GB1014638A - Conveying of ores during heat processing - Google Patents

Abstract

1,014,638. Sintering machines. GUTENHOFFNUNGSHUTTE STERKRADE A.G. Jan. 16, 1964 [Jan. 19, 1963], No. 1931/64. Heading F4B. A sintering machine includes a series of abutting pallets 1 arranged to run on an endless track comprising upper and lower courses 3 and 4, Fig. 1, respectivey connected by discharge and lifting arcuate portions 5 and 6, a heat-expansion gap L being formed successively between the receptacles as they pass upwardly through the lifting portion 6. A sprocket 7 rotates about axis 14, Fig. 2, to lift the pallets 1 in succession through the gap L and to propel them along the upper course 3. The pitch of the sprocket 7 is greater than the pitch of the series of receptacles by at least the length of the gap L. The centre of curvature 15 of the portion 6 is not coincident with the axis 14 so that the effective lever arm r 1 of tooth 7b is greater than the corresponding arm r 2 of tooth 7a. Thus, on rotation of the sprocket 7, the distance between pallets 1a and 1b is decreased and tooth 7a is arranged to remain in engagement with pallet 1a until tooth 7b has moved pallet 1b through the gap L to abut pallet 1a. This results in the continuous movement of the pallets and the reforming of the gap L between pallets 1b and 1c. Charge is introduced into the pallets from hoppers 9 and 10, is heated in tunnel 11 air being sucked through it by windboxes 12, and is discharged along the arcuate portion 5 into a breaker 13. In another embodiment, Fig. 3 (not shown), the lower half of track portion 6 is symmetrical with the upper half with respect to the sprocket, and the sprocket can rotate in the opposite direction to that of the first embodiment to facilitate repair work and replacement of pallets.