Patent ID: 7993574

Claim:
A holding furnace for holding a molten metal, said furnace comprising: a housing having an interior chamber for holding the molten metal and an opening into said chamber; an insulating board structure disposed within said chamber and in overlying relation to at least a side portion of said housing, said insulating board structure being constructed and arranged to contain heat within said housing for maintaining the metal in a molten state; a heater assembly extending through a side opening of said housing and through a side opening in said insulating board structure into said chamber, said heater assembly being constructed and arranged to be immersed in the molten metal and to transfer heat thereto; and a sealing device disposed in fluid sealing relation to said housing and to said insulating board structure, wherein said sealing device is arranged in said side openings in said housing and said insulating board structure and configured with a multiple step joint along an outer surface thereof to provide a fluid-tight seal, and wherein said sealing device is configured to support said heater assembly.