AU537549B2 - Method and apparatus for feeding batch material - Google Patents

Description

METΗOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BATCH MATERIAL

Technical Field The present invention relates broadly to the art of making molten materials and more particularly is concerned with an improved method of and apparatus for feeding batch materials into an electric malting furnace.

Background of Prior Art In a conventional electrically operated melting furnace electrodes project into a furnace tank and are immersed in molten material disposed in the tank with batch material continually being supplied en top of the molten material to provide both a source of supply and an insulating layer or crust. Additional batch material may be supplied, as needed, by a feeder, typified by U. S. Patent Nos. 3,980,460 and 4,142,880. These batch materials, when spread in a layer ever the upper melt surface αr melt line, serve as a partial insulating blanket to minimize heat loss to the surrounding environment. Problems arise when a uniform layer of batch material of a certain minimal thickness is not maintained ever the whole upper surface of the melt line. Regions of the batch layer that are too thin "melt out", expose the molten material and create regions of excessive heat loss with a concαπitant lowering of the temperatures of the molten material or melt and a lowering of the melt flow rate. In addition, regions of thinly covered malt may allow equipment located over the furnace, such as a batch feeder, to be exposed to excessive heat. When too thick a layer is deposited, the malt temperature may rise and uncontrollably increase the melt flow rate. Too much batch material also promotes formation of a surface crust which binders the passage of the overlaying batch material to the malt line. Inability to maintain a uniform thin layer of batch at a σpti-ύial thickness contributes to undesirable hot and cold thermal cycling of the malt with a resultant undesirable fluctuation of furnace performance. These ill effects are aggravated when the operating temperature of the furnace is increased. In refractory furnaces, which typically operate at 3400 to 4000°F, the need is greatest for a controlled deposit of batch material.

The batch feeders disclosed in the prior art do not insure that a thin, uniform layer of batch material is deposited over the melt. Another typical disadvantage is that the feeders require high maintenance. An ideal batch feeder would provide a controlled and uniform batch covering, generate little or no dust conditions in the working environment proximate to the furnace, be. mechanically simple, inexpensive to construct, operate and maintain and would be highly reliable.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a batch feeder for an electric furnace.

An additional object is the provision of a batch feeder for an open top electric furnace capable of depositing batch material onto the entire melt surface of the furnace in a controlled uniform manner. Another object of the present invention is the provisio of a batch feeder that insures an optimal thickness.

A further object of the present invantion is the provision of a batch feeder which is mechanically simple, inexpensive to build, operate, maintain and highly reliable.

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of a batch feeder which reduces dust conditions in the working environment proximate to the fαrnace. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a method of feeding batch πaterial to an open top electrical furnace in a manner that effectively and efficiently reduces heat loss to the upper surface of the melt.

The present invention provides, in a circular open top electric fjrnace, a method for depositing particulate material over a desired area, ccmprising Supporting a carriage above the area, supporting a hopper having a discharge opening en said carriage, filling the hopper with particulate material, moving the carriage over the area, moving a perforated chamber over the discharge opening and through the particulate material in the hopper thereby forcing the particulate material into the chamber and allowing the particulate material to fall onto the area.

The invention also includes an apparatus for depositing particulate material over a desired area, such as the upper surface of a molten mass carried in a circular open top furnace which comprises a trough-like hopper for holding particulate material. The hopper is carried by a carriage which is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane such that the hopper traverses the circular area in the fashion of a radial arm about the center of the area, the bottom of the hopper having a single longitudinal discharge opening that extends generally radially from the center of the area to the outermost extent of the area. The apparatus also includes means for supporting the carriage and means far rotating and counter-rotating the carriage. An agitator or a pnuematically operated perforated feed bar is located within the hopper in the vicinity of the longitudinal opening for engaging and stirring material wάthin the hopper thereby facilitating the flow of material through the perforations in the feed bar. The agitator is connected to a pnuematic or electric recipricator (or air vibrator) for driving the agitator whenever the carriage is in motion.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of the batch distributor or feeder assetribly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial view, with parts broken away, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional veiw taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 1. Detailed Description of Invention The batch distributor or feeder asseπfoly 10 of the present invention may be disposed above an open-top, circular melting furnace (not shown) for melting particulate batch materials such as refractory or glass materials (cullet may also be present) and includes a furnace shell from which molten material may be discharged through an outlet member. Primary electrodes, not shown, are positioned radially about an outlet member and are used to melt particulate batch material by the heating effect of current flowing between the primary electrodes and the outlet member to form a pool of molten material. the configuration of both the furnace and electrodes may be of the general type illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,983,309. A batch layer, established on the surface of the molten mass by the batch distributor 10, replenishes the pool of molten material in the furnace as molten material is discharged and also acts as an insulating blanket to insure efficient operation of the furnace.

