A chamber (1) for hardening building materials comprises sheet metal elements which are insulated from one another and are built on a base plate (5) and which form walls (2) and a ceiling (3). The chamber can be manufactured and operated inexpensively and is suitable both as a curing chamber for concrete blocks and for building materials cured with CO.sub.2. To this end, it is proposed that the walls (2) and/or ceiling (3) consist of self-supporting, double-walled sheet metal elements (4) connected to one another in an essentially gas-tight manner, and that the double-walled sheet metal elements (4) of the supply and/or discharge and distribution a gaseous hardening medium from outside the chamber (1) into its interior.

A hinged protective collar for a kiln with rigid first and second body portions, each with a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of a portion of a peripheral edge surface of the kiln sidewall and a hinge structure that pivotally couples the first and second body portions so they can be pivoted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded, use configuration. For a kiln with a faceted shape, each of the first and second body portions has a given number of corresponding facets. The hinged protective collar can span a portion of the periphery of the kiln, or the hinged protective collar could span 360 degrees and could have first and second hinge structures coupling the first and second body portions. The first and second body portions can have upturned proximal and, additionally or alternatively, distal end portions to prevent damage to kiln brick.

The invention provides a shuttle kiln that can fire ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders in a shorter period of time than in conventional methods without occurring breaks due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside. The shuttle kiln of the invention is suited for firing of ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders. It includes a gas suction path 4 that suctions in-furnace gas and discharges it via an afterburner 5 and a circulation path 7 that suctions the in-furnace gas to the furnace outside to burn organic binder gas and then returns it into the furnace.

A method of disposing of a mixture of oxidizable catalyst material and inert support media. The method comprises introducing inert gas into an enclosure; introducing the mixture into the enclosure; separating the oxidizable catalyst material and the inert support media within the enclosure; maintaining an inert gas environment around the oxidizable catalyst material during separating; exporting the separated inert support media from the enclosure; and grinding the separated oxidizable catalyst material into a powder for disposal as hazardous waste via incineration.

A method for heating ware in a kiln. The ware space of the kiln includes a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a first direction, and a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a second direction. The method includes heating the ware space in a first heating stage, a second heating stage, and a third heating stage. At least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) in one of the heating stages, a temperature control zone oriented in the first direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a setpoint temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the first direction; and (ii) in one of the heating stages, one temperature control zone oriented in the second direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a set point temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the second direction, wherein the first direction is a vertical direction and the second direction is a horizontal direction.

A method for heating ware in a kiln. The ware space of the kiln includes a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a first direction, and a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a second direction. The method includes heating the ware space in a first heating stage, a second heating stage, and a third heating stage. At least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) in one of the heating stages, a temperature control zone oriented in the first direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a setpoint temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the first direction; and (ii) in one of the heating stages, one temperature control zone oriented in the second direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a setpoint temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the second direction.

A method for heating ware in a kiln. The ware space of the kiln includes a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a first direction, and a plurality of temperature control zones oriented in a second direction. The method includes heating the ware space in a first heating stage, a second heating stage, and a third heating stage. At least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) in one of the heating stages, a temperature control zone oriented in the first direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a setpoint temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the first direction; and (ii) in one of the heating stages, one temperature control zone oriented in the second direction has a setpoint temperature that is different from a setpoint temperature of one other temperature control zone oriented in the second direction.

A method of disposing of a mixture of oxidizable catalyst material and inert support media. The method comprises introducing inert gas into an enclosure; introducing the mixture into the enclosure; separating the oxidizable catalyst material and the inert support media within the enclosure; maintaining an inert gas environment around the oxidizable catalyst material during separating; exporting the separated inert support media from the enclosure; and grinding the separated oxidizable catalyst material into a powder for disposal as hazardous waste via incineration.

A hinged protective collar for a kiln with rigid first and second body portions, each with a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of a portion of a peripheral edge surface of the kiln sidewall and a hinge structure that pivotally couples the first and second body portions so they can be pivoted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded, use configuration. For a kiln with a faceted shape, each of the first and second body portions has a given number of corresponding facets. The hinged protective collar can span a portion of the periphery of the kiln, or the hinged protective collar could span 360 degrees and could have first and second hinge structures coupling the first and second body portions. The first and second body portions can have upturned proximal and, additionally or alternatively, distal end portions to prevent damage to kiln brick.

A refractory article can include a socket including a cavity that is configured to receive a post, a particulate material, and a binder. The binder is configured to bond the post to the socket. The refractory article can include a sleeve coupled to the socket and configured to bond the post to the socket. In an embodiment, the sleeve can bond to the binder. In another embodiment, a collar can be placed between the sleeve and the binder. The collar can be configured to bond the post to the socket. A method of forming a refractory article can include disposing a particulate material within a cavity of a socket and placing a binder material overlying the particulate material.