WO1995022666A1

WO1995022666A1 - Brick for refractory wall

Info

Publication number: WO1995022666A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/002015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis Schubert
Original assignee: A.P. Green Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1994-02-16
Filing date: 1995-02-14
Publication date: 1995-08-24
Also published as: AU1846095A

Abstract

A refractory brick (28) of the present invention comprises a body (34) substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having 1st and 2nd opposite side faces (36, 38), 1st and 2nd opposite end faces (40, 42), a top face (44), and a bottom face (46) opposite the top face (44). The distance between the side faces constitutes the width (W1) of the body and the distance between the end faces constitutes the length (L1) of the body (34). The length of the body (34) is a multiple of half the width of the body.

Description

BRICK FOR REFRACTORY WALL

Background of the Invention

This invention relates generally to bricks and, more particularly, to refractory bricks for refractory walls.

Refractory bricks are used to construct high temperature structures such as carbon baking pit flues. These flues, generally rectangular in shape, are used in the aluminum industry to bake carbon anodes which in turn are used in smelting bauxite ore. During a typical operating cycle, the walls of the flue are heated and then cooled. The bricks expand as they are heated and contract as they are cooled. After numerous cycles of expanding and contracting, the walls tend to bow. Interlocking bricks have been used to reduce bowing.

However, the configurations of such interlocking bricks limit the number of different ways they can be oriented (interlocked) with adjacent bricks. Consequently, with such bricks many brick shapes are necessary to construct a flue of conventional dimensions. For example, several brick shapes may be necessary to form the bulk of the flue walls, other brick shapes may be necessary for tying spaced walls of the flue together, and still other brick shapes may be necessary to form the ends of the walls. The many brick shapes necessary to construct the flue unduly complicates the flue construction and increases the cost of constructing the walls.

Summary of the Invention

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of improved refractory bricks; the provision of such bricks which are shaped and configured such that numerous flue designs can be constructed with a minimum assortment of brick shapes; the provision of such bricks which can be interlocked with adjacent bricks in several different combinations; the provision of such bricks which are configured such that when they are combined to form a flue, the walls are resistant to bowing; and the provision of such bricks which are of relatively simple construction.

In general, a refractory brick of the present invention comprises a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face. The distance between the side faces constitutes the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constitutes the length of the body. The length of the body is a multiple of half the width of the body. A continuous longitudinal groove is in one of the top and bottom faces of the body and extends from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces. At least one lateral groove is in the one of the top and bottom faces and extends from the first side face to the second side face. The lateral groove is generally perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal groove and is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body. In another aspect of the present invention, a refractory wall comprises a plurality of refractory bricks. At least some of the refractory bricks are tongue-and-groove bricks comprising a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face. The distance between the side faces constitutes the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constitutes the length of the body. The length of the body is a multiple of half the width of the body. A continuous longitudinal groove is in one of the top and bottom faces of the body and extends from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces. The longitudinal groove is adapted to engage a tongue of a brick positioned adjacent the one of the top and bottom faces. At least one lateral groove is in the one of the top and bottom faces and extends from the first side face to the second side face. The lateral groove is adapted to engage a tongue of a brick positioned adjacent the one of the top and bottom faces. The lateral groove is generally perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal groove and is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body. A continuous longitudinal tongue is on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body and extends from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces. The longitudinal tongue is adapted to engage a groove of a brick positioned adjacent the other of the top and bottom faces. At least one lateral tongue is on the other of the top and bottom faces and extends from the first side face to the second side face. The lateral tongue is adapted to engage a groove of a brick positioned adjacent the other of the top and bottom faces. The lateral tongue is generally perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal tongue and is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a flue of the present invention formed by tongue-and- groove bricks;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the flue of Fig. 1; Fig. 5A is a front elevational view of one of the tongue-and-groove bricks of the flue of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig. 5A;

Fig. 5C is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 5A;

Fig. 5D is an end elevational view of the brick of Fig. 5A;

Fig. 6A is a front elevational view of another of the tongue-and-groove bricks of the flue of Fig. 1; Fig. 6B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig.