The batch distributor 10 embodying the present invention is .shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a plurality of drive pedestal subassemblies 12, a main upper drive ring siibasseirϋoly 14, a distrioutor support 16 and a distributor 18.

The weight of the assembly 14, the support 16 and the distributor 18 is supported by means of the drive pedestal subassemblies 12. Since each of the subassemblies 12 are identical, the following description will be restricted to a single subassembly 12. Each subassembly 12 also provides a means for rotating and counter- rotating the main drive ring subassembly 14 about the center of the furnace or the area onto which the particulate material may be deposited. Each drive pedestal subassembly 12 comprises a support post or drive pedestal 20 upon which is fixed a hunting plate 22 A drive platform 24 is affixed by means of attachment bolts 26 to the plate 22. A support frame 28 is slidably mounted upon the platform 24 by means of a pair of adjustably fixable support clamps 30 which cause a lower mounting plate 32 of the frame 28 to slidingly bear against the upper surface of the platform 24. Supported by each frame 28 is a motor 34 which is connected via a gear box 36 to a pnuematic tire 38 which abuttingly contacts a main upper drive ring 40 of the main upper drive ring subassembly 14. The pnuematic tire 38 contacts the exterior surface of the ring 40 and is driven by the motor 34 such that the ring 40 may be driven either clockwise or counterclockwise. The force that the pnuematic tire 38 imposes upon the ring 40 may be controlled by an adjustment means 31.

Adjustment means 31 comprises a post 33 which is affixed to the lower. mounting plate 32 of the frame 28 and a post 35 which is affixed to the upper surface of the platform 24. A threaded shaft 37 is mtatably mounted within the post 35 and within the post 33. A pair of collars 39 fix the end of the shaft 37 whereupon rotation of the shaft 37 the lower plate 32 of the frame 28 may be displaced relative to the post 35 with a concomitant adjustment of the force that the pnuematic tire 38 imposes upon the ring 40. A lock nut 41 fixedly positions the shaft 37 after the desired adjustment has been made.

The main upper drive ring 40 is suitably supported by means of a plurality of drive ring support wheels 42 which are fixed on shafts 44. Each of the two shafts 44 is rotatably supported on a platform 22 by means of a plurality of bearings such as pillow blocks 46 which are suitably attached to the undersurface of each plate 22. A bearing 48, fixed within a lower ring 50, that is suitably supported frαn the undersurface of a platform 24, also provides rotational support for the shafts 44. A plurality of collars 52 constrain the longitudinal or lateral movement of each shaft 44 while still permitting rotation of a shaft 44.

The main upper drive ring assembly 14 also comprises a pair of mounting ears 54 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) which are suitably supported from the lower flange 56 of the ring 40. The mounting ears 54 provide a means of supporting the components o£ the distributor support 16. The distributor support 16 comprises a pair of cross members

58 which may be constructed of rectangular tubing. A spacer brace 60 insures that the cross members 58 maintain a parallel relationship. Suitably attached to cne portion of the distributor support 16 is the particulate batch material receiving distributor 18 which comprises, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a closed, generally V-shaped trough, or hopper 62 which is provided with a longitudinal discharge opening 64 and an open top αr material intake opening 66. The discharge opening has a lineal extent which is substantially equal to the radius of the furnace and is reinforced by means of angle irons 67, which insure that the discharge opening configuration is rot deformed by high temperatures experienced proximate the furnace. The trough 62 is supported upon the cross members 58 via a plurality of transverse angle iron support meroers 68 and bolts 70 which attach the outer portions of the support mstibers 68 to upper surfaces of the cross members 58. The position of the trough 62 relative to the batch layer may be suitably adjusted by means of shims, not shown, which may be inserted between the flanges of the members 68 and the cross members 58.

Disposed within the trough 62, over the opening 64, is an agitator or a vibrating feed bar 80 which can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. The agitator 80 comprises a center post or a stem 82 and a pair of gussets 84 to which are suitably attached a pair of elongated parallel plates 86. The plates 86 are fixed apart in a parallel relationship by means of a spacer 88. A pair of end caps 92 together with the plates 86 define a material discharge chamber 94 in which is positioned a pair of vertical pins 96 that are fixed at opposite ends of the trough 62 proximate the discharge opening 64.

