Patent ID: 7875236

Claim:
A system for use in processing raw material, where the system comprises: one or more separate or separable sections configured to receive raw material, where each of the separate or separable sections comprises an underlying substructure supporting refractory material; the underlying substructure comprises a bottom panel coupled to a frame portion such that the bottom panel is capable of expanding relative to the frame portion; a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end, where the linear furnace apparatus comprises at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis, where the linear furnace apparatus is configured to move the one or more separate or separable sections through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end thereof for use in processing raw material received in the one or more separate or separable sections, and further where the linear furnace apparatus comprises a discharge apparatus at the discharging end of the linear furnace apparatus operable to discharge processed raw material from the one or more separate or separable sections resulting in one or more empty sections; and section return apparatus operable to return one or more empty sections to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material.