6A;

Fig. 6C is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 6A;

Fig. 7A is a front elevational view of yet another of the tongue-and-groove bricks of the flue of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig. 7A;

Fig. 7C is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged exploded partial sectional view showing a tongue of one brick and a groove of an adjacent brick;

Fig. 9A is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a tongue-and-groove brick of the present invention;

Fig. 9B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig. 9A;

Fig. 9C is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 9A; Fig. 10A is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment of a tongue-and-groove brick of the present invention;

Fig. 10B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig. 10A;

Fig. IOC is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 10A;

Fig. 11A is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment of a tongue-and-groove brick of the present invention;

Fig. 11B is a top plan view of the brick of Fig. 11A;

Fig. 11C is a bottom plan view of the brick of Fig. 11A; and Fig. 11D is an end elevational view of the brick of Fig. 11A.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1-4, a portion of a flue of the present invention, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20, comprises a front refractory wall generally designated 22, a back refractory wall generally designated 24, and an end refractory wall generally designated 26. As described herein, the flue 20 is for a carbon baking pit. However, it is to be understood that other type flues and other type refractory walls are within the scope of this invention.

The flue 20 is constructed primarily of refractory bricks of three different lengths, referred to herein for convenience as short bricks 28 (Figs. 5A-D), medium bricks 30 (Figs. 6A-C), and long bricks 32 (Figs. 7A-C). The bricks may be of fire clay, high alumina, or any other suitable refractory material.

Referring to Figs. 5A-D, each short brick 28 has a body 34 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces 36, 38, first and second opposite end faces 40, 42, a top face 44 and a bottom face 46 opposite the top face. The width W_j of the body 34 is the distance between the side faces 36, 38, and the length L_j is the distance between the end faces 40, 42. The length L_j of the body 34 is twice the width _j. A continuous longitudinal groove 48 and two lateral grooves 50 are in the top face 44 of the body 34. The longitudinal groove extends from the first end face 40 to the second end face 42 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 36, 38. The lateral grooves 50 extend from the first side face 36 to the second side face 38. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal groove 48. A continuous longitudinal tongue 52 and two lateral tongues 54 project downwardly from the bottom face 46 of the body 34. The longitudinal tongue extends from the first end face 40 to the second end face 42 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 36, 38. The lateral tongues 54 extend from the first side face 36 to the second side face 38. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal tongue 52. One of the lateral grooves 50 (the left most lateral groove shown in Figs. 5A and 5B) and one of the lateral tongues 54 (the left most lateral tongue shown in Figs. 5A and 5C) are both longitudinally centered on a plane P_j parallel to the first end face 40 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to half the width W_j of the body 34. The other lateral groove 50 (the right-most lateral groove shown in Figs. 5A and 5B) and the other lateral tongue 54 (the right-most lateral tongue shown in Figs. 5A and 5C) are both longitudinally centered on a plane P₂ parallel to the first end face 40 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to 1.5 times the width W_j of the body 34. The grooves 48, 50 are engageable with tongues of a brick placed adjacent the top face 44 of the brick 28. The tongues 52, 54 are engageable with grooves of a brick placed adjacent the bottom face 46 of the brick 28.

Referring now to Figs. 6A-C, each medium brick 30 is similar to the short brick 28 but the medium brick has a length equal to three times its width and has three lateral grooves and three lateral tongues. In particular, the medium brick has a body 56 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces 58, 60, first and second opposite end faces 62, 64, a top face 66 and a bottom face 68 opposite the top face. The width of the body 56, i.e., the distance between the side faces 58, 60, is the same as the width _j of the body 34 of the short brick 28, and the height of the body 56 is the same as the height of the body 34. The length L₂ of the body 56, i.e., the distance between the end faces 62, 64, is equal to three times the width W_j. A continuous longitudinal groove 70 and three lateral grooves 72 are in the top face 66 of the body 56. The longitudinal groove extends from the first end face 62 to the second end face 64 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 58, 60. The lateral grooves 72 extend from the first side face 58 to the second side face 60. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal groove 70. A continuous longitudinal tongue 74 and three lateral tongues 76 project downwardly from the bottom face 68 of the body 56. The longitudinal tongue 74 extends from the first end face 62 to the second end face 64 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 58, 60. The lateral tongues 76 extend from the first side face 58 to the second side face 60. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal tongue 74. The lateral grooves 72 and the lateral tongues 76 are longitudinally centered on planes parallel to the first end face 62 and spaced therefrom distances equal to odd multiples of half the width W of the body 56. In other words: one lateral groove 72 and one lateral tongue 76 (the left-most groove and the left¬ most tongue shown in Fig. 6A) are longitudinally centered on a plane spaced from the first face 62 a distance equal to half the width of the body 56; a second lateral groove and a second lateral tongue (the center groove and the center tongue) are longitudinally centered on a second plane spaced from the first face a distance equal to 1.5 times the width of the body; and a third lateral groove and a third lateral tongue (the right-most groove and the right-most tongue) are longitudinally centered on a third plane spaced from the first face a distance equal to 2.5 times the width of the body. The grooves 70, 72 are engageable with tongues of a brick placed adjacent the top face 66 of the brick 30. The tongues 74, 76 are engageable with grooves of a brick placed adjacent the bottom face 68 of the brick 30.