The batch material in the trough 62, acting en the outside of the plates 86, tends to restrict the lateral or side-to-side movement of the lower edges of the plates 86. Pαrthermore, in use, particulate batch material becomes lodged between the outer periphery of the pins 96 and the inner surface of each of the plates 86. Together with the pins 96, the particulate material acts like a hinge to constrain the lateral movement of the lower edges of the plates 86 so that the upper portion of the agitator may be moved by a vibrator (discussed below) and particulate material disposed within the trough 62 may be forced to pass through a plurality of holes or perforations 37 formed in each of the plates 86. In a preferred embodiment, seen in FIG. 5, the perforations 87 are disposed in a regular array comprising several rows of perforations. The perforations 87 do not extend to the lower edge 89 of the plates 86 in order to substantially seal the bottom of the discharge chamber 94. The hole pattern, hole size, nuπcer and depth is selected to take advantage of the phenomenon wherein particulate batch material will bridge thereby preventing particulate material frcm flowing into and through the perforations 87 when the agitator 80 is motionless.

A vibrator 98, which may be pneumatic αr electric, capable of rapidly reciprocating in a single plane, is affixed to a flange 100 of the trough 62 and to a threaded end portion 102 of the stem 82 by means of a bolt 104 and nuts 106, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the pneumatic air vibrator 98 is capable of reciprocating up to a maximum amplitude of approximately 1/16 of an inch at a frequency of approximately 3200 vibrations per minute. The frequency of vibration should be selected to avoid resonant frequencies of the structure of the feed bar. The vibratiσnal frequency should not be so high as to be absored by the feed bar structure but should be high enough to cause the feed bar 80 to move through the particulate batch material. The optimum vibratiσnal frequency for a particular application appears to be best determined through trial and error.

In use, the vibrator 98 moves one end of the feed bar 80 relative to another end, i.e., the end 102 relative to the lower edges of the plates 86. The vibrator 98 may be supplied with a motive fluid by means of a threaded fitting 108 which releasably attaches a reinforced flexible hose 110. The hose 110 is connected to a source of motive fluid (not shown), such as air by means of an elbow fitting 111 (see FIG. 1) fixed en the top flange 116 of the ring 40 and a hose payoff unit αr a reel 112 which is fixed relative to the ring 40. As the ring 40 is rotated by means of the rotation of the pnuematic tire 38, the hose 110 is paid off the reel 112 and guided by means of an air hose guide αr a channel 114 that is fixed atop the top flange 116.

The trough 62 is fed with a particulate batch material by means of a system (not shown herein but illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 4,142,880). Shown in FIG. 2 of that patent is a batch dispersion box held in posiciαn above the batch distributor of that patent by a support arm. The batch dispersion box has four sides and a top with an open bottom being disposed such that the batch distributor may be rotated into a loading position where the open top of the distribution trough of the batch distributor is directly below the dispersion box and aligned with an opening in the box. A mechanically activated limit switch shown in FIG. 3 of that catent is affixed to a portion of a support frame which is below and radially in alignment with the dispersion box. A limit switch actuator depends upwardly from a right angle drive so as to engage the limit switch when the trough has been revolved to a loading position. A non-contact level sensor is preferably located along the lengrt-h of the dispersion box and is responsive to the level of batch material within the trough. A hopper holding a reservoir of batch material, is located above a metering unit to which it delivers batch material by way of a valve. The valve will automatically deliver a quantity of batch material to the holding chamber of the metering unit equal to an amount sufficient for filling the distribution trough. On a predetermined signal, a high pressure air blast, periodically delivered to the air-tight chamber of the metering unit, will propel its charge of batch material through a conduit as a plug of material in the manner known as dense phase conveying. The conduit connects with the interior of the dispersion box through a discharge pipe which directs material downwardly towards the trough. Any excess dust is returned by another conduit through a dust collector, which in turn redelivers the collected material to the metering unit. After the trough 62 has been loaded with particulate material, as described above, and heat sensors (not shown) determine that batch material is required in order to maintain the prerequisite batch layer, the pnuematic tire 38 is rotated causing the main upper drive ring 40 to rotate in one direction. Simultaneously, the pnuanatic vibrator 98 is actuated and causes the upper portion of the stem 82 to reciprocate back and forth through a relatively small displacement (e.g., less than 1/16 inch). The frequency and amplitude of movement of the vibrator 98 as well as the perforation size, perforation distribution and depth (the depth of the perforations is governed by the thickness of the plates 86) are the variables controlling the mass flow rate of the batch material through the charber 94. Of course, the size of the particles of the batch material is an important factor used in determining the perforation parameters.

