Patent Publication Number: US-5421963-A

Title: Coke-feeding device with housing for a dry cooling installation for coke

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national phase application corresponding to PCT/EP91/02515 filed 27 Dec. 1991 and based, in turn, upon a German application P 41 02 245.6 filed 24 Jan. 1991 under the International Convention. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a coke-feeding device with housing for a dry cooling installation for coke, which is assigned to a cooling shaft and comprises a stationary hopper with suction line, a movable hopper, a movable, liftable and lowerable cooling shaft closure, as well as the housing containing the movable hopper and the cooling shaft closure mounted on a common chassis running on rails. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The drawback of this installation known from DE-OS 30 04 175 is that during the charging of the cooling shaft with glowing coke a particle separation occurs which leads to an uneven gas flow in the cooling shaft, resulting in a longer dwelling time. A further disadvantage is the additionally required sealing measures. Finally it is disadvantageous that the entire housing is so closely connected with the cooling shaft and the stationary hopper that during the coke charging operation, no air can enter the housing, which can result in a certain explosion risk for the suction line. 
     It is the object of the invention to provide coke-feeding device avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art, so that no separation occurs during the charging operation. Still another object is to provide a coke-feeding device with the improved ability to lift and lower the cooling shaft closure is the penetration of a certain amount of secondary air into the housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This problem is solved according to the invention by providing the movable hopper with a distribution bell and a liftable and lowerable sealing ring, as well as by integrating the movable cooling shaft closure equipped with a sealing ring in a lifting and lowering mechanism and by designing the housing as a hood with bottom clearance or with openings in the walls in order to allow a limited penetration of secondary air. 
     The apparatus according to the invention also provides fastening the distribution bell of the movable hopper to a pipe segment which is supported by a crossbeam. 
     According to another embodiment the distribution bell arranged in the movable hopper is fastened to a cross-shaped support. This structure allows smaller overall dimensions of the movable hopper and the housing. 
     Preferably the liftable and lowerable sealing ring moves guides and has a lever transmission consisting of lever arms fastened to shafts and weighted down with counterweights, whereby guide rollers arranged on the shafts cooperate with a cam plate in order to lift and lower the sealing ring. 
     According to a further embodiment the housing is made in two parts, whereby movable longitudinal and transversal sides are assigned to a stationary hood lid, the movable hopper and the cooling shaft closure being solidly integrated therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to to the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned elevational front view of a coke-feeding 
     FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevational side view of the device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view analogous to the one shown in FIG. 2 but with a cooling shaft closure shown in a sealing position; 
     FIG. 4 is the sealing ring arrangement for the movable hopper shown in a closed position; 
     FIG. 5 is the sealing ring arrangement for the movable hopper in an open position; 
     FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the device according to the 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are respective side elevational views of the device shown in FIG. 6 with the shaft closure respectively in working and sealing positions; 
     FIG. 9 is an actuation device for the up and down movable sealing ring in a perspective view; 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the device of FIG. 9 in raised and lowered positions; stationary hopper as well as with a two-part housing whose lower part is movable; 
     FIG. 12 is still another embodiment of the coke-feeding device according to the invention with a closable stationary hopper as well as with a two-part housing whose lower part is movable; 
     FIGS. 13 and 14, are side elevational views of the device seen in FIG. 12 with the lower part of the housing shown respectively in working/sealing positions; and 
     FIG. 15 is an actuation device for the hopper closure in a perspective view. 
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a coke-feeding device according to the invention, consisting of a stationary hopper 1 acting in conjunction with a movable hopper 2, which in this illustration is in working position for charging a cooling shaft 41 with glowing coke and is located under the stationary hopper 1. In the movable hopper 2 a distribution bell 3 is arranged, which is fastened to a crossbeam 39 via a pipe segment 40. The crossbeam 39 is anchored in a wall of the movable hopper 2. 
     The glowing coke coming from a transport container reaches first the stationary hopper 1 and from there the movable hopper 2, where with the aid of the distribution bell 3 an even coke distribution is achieved, avoiding thereby a particle separation in the cooling shaft 41, which would otherwise lead to disadvantages regarding the dimensions and operation of cooling shaft 41. 
     The stationary hopper is supported by a support structure 7 (FIG. 1), mounted on a platform 42 which is arranged in the upper area of and around the cooling shaft 41. To the stationary hopper 1 a suction line 9 is connected, which aspires the dust generated while the glowing coke is charged, in order to eliminate dust emissions. Also for the elimination of dust emissions serves a housing 6 arranged in the lower area of the stationary hopper 1 and surrounding it sealingly with its hood lid 43. Longitudinal sides 45 and transversal sides 46 of the hood-shaped housing 6 end above the surface 47 of platform 42, so that air slots 44 are left, through which air can be aspired into the inner space of the housing 6, in order to prevent the escape of dust emissions. Instead of air slots 44 openings 44a which are shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2, 3 and 13, 14 can be provided in the longitudinal sides 45 and/or the transversal sides 46. 
