METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TREATING KILN CARS

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aligning rows of blocks (8) supported by a kiln car (15) and extending parallel to one another. Thereby expandable clamping means (13) taking up a fixed position relative to one another, are inserted between the rows of blocks (8), which clamping means (13) are then moved transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks (8) to a desired position relative to the kiln car (5) and which are subsequently expanded for clamping the rows of blocks (8) between the clamping means (13). For pertaining said method there is used according to the invention a device for treating kiln cars (5) on which rows of blocks (8) extending parallel to one another are supported, whereby the device is provided with means for blocking the kiln car (5) in a desired position relative to the device, as well as with an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism provided with clamping means to be inserted between the rows of blocks. Further there are provided means by means of which the lifting mechanism can be adjusted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks (8) until it strikes a stop having a fixed arrangement.

Description: The invention relates to a method for aligning rows of blocks supported by a kiln car and extending parallel to one another. A kiln car is used in baking bricks, whereby the bricks to be baked are stacked on rows of blocks supported by the car, after which the car is led through a kiln for baking of the bricks. After the bricks have been baked the bricks are usually removed from the car by means of lifting means provided with teeth which are inserted between the rows of the blocks. In connection with this it is important that the rows of blocks built up of blocks loosely supported by the kiln car always take up the correct position. In order to be able to ensure this it is necessary that the rows of blocks are aligned regularly. Said aligning has been done in general by hand, whereby usually each row of blocks is aligned separately by means of a profile or the like which is laid along the row. Not only is this a time-consuming job, but also it cannot be ensured hereby that the various rows supporting a pack of bricks are all aranged parallel to one another and at the correct mutual distance from one another. According to the invention a method has been provided for aligning rows of blocks supported by a kiln car and extending parallel to one another, whereby expandable clamping means, taking up a fixed position relative to one another, are inserted between the rows of blocks, which clamping means are then moved transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks to a desired position relative to the kiln cars and which are subsequently expanded for clamping the rows of blocks between the clamping means. By means of the clamping means the blocks of the various rows of blocks can be put in their correct position in a row and the rows in their correct position relative to one another, because blocks which are out of alignment will either be moved in one direction transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows by means of the clamping means, or be moved in the opposite direction upon expansion of the clamping means. The blocks will then always take up the position which is correct for packs of bricks to be stacked thereon and correct relative to the lifting means by means of which a pack of bricks supported by the rows of blocks is removed from the car in an unloading station. Such an unloading station is generally provided with means for positioning the kiln car in its correct position relative to the removing means, so that it is necessary that the rows of blocks take up their correct position then as well. According to a further aspect of the invention an efficient device for carrying out the above method is obtained in that the device is provided with means for blocking the kiln car in a desired position relative to the device, as well as with an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism provided with clamping means to be inserted between the rows of blocks, whilst means are provided by means of which the lifting mechanims can be adjusted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks until it strikes a stop having a fixed arrangement. During use of the kiln car waste will collect on the kiln car, in particular grit from the bricks. For a good maintenance of the kiln cars it is desirable that said waste is removed from the kiln cars at regular intervals. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention this can be done in an efficient manner when the device is provided with a frame along which a car can be moved, whilst the car is equipped with brushing means for brushing clean at least certain parts of the kiln car. It is noted that DE-A-2 520 906 discloses a device for loading a kiln car with aligned rows of blocks or bricks in which the kiln car is provided with means for locking it into position relative to the device. The device has an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism provided with clamping means to be inserted between the rows of blocks. Further EP-A-O 033 755 discloses an apparatus for loading a kiln car, said apparatus having an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism which is provided with clamping means which can be inserted between the rows of blocks or bricks. The invention will be further explained hereinafter with reference to an embodiment of a device according to the invention diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a larger-scale illustration of a part of the mechanism for aligning the rows of blocks. Fig 4 is a side view of a part of fig 3. Fig 5 is a larger-scale section of a clamping means inserted between two rows of blocks. Fig 6 is a section corresponding with fig 5, whereby the clamping means is illustrated in the expanded position. Fig 7 is a diagrammatic view of parts of the brush car and a kiln car. The device illustrated in figs 1 and 2 comprises a portal-shaped frame 1, which is provided with vertical columns 2 and horizontally extending beams 3 supported by said columns 2. Usual kiln cars 5, which are supported by travelling wheels 6, can