Referring now to Figs. 7A-C, each long brick 32 is similar to the short and medium bricks 28, 30 but the long brick has a length equal to four times its width and has four lateral grooves and four lateral tongues. In particular, the long brick has a body 78 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces 80, 82, first and second opposite end faces 84, 86, a top face 88 and a bottom face 90 opposite the top face. The width of the body 56, i.e., the distance between the side faces 80, 82, is the same as the width W_j of both the body 34 of the short brick 28 and the body 56 of the medium brick 30, and the height of the body 78 is the same as the height of both the body 34 and the body 56. The length L3 of the body 78, i.e., the distance between the end faces 84, 86, is equal to four times the width W_j. A continuous longitudinal groove 92 and four lateral grooves 94 are in the top face 88 of the body 78. The longitudinal groove 92 extends from the first end face 84 to the second end face 86 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 80, 82. The lateral grooves 94 extend from the first side face 80 to the second side face 82. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal groove 92. A continuous longitudinal tongue 96 and four lateral tongues 98 project downwardly from the bottom face 90 of the body 78. The longitudinal tongue 96 extends from the first end face 84 to the second end face 86 and is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 80, 82. The lateral tongues 96 extend from the first side face 80 to the second side face 82. They intersect and are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal tongue 96. Similar to the lateral grooves and tongues of the short and medium bricks noted above, the lateral grooves 94 and the lateral tongues 98 are longitudinally centered on planes parallel to the first end face 84 and spaced therefrom distances equal to odd multiples of half the width W_j of the body 78. In other words, one lateral groove 94 and one lateral tongue 98 is centered on each of four parallel planes longitudinally spaced from the first face 84 at distances of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 times the width W_j of the body 78. The grooves 92, 94 are engageable with tongues of a brick placed adjacent the top face 88 of the brick 32. The tongues 96, 98 are engageable with grooves of a brick placed adjacent the bottom face 90 of the brick 32.

Preferably, the grooves of all three different length bricks 28, 30, 32 are of uniform cross-sectional shape and the tongues of such bricks are of uniform cross-sectional shape, so that the tongues of one size brick will engage the grooves of a different size brick. Fig. 8 shows a lateral tongue 76 of one of the medium bricks 30 and a longitudinal groove 96 of one of the long bricks 32. However, since the cross-sectional size and shape of the grooves of each length brick are the same, and since the cross-sectional size and shape of the tongues of each length brick are the same, the groove and tongue shown in Fig. 8 are representative of the grooves and tongues of all three bricks. Also, the grooves of the three bricks 28, 30, 32 are preferably deeper and wider than the height and width of the tongues (see Fig. 8) to accommodate mortar placed between mating grooves and tongues.

As noted above, the flue 20 (Figs. 1-4) is constructed primarily from the short, medium, and long bricks 28, 30, 32. However, since no bricks are below the starter bricks on the bottom course, the starter bricks (designated 100) have no tongues. The starter bricks 100 are arranged to span the front and back walls 22, 24. They are of the same length as the long bricks 32 and have one longitudinal groove and four lateral grooves identical to the grooves 92, 94 of the long bricks.

