Refractory article

Abstract

A refractory article including a body having central opening extending through at least a portion of the body, the central opening having a receiving surface having a convex curvature. In an embodiment, the body can include a coupling protrusion extending from a portion of an upper surface of the body and a coupling depression on a portion of a bottom surface of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refractory article comprising:
 a body including:   an upper surface, wherein a coupling protrusion extends from a portion of the upper surface;   a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, wherein a coupling depression is on a portion of the bottom surface;   an outer side surface extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface; and   a central opening extending through at least a portion of the body intersecting the upper surface.   
     
     
         2 . The refractory article of  claim 1 , wherein the central opening is defined by a first inner side surface, second inner side surface, and a receiving surface extending between the first inner side surface and second inner side surface. 
     
     
         3 . The refractory article of  claim 2 , wherein one or both of the first inner side surface and the second inner side surface is planar. 
     
     
         4 . The refractory article of  claim 2 , wherein the central opening comprises a first entry angle defined by the first inner side surface and the receiving surface, wherein the first entry angle is greater than 90°. 
     
     
         5 . The refractory article of  claim 4 , wherein the central opening comprises a second entry angle defined by the second inner side surface and the receiving surface, wherein the second entry angle is greater than 90°. 
     
     
         6 . The refractory article of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling protrusion comprises a first protrusion portion and a second protrusion portion separated from the first protrusion portion by the central opening. 
     
     
         7 . The refractory article of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a secondary opening spaced apart from the central opening. 
     
     
         8 . The refractory article of  claim 7 , wherein the secondary opening is between the bottom surface and the central opening. 
     
     
         9 . The refractory article of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a ceramic including a carbide, a boride, a nitride, an oxide, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The refractory article of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises alpha silicon carbide. 
     
     
         11 . A refractory article comprising:
 a body including:
 an upper surface; 
 a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; 
 an outer side surface extending between the upper surface and bottom surface; 
 a central opening extending through at least a portion of the body, defined by a first inner side surface, second inner side surface, and a receiving surface extending between the first inner side surface and second inner side surface, wherein the receiving surface is disposed between the upper surface and the bottom surface; and 
 a coupling protrusion extending from a portion of the upper surface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the center opening extends in a lateral direction of the body for a first length, d 1 , and the coupling protrusion extends in the lateral direction of the body for a second length, d 2 , wherein d 1 >d 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a coupling depression on a portion of the bottom surface. 
     
     
         14 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the central opening intersects the coupling protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the central opening intersects the outer side surface and separates the outer side surface into a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion. 
     
     
         16 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the outer side surface comprises an elliptical contour or a circular contour. 
     
     
         17 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the receiving surface comprises a curvature. 
     
     
         18 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving surface is substantially planar along a lateral direction of the central opening. 
     
     
         19 . The refractory article of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises silicon carbide. 
     
     
         20 . A high temperature storage system, comprising a plurality of the refractory articles of  claim 11  including a first refractory article and a second refractory article, wherein the coupling protrusion of the first refractory article is disposed within the coupling depression of the second refractory article, and the body of the first refractory article and the body of the second refractory article are configured to rotate relative to each other while engaged.