EA045777B1 - SEALING SYSTEM FOR MACHINE FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF BULK MATERIAL - Google Patents

Description

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a machine for heat treatment of bulk material. More specifically, the invention further relates to a sealing system for a machine for heat treating bulk material.

Description of the prior art

Machines for thermal treatment of bulk material, such as sintering or granulation systems, are known in the prior art. These machines are capable of converting bulk material or granular concentrate into calcined granules, which, for example, can be used as raw material for a blast furnace or direct reduction furnace. The machines contain a furnace and a plurality of sintering carts, which are configured to transport bulk material into the furnace. The machines contain various heating and cooling zones, and the sintering carts are configured to transport bulk material through the various zones of the machine so that calcined granules are obtained.

These known machines may have a problem that when the sintering carts pass through the furnace, there is a gap between the sintering carts and the furnace. The disadvantage of this gap is that dust and other particulates, as well as hazardous gases, can escape from the oven, and foreign air can enter the hot gases inside the oven.

In an attempt to solve this problem, US Patent Application No. 2,293,904 A proposed the use of a sealing system with a seal with a support bar located between the movable grille and the gas collection dome. The support bar seal has continuous grooves on the sides of the moving grille to remove dust from the dome. US Patent Application No. 20150233641 A1 proposed the use of a sealing system with a spring-loaded sealing strip in contact with a flat sealing surface located along the furnace. However, using the solutions disclosed in US Patent No. 1183394 A in US Patent Application No. 20150233641 A1, there is a need in the art for improvements both in terms of improving sealing efficiency and increasing service life.

The essence of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate, reduce or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages in the prior art and individual disadvantages or in any combination, and to solve at least the above-mentioned problem.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a machine for heat treating bulk material, comprising a stationary furnace that includes a support structure, and a plurality of sintering carts moving through the furnace in a moving direction, said plurality of sintering carts together forming on their side a common contact surface, which passes through the furnace in the direction of movement, wherein a gap is formed between the furnace support structure and a common contact surface of the plurality of sintering carts, which has a length along the direction of movement, wherein the machine further comprises a sealing system comprising:

one or more support bars located one behind the other in the direction of movement;

wherein each support bar of said one or more support bars comprises a brush disposed on the support bar such that the brush is configured to interact with a common contact surface such that said one or more support bars close the gap over at least a portion of the length of the gap.

The term bulk material here means any metal ore. By way of non-limiting example, the bulk material may be iron ore, copper ore, zinc ore, phosphate ore, or any other metallic or non-metallic mineral ore commonly processed in the mining industry.

The phrase heat treatment machine here means any machine that performs any type of treatment involving raising the temperature of a bulk material. Such heat treatment may be, but is not limited to, granulation or sintering. For example, bulk material can be loaded into sintering carts, which are then moved along a guide through the kiln. The oven may contain one or more processing zones. Each processing zone is adapted to a specific thermal treatment process of bulk material. By way of non-limiting examples, heat treatment in various zones may include heating, calcining, drying or cooling the bulk material. The machine may contain one or more vacuum chambers located in areas of the furnace below the sintering cart guides and, through suction, create a flow of hot air or gas over the sintering carts through the bulk material. The machine may be a straight grate oven.

The term support structure here refers to a fixed and stationary part of the furnace that can support the installation or attachment of other parts to it. Listed only in

- 1 045777 As an example, the supporting structure can be part of the furnace wall or a metal frame. Here, the support structure serves to support one or more parts of the sealing system.

The term support bar here refers to the stationary, rigid part of the sealing system. The support bar can be rectangular in shape, with the length of the support bar being significantly greater than its width and height. Herein, the length of the support bar is the size of the support bar in the moving direction of the sintering carts. By way of example only, the support bar may be a metal frame of the sealing system. Said one or more support bars can be distributed one behind the other along the direction of movement to form a sealing surface. Each of the one or more support bars may have a longitudinal dimension. Each of the one or more support bars may be directed such that the longitudinal dimension is parallel to the direction of movement. Each of the one or more support bars may be slidably coupled to the oven support structure. Preferably, each support bar is slidably coupled to the support structure such that the support bar can be moved in a vertical or substantially vertical direction. This means that each support bar can move in a direction transverse to the common contact surface. In some embodiments, the support strips may be gravity driven into engagement with a common contact surface.

The term brush here refers to a portion of the support bar containing a plurality of bristles. The bristles are arranged to form a brush seal. The length of the bristles can be significantly greater than their thickness. Herein, the bristle length is a dimension perpendicular to the moving direction of the sintering carts.

The advantage of the sealing system is that it seals the gap between the kiln support structure and the common contact surface of the sintering carts, the gap being created as the sintering carts move in the direction of travel through the kiln. The sealing system may close the gap for at least a portion of its length so that it prevents dust from escaping and foreign air from entering the hot gases. The sealing system of the present invention is particularly advantageous in that it combines any traditional backing bar design with a brush to provide a more effective and durable seal than traditional designs.

Another advantage of the sealing system made in accordance with the present invention is that a more efficient and flexible sealing system is achieved compared to traditional designs. With this design, the sealing system effectively adapts to uneven surfaces thanks to the sliding joint and the flexibility of the brush. For example, uneven surfaces may be the result of uneven height alignment of the sintering carts or their common contact surfaces, or may be the result of material becoming trapped between the common contact surface and the brush. In case of an uneven surface, due to which an individual part of the brush loses contact with the common contact surface of the sintering car, this does not affect the adjacent parts of the brush. Consequently, adjacent brush parts can continue to contact the common contact surface, maintaining the seal to a higher degree than is the case with traditional sealing systems based on support bars or long flexible seals, which can create large seal leaks in such situations because Such traditional sealing systems cannot adapt the seal to uneven surfaces effectively.

Since the sealing system is exposed to high temperatures in some areas of the oven, another benefit may be that cooling air can pass through the brush and thus cool it easily. In addition, the inclusion of a brush in the sealing system provides a sealing system that withstands heat well and therefore produces a more wear-resistant seal.