     The housing 6 surrounds a chassis 48 which can move on rails 49 by means of wheels, respectively rollers 56 and which carries on one hand an extension 59 with a movable hopper 2 and on the other hand a cooling shaft closure 8 and a pertaining lift and lowering mechanism 15. The chassis 48 is connected with a drive unit 14, namely in the example over a telescopic linkage 50, by means of which the chassis can be moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3. This happens when the charging operation of the cooling shaft 41 with a charge of glowing coke is finished. Before the start of this operation, a liftable and lowerable sealing ring 11, immersed in water lute 10 filled with water 13 (FIG. 4), has been brought from this sealing position to the release position (FIG. 5). The water lute 10 is arranged above the shaft head 51 of the cooling shaft 41. In its sealing position the sealing ring 11 rests via a flexible sealing element 12 against an annular collar 52 of the movable hopper 2. After the sealing ring 11 is lifted, the movable hopper 2 is moved from its work position according to FIG. 2 in its rest position according to FIG. 3 and at the same time the cooling shaft closure 8 is moved from its rest position (FIG. 2) in a sealing position (FIG. 3). During this operation the dust emissions exiting the cooling shaft 41 remain inside the housing 6 and are aspired from there by the suction line 9. The suction operation has to be continued until the cooling shaft 41 is closely sealed by the cooling shaft closure 8. 
     The lifting and lowering device 15 for the cooling shaft closure 8 consists of one or more crossrails 53, which are guided and moved up and down in guide and lift elements 54. 
     After the cooling shaft closure has been brought from its rest position (FIG. 2) to the cooling shaft 41 as a result of the actuation of the telescopic linkage 50 shown in the example, it can be lowered in its sealing position (FIG. 3) by the lifting and lowering mechanism 15. Thereby at the same time a sealing ring 55 mounted on the cooling shaft closure 8 is dipped into the water lute 10, in order to create an emission-free seal for the shaft 41. After the sealing position is assumed, the suction action of the dust aspiration lines 9 can be interrupted. 
     As soon as the next container with glowing coke is brought to the stationary hopper 1, the suction action of the dust aspiration lines 9 is started again, the cooling shaft closure 8 is lifted again by the lifting and lowering mechanism 15 from its sealing position (FIG. 3) into its moving position and then returned to its rest position (FIG. 2). At the same time the movable hopper 2 reaches again its work position under the stationary hopper 1 (FIG. 2) and after the liftable and lowerable sealing ring 11 is lowered, the next charge of glowing coke can be introduced in the cooling shaft 41. 
     In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 another embodiment of the coke-feeding device is shown. As can be seen there, it consists of a stationary hopper 100 connected with an enlarged portion 57, sealingly surrounded by a housing 600 formed by a hood lid 430, longitudinal sides 450 and transversal sides 460. The hopper enlargement 57 corresponds with a movable hopper 200, which is fastened via support 590 on the chassis 48 and which comprises a distribution bell 4 fastened to a cross-shaped support anchored in the wall of the movable hopper 200. 
     Construction and operation of the embodiment of the coke-feeding device according to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 basically correspond to embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. However, the smaller overall dimensions of the movable hopper 200 and of the housing 600 require less material. 
     A preferred embodiment of the liftable and lowerable sealing ring 11 is shown in a perspective view in FIGS. 9 to 11. In the example the sealing ring 11 is guided in rod-like guides 23 and carries holding plates 69, to which chains 26 are fastened, which at one end lead to lever arms 24 and at the other end carry counterweights 25. The lever arms 24 are mounted on a shaft 29 movable in bearing blocks 60. The bearing blocks 60 are fastened to a chassis 48 running on rails 49 by means of wheels, respectively rollers 56. At one end of the shafts 29 swivel arms 63 are mounted carrying the guide rollers 27 which act in conjunction with the cam plates 28, as can be seen from FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     In the raised position of the sealing ring 11 (FIGS. 9 and 10) the counterweights 25 rest on stops 30. In order to reach the sealing position, the chassis 48 is moved over the opening of the cooling shaft 41, whereby the guide rollers 27 are moved up in the area of cam plates 28 and at the same time, due to the rotation of shaft 29, the counterweights 25 are pulled upwards, whereby the sealing ring 11 is lowered in its sealing position. When the reverse motion sequence takes place the sealing ring is correspondingly lifted again by descending the guide rollers 27 from the cam plates 28 and the chassis 48 returns to its rest position. 
     In FIGS. 12 to 14 a further embodiment of the coke-feeding device is represented, consisting of a stationary hopper 101 to which a movable hopper 201 is assigned. On the stationary hopper 101 a hood lid 431 is fastened as a component of a housing 601. Further the housing 601 consists of longitudinal sides 451 and transversal sides 461, which are movably and sealingly guided at the hood lid 431 and which are equipped with wheels, respectively rollers 561 running on rails 491 and which carry the hopper 201 as well as the lifting and lowering mechanism 15 for the cooling shaft closure 8. At one of the side walls 461 the telescopic linkage 50 of the drive unit 14 is connected, with the aid of which the movable part of housing 601 can be displaced. 
     FIG. 13 shows a position of the housing 601 wherein the movable hopper 201 is shown in work position and the lifting and lowering mechanism 15 with the cooling shaft closure 8 is shown in rest position. 
     In FIG. 14 a position of the housing 601 is shown wherein the lifting and lowering mechanism 15 with the cooling shaft closure 8 is arranged in sealing position over the cooling shaft 41 and the movable hopper 201 has assumed its rest position. 
     In this embodiment of the coke-feeding device the stationary hopper 101 is fitted with a hopper closure 20, formed by two closure plates 64 and 65. The actuation device of the hopper closure 20 can be seen from FIG. 15. In the example it consists of a lever linkage 66 and a drive 21. The hopper closure 20 contributes to a further dust emission reduction due to the fact that when the stationary hopper 101 is closed, the cooling shaft closure 8 can be already opened before the container with the glowing coke is deposited on the stationary hopper 101. After the cooling shaft 41 is charged, the charge container can be lifted off earlier, after a previous closing of hopper 101, without unduly impairing the suction of dust emissions through the suction line 9 due to excessive aspiration of secondary air.