Suspended refractory curtain

Abstract

A vertically suspended refractory wall having at least two rows of refractory shapes. Each refractory shape of the upper row has a recess in a bottom portion or a lower portion of the refractory shape. Each refractory shape of the lower row has a head portion or an upper portion that lockingly engages within at least a portion of the recess of the refractory shape of the upper row. The interlocked and vertically suspended refractory wall can be used as refractory curtain, such as within an industrial furnace.

1 . A vertically suspended refractory wall comprising: a plurality of refractory shapes forming a first row and a second row vertically aligned with said first row, each said refractory shape having an upper portion and a lower portion, a flange of each said refractory shape extending away from an upper face of said upper portion, said refractory shape having a recess extending inward from a lower face of said lower portion, and at least a portion of said upper portion of said refractory shape of said second row lockingly engaged within at least a portion of said recess of said refractory shape of said first row. 
   
   
       2 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent said refractory shapes of said first row contact each other and adjacent said refractory shapes of said second row contact each other. 
   
   
       3 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said refractory shapes of said first row and said second row are tightly fit with respect to each other to seal the refractory wall from an upline side to a downline side of the suspended wall. 
   
   
       4 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 2 , wherein said refractory shapes of said first row and said second row are tightly fit with respect to each other to seal the refractory wall from an upline side to a downline side of the suspended wall. 
   
   
       5 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 4 , wherein said upper portion has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       6 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said second row engaged within said recess of said refractory shape of said first row vertically aligns said first row and said second row. 
   
   
       7 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion has a T-shaped cross section. 
   
   
       8 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion has a L-shaped cross section. 
   
   
       9 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said refractory shapes of said first row are adjacent each other at a first row joint, said refractory shapes of said second row are adjacent each other at a second row joint, and in a horizontal direction said first row joint is offset with respect to said second row joint. 
   
   
       10 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein outer edges of the suspended wall are free from an external structural support. 
   
   
       11 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein with said upper portion engaged within said recess said upper portion of said refractory shape of said second row interferes with a body of said second shape that forms said recess. 
   
   
       12 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess of said refractory shape of said first row and said upper portion of said refractory shape of said second row have a correspondingly engageable shape. 
   
   
       13 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 1 , wherein an upper face of said upper portion of said refractory shape of said second row has a surface shape that corresponds to said lower face of said lower portion of said refractory shape of said first row. 
   
   
       14 . A vertically suspended refractory wall comprising: a plurality of refractory shapes forming at least two vertically aligned rows, each said refractory shape having an upper portion and a lower portion, each said refractory shape having a recess extending inward from a lower face of said lower portion, and at least a portion of said upper portion of said refractory shape of a lower row lockingly engaged within at least a portion of said recess of said refractory shape of an upper row. 
   
   
       15 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 14 , wherein said flange has a neck and a head, and a first width of said head is greater than a second width of said neck. 
   
   
       16 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 14 , wherein with said upper portion engaged within said recess said upper portion of said refractory shape of said lower row interferes with a body of said refractory shape of said upper row that forms said recess. 
   
   
       17 . A vertically suspended wall according to  claim 14 , wherein said refractory shapes of said first row and said second row are tightly fit with respect to each other to seal the refractory wall from an upline side to a downline side of the suspended wall.