Using the method described above, the fuel and energy efficiency of the machine is increased. Thanks to the present device, energy savings of up to 10% can be achieved compared to a bulk material heat treatment machine without such a brush compaction system.

Another advantage of the proposed sealing system is that it is possible to replace one brush in the sealing system without having to replace the entire sealing system. With this design, maintenance operations on the sealing system and in particular on the brush can be easily carried out.

Another advantage of the proposed design is that the brush is equally capable of moving along the common contact surface, regardless of the direction of movement of the sintering carts. In this way, even if one particular direction of travel is normally used during operation of the machine, it will be equally possible to operate the machine in reverse, for example during maintenance.

- 2 045777

The brush may include a plurality of bristles, each of which is attached to a brush element. The brush element may have an elongated structure having a substantially rectangular cross-section, but may alternatively have a round cross-section.

In some embodiments, the bristles of the brush are made of stainless steel. In alternative embodiments, the bristles of the brush are made from conventional steel or synthetic polymers such as nylon.

Preferably the bristles are made of stainless steel. This material is durable and can withstand high temperatures well. In addition, the material is flexible enough that the sealing system can effectively adapt to uneven surfaces.

In some embodiments, the bristles of the brush have a length of at least 20 mm, preferably from 20 to 100 mm, and more preferably 50 mm.

According to some embodiments, each support bar further comprises a structure slidably coupled to a furnace support structure, wherein the brush is supported by said support bar structure. This implies that the design of the support bar can correspond to a traditional support bar. However, the design of the support bar may be structurally different from the traditional support bar. This is discussed in more detail later in this document.

The term slidable connection as used herein means a connection in which the support bar structure is coupled to the support structure such that the support bar structure can move smoothly along a surface relative to the support structure. Here, the design of the support bar allows movement in a vertical direction, with the vertical direction being perpendicular to the common contact surface. The connection determines how much the support bar structure can move in the vertical direction relative to the support bar structure. This sliding connection allows the brush to be moved in a vertical direction as well.

The term supported by a support bar structure herein means that the brush is attached to or clamped by a support bar structure, the support bar structure being arranged to hold the brush in place.

In some embodiments, the brush protrudes from the support bar structure such that a gap is formed between the support bar structure and the common contact surface.

In some embodiments, the gap between the support bar structure and the common contact surface is at least 1 mm, preferably 5 to 20 mm, and more preferably 10 mm.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that the sealing system is more efficient. With this design, the overall contact surface may be uneven without the support bar structure being in interaction with the overall contact surface. This design ensures less wear on wear parts and thus increases the service life of the sealing system.

In some embodiments, each of the one or more support bars has a recess configured to receive a brush.

In accordance with some embodiments, each of the one or more support bars further comprises a mounting plate configured to connect the brush to the support bar structure. The brush can be connected to the support bar structure using a clamp. The brush can be clamped directly between the mounting plate and the support bar structure. Alternatively, the brush may be supported by an additional member, which in turn is sandwiched between the mounting plate and the support bar structure, as detailed below.

The term clamped here means that the brush is attached or secured between the support bar structure and the mounting plate to remain in place. The brush can be attached to the support bar structure using bolts or screws.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that the brush can be attached to or detached from the support bar structure in a simple and user-friendly manner.

In accordance with some embodiments, each of the one or more support bars further comprises a brush holder configured to hold a brush, and wherein the mounting plate is configured to press the brush holder against the support bar structure.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that the brush is easier to attach or detach from the support bar structure than if the brush were mounted directly on the support bar without the use of a brush holder. The brush holder can be adapted like this

- 3 045777 in a way that fits perfectly with a certain type of brush. This allows different types of brushes to be installed on the same support bar design without the need for modification.

Instead, you can choose a different type of brush holder that is capable of holding a specific brush. The brush holders can then be attached to the support bar structure in exactly the same way, regardless of the type of brush installed in them.

In some embodiments, the brush is positioned on a support bar such that the bristles of the brush are directed substantially perpendicular to the common contact surface.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that the brush can be easily inserted and/or removed from the support bar structure. With this arrangement, the brush can effectively seal the gap and, in particular, the lumen.

In some embodiments, the brush is positioned on a support bar such that the bristles of the brush form an oblique angle with the common contact surface.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that they provide an even more effective sealing system than when the bristles are directed perpendicular to the common contact surface. This arrangement can provide a more flexible brush seal because the brush bristles more easily adapt to the shape of the overall contact surface.

In accordance with some embodiments, the machine further comprises an additional sealing system coupled to the furnace support structure and located along the direction of movement, said additional sealing system being arranged to engage a common contact surface to close the gap over at least a portion of its length, and wherein said additional sealing system is located at such a distance from the sealing system that an elongated cavity is formed between them.

This additional sealing system may be advantageous in that it improves the overall sealing efficiency. Additionally, it creates a high pressure zone between the seal systems to further prevent gas from entering the seal systems. This can be important, especially in situations where it is unavoidable that a process or part of a machine process will be run at a pressure higher than the ambient pressure outside the machine. By purging air or other suitable purge gas into the double seal device at a higher pressure than the process pressure and external ambient pressure, the purge gas will leak into the process and escape into the environment, effectively preventing the process gas from leaking into the environment.

According to some embodiments, said additional sealing system comprises a series of plate elements that partially overlap each other to form a sealing surface, each plate element of the series of plate elements being coupled to the support structure at a first end thereof and in engagement with a common contact surface at the second, opposite end.

The term plate element here means a single element from a series of plate elements which together form a flexible seal. The plate element is a substantially flat element, the thickness of which is significantly less than the length and width of the plate element. The width of the plate element represents the size of the plate element in the direction of movement of the sintering carts, while the length of the plate element represents the size of the plate element in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. The plate element may have a substantially rectangular or square shape, but is not limited to these shapes, but may also have an oval, round, triangular or any other flat shape. The plate element may be made of flexible material, for example, to provide a spring-loaded or automatic pre-tensioning function.

According to some embodiments, said additional sealing system comprises another one or more support bars located one behind the other in the direction of movement.

