Refractory furnace structure

A furnace containment structure comprising:

• a roof assembly including at least one layer of refractory material that includes a first layer of refractory material;
• a plurality of sidewalls;
• a plurality of pockets disposed in the first layer of refractory material, each pocket including a retainer that is spaced apart from sides of the pocket by gaps when the roof assembly is at room temperature;
• an upper plate disposed above the first layer of refractory material;
• a first plurality of suspension rods that pass through first holes in the at least one layer of refractory material and the upper plate;
• at least one infrared radiant emitter disposed in an opening in the at least one layer of refractory material;
• and
• a second plurality of suspension rods that extend from the plate in a base of the containment structure and support a refractory wall,
• wherein the plurality of suspension rods mechanically couple the retainers to the upper plate to retain the at least one layer of refractory material, and
• wherein the base includes a second layer of refractory material, and the second plurality of suspension rods mechanically couple second retainers to the base to retain the second layer of refractory material.

A furnace containment structure comprising:

• a roof assembly including at least one layer of refractory material that includes a first layer of refractory material;
• a plurality of sidewalls;
• a plurality of pockets disposed in the first layer of refractory material, each pocket including a retainer that is spaced apart from sides of the pocket by gaps when the roof assembly is at room temperature;
• at least one infrared radiant emitter disposed in an opening in the at least one layer of refractory material;
• an upper plate disposed above the first layer of refractory material;
• and
• a first plurality of suspension rods that pass through first holes in the at least one layer of refractory material and the upper plate,
• wherein the plurality of suspension rods mechanically couple the retainers to the upper plate to retain the at least one layer of refractory material.