Patent ID: 8245653

Claim:
A circular furnace having a lower end and an upper end, comprising: (a) a hearth comprised of a refractory material and located at the lower end of the furnace; (b) a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the hearth to the upper end of the furnace, the sidewall being comprised of a refractory material; (c) a generally cylindrical, segmented metal shell surrounding the hearth and the sidewall, the shell being under tension to apply a radially inwardly directed compressive force on the furnace, wherein the shell is made up of two or more arcuate shell plates and wherein circumferentially spaced joints are formed between the arcuate shell plates, and wherein gaps are provided at the joints between the arcuate shell plates; and (d) a tensioning member for maintaining tension in the shell and applying a radial compressive force to the furnace; wherein the tensioning member comprises an elongate band which extends around the shell proximate the lower end of the furnace, the band having first and second ends, and having sufficient length to extend around the sidewall, with a resilient connection being provided between the first and second ends of the band.