Modular furnace cooling wall

Abstract

A modular furnace cooling wall, comprising: a plurality of segments wherein each interior segment houses or defines a cooling fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet; wherein a first side of each segment defines a concave groove or channel; wherein a second side of each segment defines a convex edge; and wherein the plurality of segments are assembled so that the convex edge of one or more of the segments is received within the concave groove of an adjacent segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular furnace cooling wall, comprising:
 a plurality of segments wherein each interior segment houses or defines a cooling fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet;   wherein a first side of each segment defines a concave groove or channel;   wherein a second side of each segment defines a convex edge; and   wherein the plurality of segments are assembled so that the convex edge of one or more of the segments is received within the concave groove of an adjacent segment.   
     
     
         2 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 1  further comprising one or more end segments having a first side defining either a concave groove or channel or a convex edge and a second side defining a generally flat surface. 
     
     
         3 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the one or more end segments is assembled to an outer side of an assembled segment, wherein the generally flat surface of the end segment is disposed as an outer narrow sidewall of the modular furnace cooling wall. 
     
     
         4 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 2  wherein the first side of each of the one or more end segments defining either a concave groove or channel or a convex edge is assembled to a mating side of one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         5 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting plate or bracket to which each of the segments is removably pinned or otherwise removably attached. 
     
     
         6 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 2  further comprising one or more support braces or brackets removably attached to one or more of the segments or end segments. 
     
     
         7 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 1  wherein the modular furnace cooling wall defines a curved wall, a semi-circular wall, a circular wall or an enclosed wall the perimeter of which defines a geometric or non-geometric shape. 
     
     
         8 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 1  further comprising a cooling fluid manifold in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet of each segment. 
     
     
         9 . The modular furnace cooling wall of  claim 2  further comprising a cooling fluid manifold in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet of each segment and end segment. 
     
     
         10 . An interior segment of a modular furnace cooling wall, the interior segment comprising:
 a housing which defines and houses a cooling fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet;   a first side of the housing defining a concave groove or channel; and   a second side of the housing defining a convex edge.   
     
     
         11 . An end segment for a modular furnace cooling wall, the end segment comprising:
 a generally rectilinear housing which defines and houses a cooling fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet;   a first side of the housing defining either a concave groove or channel or a convex edge; and   a second side defining a generally flat surface.   
     
     
         12 . A modular furnace cooling wall, comprising:
 a plurality of generally rectilinear wall segments wherein each wall segment houses or defines a cooling fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet;   wherein each wall segment has planar first and second sides that are each beveled; and   wherein the plurality of wall segments are assembled and secured together to form a straight, curved, angled or enclosed wall.