According to some embodiments, each of the additional one or more support bars comprises a brush disposed on the support bar structure such that the brush is configured to engage a common contact surface such that said additional one or more support bars closing the gap along at least part of its length.

In some embodiments, the sealing system and the additional sealing system are arranged parallel to each other to span a gap along the overall width of the gap that extends across at least the firing zone and the cooling zone of the furnace.

- 4 045777

At the transition from the firing zone to the cooling zone, an afterburning zone can be located. Leakage from this area can be dangerous because flammable gases from the furnace may mix with oxidizing agents from the surrounding air, creating the risk of unwanted combustion.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that leakage in these areas can be minimized or eliminated, thereby minimizing the risk of unwanted ignition or explosion. Thus, with this design, the seal can be further improved.

A further advantage of these embodiments may be that the same sealing device extends from the firing zone to the cooling zone, so that no gaps are formed in the transition between the firing zone and the cooling zone. The present design can incorporate a sealing system that can minimize leakage either into or out of the oven.

A further advantage of these embodiments may be that the thermal load on the outermost of the two sealing systems may be reduced.

An additional advantage of these embodiments may be that the sealing system can be located along the entire length of the kiln, and that the additional sealing system can optionally be located only in areas where a double sealing system may be required, such as the firing zone and cooling zone.

In accordance with some embodiments, gas flow may be further provided in the elongated cavity between the sealing system and the additional sealing system. The gas in the gas stream may be, but is not limited to, air or inert gases such as nitrogen or any other suitable gas. By way of non-limiting examples, gas may be supplied to the elongated cavity from a compressed air source, or air may be supplied from a cooling zone.

An advantage of these embodiments may be that the gas flow can cool the seal system and the additional seal system, allowing the furnace to operate at even higher temperatures than would otherwise be possible to avoid thermal damage to the seal system or the additional seal system.

An additional advantage of these embodiments may be that by allowing air to flow through the cavity formed between the sealing system and the additional sealing system, it is easier to maintain high pressure in the cavity at a desired level.

In accordance with a second aspect, there is provided a method for attaching a brush to a support bar in a sealing system for a machine for heat treating bulk material, the sealing system comprising one or more support bars configured to be positioned one behind the other in a direction of movement, and wherein the machine comprises a stationary furnace which constitutes a fastening structure, and a plurality of sintering carts moving through the furnace in a moving direction, wherein said plurality of sintering carts together form on their side a common contact surface which extends through the furnace in a moving direction, wherein between the fastening structure a gap is formed between the furnace and a common contact surface of the plurality of sintering carts, the method comprising removing at least one support bar of the one or more support bars from the machine, attaching a brush or a brush holder that holds the brush to the at least one support bar, and installing said at least one support bar back onto the machine, wherein when used on the machine, the brush or brush holder is attached to the support bar such that the brush is mounted to interact with a common contact surface.

In some embodiments, the method further includes milling a recess in each of the one or more support bars and inserting a brush or brush holder into the recess.

In accordance with some embodiments, attaching the brush or brush holder to the at least one support bar includes attaching the brush or brush holder to the at least one support bar using a mounting plate.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a sealing system for a machine for heat treating bulk material, the machine comprising a stationary furnace that has a mounting structure, and a plurality of sintering carts moving through the furnace in a moving direction, wherein said plurality of sintering carts together form on its on the side, a common contact surface that extends through the furnace in the moving direction, wherein a gap is formed between the furnace mounting structure and the common contact surface of the plurality of sintering carts,

- 5 045777 wherein the sealing system contains one or more support bars configured to be positioned one behind the other in the direction of movement;

wherein each support bar of said one or more support bars comprises a brush disposed on the support bar such that the brush is mounted to interact with a common contact surface such that said one or more support bars closes the gap along at least portions of its length .

The advantages and features of the second and third aspects are substantially the same as those described above in connection with the first aspect. The embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect are largely compatible with the second and third aspects. It is further noted that the teachings of the invention apply to all possible combinations of features unless expressly stated otherwise. Additional scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only as various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific components of the described device or steps of the described methods, since such device and method may vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that when used in the specification and the accompanying claims, references to singular, plural and specified are intended to denote the presence of one or more elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to a device or devices may include multiple devices and the like. In addition, the words containing, including, containing, and similar formulations do not exclude other elements or steps.

Brief description of drawings

The above and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals may be used for like elements, and wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a bulk material heat treatment machine;

fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a bulk material heat treatment machine;

fig. 2A-2B depict a sealing system comprising a number of plate elements positioned in connection with a machine support structure;

fig. 3 depicts a sealing system, providing some additional detail about the sealing functions of the plate seal concept;

fig. 4 illustrates the disadvantage that would arise if a more conventional long flexible sealing element were to be used;

fig. 5A shows parts of a sealing system comprising a number of plate elements;

fig. 5B illustrates three overlapping plate elements;

fig. 6A shows parts of a sealing system comprising two rows of plate elements and a row of flexible cover elements;

fig. 6B shows three overlapping plate elements and a flexible cover element;

fig. 7 shows a part of a machine containing a sealing system;

fig. 8A is a perspective view of a sealing system that includes a support bar including a support bar structure and a brush;

fig. 8B is a front view of the sealing system shown in FIG. 8A;

fig. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the sealing system shown in FIG. 8A and 8B, in which the brush forms an oblique angle with the common contact surface;

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing system in which the brush is positioned perpendicular to the common contact surface;

fig. 10A-10B show an embodiment of a sealing assembly comprising a sealing system with a number of plate elements and an additional sealing system comprising a support bar;

fig. 11A-11B show an embodiment of a sealing assembly comprising a sealing system with a number of plate elements and an additional sealing system containing a support bar with a brush;

fig. 12 depicts an embodiment of a sealing assembly comprising a sealing system including a support bar including a support bar structure and a brush, and an additional sealing system including a support bar;

- 6 045777 fig. 13 depicts an embodiment of a sealing assembly comprising a sealing system and an additional sealing system, each of which includes a support bar including a support bar structure and a brush;

fig. 14 shows an embodiment of a sealing assembly comprising a sealing system and an additional sealing system, each of which contains a corresponding row of plate elements, together with another additional sealing system comprising a support bar.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show presently preferred embodiments of the invention. However, this invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for care and completeness and will convey the entire scope of the invention to one skilled in the art.

