Furnace with modular construction

A furnace comprising:

• (a) a plurality of metal heating chamber modules, each module provided with a hollow hearth which forms a substantially horizontal floor in the chamber, and each module provided with a means in the heating chamber periphery for removing gases which form in the chamber, the modules being connected in a vertical configuration;
• (b) means for heating the hearths;
• (c) means for introducting material to be heated into an uppermost module;
• (d) means for transferring material to successively lower modules;
• (e) means for distributing material upon each hearth;
• and
• (f) means for removing material from a lowermost module.

A furnace comprising:

• (a) a plurality of metal cylindrical heating chamber modules connected in a vertical configuration, each module being provided with a hollow hearth which forms a substantially horizontal floor portion of the chamber, and each hearth being provided with an open portion approximatelly centered in the floor;
• (b) means for passing heated gases through the hollow hearths;
• (c) means in the periphery of each heating chamber for removing gases formed in that chamber;
• (d) means for introducing material to be heated into an uppermost heating chamber;
• (e) means for transferring heated material to successively lower heating chambers;
• (f) means for removing heated material from a lowermost heating chamber;
• (g) distribution means having a central shaft extending vertically through the open portions of the hearths and provided with projections for distributing introduced material upon each individual hearth;
• (h) means for imparting rotational movement to the central shaft and projections;
• and
• (i) a cylindrical hollow hearth module disposed at the top of an uppermost heating chamber module to form a cover therefor, the module being connected to the means for passing heated gases therethrough.

A furnace comprising:

• (a) a plurality of cylindrical heating chamber modules disposed in a vertical stack relationship;
• (b) hollow hearth modules disposed between the heating chamber modules;
• (c) a hollow hearth module disposed above an uppermost heating chamber module;
• (d) a hollow hearth module disposed below a lowermost heating chamber module;
• (e) means for introducing heated gases into the hollow hearth modules;
• (f) means for introducing material to be heated into the furnace;
• and
• (g) means for removing the material from the furnace.

A metal heating chamber module for multiple hearth furnace construction, comprising:

• (a) a generally cylindrical shell;
• (b) a hollow hearth forming a substantially horizontal floor in the shell, said hearth having an open portion approximately centered in the floor;
• (c) means for connecting with additional heating chamber modules;
• (d) means for passing heating gases through the hearth;
• and
• (e) means in the shell for removing gases from a chamber formed by the shell and hearth.