Drop-in furnace lining

A drop-in furnace lining for convenient installation in a furnace shell of a metal refining vessel, and for convenient removal therefrom at an operational location of said furnace shell, and movement to and from said operational location, comprising:

• (a) a lifting frame adapted to fit within the furnace shell of a metal refining vessel, said lifting frame having (1) a bottom portion that rests upon the bottom portion of the furnace shell upon installation therein, and (2) four lifting rods affixed thereto, one such lifting rod being positioned in each of the corners of the bottom portion of said lifting frame, each of said lifting rods extending vertically upward to an upper portion of the furnace shell, said lifting rods each having cable securing means affixed at upper ends thereof for securing lifting cables thereto to enable the lifting frame to be raised and lowered for movement to and from the operational location of the furnace shell, and for installation in said furnace shell and removal therefrom;
• and
• (b) a pre-cast, pre-fired refractory inner lining and a back-up refractory/outer insulation lining for said metal refining vessel, with the pre-cast, pre-fired refractory inner lining and said refractory insulation lining being positioned on the lifting frame, a bottom portion of said refractory outer insulation layer being supported on the bottom portion of said lifting frame,
• whereby said drop-in furnace lining can be conveniently installed in the furnace shell, and removed therefrom, and moved as an integral unit to and from the furnace shell at the operational location thereof, without movement of said furnace shell from said operational location, by a suitable moving device having cables secured to the cable securing means affixed to the upper ends of the lifting rods of the lifting frame.