The set of components for a single-stack annealing furnace of claim 79 defining in assembled relation a base for an annealing furnace.
- 81. A set of fiber seal components for being installed in a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough of an annealing furnace base for defining a substantially endless, continuous, circumferentially extending, upwardly-facing seal of somewhat resilient character that can be engaged by other furnace structure that is removably positioned atop the seal, comprising ceramic fiber block means including a plurality of ceramic fiber blocks for being arranged serially in a circumferentially extending, endless array within the confines of said seal positioning trough, with the array also including metal reinforcement means including a plurality of relatively thin, perforated metal members for being interspersed among the ceramic fiber blocks to extend substantially radially at circumferentially spaced intervals within the confines of said trough, with said blocks having radially extending widths that are sufficient to extend substantially the full radially-measured width of said trough at locations within said trough where said blocks are to be installed, and with said blocks being sufficient in number and in size to require that said blocks be compressed in directions extending circumferentially with respect to said trough in order for all of said blocks to be inserted serially into said trough to form said array.
- 82. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 81.
- 83. The set of components of claim 81 additionally including blanket means for being positioned in said trough together with said array, including a relatively thin lower blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material for being installed in said trough to underlie said array.
- 84. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 83.
- 85. The set of components of claim 81 additionally including blanket means for being positioned in said trough together with said array, including a relatively thin upper blanket of ceramic fiber refractory material for being installed in said trough to overlie said array.
- 86. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 85.
- 87. The set of components of claim 81 wherein a selected set of said blocks and such ones of the thin, perforated metal members as are interspersed among the selected set of blocks are coupled together by connecting means for forming an elongate module that can be lifted and installed as a unit in said seal positioning trough.
- 88. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 87.
- 89. The set of components of claim 87 wherein the selected set of fiber blocks that is included in the elongate module includes two fiber blocks that are end blocks located at opposite ends of the elongate module, and at least one central fiber block that is located between the two end blocks, and the connecting means includes at least one elongate connecting member that extends substantially centrally through the elongate module so as to extend through not only the end and central blocks but also through the perforated metal members that are included in the module.
- 90. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 89.
- 91. The set of components of claim 89 wherein the at least one central fiber block includes at least four central fiber blocks arranged serially between the two end blocks, and the elongate connection member extends serially through all of the end and central blocks.
- 92. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 91.
- 93. The set of components of claim 89 wherein the perforated metal members that are included in the module include two metal members that are end blocks located at extreme opposite ends of the elongate module, and at least two central metal members that each are interposed between a separate adjacent pair of the set of fiber blocks that is included in the module, and the elongate connection member that extends substantially centrally through the module has its opposite ends connected to said end members.
- 94. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 93.
- 95. The set of components of claim 93 wherein the connecting means includes at least two elongate metal members that extend in spaced, side by side relationship substantially centrally through the elongate module so as to extend through not only the end and central blocks but also through the perforated metal members that are included in the module, with opposite ends of each of the two metal members being connected to said end members.
- 96. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 95.
- 97. The set of components of claim 95 wherein the set of fiber blocks that is included in the module are substantially uniformly compressed when the module is formed so that the length of the module as measured by the distance between the end members is less than it would be if the module were formed utilizing non-compressed fiber blocks.
- 98. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 97.
- 99. The set of components of claim 97 wherein the substantially uniform compression of the set of fiber blocks causes each of the blocks of the set to have a length, when compressed to form the module, that is about two-thirds of its non-compressed length.
- 100. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 99.
- 101. The set of components of claim 81 wherein the elongate module is substantially straight when it is formed, but is sufficiently bendable to enable it to be bent to an arcuate shape prior to being installed in said trough, with the arcuate shape to which the module can be bent corresponding to the curvature of said trough.
- 102. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 101.
- 103. The set of components of claim 81 wherein the array of ceramic fiber blocks and thin, perforated metal members that is provided for insertion into said trough includes a plurality of elongate modules that each include a separate set of adjacent ceramic fiber blocks and such perforated metal members as are interspersed thereamong.