As noted above, the short, medium, and long bricks 28, 30, 32 all have lengths which are multiples of the width W_j of the bricks (i.e., even multiples of half the width of the bricks), all have longitudinal tongues and grooves, and all have lateral tongues and lateral grooves spaced from their corresponding first end faces at each odd multiple of half the width of the bricks. Because of this geometric uniformity, any two of the tongue-and-groove bricks (whether bricks of the same length or bricks of different lengths) may be matingly interlocked. For example, a first brick may be stacked directly on top of a second brick with the longitudinal tongue and lateral tongues of the first brick respectively engage the longitudinal groove and lateral grooves of the second brick. Alternatively, the first brick may be offset relative to the second brick such that one of the lateral tongues and a portion of the longitudinal tongue of the first brick respectively engage one of the lateral grooves and a portion of the longitudinal groove of the second brick. As a second alternative, the first brick may be transversely oriented relative to the second brick such that a lateral tongue of the first brick engages the longitudinal groove of the second brick and the longitudinal tongue of the first brick engages the lateral groove of the second brick. Since the bricks may be oriented in several different ways, numerous flue designs can be constructed primarily with four different brick shapes: the starter brick 100, the short brick 28, the medium brick 30, and the long brick 32. Also, because of the geometry of the bricks, the longitudinal tongue and at least one lateral tongue of each brick engages the grooves of an adjacent brick. This engagement prevents both lateral and longitudinal movement of one brick relative to another brick on which the one is stacked.

Preferably, several of the long bricks 32 constitute tie bricks, designated at 102 (Figs. 1-3), spanning the front and back walls 22, 24. As shown in Fig. 3, a lateral tongue (the left-most lateral tongue) of a tie brick 102 engages the longitudinal groove of a first brick 104 of the front wall 22 and another lateral tongue (the right-most lateral tongue) of the tie brick engages the longitudinal groove of a second brick 106 of the back wall 24. A lateral groove (the left-most lateral groove) of the tie brick engages the longitudinal tongue of a third brick 108 of the first wall 22 and another of the lateral grooves (the right most lateral groove) of the tie brick engages the longitudinal tongue of a fourth brick 110 of the second wall 24. The tie brick resists lateral movement of the first and third bricks relative to the second and fourth bricks to resist bowing of either wall relative to the other wall.

As shown in Fig. 4, the end wall 26 of the flue 20 is formed by short bricks 28 and long bricks 32. Every other course of the end wall 26 has a short brick 28. The end faces of each such short brick 28 opposes the side faces of two long bricks 32 perpendicular to such short brick. Short bricks 28 may also be used to form baffles (not shown) in the flue. To form such baffles, the short bricks are placed one on top of the other vertically between tie bricks. The baffles channel fluid through the flue 20.

Another brick of the present invention, designated generally 200, is shown in Figs. 9A-C. The brick 200 is a transitional brick to allow a transition within a flue wall from bricks having both longitudinal and lateral tongues and grooves to bricks having only longitudinal tongues and grooves. The transitional brick 200 has a body 202 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces 204, 206, first and second opposite end faces 208, 210, a top face 212 and a bottom face 214 opposite the top face. The width of the body 202, i.e., the distance between the side faces 204, 206, is the same as the width W_j of the body 34 of the brick 28, 30, 32 and the height of the body 202 is the same as the height of these other bricks. The length L₄ of the body 202, i.e., the distance between the end faces 208, 210, is an odd multiple of half the width _j of the body. Preferably, the length L₄ of the body 202 is equal to five times half the width W^ (i.e., 2.5 times the width). A continuous longitudinal groove 216 and one lateral grooves 218 are in the top face 212 of the body 202. The longitudinal groove is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 204, 206. The lateral groove 218 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal groove 216. A continuous longitudinal tongue 220 and one lateral tongue 222 project downwardly from the bottom face 214. The longitudinal tongue 220 is centered laterally equidistant from the side faces 204, 206, and the lateral tongue 222 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal tongue 220. The lateral groove 218 and the lateral tongue 222 are longitudinally centered on a plane parallel to the first end face 208 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to half the width W-.. Although the transitional brick 200 is described as having a length equal to 2.5 times its width, it is to be understood that transitional bricks may have other lengths without departing from the scope of this invention.

Another brick of the present invention, designated generally 300, is shown in Figs. 10A-C. This brick 300 may be used as a tie or as an end wall brick in a flue having a different thickness (i.e., a different spacing between the front and back walls) than the flue 20. The brick 300 may also be used as a transitional brick. The brick 300 includes a body 302 having first and second opposite side faces 304, 306, first and second opposite end faces 308, 310, a top face 312 and a bottom face 314 opposite the top face. The width of the body 302 is the same as the width W of the other bricks described above and the height of the body is the same as the height of these other bricks. The length Lg of the body 302, i.e., the distance between the end faces 308, 310, is an odd multiple of half the width W_j of the body. Preferably, the length ₅ of the body 302 is equal to seven times half the width W_j (i.e., 3.5 times the width). A continuous longitudinal groove 316 and two lateral grooves 318 are in the top face 312. A continuous longitudinal tongue 320 and two lateral tongues 322 project downwardly from the bottom face 314. The left- most lateral groove 318 and the left-most lateral tongue 322 (as viewed in Fig. 10A) are longitudinally centered on a plane parallel to the first end face 308 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to half the width W_j. The other lateral groove 318 and the other lateral tongue 322 are longitudinally centered on a plane parallel to the second end face 310 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to half the width W_j. Although the brick 300 is described as having a length equal to 3.5 times its width, it is to be understood that bricks of other lengths may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention.