The present invention relates to a machine for heat treating bulk material and to a sealing system for this machine. With reference to FIG. 1 of the present invention, a machine for heat treatment of bulk material is discussed below. For the sake of clarity, the following sections discuss a number of different seal designs that can be used in conjunction with the machine. With reference to FIG. 2-6 of the present invention, a sealing system comprising a plate seal structure will be discussed. With reference to FIG. 7-9 of the present invention, a sealing system comprising a brush seal structure will be discussed. With reference to FIG. 10-14 of the present invention, a sealing system comprising various combinations of seal designs will be discussed.

In particular, the present invention relates to a single sealing system, in accordance with the sealing system discussed in connection with FIGS. 7-9. In addition, the present invention also relates to dual sealing systems or sealing assemblies, which are any combination of the sealing systems discussed herein in connection with FIGS. 2-9.

In fig. 1A-1B show a portion of a machine 100 for heat treating bulk material such as metal ore. However, it should be understood that the drawings show only a portion of the machine 100 and, therefore, the machine 100 may have more functions than those described herein. Machine 100 may be any bulk material heat treatment machine known in the art.

The machine 100 includes a stationary furnace 10 configured to process bulk material. By material processing herein is meant the drying, heating or cooling of bulk material using a stationary oven 10.

The machine 100 further includes a plurality of sintering carts 12. The sintering carts 12 are configured to transport bulk material through a stationary furnace 10. The carts 12 are moved through the stationary furnace 10 on a set of rails (not shown). The carriages 12 pass through the stationary oven 10 in the moving direction TD. The direction of movement TD is essentially horizontal.

The carriages 12 have holes in the bottom plate to receive gas flow through the bottom plate. Although not shown in FIG. 1A-1B, the machine 100 includes a device located below the guide of the carts 12, which by suction creates a flow of hot air or gas over the carts 12 through the bulk material and carts 12. Such a design can be a vacuum chamber, but is not limited to it. Additionally, generating a flow of gas or air may alternatively be used to cool the bulk material in other parts of the machine 100.

The stationary furnace 10 forms a support structure 16. The support structure 16 is a fixed and stationary part of the furnace 10 located on either side of it. The support structure 16 is configured such that when a plurality of carriages 12 pass through the oven 10, the sides of the carriages 12 pass adjacent to the support structure 16. The support structure 16, together with the carriages 12, defines a portion of the boundary between the interior of the oven 10 and the surrounding air.

The plurality of carriages 12 together form a common contact surface 14 which extends through the stationary oven 10 along the moving direction TD. The common contact surface 14 and the support structure 16 of the oven 10 together define a gap 18 between them. The gap 18 has a length L along the direction of movement through the stationary oven 10 along the movement direction TD.

The machine 100 further includes a sealing system (not shown in FIG. 1). The sealing system is configured to seal the gap between the common contact surface 14 and the support structure 16 to prevent gas, droplets and/or solids from passing through the gap 18. The sealing system is discussed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2-11.

In fig. 2A shows the sealing system 200 as it is installed in connection with the support structure 16 of the machine 100. As discussed in connection with FIG. 1A-1B, gap 18 is limited

- 7 045777 between the support structure 16 of the oven 10 and the common contact surface 14 of the plurality of carts 12. The purpose of the sealing system 200 is to seal the gap 18 between the support structure 16 and the common contact surface 14 to prevent the passage of gas, droplets and/or solids through the gap 18. In this illustrative embodiment, the sealing system 200 includes a series 210 of plate elements 212 that partially overlap each other to form a sealing surface. The plate elements 212 in the present embodiment are rectangular in shape, but it is possible that the plate elements in other embodiments may have other shapes. The sealing system 200 of the present embodiment further includes a plurality of brackets 220. FIG. 2A shows two brackets 220, although it should be understood that only a portion of the machine 100 is shown and therefore the number of brackets 220 in the entire machine 100 may vary. Each of the brackets 220 includes a mounting surface 222 at which the first end 214 of each plate member 212 is coupled to the bracket 220. In addition, the brackets 220 are attached to the support structure 16. In this illustrative embodiment, the mounting surface 222 of each of the brackets 220 is located at an angle to contact surface 14. The angled fastening surface 222 automatically forces the plate elements 212 attached thereto toward the common contact surface 14. The angled fastening surface 222 can form an angle with respect to the common contact surface ranging from 10 to 50 °. However, larger or smaller angles are also possible.

The plate elements made in accordance with the present invention, such as elements 212, can be made of thin spring steel. The property of such spring steel is that it is elastic and thus can return to its original shape despite deflection and twisting. However, as an alternative, plate elements made in accordance with the present invention can be made from other types of materials. For example, plate elements can be made from, but are not limited to, stainless steel, iron, copper, polytetrafluoroethylene, or fluoropolymers such as Teflon, plastics, and composites such as rubber-tipped steel.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in other cases, the flat plate elements 212 take a curved shape as a result of the inclined mounting surface 222, so that the second end 216 of each of the plate elements 212, interacting with the contact surface 14, is pressed against the surface 14 under the action of the elastic force of the plate elements 212. In the present design, the gap 18 between the support structure 16 and the common contact surface 14 is closed and thus sealed to prevent the passage of gas, droplets and/or solids from the interior of the oven into the surrounding air, or vice versa.