be moved across rails 7 under the portal-shaped frame 1, as is illustrated in fig 1. Usually one or more groups of rows of blocks 8, extending perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the kiln car, are provided on such kiln cars. Each row of blocks 8 is thereby generally formed by an number of blocks lying loosely on the flat upper side of the kiln car and being in line with one another. Each group of blocks serves to support a pack of bricks. Dependent on the number of groups of rows of blocks one or more packs of bricks to be baked are stacked on the kiln car, after which the kiln car is moved through a kiln for the bricks to be baked. After the kiln car has been moved out of the kiln again it is positioned opposite an unloading device, with which the pack of bricks or the packs of bricks, then consisting of baked bricks, are successively lifted off the kiln car. After having passed said unloading device, and before new bricks to be baked are placed on the kiln car, the kiln car is first moved through the device according to the invention, to be further described hereinafter, for the treatment of the kiln car to be further described hereinafter. As is furthermore illustrated in figs 1 and 2 four winches 9 are arranged side by side in pairs on the frame. A frame 11 is suspended from winch ropes or chains 10 of said winches, which frame 11 can be moved up-and-down by means of the winches. To said frame 11 there is fixed a fixed clamping strip 12 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame, i.e. perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rails 7. As is apparent from figs 2 and 3 said fixed clamping strip 12 is arranged near one side of the frame 11. Beside the fixed clamping strip 12 a number of expandable clamping strips 13, six in the illustrated embodiment, are fixed to the frame, the construction of said clamping strips 13 being further illustrated in figs 5 and 6. As is apparent from figs 5 and 6 an expandable clamping strip 13 comprises a beam 14 having a U-shaped section, which beam 14 extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame 11. In said beam 14 having a U-shaped section there is provided a hose 15 extending in the longitudinal direction of the beam. The hose 15 is thereby enclosed between the beam 14 and a plate 16 made of a flexible material and extending in the longitudinal direction of the frame and along the open side of the beam 14, which plate 16 is fixed near its bottom end, seen in the figs 5 and 6, to the bottom side of the beam 14 and is suspended near its upper side from a number of springs 17 supported on the frame 11. The various hoses 15 of the expandable clamping strips 13 can be inflated by means of means not shown, whilst means (not shown either) are present to let the air escape from the hoses 15 again. To the ends of the frame 11 there are fixed U-shaped carriers 18 which are provided with guide rolls 19 in the corner points, near their bottom sides. As is illustrated in particular in fig 3 said guide rolls 19, provided at the ends of the frame 11, are accommodated in a U-shaped frame part 20 which is constructed such that in the lowermost position of the frame 11 the guide rolls 19 have a close fit between the upwardly extending legs of the U-shaped frame part 20. Each frame part 20 is movably supported, by means of rolls 21, by a stand arranged near the relevant end of the device. A lever 23 is pivotally connected between its ends to said stand 22 by means of a horizontally extending pin 24. The upper end of the lever 23 is pivotally coupled, by means of a pin 25 extending parallel to the pin 24, to the movable U-shaped frame part 20. The bottom end of the lever 23 is pivotally connected, by means of a pin 26 extending parallel to the pins 24 and 25, to a setting cylinder 27, which is also pivotally coupled to the stand 22 by means of a pin 28 extending parallel to the pin 26. It will be apparent that the U-shaped frame parts 20 supported by the stands 22 can be moved to and fro in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the kiln cars by means of the setting cylinders 27. The stands 22 are provided with preferably adjustable stopping means 29 in order to limit the movement of the U-shaped frame parts relative to said stands 22. When the kiln car 5 is moved under the portal the kiln car 5 can be locked in a desired position relative to the device illustrated in figs 1 and 2 by means of positioning devices known by themselves (not shown). Then the frame with the clamping means 12, 13 can be moved downwards from the uppermost position illustrated in figs 1 and 2, such that the clamping means come to lie on both sides of the various rows of blocks 8, which belong to a single group supporting a pack of bricks, as is illustrated in particular in fig 3. When the clamping means are being inserted between rows of blocks 8 belonging to one group the hoses 15 are not inflated, so that the clamping means have some play in the slots located between the rows of blocks located side by side. In the lowermost position of the lifting mechanism formed by the frame 11 and the clamping means 12, 13 thus obtained the rolls 19 forming part of the lifting mechanism are supported by the U-shaped frame parts 20. When the lifting mechanism supporting a group of rows of blocks 8 is supported by the movable frame parts 20 said frame parts can e.g. be pressed, by means of the setting cylinders 27, against the stops 29 located on the right-hand side of the blocks 22, seen in fig 3, said stops being adjusted such that when the frame parts 20 are in contact with said stops the blocks of the rows of blocks which butt against the rigid beams 14 or the clamping strip 12 can take up their correct position relative to the block car. Any misaligned blocks, which had moved from their correct position to the left, seen in fig 3, are hereby moved back to the right again by the beams 14 or the clamping strip 12. Then the hoses 15 can be inflated, so that the blocks of the various rows of blocks are clamped between the clamping means, in particular are pressed against the fixed clamping list 12 or the sides of the beams 14 remote from the hoses 15. Any blocks which are out of alignment, which had moved from their correct position to the right, seen in fig 3, are hereby pressed back