Still another brick of the present invention, designated generally 400, is shown in Figs. 11A-D. The brick 400 includes a body 402 having first and second opposite side faces 404, 406, first and second opposite end faces 408, 410, a top face 412 and a bottom face 414 opposite the top face. The width W₂ of the body 402 is the distance between the side faces 404, 406, and the length Lg is the distance between the end faces 408, 410. The length Lg of the body 402 is a multiple of one-fourth the width W₂, and preferably three times the width ₂.

First and second continuous longitudinal grooves 416, 418 and six lateral grooves 420 are in the top face 412. First and second continuous longitudinal tongues 422, 424 and six lateral tongues 426 protrude from the bottom face 414. The first longitudinal groove 416 and the first longitudinal tongue 422 are laterally centered on a plane parallel to the first side face 404 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to one-fourth the width ₂ of the body. The second longitudinal groove 418 and the second longitudinal tongue 424 are laterally centered on a plane parallel to the second side face 406 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to one-fourth the width W₂ of the body. The lateral grooves 420 and the lateral tongues 426 are longitudinally centered on planes parallel to the first end face 408 and spaced therefrom distances equal to odd multiples of one-fourth the width W₂ of the body. The tongues of the brick 400 are engageable with grooves of bricks having similarly spaced longitudinal and lateral grooves. Likewise, the grooves of the brick 400 are adapted to receive tongues of bricks having similarly spaced longitudinal and lateral tongues. Although brick 400 has been described as having a length equal to three times its width, it is to be understood that bricks of other lengths are also within the scope of this invention. In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refractory brick comprising: a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face, the distance between the side faces constituting the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constituting the length of the body, the length of the body being a multiple of half the width of the body; a continuous longitudinal groove in one of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces; and at least one lateral groove in said one of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral groove being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal groove and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

2. A refractory brick as set forth .in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lateral grooves in said one of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal groove, each lateral groove extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

3. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 2 wherein the length of the body is an even multiple of half the width of the body and each lateral groove is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body.

4. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 3 wherein a lateral groove is located at each odd multiple of half the width of the body from the first end face.

5. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 2 wherein: the length of the body is an odd multiple of half the width of the body; one of the lateral grooves is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to one multiple of half the width of the body; and another of the lateral grooves is spaced from the second end face a distance equal to one multiple of half the width of the body.

6. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a continuous longitudinal tongue on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces.

7. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 6 further comprising at least one lateral tongue on said other of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral tongue being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal tongue and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

8. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of lateral tongues on said other of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal tongue, each lateral tongue extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

9. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 8 wherein the length of the body is an even multiple of half the width of the body and each lateral tongue is spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body.

10. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 6 further comprising first and second lateral tongues on said other of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal tongue, each lateral tongue extending from the first side face to the second side face, the first lateral tongue being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to one multiple of half the width of the body, the second lateral tongue being spaced from the second end face a distance equal to one multiple of half the width of the body, the length of the body being an odd multiple of half the width of the body.

11. A refractory brick comprising: a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face, the distance between the side faces constituting the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constituting the length of the body, the length of the body being a multiple of half the width of the body; a longitudinal groove in one of the top and bottom faces of the body extending lengthwise of the brick laterally equidistant from the side faces; at least one lateral groove in said one of the top and bottom faces, said lateral groove beir^g generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal groove and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body; a longitudinal tongue on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body extending lengthwise of the brick laterally equidistant from the side faces; and at least one lateral tongue on said other of the top and bottom faces, said lateral tongue being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal tongue and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

12. A refractory brick comprising: a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face, the distance between the side faces constituting the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constituting the length of the body, the length of the body being a multiple of one-fourth the width of the body; first and second spaced continuous longitudinal grooves in one of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face and generally parallel to the side faces, the first longitudinal groove being spaced from the first side face a distance equal to one-fourth the width of the body, the second longitudinal groove being spaced from the second side face a distance equal to one-fourth the width of the body; a plurality of lateral grooves in said one of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral grooves being generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal grooves and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of one-fourth the width of the body.