In fig. 2B shows the same sealing system 200 as in FIG. 2A, from a different angle. In addition to what was discussed above, FIG. 2B shows that a significant portion of the length of each of the plate elements 212 overlaps with the common contact surface 14. As the plurality of carriages 12 moves through the oven, the edge 218 of the second end 216 of each plate element 212 may wear away. If the plate elements 212 were arranged in a planar manner, wear of the edge 218 would eventually result in a loss of contact between the plate elements 212 and the overall contact surface 14, causing the seal across the gap 18 to fail. However, since the elements 212 are configured to automatically press against the common contact surface 14, the elasticity of each element 212 will push the second end 216 of the element 212 towards the common contact surface 14 even if the edge 218 is worn away. The present design maintains contact between the elements 212 and the common surface 14, providing a continuous seal.

In fig. 3 shows the sealing system 200 with some additional details about the sealing functions of the plate seal concept. A problem with sealing the gap 18 between the common contact surface 14 and the support structure 16 may be that the contact surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c of the individual carts 12 (sintering carts not shown) may move vertically with respect to each other. Such movement may be due to minor changes in the fabrication of the carriages 12 or, more likely, due to the fact that the carriages 12 sag over time due in part to a combination of the heavy load being carried and the harsh environmental conditions of the extreme temperatures in the furnace 10. the vertical displacement is shown in Fig. 3, where the individual contact surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c have different vertical positions. The plate elements 212 are positioned to have good physical contact with the planar contact surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c. However, when moving from one contact surface 14a to another contact surface 14b, the overall surface is no longer flat due to the difference in vertical position, and thus the plate elements 212 are deformed to adapt to the displaced surface structure due to the elasticity of the material from which plate elements 212 are manufactured. In FIG. 3 shows that this deformation essentially occurs for individual plate elements 212 during such transitions, while adjacent

- 8 045777 plate elements 212 are largely unaffected by the transition and therefore remain in contact with the contact surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c. The present design results in only a small gap 30 at the transition as a result of deformation of the individual plate element 212. Therefore, only a small amount of leakage can occur due to differences in the vertical position of the sintering cars 12, which ensures high sealing efficiency.

In fig. 4 illustrates the disadvantage that would arise if a more conventional long flexible sealing member 210' was used. The situation is similar to that just described in connection with FIG. 3, where the contact surfaces 14 of the individual sintering carts 12 are offset in the vertical direction relative to each other. Since the long flexible seal 210' is continuous, it will be subject to displacement not only near the transition between the individual sinter cars 12, but also along most of the overall contact surface 14. This can result in a significantly larger gap 30' between the long flexible seal element 210' and a common contact surface 14, resulting in significantly greater seal leakage compared to a sealing system 200 based on a series of 210 plate elements 212.

Let us return again to FIG. 3, which illustrates another situation that may arise in the sealing systems of the bulk material heat treatment machine 100, namely, granules may occasionally become stuck under the seal. In fig. 3 shows a granule 20 lodged between a row 210 of elements 212 and a separate contact surface 14b. The stuck granule 20 may lift up some of the elements 212, which are thus deformed and bent upward. This deformation essentially occurs for individual elements 212 in contact with the granule 20, while adjacent elements 212 are largely unaffected by the stuck granule 20 and therefore remain in contact with the contact surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c. Similar to the situation at the transition between individual carriages 12, the present design results in only a small gap 40 in the vicinity of the granule 20 as a result of deformation of one or more individual plate elements 212. Consequently, only a small leakage can occur due to the stuck granule 20, thus maintaining high efficiency sealing.

In fig. 5A shows a view of the sealing system 200 in the movement direction TD. The plate element 212 is shown connected to the bracket 220 by a bolt 224 and a nut 226. Bolts 224 are inserted into the through holes of the bracket 220 and through holes 217 of the plate element 212. Nuts 226 are tightened onto the other end of the bolts 224, securing the plate element 212 to the bracket 220. To facilitate replacement of individual plate elements, bolts 224 may be pre-welded to bracket 220. It should be understood that other means of connecting plate elements 212 to bracket 220 are possible.

In fig. 5A further shows that the bracket 220 has a mounting surface 222 along which the plate element 212 is connected to the bracket 220. The mounting surface 222 is inclined with respect to the contact surface 14. The present design imparts a curvature to the plate element 212, which, due to the elasticity of the material from which it is made, plate element 212 results in an automatic pressing state, thereby pushing the second end 216 of plate element 212 towards the contact surface 14.

In fig. 5B shows three plate elements 212a, 212b, 212c when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction TD. The three plate elements 212a, 212b, 212c partially overlap so that the through hole 217 of the plate element 212a matches the through hole 217 of the adjacent plate element 212b, etc. The overlap ratio may vary between different embodiments. In fig. 5B shows that in the present embodiment, plate element 212a overlaps with subsequent plate element 212b typically less than 50%.

In fig. 6A shows the sealing system 300 as viewed in the travel direction TD. The sealing system includes brackets 220, each of which has a mounting surface 222. Attached to the mounting surface 222 is a first row 310 of plate elements 312. The plate elements 312 in the first row 310 of plate elements 312 partially overlap each other to form a sealing surface. It should be understood that the first row 310 of plate elements 312 may be the same type as the row 210 of plate elements 212 in the sealing system 200, or they may be of a different type.

In addition, the sealing system 300 includes a row 330 of flexible cover elements 332. Each flexible cover element 332 of the row 330 of elements 332 is connected to a bracket at the first end 334 of the flexible cover element 332. The row 330 of elements 332 is located adjacent the first row 310 of plate elements 312 such in a manner to cover the overlapping edges of adjacent plate elements 312. Flexible cover elements made in accordance with the present invention can be made from, but are not limited to, neoprene (e.g., polychloroprene, welded biomass cover fabric, synthetic polymers such as nylon, woven or non-woven fibrous covering material, polytetrafluoroethylene liner material or fluoropolymers such as those used in Teflon™.

- 9 045777

In addition, the sealing system 300 includes a second row 340 of plate elements 342. Each element 342 of the row 340 of elements 342 is connected to a bracket at the first end 344 of the element 342. It should be understood that the second row 340 of elements 342 may be of the same type as the first row 310 of elements 312, or they may be of a different type. The second row 340 of elements 342 is located adjacent to the row 330 of flexible covering elements 332 on the opposite side to the first row 310 of elements 312 so as to sandwich the row 330 of flexible covering elements 332 between the first row 310 and the second row 340.

