A support arrangement (10) for mounting electric heating elements (5, 7) in a furnace (1). The support arrangement (10) comprises a first insulating body (11), a second insulating body (21), a detachably arranged cover body (30) or cover assembly (60), and a support structure (40). A cavity (15) is formed between the first insulating body (11) and a second insulating body (21) into which the heating elements (5, 7) extend to thereby allow electrical connection to a power source. Each of the first insulating body (11) and a second insulating body (21) comprises at least one longitudinal slot (13, 23) arranged in a first surface facing towards the interior of the furnace (1) to thereby allow insertion of a heating element into the support arrangement (10) from the interior of the furnace (1).

An assembly configured to be used in an electric resistive heating system or an electrically heated thermal energy storage system to heat air or gas, the assembly comprising an electrically insulating brick. The electrically insulating brick including a solid portion; and a hollow interior region. There is an electrically conductive brick, configured to be disposed within the hollow interior region of the electrically insulating brick.

An assembly configured to be used in an electric resistive heating system or an electrically heated thermal energy storage system to heat air or gas, the assembly comprising an electrically insulating brick. The electrically insulating brick including a solid portion; and a hollow interior region. There is an electrically conductive brick, configured to be disposed within the hollow interior region of the electrically insulating brick.

Systems and methods are provided for a high performance heater. In an embodiment, the high performance heater comprises a first stackable tray comprising a first alignment pin that insulates a first heating element disposed in the first stackable tray; a second stackable tray comprising a second alignment pin that insulates a second heating element disposed in the second stackable tray, wherein a top of the first alignment pin fits in to a cut out of a bottom of the second alignment pin when the first and second stackable trays are stacked, and wherein the first and second stackable trays comprise one or more materials, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and wherein an area between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the stackable trays comprises at least one cut out portion that allows expansion of the material(s) when the high performance heater is at high temperatures.

Systems and methods are provided for a high performance heater. In an embodiment, the high performance heater comprises a first stackable tray comprising a first alignment pin that insulates a first heating element disposed in the first stackable tray; a second stackable tray comprising a second alignment pin that insulates a second heating element disposed in the second stackable tray, wherein a top of the first alignment pin fits in to a cut out of a bottom of the second alignment pin when the first and second stackable trays are stacked, and wherein the first and second stackable trays comprise one or more materials, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and wherein an area between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the stackable trays comprises at least one cut out portion that allows expansion of the material(s) when the high performance heater is at high temperatures.

An electrical insulating and heating element support assembly for a high temperature vacuum furnace having a threaded support rod for connecting a heating element to the insulated hot-zone support ring in an electrically non-connected position includes insulator sleeves and washers surrounding the rod in contact with a series of refractory metal washers which may include graphite and/or molybdenum as shielding liners used to protect electrical insulators from having electrical short path means due to deposition of conductive materials onto the non-conducting insulators, and the use of threaded nuts and bushings to anchor the rod and shielding arrangement within the furnace hot zone. The non-conducting insulators and washers are made from materials with high thermal and electrical resistance, such as preferably alumina or mullite, and radially surround the support rod and the heating element. The electrically non-connected shielding washers and nuts, and the rod can be made from graphite or molybdenum, and are designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide relatively easier maintenance service to the vacuum furnace. This design accomplishes the dual objective of supporting both the heating element and the high temperature insulation support ring while remaining electrically non-connected from the heating element. It also allows for variations in thickness of the furnace insulation and heating elements which is common for different furnace designs. This new stand-off assembly is designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide faster maintenance turnaround time and reuse of the stand-off hardware. Another equally important advantage of this design is the absence of holes in the support rod for the placement of pin retainers, and the elimination of the pin retainers, commonly found in prior art vacuum furnace heater element support assembly designs.

An electrical insulating and heating element support assembly for a high temperature vacuum furnace having a threaded support rod for connecting a heating element to the insulated hot-zone support ring in an electrically non-connected position includes insulator sleeves and washers surrounding the rod in contact with a series of refractory metal washers which may include graphite and/or molybdenum as shielding liners used to protect electrical insulators from having electrical short path means due to deposition of conductive materials onto the non-conducting insulators, and the use of threaded nuts and bushings to anchor the rod and shielding arrangement within the furnace hot zone. The non-conducting insulators and washers are made from materials with high thermal and electrical resistance, such as preferably alumina or mullite, and radially surround the support rod and the heating element. The electrically non-connected shielding washers and nuts, and the rod can be made from graphite or molybdenum, and are designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide relatively easier maintenance service to the vacuum furnace. This design accomplishes the dual objective of supporting both the heating element and the high temperature insulation support ring while remaining electrically non-connected from the heating element. It also allows for variations in thickness of the furnace insulation and heating elements which is common for different furnace designs. This new stand-off assembly is designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide faster maintenance turnaround time and reuse of the stand-off hardware. Another equally important advantage of this design is the absence of holes in the support rod for the placement of pin retainers, and the elimination of the pin retainers, commonly found in prior art vacuum furnace heater element support assembly designs.

The present invention provides a far-infrared radiation heating furnace for steel sheets for hot stamping configured to inhibit thermal deformation of the furnace body and furnace body parts. A far-infrared radiation heating furnace (10) includes heating units (13-1) to (13-6), a ceiling unit (19), and a furnace body frame (12) made of steel, the heating units including: blocks made of a thermal insulation material, the blocks being disposed around horizontal planes of spaces for accommodating the steel sheets for hot stamping; and far-infrared radiation heaters positioned above and below the steel sheets for hot stamping to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping, the furnace body frame being disposed around the heating units and the ceiling unit. The furnace body frame includes spacers (17-1) to (17-7) that space the heating units and the ceiling unit apart from the furnace body frame and support them.

The present invention provides a far-infrared radiation heating furnace for steel sheets for hot stamping configured to inhibit thermal deformation of the furnace body and furnace body parts. A far-infrared radiation heating furnace (10) includes heating units (13-1) to (13-6), a ceiling unit (19), and a furnace body frame (12) made of steel, the heating units including: blocks made of a thermal insulation material, the blocks being disposed around horizontal planes of spaces for accommodating the steel sheets for hot stamping; and far-infrared radiation heaters positioned above and below the steel sheets for hot stamping to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping, the furnace body frame being disposed around the heating units and the ceiling unit. The furnace body frame includes spacers (17-1) to (17-7) that space the heating units and the ceiling unit apart from the furnace body frame and support them.

Provided is a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace for steel sheets for hot stamping, the furnace including far-infrared radiation heaters having flexibility that are prevented from deflecting even during heating at temperatures ranging from the Ac.sub.3 transformation temperature to 950 C. The far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace includes: multiple-staged heating units that accommodate steel sheets for hot stamping, each heating unit formed by thermal insulation materials disposed around the periphery; and far-infrared radiation heaters positioned above and below the heating units. A far-infrared radiation heater (14-1) is received by a plurality of first metal strips (26) so as to be disposed approximately horizontally. The plurality of first metal strips (26) are disposed so that their strong axis direction approximately corresponds to the direction of gravity and supported by support pieces (27) so as to be expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction by thermal expansion or thermal contraction. The support pieces (27) are disposed outside the thermal insulation materials in the heating units and a ceiling unit.