to the left again. It will be apparent that thus all blocks of a row of blocks will have been aligned again and the various rows of blocks will be aligned at the correct distance from and parallel to one another. In the expanded position of the clamping means the blocks can also be lifted off the kiln car. As a result of the above movement of the frame parts in the direction of the stops 29 the frame 11 supporting the clamping means 14 will no longer be perpendicularly below the winches, but this small laterial deviation can easily be taken up by the cables or the chains. At the same time, when the frame 11 is moved downwards again after possibly having lifted the rows of blocks, said frame 11 will be guided into its correct end position again by means of the frame parts 20, in which end position for placing the rows of blocks on the kiln car the frame 11 will have been moved sideways somewhat relative to its suspended position perpendicularly below the winches 9. When the rows of blocks are supported on the kiln car in their correct aligned position (possibly after the rows of blocks have been lifted off the kiln car) the air can be allowed to escape from the hoses 15, after which they will be pressed back from their inflated position (fig 6) to their compressed position (fig 5) by the plates 16 which are suspended by means of springs. When the frame 11 is then moved back again to its position perpendicularly below the winches 9 by means of the movable frame parts 20 and subsequently the lifting mechanism 11 - 13 is lifted the rows of blocks will be left behind on the kiln car correctly aligned and in their correct position on the kiln car. It will be apparent that instead of being equipped with inflatable hoses the clamping means may also be equipped with clamping means or the like which are mechanically expandable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the beams 14. The device is furthermore provided with a car 30 which is movable along the lowermost frame beams 3. The car is supported by rolls 31 running on the lowermost frame beams 3. In the frame of the car 30 there is journalled a horizontal shaft 32 extending perpendicularly to the frame beam 3. The shaft 32 can be rotated in two different directions by means of a driving means (not shown). On the ends of the shaft 32 there are mounted tyres 33 which are pressed against the lower side of the frame beams 3. It will be apparent that by rotating the shaft 32 in the one or in the other direction the car can be moved to and fro in the longitudinal direction of the frame beams 3. The car 30 supports a frame 34, which is suspended in the car 30 by means of the setting cylinders 35. The frame 34 is thereby movable up-and- down in vertical direction by means of the setting cylinders 35. For guiding the movement of the frame 34 in the frame of the car 30 the frame 34 is provided with guide rolls 36. The frame 34 supports a brush 37 which can be rotated about its axis of rotation, which extends horizontally and parallel to the rails 7, by means of a driving means. Beside the brush 37 there is arranged a receiving bin 38, which is open at its side directed towards the brush. Near its upper edge remote from the brush 37 the receiving bin 38 is pivotable relative to the frame of the car 30, by means of setting means (not shown), about a pivot pin extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush 37. Near the upper side of the brush there is furthermore arranged a hood 39 with a dust extracting unit connected thereto or accommodated therein. At the sides of the frame of the car 30, seen in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rails 7, there are provided arms 40 and 41 respectively. The arms 40 and 41 are pivotable relative to the frame of the car about pivot pins 42 extending parallel to the rails. To the arms 40 there are fixed upwardly extending arms 43. The ends of the arms 43 remote from the arms 40 and 41 respectively are connected to setting cylinders 44, which are connected to the frame of the car 30 at their ends remote from the arms 43. At the ends of the arms 40 and 41 there are provided brushes 45. Between its ends the arm 40 is furthermore provided with an additional brush 46. The arms 40 and 41 can be pivoted independently of each other, by means of the setting cylinders 44, from the raised position illustrated in fig 1 to the lowered position illustrated in fig 7. When a kiln car has been moved into the position illustrated in fig 1 the car 30 can be moved along the girders 3 from the position illustrated in fig 1 to the right, whilst the brush 37 has been put into such a position that the upper sides of the rows of blocks 8 can be swept clean by means of said brush. The waste present on said rows of blocks will be swept into the bin 38. When the car 30 has arrived near a refuse container 47, arranged on the right in fig 1, the receiving bin 38 can be pivoted, so that the waste swept into said bin 38 by means of the brushes 37 can be deposited into the container 47. After the upper sides of the rows of blocks 8 have been swept clean said rows of blocks can be lifted by means of the lifting mechanism 10 - 13 described above and be moved upwards to a position above the path of movement of the car 30. After that the brush 37 can be moved a little further downwards, so that during a subsequent passage of the car 30 along the girders 3 the upper side of the kiln car 5 can be swept clean. Sweeping can take place during the movement of the frame 30 from the left to the right, seen in fig 1, as well as during the movement from the right to the left when the correct ratio of the speed of the brush 37 to the rate of displacement of the car 30 is chosen. When the front side of the kiln car has arrived near the device the arm 41 will be pivoted downwards to the position illustrated on the right in fig 7, so that the front side of the kiln car, in particular those parts of the kiln car that butt against a kiln car in front during the passage through the kiln, will be swept clean well. When the rear side of the kiln car has arrived near the device the arm 40 will be pivoted downwards, so that also here the parts that are essential for a good contact of the successive kiln cars with one another are swept clean well, as is illustrated on the left in fig 7.