13. A refractory brick as set forth in claim 11 further comprising: first and second spaced continuous longitudinal tongues on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face and generally parallel to the side faces, the first longitudinal tongue being spaced from the first side face a distance equal to one-fourth the width of the body, the second longitudinal tongue being spaced from the second side face a distance equal to one-fourth the width of the body; a plurality of lateral tongues on said one of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral tongue being generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal tongues and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of one-fourth the width of the body.

14. A refractory wall comprising a plurality of refractory bricks, at least some of which are tongue- and-groove bricks comprising: a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face, the distance between the side faces constituting the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constituting the length of the body, the length of the body being a multiple of half the width of the body, a continuous longitudinal groove in one of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces, said longitudinal groove being adapted to engage a tongue of a brick positioned adjacent said one of the top and bottom faces, at least one lateral groove in said one of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face and adapted to engage a tongue of a brick positioned adjacent said one of the top and bottom faces, said lateral groove being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal groove and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body, a continuous longitudinal tongue on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces, said longitudinal tongue being adapted to engage a groove of a brick positioned adjacent said other of the top and bottom faces, at least one lateral tongue on said other of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face and adapted to engage a groove of a brick positioned adjacent said other of the top and bottom faces, said lateral tongue being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal tongue and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

15. A refractory wall as set forth in claim 14 wherein a first brick and a second brick of the tongue- and-groove bricks are arranged such that one of the tongues of the first brick engages one of the grooves of the second brick.

16. A refractory wall as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of the tongue-and-groove bricks further comprises: a plurality of lateral grooves in said one of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal groove, each lateral groove extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body; and a plurality of lateral tongues on said other of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal tongue, each lateral tongue extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body.

17. A flue having first and second generally parallel spaced walls defining a passageway for passage therebetween of hot gasses, each wall comprising a plurality of courses of refractory bricks stacked one on top of another, the bricks including at least some tongue-and-groove bricks, each of said tongue-and-groove bricks comprising: a body substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having first and second opposite side faces, first and second opposite end faces, a top face, and a bottom face opposite the top face, the distance between the side faces constituting the width of the body and the distance between the end faces constituting the length of the body, the length of the body being a multiple of half the width of the body; a continuous longitudinal groove in one of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces; and at least one lateral groove in said one of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral groove being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal groove and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

18. A flue as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said tongue-and-groove bricks further comprises: a continuous longitudinal tongue on the other of the top and bottom faces of the body extending from the first end face to the second end face laterally equidistant from the side faces; and at least one lateral tongue on said other of the top and bottom faces extending from the first side face to the second side face, said lateral tongue being generally perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal tongue and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to a multiple of half the width of the body.

19. A flue as set forth in claim 18 wherein each of the tongue-and-groove bricks further comprises: a plurality of lateral grooves in said one of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal groove, each lateral groove extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body; and a plurality of lateral tongues on said other of the top and bottom faces generally perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal tongue, each lateral tongue extending from the first side face to the second side face and being spaced from the first end face a distance equal to an odd multiple of half the width of the body.

20. A flue as set forth in claim 19 wherein a first brick of the tongue-and-groove bricks spans the first and second walls for resisting bowing of either wall relative to the other wall, one of the lateral tongues of the first brick engaging the longitudinal groove of a second brick of the first wall and another of the lateral tongues of the first brick engaging the longitudinal groove of a third brick of the second wall, one of the lateral grooves of the first brick engaging the longitudinal tongue of a fourth brick of the first wall and another of the lateral grooves of the first brick engaging the longitudinal tongue of a fifth brick of the second wall, the first brick resisting lateral movement of the second and fourth bricks relative to the third and fifth bricks.

21. A flue as set forth in claim 20 wherein: the lateral grooves of each of the second and third bricks include a pair of spaced grooves and at least one intermediate groove positioned intermediate the pair of grooves, the longitudinal tongue of the first brick engaging the intermediate grooves of the second and third bricks; and the lateral tongues of each of the fourth and fifth bricks include a pair of spaced tongues and at least one intermediate tongue positioned intermediate the end tongues, the longitudinal groove of the first brick engaging the intermediate tongues of the fourth and fifth bricks.

22. A flue as set forth in claim 17 wherein the flue is a carbon baking pit flue.