The batch material in the trough on the outside of the plates 86 tends to constrain the lateral movement of the lower edges of thes plates 86. After an initial start-up period of operation, some particulate material becomes lodged in the clearance defined between the pins 96 and the inner surface of each of the plates 36. The pins 96, in combination with this particulate material, function as a hinge which tends to restrict the lateral movement (left to right, right to left movement as viewed in FIG. 4) of the lower edges of the plates 86. Because the lower portion of the discharge chamber 94 is constrained, the vibrating feed bar or agitator 80 is caused to be moved back and forth through the particulate material disposed in the trough 62 by the reciprocating arm of the vibrator 98 (note double arrows in FIG.4). As the agitator 80 is forced to move back and forth through the material, the material is urged through the perforations 87 and directed into the material discharge chamber 94. The particulate material falls by means of gravity through the discharge opening 64 and onto the batch layer as a well-defined sheet of particulate batch material. Whan the distributor support 16 has moved through an angle which is slightly greater than 360°, a limit switch 122 (see FIG.l), fixed relative to the rotatable ring 40, stops the motion of the pnuematic tire causing the entire assembly to come to rest and deactivates the vibrator 98. Cnce put in motion, the batch feeder of the present invention will make cne revolution of the furnace after which the trough 62 will be delayed at its loading position at the limit switch 122 for a number of seconds which time period allows for any necessary recharging of the trough 62 and a sensing of the batch layer thickness. The depositing action will be automatically resumed and the upper ring rotated in a direction opposite to the original direction when the heat sensors indicate the need for a continued distribution of batch material.

Using the apparatus of the preferred embodiment, a controlled layer of batch may be uniformly and reliably deposited over the melt of an electric furnace.

Various modifications of the above described eπfccdiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the apparatus could be translated in a linear feshion over a rectangular shaped furnace. Also, two diametrically opposed troughs oould be provided with motion limited (in the case of a circular furnace) to 180° of rotation. In this last embodiment, the troughs could be filled from a single location allowing the system to rotate back and forth through the desired 180º. Alternatively, a single trough, extending diametrically across a circular furnace, could be utilized. It is understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention if they are within the spirit and tenor of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the united States is:

Claims (17)

Claims

1. Apparatus for depositing particulate material over a desired area, comprising: a carriage, means for supporting said carriage, means for moving said carriage above said area, a hopper supported on said carriage, said hopper having an elongated discharge opening; an agitator disposed within said hopper; means for αonstrainiπg the lateral movement of one end of said agitator over said discharge opening, said agitator having a plurality of perforations proximate said cne end and said discharge opening; and means connected to the other end of said agitator for moving said other end relative to said one end to cause particulate material to flow through said perforations and onto said area.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said agitator comprises a pair of perforated parallel plates and a pair of end caps, said plates and end caps defining an open-ended particulate discharge chamber, whereby when said moving means moves said agitator, particulate material is forced through the perforations in said plates and into said discharge chamber.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said perforations are formed as a plurality of spaced rows of orifices proximate said cne end.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising means for adjustably supporting said hopper on said carriage with respect to said area whereby the relative distance between said area and said hopper may be adjusted.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said one end of said agitator is constrained by means of pins, said pins being fixed on said hopper and ext.endi.ng within said discharge chamber.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said area is constructed as a circular furnace.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said discharge opening extends for a radial extent substantially equal to the radial extent of said furnace.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said moving means comprises a pnuematic vibrator, said agitator having a vertical stem attached to said plates, said vibrator being ααnnected to said stem.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein said vibrator is supplied with a motive fluid, said fluid being conducted to said vibrator by a flexible supply hose, said hose being supplied by a retractable reel, said reel being fixed relative to said carriage.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said carriage comprises an rotatable circular member, a pair of parallel support members fixed to said circular member, said hopper being fixed upon said support members.

11. apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said carriage support means comprises a plurality of support pedestals, a plurality of rollers being rotatably affixed en each of said support pedestals, said circular marker having an undersurface, said undersurface being supported by each of said rollers.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, ccπtprising a frame adjustably mounted en each of said pedestals, said moving means being mounted an said frame and being capable of rotating said carriage.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said moving means comprises a motor mounted en said frame, a gear box connected to the output shaft of said motor, a pneumatic tire mounted on the output shaft of said gear box, said tire being mounted in abutting contact with said circular member.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the axis of rotation of said tire is parallel to the axis of rotation of said circular met-ber.

15. Apparatus according to CLaim 13, further including means for adjustably positioning said tire relative to said circular mamber.

16. A method for depositing particulate material over desired area, comprising supporting a carriage above said area, supporting a hopper having a discharge opening en said carriage, filling said hopper with particulate material, moving said carriage ever said area, moving a perforated chamber over said discharge opening and through the particulate material in said hopper thereby forcing said particulate material into said diamber, and allowing said particulte material to fall through said discharge opening and onto said area.

17. Method according to Claim 16, oαπprising moving said carriage in a first direction over said area and then moving said carriage in a direction opposite to said first direction.