Claims: 1. Method for aligning rows of blocks supported by a kiln car (5) and extending parallel to one another, whereby expandable clamping means (13), taking up a fixed position relative to one another, are inserted between the rows of blocks (8), which clamping means (13) are then moved transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks (8) to a desired position relative to the kiln cars (5) and which are subsequently expanded for clamping the rows of blocks (8) between the clamping means (13). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that after clamping the blocks (8) are first moved upwards, then the surface of the kiln car (5) supporting the rows of blocks is swept clean and subsequently the blocks (8) are placed on the kiln car (5) in their correct position relative to the kiln car. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the upper surface of the kiln car (5) is swept clean by means of a brush car (30) which is movable along the upper surface of the kiln car (5) and under the clamping means (13), which have been put in their raised position. 4. Device (1-3) for treating kiln cars (5) on which rows of blocks (8) extending parallel to one another are supported, the device being provided with means for blocking the kiln car (5) in a desired position relative to the device (1-3), as well as with an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism (11) provided with clamping means (13) to be inserted between the rows of blocks (8), whilst means (20) are provided by means of which the lifting mechanims (11) can be adjusted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks (8) until it strikes a stop (29) having a fixed arrangement. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the clamping means (13) have beams (14), having a fixed arrangement, which extend parallel to the rows of blocks (8), and clamping parts (15) which are expandable relative to said beams (14). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the expandable clamping parts (15) are formed by inflatable hoses. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that on one side the inflatable hoses (15) butt against a plate (16) made of a flexible material, said plate (16) being fixed at one end and being supported by springs (17) at its other end. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding apparatus claims, characterised in that the device is provided with frame parts (20) supporting the lifting mechanism (11) in its lowermost position, said frame parts (20) being adjustable relative to the device (1-3), parallel to the direction of movement of the block car (5), as far as against stops (29) having a fixed position in the device (1-3). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the lifting mechanism (11) is provided with guide rolls (19) which co-operate with the frame parts (20) which are movable relative to the device (1-3), for positioning the lifting mechanism (11) in a correct position relative to the movable frame parts (20). 10. Device according to any one of the preceding apparatus claims, characterised in that the device is provided with a frame (1) along which a car (30) is movable, the car (30) being equipped with at least one brushing means (37) for brushing clean at least certain parts of the kiln car (5). 11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the car (30) is provided with a brush (37) rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and with a receiving bin (38) arranged near the brush (37). 12. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the receiving bin (38) is pivotable, relative to the frame of the car (30), about a horizontal axis. 13. Device according to any one of the claims 10 - 12, characterised in that the brush (37) is at least partly enclosed by a dust collecting hood (39) co-operating with a dust extracting unit. 14. Device according to any one of the preceding apparatus claims, characterised in that the brushing means (37) is vertically adjustable relative to the frame of the car (30). 15. Device according to any one of the claims 10 - 14, characterised in that the brush car (30) is equipped with brushes (45) mounted on pivotable arms (40, 41) for brushing down the rear and the front side of the kiln car (5) respectively.

Inventors: VAN HUET, PAUL JOHANNUS GERARDUS HELENA
Applicants: MACHINEFABRIEK DE OUDE RIJN PANNERDEN B.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F27D3
IPC codes: F27B9, B65G57, F27D3, F27D23