Importance

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Abstract

An energy efficient closure system is provided for minimizing heat loss through an elongate, horizontally extending furnace opening that is utilized to admit elongate charges of material, to the interior of a furnace. The system utilizes a plurality of depending, individually mounted, independently pivoted, inwardly curved, insulated door components that are arranged in a side-by-side array and that are biased by gravity so as to normally close the furnace opening. In preferred practice, the system also utilizes a curtain of insulation that depends from a water-cooled support pipe that extends horizontally through the upper part of the door opening, with the curtain being formed by a plurality of depending bats of insulation arranged in a substantially contiguous, side-by-side array. As a slab or other elongate formation of material is moved toward and through the furnace opening, the door components 1) open in response to being engaged by underlying segments of the slab, 2) remain open only to the extent needed to permit passage therebeneath of the underlying slab segments, and 3) close automatically once the underlying slab segments have passed through the furnace opening. As the door components open, they engage and inwardly flex adjacent bat components of the curtain. Door components that are located near opposite ends of the furnace opening preferably are relatively narrow so that, unless the slab is unusually long, one or more of the end components will not be opened by an entering slab.

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First Claim