- 104. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 103.
- 105. The set of components of claim 103 wherein the array of ceramic fiber blocks and thin, perforated metal members that is provided for insertion into said trough includes said plurality of elongate modules and a plurality of spacer fiber blocks, with a sufficient number of spacer blocks being included so that at least one compressed spacer block can be installed between each adjacent pair of the modules when the modules and the spacer blocks are installed in said trough to form said seal means.
- 106. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 105.
- 107. The set of components of claim 81 wherein each of the fiber blocks is comprised of elongate fibers of ceramic refractory material, with the fibers of each block being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to said opposed end surfaces of the block, and each of the fiber blocks is installable in said seal positioning trough with its end surfaces extending substantially transversely with respect to the length of said trough, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed fiber blocks extends generally in radially oriented planes, not circumferentially, with respect to said trough.
- 108. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 107.
- 109. The set of components of claim 107 wherein the seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said seal positioning trough, including a lower blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough before the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to underlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said trough.
- 110. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 109.
- 111. The set of components of claim 107 wherein the inner seal means additionally includes elongate ceramic fiber refractory blanket means for being positioned in said seal positioning trough, including an upper blanket that has a width that is sufficient to substantially fill the radially measured width of said trough, and that is of sufficient length to extend substantially the full length along the circumference of said trough for being installed in said trough after the array of fiber blocks and metal members are installed in the trough to overlie said array once said array has been installed in said trough, with the fibers of the blanket being sufficiently aligned so as to define a readily perceptible direction of orientation that extends substantially parallel to the length of the blanket, whereby the direction of orientation of the fibers of the installed lower blanket extends generally circumferentially with respect to said trough.
- 112. A base for an annealing furnace having a generally annular-shaped, circumferentially extending, upwardly opening, seal positioning trough with a seal therein assembled from the components of claim 111.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of each of the following co-pending applications of Gary L. Coble, referred to hereinafter as the "Cast Refractory Segment Cases," the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference:
CAST REFRACTORY CENTER SEGMENT OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,593 filed Dec. 21, 1995;
CAST REFRACTORY CORNER SEGMENT OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,592 filed Dec. 21, 1995;
CAST REFRACTORY SIDE SEGMENT OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,591 filed Dec. 21, 1995;
ASSEMBLY OF CAST REFRACTORY SEGMENTS OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,587 filed Dec. 21, 1995;
ASSEMBLY OF CAST REFRACTORY SEGMENTS OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,589 filed Dec. 21, 1995;
ARCUATE CAST REFRACTORY AND STEEL SEGMENT 0F ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,590 filed Dec. 21, 1995; and,
ASSEMBLY OF ARCUATE CAST REFRACTORY AND STEEL SEGMENTS OF ANNEALING FURNACE BASE, Ser. No. 29/032,588 filed Dec. 21, 1995.
Reference also is made to a concurrently-filed subject-matter related application, Ser. No. (atty's file 5-171) filed (concurrently herewith) by Gary L. Coble entitled CAST REFRACTORY BASE SEGMENTS AND MODULAR FIBER SEAL SYSTEM FOR PLURAL-STACK ANNEALING FURNACE, referred to hereinafter as the "Companion Case," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number |
Date |
Country |
1131246 |
Dec 1956 |
DEX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Lee Wilson Engineering Co, Brochure Entitled "Lee Wilson-Foremost Engineers & Manufacturers of Annealing Furnaces & Auxiliary Equipment," 8 Pages, Jun. 1968. |
Related Publications (6)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
32592 |
Dec 1995 |
|
|
32591 |
Dec 1995 |
|
|
32587 |
Dec 1995 |
|
|
32589 |
Dec 1995 |
|
|
32590 |
Dec 1995 |
|
|
32588 |
Dec 1995 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
32593 |
Dec 1995 |
|