The plate elements 312, 342 and flexible cover elements 332 are shown connected to the bracket 220 by a bolt 224 and nut 226. The bolts 224 are inserted into the through holes of the bracket 220 and into the through holes 317 of the plate element 312, 342 and flexible cover elements 332. At the other end bolts 224 tighten nuts 226 securing plate elements 312, 342 and flexible flat elements 332 to bracket 220. To facilitate replacement of individual plate elements, bolts 224 may be pre-welded to bracket 220. It should be understood that other means for connecting plate elements may also be provided 312, 342 and flexible covering elements 332 with bracket 220.

In fig. 6A further shows that the bracket 220 has an attachment surface 222 along which the plate elements 312, 342 and flexible cover elements 332 are attached to the bracket 220. The attachment surface 222 is located at an angle to the contact surface 14. The present design provides the plate elements 312, 342 and the flexible cover element 332 has a curvature which, due to the elasticity of the material from which they are made, results in a state of automatic compression, thereby pushing the second ends 316, 336, 346 in the direction of the contact surface 14. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the flexible cover element 332 has more short in length compared to the plate elements 312, 342, such that the flexible cover element 332 does not extend to the edge 318 of the second end 316 of the plate element 312. The present design allows the second end 316 of the plate element 312 to be in direct contact with the common contact surface 14. An advantage of this The design is that a good sealing effect is achieved because the plate elements 312 interact with the common contact surface 14, which constitute the primary seal.

In fig. 6B shows three plate members 312a, 312b, 312c as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction TD. The three plate elements 312a, 312b, 312c partially overlap so that the through hole 317 of the plate element 312a matches the through hole 317 of the adjacent plate element 312b, etc. The overlap ratio may vary in different embodiments. In fig. 6B shows that in the present embodiment, plate element 312a overlaps with subsequent plate element 312b typically less than 50%. Compared to the three plate elements 312a, 312b, 312c in FIG. 6B also shows flexible cover 332. As explained with reference to FIG. 6A, flexible cover members 332 are also connected by bolt 224 and nut 226 using through holes 317 in the flexible cover members. The flexible cover element 332 is wider than the plate elements 312, so that the flexible cover element 332 in the present embodiment covers three plate elements 312a, 312b, 312c.

In fig. 7 shows the sealing system 400 as it is installed in connection with the support structure 16 of the machine 100. The sealing system 400 is also shown separately in FIG. 8A-C. In an illustrative embodiment, the sealing system 400 includes a support bar 402 having a longitudinal dimension 401 (shown in FIG. 8A). The support bar 402 is located along the moving direction TD to form a sealing surface S (shown in FIG. 8A). However, it should be understood that since FIG. 7 shows only a portion of the sealing system 400, the system 400 may include more than one support bar 402. If the sealing system 400 includes more than one support bar 402, the multiple support bars 402 are arranged one behind the other along the movement direction TD to form a sealing surface S.

The support bar 402 includes a structure 404 and a brush 406, the brush including a plurality of bristles 407 (shown in FIG. 8A). The brush 406 is supported by a support bar structure 404 such that the brush 406 is configured to engage the common contact surface 14 of the sintering carts 12. In an illustrative embodiment, the brush 406 is gravity driven into engagement with the common contact surface 14. However, others are possible. means of interaction, such as compression, for example by means of a spring. Attachment of the brush to the support bar structure will be further discussed with reference to FIG. 8C and 9.

The support bar structure 404 includes connecting means 410 for connecting the sealing system 400 to the machine 100. As best illustrated in FIG. 8A and 8B, in the illustrative embodiment, the support bar structure 404 includes four connection means 410, but it should be understood that since only a portion of the machine 100 and sealing system 400 is shown in the drawing, the support bar structure 404 may include any number of connections. 045777 means 410. Connecting means for support bars are well known in the art and can, for example, be provided by interaction between a pin 411 and an elongated hole 413, as shown in FIG. 8A.

Structure 404 and brush 406 together form a sealing surface S that closes gap 18 for at least a portion of its length L.

In fig. 8A, the sealing system 400 is shown separately and provides more detailed information about it. The sealing system 400 includes a support bar 402, which includes a structure 404 and a brush 406. In this illustrative embodiment, the support bar 402 further includes a brush holder 416 that is configured to retain the brush 406. The mounting plate 420 is configured to press the brush holder 416 to the support bar structure 404 . The mounting plate 420 is clamped to the structure 404 by screws or bolts 422. In FIG. 8A further illustrates how the brush 406 is configured to engage a common contact surface 14 (illustrated herein by the surfaces 14a and 14b of two adjacent sintering carts) of the sintering carts 12 to form a sealing surface S.

A problem with sealing the gap 18 between the common contact surface 14 and the support structure 16 may be that the contact surfaces 14a, 14b of the individual carts 12 (sintering carts not shown in this drawing) may move vertically with respect to each other. Such movement may be due to minor changes in the fabrication of the carriages 12 or, more likely, due to the fact that the carriages 12 sag over time due in part to a combination of the heavy load being carried and the harsh environmental conditions of extreme oven temperatures. Such a vertical shift is shown in FIG. 8A, where the individual sintering cars 14a, 14b have different vertical positions. The bristles 407 of the brush 406 are arranged to make good physical contact with the planar contact surfaces 14a, 14b. However, when moving from one contact surface 14a to another contact surface 14b, the surface is no longer flat due to the difference in vertical position, and thus the bristles 407 of the brush 406 are deformed to adapt to the filter structure of the surface due to the elasticity of the material bristles 407 of brush 406 are fabricated. In FIG. 8A shows that in such transitions, said deformation essentially occurs for one or more bristles, independent of adjacent bristles, while adjacent bristles are largely unaffected by the transition and therefore remain in contact with the contact surface 14a, 14b. The present design results in only a small gap 412 at the transition as a result of deformation of one or more bristles of the brush 406. Therefore, only a small amount of leakage can occur due to differences in the vertical position of the sintering carts, thus maintaining high sealing efficiency.

