Earthquake-proof foundation for coke oven batteries

An earthquake-proof foundation for a lateral burner-type coke oven battery, comprising, a foundation baseplate connected to the ground, a mounting plate positioned above the baseplate for supporting the coke oven battery and a plurality of sliding devices interposed and connected between the mounting plate and the foundation baseplate to permit lateral and transverse displacement of the mounting plate with respect to the baseplate. The mounting plate includes a plurality of openings and ferroconcrete pegs are bonded to the foundation baseplate and extend upwardly into the mounting plate opening. Elastic elements are connected between the ferroconcrete pegs and the edges of their associated openings to resist transverse and lateral displacement of the mounting plate with respect to the foundation baseplate.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates in general to coke oven batteries and, in 
particular, to a new and useful earthquake-proof foundation for so-called 
lateral burner-type coke oven batteries, which comprises a baseplate, a 
mounting plate and interpolated elastic elements effective in a lengthwise 
and crosswise direction to absorb horizontal displacement of the ground. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
An earthquake-proof foundation is known from Japanese Pat. No. 743,738, in 
which elastic elements, effective in longitudinal and transverse 
directions are arranged between the baseplate and mounting plate 
polydirectionally movable stays and interlocked ferroconcrete ridges 
anchored in these plates and between the ferroconcrete ridges. This 
earthquake-proof foundation is suitable primarily for an oven chamber 
heater system equipped with underburners, i.e., burners in flues, which 
receive their fuel from the space between the base plate and the mounting 
plate, and from lines led through these mounting plates. 
A wide spacing between the foundation plate and mounting plate is required 
for the arrangement of interlocked ferroconcrete ridges. A special design 
must be provided because of this arrangement of stays, and this results in 
the use of expensive materials. However, this cannot be avoided for an 
underburner equipped heater system since, for this purpose, an extended 
spacing between the foundation plate and carrier plate is required. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to provide an earthquake-proof foundation 
for lateral burner-type heater systems, i.e., where fuel is fed laterally 
to flues, which requires less constructional work and no stays between the 
foundation and carrier plates, and which has a higher capacity to absorb 
horizontal ground oscillations. 
The present invention provides for the arrangement of sliding devices 
between the foundations and the mounting plates which are effective in a 
battery for absorbing longitudinal and transverse displacement. 
Ferroconcrete pegs are also provided which are bonded to the foundation 
plate. These pegs project through openings in the mounting plate and 
elastic elements are provided between the pegs and the opening edges. The 
sliding devices can be in the form of cross-wise arranged double roller 
bearings. 
Other forms of the sliding devices may be sheet metal layers which are 
inserted between the foundation plate and carrier plate, between which a 
sliding agent, e.g., flaky graphite, can be interpolated. A particularly 
reliable tested material for the layers is zinc. Laminated springs or 
pneumatic or hydraulic spring loads can also be used as the elastic 
elements between the opening edges and the pegs. 
To reduce the heat transfer from the batery structure to the foundation 
structure to a minimum, the mounting plate is equipped with lengthwise 
ribs on its bottom. The interspacings between these longitudinal ribs 
represent ventilation channels with a cooling air stream sucked or pressed 
therethrough. Practicably, this cooling air stream is fed in on one side 
of the battery and is carried off on the other side by a venting chimney. 
In this way, the temperature differentials between the two plates can be 
limited to from 80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. while, without this 
device, temperature differentials of between 150.degree. C. to 200.degree. 
C. are present. Thus, the thermal expansion of the mounting plate can also 
be kept within limits and, according to the invention, it amounts to about 
30 mm, measured from the center of the plate in a longitudinal direction. 
This value is not exceeded under any conditions. 
The pile foundation baseplates, the piles and sliding devices are arranged 
so that vertical forces are transferred to the pile heads directly via the 
sliding devices, i.e., the sliding devices are arranged directly above the 
piles. In this way, the bending load on the baseplate is reduced, and its 
steel reinforcement can be kept at a relatively low level. 
