A unitary refractory ring having a sidewall surrounding and spaced from a center axis, and one or more lifting lugs distributed around the center axis. The lifting lugs extend from an inner face of the sidewall towards the center axis, and are located between lower and upper axial faces of the sidewall. Each lifting lug has a lower lug face extending radially towards the center axis from the inner face of the sidewall, and a backing structure extending upwards along an axial direction from the lower lug face towards the upper axial face of the sidewall. An assembly of refractory rings, and methods for making and assembling refractory rings are also provided.

A refractory ring structure for forming a section of an inner wall or liner of a metallurgical vessel is provided. The refractory ring structure comprises a continuous top surface; a continuous bottom surface; a continuous arcuate inner surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and defining a cavity; a continuous arcuate outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a continuous protrusion or a plurality of protrusions extending from the inner surface for lifting the ring structure. The refractory ring structure comprises a heat resistant, refractory material suitable for use in the inner wall of a metallurgical vessel. Also provided herein are a metallurgical vessel comprising a refractory ring structure as disclosed herein, and a method for providing or replacing all or a section of a refractory inner wall or liner of a metallurgical vessel.

A furnace stave comprising a plurality of internal channels or conduits for circulating cooling fluid through the stave; an inlet and an outlet channel associated with each internal channel or conduit; wherein one of the internal channels or conduits is disposed in a protrusion from the stave.

A device for mounting and/or dismantling staves on/from an inner wall of a shaft furnace, the device including a circular monorail for supporting at least one stave positioning hoist, where the monorail is divided into at least four separate arc portions, where each arc portion is connected to a neighboring arc portion by means of a rotatable connection, the arc portions are moveable between an unfolded position, in which the arc portions form a circular monorail, and a folded position, in which the overall size of the monorail is, in one direction, reduced.

A method of treating refractory-lined equipment includes accessing an interior of the refractory-lined equipment with an equipment repair apparatus, wherein the equipment repair apparatus includes a robotic arm and one or more end effectors coupled to an end of the robotic arm, inspecting refractory material that lines an inner wall of the refractory-lined equipment with a first end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, removing damaged refractory material from the inner wall with a second end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, removing one or more anchors from the inner wall with a third end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, and installing new refractory material on the inner wall with a fourth end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm.

A device for mounting and/or dismantling staves on/from an inner wall of a shaft furnace, the device including a circular monorail for supporting at least one stave positioning hoist, where the monorail is divided into at least four separate arc portions, where each arc portion is connected to a neighboring arc portion by means of a rotatable connection, the arc portions are moveable between an unfolded position, in which the arc portions form a circular monorail, and a folded position, in which the overall size of the monorail is, in one direction, reduced.

A refractory insert is provided, including a main body part having a first surface defining a first sidewall, an opposed second surface defining a second sidewall, and an outer peripheral surface separating the first and second surfaces, and a mechanical mating member provided on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof. The mechanical mating member includes a retention mechanism for controlling and retaining a position of a corresponding mating member in connection therewith.

Methods and apparatus are provided for constructing refractory structures, e.g., glass furnace regenerator structures and/or glass furnace structures formed of refractory components, by positioning opposed pairs of vertically oriented base beams on respective opposite sides of the refractory structure and having a lower end rigidly attached to a foundation of the refractory structure and an upper end which extends vertically above the refractory structure, and attaching cross-support beams to respective ones of the base beams at the upper end thereof so as to latitudinally span the refractory structure. An overhead crane assembly may thus be supported by the cross-support beams.

A lining machine that includes a base frame, a rail group, a feed apparatus, a lift apparatus and a working platform, the rail group being mechanically fastened to the base frame and the rail group having at least one rail arrangement. The lift apparatus has a roller carriage and a lift unit located on the roller carriage, the roller carriage being provided on the rail arrangement so as to be movable between an installation position and an operating position. The lift unit is connected to the working platform and is designed to lower the working platform into the converter via the converter opening, and the feed apparatus has a roller conveyor, one end of which ends at the lift apparatus.

Methods and apparatus are provided for constructing refractory structures, e.g., glass furnace regenerator structures and/or glass furnace structures formed of refractory components, the refractory structure being housed within a building having a roof support elements. Cross-support beams are provided to latitudinally span the refractory structure and are suspended from roof support elements associated with the building housing the refractory structure by a suspension support system attached to the cross-support beams. An overhead crane assembly may thus be supported by the cross-support beams.