In fig. 8B is a front view of the sealing system 400 shown in FIG. 8A. In addition to what was discussed above, FIG. 8B shows that each of the connecting means 410 is spaced apart from each other. In the illustrative embodiment, all coupling means 410 are spaced equally apart, although it should be understood that coupling means 410 may also be spaced at different distances from each other.

Fig. 8C illustrates the sealing system 400 as viewed in the travel direction TD. In addition to what was discussed above, FIG. 8C shows in more detail how the brush 406 is supported on the support bar 404 by a special brush holder 416. The brush holder 416 has an upper projection configured to be clamped between the support bar structure 404 and the mounting plate 420. The lower end of the brush holder 416 is shaped to partially enclose brush 406 to hold brush 406 in a secure grip. In an illustrative embodiment, the brush element 409 is shaped to be held in a secure position by the brush holder 416. The brush holder 416 is secured relative to the support bar structure 404 such that the brush 406 projects from the lower end of the structure 404 towards the common contact surface 14, such that that the brush 406 is in engagement with the common contact surface 14. This defines a gap 418 between the support bar structure 404 and the common contact surface 14. As can be seen in the drawings, the gap 418 is covered by the brush 406, and the elastic nature of the brush 406 allows the support bar 402 to provide more Effective sealing than support bar without brush.

The brush holder 416 is configured such that the brush 406 forms an oblique angle α with the overall contact surface 14. The angle may preferably be in the range of 20-40°, but alternatively may be less or greater.

In fig. 9 shows a sealing system 500 configured in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The sealing system 500 shares many features with the sealing system 400 shown in FIG. 8A-8B, namely a support bar 502 that includes a structure 504 and a brush 506. However, in this illustrative embodiment, the support bar structure 504 additionally has a recess 514 for receiving brush 506. The mounting plate 520 for this embodiment is inserted into structure 504 in additional recess 515. Thus, structure 504 and mounting plate 520 will have top surfaces aligned with each other. The brush 506, which includes a brush element 509 and bristles 507, may be attached to the structure 504 using bolts or screws 522, as shown in FIG. 9. The brush 506 is positioned relative to the structure 504 such that the bristles 507 of the brush 506 are directed perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the common contact surface 14.

As in FIG. 8C, FIG. 9 shows a gap 418 between the support bar structure 504 and the common contact surface 14 such that the brush 506 is the only part of the sealing system 500 that is in engagement with the common support structure 14.

In fig. 8C and 9 show two different illustrative embodiments of a brush sealing system made in accordance with the invention, in which the brush 406, 506 is located differently. However, it should be understood that these embodiments are examples only, and that the design of the brush is not limited to these embodiments. Thus, for example, the brush can be inclined in any direction, towards or away from the support bar structure, as well as along the support bar structure. Alternative embodiments may include a support bar containing two or more brushes arranged parallel to each other. For example, in one embodiment, the support bar includes two brushes located on opposite sides of the support bar, each brush forming a corresponding oblique angle with a common contact surface.

In fig. 10-14 show various embodiments of a sealing system arranged in parallel with an additional sealing system to form a machine sealing assembly.

The additional sealing system may be any of the sealing systems discussed in connection with FIGS. 2-9, or, alternatively, another sealing system not shown in these drawings. An additional sealing system is connected to the support structure 16 of the furnace 10 and is located along the moving direction TD.

The purpose of the additional sealing system is to seal the gap 18 between the support structure 16 and the common contact surface 14 to prevent gas, droplets and/or solids from passing through the gap 18.

The additional sealing system is located at some distance from the sealing system so that an elongated cavity is formed.

In fig. 10A-10B show an embodiment of a sealing assembly 600 comprising a sealing system 200 mounted in parallel with a sealing system 70 as positioned in connection with the support structure 16 of the machine 100. The sealing system 70 includes a support bar 60 of a conventional type well known in the art. . The sealing system 70 is slidably coupled to the support structure in a manner similar to that described herein. The sealing system 70 is located at some distance from the sealing system 200 on the inside of the furnace 10 such that an elongated cavity 650 is formed between the two sealing systems 70, 200. It is possible for one skilled in the art that the sealing system, although illustrated herein as The sealing system 200 may alternatively be a sealing system 300 configured in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A-6B.

In fig. 11A-11B show an embodiment of a sealing assembly 700 comprising a sealing system 200 parallel to the sealing system 400 described above herein. With respect to the sealing assembly 600, two sealing systems 200, 400 are arranged parallel to each other along the moving direction TD. The sealing system 400 includes a support bar 402 containing a structure 404 and a brush 406, as described in detail above with reference to FIGS. 7-8. The sealing system 400 is connected to the support structure 16 to slide through each support bar structure 404. The sealing system 400 is located at some distance from the sealing system 200 on the inside of the furnace 10 such that an elongated cavity 750 is formed between the two sealing systems 200, 400. It is possible for one skilled in the art that the sealing system, shown herein as sealing system 200, may Alternatively, a sealing system 300 made in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A-6B. Likewise, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the sealing system shown herein as sealing system 400 could alternatively be a sealing system 500 configured in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

In fig. 12 shows an embodiment of a seal assembly 800 of a sealing system 400 mounted in parallel with a sealing system 70 in connection with a support structure 16 of a machine 100.

The sealing system 400 includes a support bar 402 including a structure 404 and a brush 406, in accordance with the sealing system embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and 8A-8C.

- 12 045777

The sealing system 70 includes a support bar 60 of a conventional type known in the art. Thus, the main difference between the sealing system 70 and the sealing system 400 is that the sealing system 70 does not have a brush.