For the ferroconcrete pegs bonded into the baseplate, it is practical to 
arrange them on the longitudinal sides of the battery, e.g., in 2.times.8 
openings, where sufficient space for this is available on the bottom, 
beneath the accessible surface in the master passage. In this way, a 
uniform transfer of forces to the battery is accomplished, and also, the 
steel reinforcement of the mounting plate can be kept at a relatively low 
level. 
If laminated springs are used between the pegs and opening edges as elastic 
elements, then the springs should be prestressed in order to absorb 
oscillatory amplitudes between 10 mm and 20 mm. Thereby, the springs 
themselves are selected so that maximum effective forces do not exceed 
1/15th of the battery's own weight, since according to many investigations 
of earthquake damages, solid concrete and brickwork structures hold out 
only up to these set limits. 
A practicable provision is to arrange cup and saucer springs and laminated 
cup springs by articulated attachment to their bases. This can be done, 
for example, via vertical rolls, which are in a position of balancing the 
mutually effective small-scale shift in foundation baseplate and mounting 
plate, produced by heatup and later temperature variations. The universal 
joint-type arrangement of rolls furthermore allows for a setting and 
resetting of the spring length. For this purpose, hydraulic presses are 
inserted betweeen the pressure plates of a universal joint roll. In this 
way, the spring is somewhat compressed and the supporting nut, which is 
seated on one side of the laminated spring, is then set to the required 
length. The hydraulic presses are subsequently relaxed and removed and the 
spring resumes operation. 
Any spring length variations produced during the heatup time in connection 
with the heatup of the above laid mounting plate are constantly corrected 
by means of this resetting capability, so that even on reaching their 
heatup produced shifts, the laminated springs do not exceed their required 
length and/or prestress. The minor slanted position caused by the 
heatup-produced shifts has no detrimental effect because of the 
articulated rolls which are provided for the springs. 
A buffer springs-type design is also feasible. In this case, conical 
helical springs as with railroad operations are used. These buffer springs 
have a hysteresis-loop rated curved characteristic. No excessive forces 
are produced on their initial compression. However, at the end of the 
spring lift, the forces required for compression are relatively high. On 
relaxing the spring, the frictions within the spring coils work themselves 
out in such a way that both diagram lines for compressing and releasing 
the spring differ from each other, and the spring always somewhat exceeds 
the tenion by more than that corresponding to the let-up load. Thereby, 
part of the energy stored in the spring is lost, which is effective as 
oscillatory attenuation. 
The characteristic of buffer springs of having a high power stroke and a 
substantial compression even under the effect of relatively minor forces 
is also useful. A prestressing and absorbing of minor shifts and 
oscillations is thus feasible with only relatively minor force effect. 
The roller bearings of the springs or other elastic elements, and the 
cross-roller bearings are advantageously arranged in tight sheet metal 
housings which are filled with grease. The sensitive parts are thus 
protected against contamination and corrosion which would otherwise be 
unavoidable during construction time as well as during later operations. 
Supplementary features associated with such an extensively earthquake-proof 
foundation are a chimney smoke flue, which is elastically connected to the 
waste heat-carrying channels of the oven structure, e.g., by a steel 
gangway bellows, and in this way, does not lose its connection with the 
waste-heat channels beneath the battery if, according to the invention, 
any earthquake tremors are not followed up by the battery. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an 
earthquake-proof foundation for a lateral burner-type coke oven battery, 
comprising, a foundation baseplate connected to the ground, a mounting 
plate above said baseplate, a plurality of sliding devices connected 
between said baseplate and said mounting plate for absorbing transverse 
and lateral displacement of said mounting plate with respect to said 
baseplate, said mounting plate including a plurality of openings, 
ferroconcrete pegs bonded to said baseplate and extending into said 
mounting plate openings, and elastic elements between said pegs and the 
edges of said openings for resisting transverse and lateral displacement 
of said mounting plate with respect to said baseplate. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an earthquake-proof 
foundation for a coke oven battery which is simple in design, rugged in 
construction and economical to manufacture. 
