Insulating Concrete Shell

An insulating concrete shell (5a) made of refractory cast concrete or refractory tamped concrete (4a) for insulating uprights or supporting tubes in a walking beam furnace or pusher-type furnace, the shell (5a) being shell-shaped, comprising:

• a first metal strip (1a) bent into a substantially semicircular shape and arranged on an inner side (10a) at a first end of the insulating concrete shell (5a);
• a second metal strip (1a) bent into a substantially semicircular shape and arranged on the inner side (10a) at an opposite second end of the insulating concrete shell (5a), the first and second metal strips (1a) being configured for fastening the insulating concrete shell (5a) to the upright or the supporting tube;
• a recess (8a) in an area between the first and second metal strips (1a);
• and
• a fibre mat (3a) inserted into the recess (8a), wherein
• the first and second metal strips (1a) are connected to one another by wires (6a) with two wires (6a) completely embedded within the cast or tamped concrete (4a).

A method of producing a shell-shaped insulating concrete shell (5a), comprising:

• bending two sheet metal strips (1a) into respective semicircular shapes to the shape of an upright or a supporting tube;
• connecting the two bent sheet metal strips (1a) to one another via at least two wires (6a) to form interconnected metal strips;
• placing the interconnected sheet metal strips into a casting or tamping mould configured to allow formation of a substantially shell-shaped component with a recess (8a) on an inner side (10a) between the two sheet metal strips (1a);
• filling the casting or tamping mould (4a) with refractory concrete;
• allowing the refractory concrete to cure to form a manufactured component;
• removing the manufactured component from the mould;
• inserting a ceramic fibre mat (3a) into the recess (8a) at the inner side (10a).