The sealing system 70 is located at some distance from the sealing system 400 on the inside of the furnace 10, so that an elongated cavity 850 is formed between the two sealing systems 70, 400. One skilled in the art will know that the sealing system 400 and the sealing system 70 can be positioned in opposite directions, so that the sealing system 400 faces the sintering carts 12, and the sealing system 70 is located on the opposite side, facing the inside of the furnace 10. The sealing system 400 is connected to the first side of the support structure 16, and the sealing system 70 is connected to the second side of the support structure 16, opposite the first side so that the sealing system 400 and the sealing system 70 face each other. It is possible for one skilled in the art that the sealing system, although shown herein as sealing system 400, could alternatively be a sealing system 500 configured in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

In fig. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a sealing assembly 900 of a sealing system 400a in parallel with another sealing system 400b mounted in connection with the support structure 16 of the machine 100. In the illustrative embodiment, the sealing system 400a and the sealing system 400b are similar to the sealing system 400 that includes a support bar 402 comprising structure 404 and brush 406, in accordance with the sealing system embodiment shown in FIG. 7-8. The sealing system 400a is connected to the first side of the support structure 16, and the sealing system 400b is connected to the second side of the support structure 16 opposite the first side, so that the sealing system 400a and the sealing system 400b face each other. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the sealing systems, although illustrated herein as sealing system 400, may alternatively be a sealing system 500 configured in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

In fig. 14 shows an embodiment of a sealing assembly 1000 of a sealing system 200 installed in parallel with another sealing system 200' in connection with the support structure 16 of a machine 100. In the illustrative embodiment, sealing systems 200 and 200' are of a similar type. In particular, both the sealing system 200 and the sealing system 200' comprise respective rows 210, 210' of plate elements 212, 212', each of which partially overlap to form a respective sealing surface. The bracket 220' differs from the bracket 220 in that it provides a corresponding mounting surface 222, 222' for each of the rows 210, 210' of plate elements 212, 212'. A cavity 1050 is formed between the two sealing systems 200, 200'. As can be seen from FIG. 14, the sealing system 100 further includes a sealing system 70 based on a conventional support bar 60. Therefore, for the sealing system 1000, an additional cavity 1050' is formed between the sealing system 70 and the sealing system 200. The system 200 and the sealing system 200' may share common characteristics, such as the shape and design of the plate elements 212, 212'. However, it is also possible that the sealing system 200 and the sealing system 200' differ from each other in one or more respects.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10-14, the seal can be further improved. This is preferable in the firing and cooling zones of the machine 100 and in particular in the transition between them, called the afterburning zone, since otherwise the risk of leakage may be high. Leakage from this area may pose a hazard because flammable gases from the furnace 10 may mix with oxidizing agents from the surrounding air, creating the risk of unwanted combustion. Therefore, it is of particular interest to minimize leakage in these areas.

Moreover, in the present design, the innermost sealing system can protect the outermost sealing system from excessive thermal load.

In addition, gas flow may be introduced into the elongated cavity 650, 750, 850, 950, 1050 and 1050' between the sealing systems to reduce high temperature. With this design, the sealing systems can be gas cooled, allowing the furnace to use even higher temperatures than would otherwise be possible without thermally damaging the sealing systems.

One skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is in no way limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, one skilled in the art can understand and implement modifications to the described embodiments when applying the claimed invention based on examination of the drawings, description and the attached claims.

-

Claims (17)

CLAIM 1. A machine for heat treating bulk material, comprising a stationary furnace that includes a support structure, and a plurality of sintering carts moving through the furnace in a moving direction, said plurality of sintering carts together on their side forming a common contact surface that extends through the furnace in the direction of movement, wherein the supporting structure of the furnace and the common contact surface of the plurality of sintering carts form a gap between themselves, which has a length along the direction of movement, wherein the machine further comprises a sealing system containing one or more support bars located one behind the other in the direction of movement wherein each support bar of said one or more support bars comprises a brush disposed on the support bar such that the brush is configured to engage a common contact surface such that said one or more support bars closes said gap at least on parts of its length. 2. The machine according to claim 1, in which the brush bristles are made of stainless steel. 3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the length of the bristles of the brush is at least 20 mm, preferably from 20 to 100 mm, and more preferably 50 mm. 4. The machine of claim 1, wherein each support bar further comprises a structure slidably coupled to the furnace support structure, wherein the brush is supported by said support bar structure. 5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the brush protrudes from said support bar structure such that a gap is formed between the support bar structure and the common contact surface. 6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the gap between said support bar structure and the contact surface is at least 1 mm, preferably 5 to 20 mm, and more preferably 10 mm. 7. The machine according to claim 4, wherein said support bar structure of each of said one or more support bars has a recess for receiving a brush therein. 8. The machine of claim 4, wherein each of said one or more support bars further comprises a mounting plate configured to attach the brush to said support bar structure. 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein each support bar of said one or more support bars further comprises a brush holder configured to hold a brush, wherein the mounting plate is configured to press the brush holder against said support bar structure. 10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the brush is positioned on a support bar such that the bristles of the brush are directed substantially perpendicular to the common contact surface. 11. The machine according to claim 1, in which the brush is located on the support bar so that the bristles of the brush form an indirect angle with the common contact surface. 12. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising an additional sealing system connected to the supporting structure of the furnace and located along the direction of movement, and the additional sealing system is located with the possibility of interacting with a common contact surface to ensure the closure of the specified gap at least on parts of it length, while the additional sealing system is located at such a distance from the sealing system that an elongated cavity is formed between them. 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the additional sealing system comprises a series of plate elements that partially overlap to form a sealing surface, each plate element of said series of plate elements being attached to the support structure at its first end and interacting with a common contact surface at its second, opposite end. 14. The machine according to claim 12, in which the additional sealing system includes an additional one or more support bars located one behind the other in the direction of movement. 15. The machine of claim 14, wherein each support bar of said additional one or more support bars comprises a brush disposed on the support bar such that the brush is configured to engage a common contact surface such that said additional one or more a plurality of support bars close said gap over at least portions of its length. 16. The machine according to claim 12, wherein the sealing system and said additional sealing system are arranged parallel to each other so as to bridge said gap over a total gap width that extends at least across the firing zone and the cooling zone of the furnace. 17. A method for attaching a brush to a support bar in the sealing system of a machine for heat treatment of bulk material, wherein the sealing system contains one or more support -