For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made 
to the following description of typical embodiments thereof, as 
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein 
in FIG. 1 comprises, a coke oven assembly, generally designated 1, of the 
lateral burner type. The coke oven assembly or battery 1 includes an oven- 
and/or battery bottom 2 with an oven-and/or battery ceiling 3. Anchor 
stands 4 extend on each long side of the coke oven battery 1 and define, 
with the coke oven bottom 2, the regenerators 5. The coke oven 1 includes 
flue-gas channels 6 which are defined between flue-gas channel walls 7 
and, below flue-gas channel wall arches 8. 
As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, as well as FIG. 1, the coke oven 1 includes inner 
supporting angle piece walls 9 and outer supporting angle piece walls 10. 
A battery mounting plate 11 is provided across the width of the battery 
for supporting the structure and is positioned over a foundation base or 
pile plate 12. Pile plate 12 is connected to the ground and is supported 
by piles 13, which extend into the ground. Mounting plate 11 includes a 
plurality of lengthwise extending ribs 7a and the mounting plate 11 is 
associated with the baseplate 12 through a plurality of sliding 
installations or devices, generally designated 114. These sliding devices 
are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7 through 9 and may comprise roller 
bearings or sliding plates. 
Ferroconcrete or concrete pegs 15 are bonded to the bottom or foundation 
baseplate 12 and project upwardly into openings 16 in the mounting plate 
11. Elastic elements, generally designated 117, are connected between the 
upstanding pegs 15 and the edges of the openings 16 to resist transverse 
and lateral displacement of the mounting plate 11 with respect to the 
baseplate 12. Slide devices 114 permit the transverse and lateral 
displacement of the mounting plate 11 with respect to the baseplate 12. 
Elastic elements 17 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 through 6. Master 
passage bottom 18 is provided at either side of the coke oven battery 1. 
In FIGS. 4 and 5, the spring installation 117 is shown mounted between the 
edges of openings 16 in battery mounting plate 11 and the concrete pegs 15 
in pile plate 12. Spring installation 117 comprises buffer springs 17 
having spring plates 17a, anchor plates 17b, rolls 17c, roll holders 17d 
and spring-lengthwise holders 17e, plus lateral or cross-spring holders 
17f. 
In FIG. 6, the spring installation 117 consists of cup and saucer springs 
19 between edges of openings 16, and the concrete pegs 15. Anchor plates 
19a are arranged on edges of the openings 16 and the concrete pegs 15 to 
support springs 19a. Concrete plates 19b are used for anchoring the 
rollers 19a. Furthermore, rollers 19c are retained by bottom and top 
holders 19d. Additional parts are spring spindles 19f, spindle nuts 19g, 
spindle sleeves 19h, prestress plates 19i, and hydraulic presses 19k. The 
operation of these devices serve to prestress the cup and saucer springs 
19 and are of conventional design. Rollers 19c can be mounted in sealed 
sheet metal box 19m which is filled with grease. 
The cross-roller bearings, generally designated 114, of FIGS. 1 and 5, are 
shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 through 9. Bearing rollers, designated 20, 
are arranged in a longitudinal and transverse direction in roller box 21 
being developed tight-sealed as housing. An intermediate plate 22 is 
arranged between both roller bearings. The upper sealing plate of roller 
box 21 is designated 23. Roller holders 24 interact with roller screws 28. 
Roller box 21 and its upper sealing plate 23 are anchored in anchor holes 
26 of battery mounting plates 11 and pile plate 12 via stay anchors 25. A 
substrate 27 is located beneath roller boxes 21 for supporting the boxes. 
Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment for the slide device is shown which 
comprises juxtaposed sheet metal layers 30 and 31 which are preferably 
made of zinc with a lubricant such as flaked graphite 32 interposed 
therebetween. Layers 30 and 31 are mounted to mounting plate 11 and 
baseplate 12, respectively, and provide for the required transverse and 
lateral displacement of mounting plate 11 with respect to baseplate 12. 
Referring now to FIG. 11, the steel bellows 41 is shown connected between a 
chimney 40 and the elastically mounted coke oven battery 1. This steel 
bellows 41 provides for displacement of the coke oven battery with respect 
to the chimney in case of the horizontal displacement ground 42 due to an 
earthquake. 
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described 
in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the 
invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied 
otherwise without departing from such principles.