US1647648A - Cupola charger - Google Patents

Description

Nov. l, 1927.

CUPOLA CHARGER Filed May 18. 1926 J. W. MOORE ET AL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

umfrojsmts vPATarJ'r oFFiCE,

JAMES W. MOORE Aim smarriti; D. acatar, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AssiGNoRs To AMERICAN CAST IRON Rien C QMPANY, or BIRigLInsHAM, ALABAMA, A COR- roRATioiv on GEORGIA.

Application filed May 18,

This invention is an improvement in cupola. charger, and relates rmore particu-- larly to a. charger designed to distribute the charge in the cupola. in even layers of uniform thickness.

n usual methods of charging cupolas, the

Charce is eelivered either lb 1 dum nino' the charge into the cupola from the side, or by carrying the charge into the cupola and dropping it onto the preceding charge.

In either case a relatively high stack is required, in order thatthe charge may tall a considerable distance, since in this way only can the charge be scattered or spread.

The long drop ot the charge objectionable tor many reasons, among which may be mentioned the increasedy cost ot ation. the arrangement requiring as it does a high stack cupola, and the breaking; ot the coke from the fall. A further objection is that the high drop of the charge injures the refractory lining of the cupola, and furthermore the arrangement islimited to email charges and hence to cupolas of relatively small capacity. y e

One ot' the primary objects of the present mst-aV invention is the provision ot a charger operated from the side, and near the level ot the material in the cupola,v requiring thus a minimum ot drop tor the charge.

A 'further object is the provision ot mechanism in connection with the charger and operated by the movement thereof into and out ot the cupola for distributing the charge over the entire area of the material already deposited in a layer of uniiorm thickness.

A i'urther objectis the provision of a charger utilizing a support for charging boa' movable laterally into and out or" the cupola, thereby to dump and remove the Aboit with a niinin'iuin of exposure of the parts to iheheat of the cupola.y

il! ith these and other objects in vi .v the invention consists the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, and pointed out intheclaims appended hereto, it being understoodthat various changes in the 4form, proportion, size and minor details of construction Within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without 'departing troni the spirit'ot the* invention.

CUPCLA CHARGER.

1926. Serial 1:10. 109,826.

In the .drawings forminga part hereof:

Fig l is a side view ot the charger boa, with the cupola and associated parts' in vertical section. I'

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 'ofl Fig. l. Fig. '3 is a detail side view showing the box 1n another position. y

Fig. tis a top plan vie shitting paWl. i Y

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with the stack l ot a' cupola 0ii usualv construction, having' the lateral charging opening- 2, Which is at about the highest level ot the material in the cupola. A trame `Work 3 yis arranged at the charging opening 2, and just below the same, and this trame Work supports a pair of rails 4 which incline toward the charging opening from theirouter ends, the trame work beingconstructed to support the r ils in this position. l

A carriage 5 of suitable construction is mounted to move upon the rails, the carriage iaving iianged Wheels 6 Which run upon the rails, and it Will be evident that dueto the inclination of the rails, the carriage. yis biased by gra vity to move toward ther cupola.

A tilting trame or rtipple 7 is pivoted to the front endof Vthe carriage, the pivotal W of the switch or lconnection indicated at 8 being at a point remote trom the trent end ot the trame. The arrangement/is such that above ione# thirdot' the length of the frame projects be-r yond t-he front en d of the carriage as clearly' shown. Any suitable pivotal connection may be provided and the tramo normally seats upon the carriage as shown in Fig. l.'

A plurality oit rails 9 is arranged in spaced relation transversely of the frame, atV the ends and intermediate the ends thereof, and these rails serve as seats for receiving a charger boX 10. Guide plates ll are secured 'to the frame at each side thereo-the plates being arranged yin pairs, and sov spaced laterally oi the trame, that the charger boX Will fit between them. These plates prevent lateral movement of the charger box when seated on the frame.

y One end of the charger box is open, and the box is seated on the vtrame with the open f end toward the cupola, The boi; has `a dependingiiange or stop 1i at the closed end,

upper edges cut away as shown at 33, to receive the pinsBQ, which engage Ltheyokes at the ends of the cut away portions. The arrangement is such that when the bridle bar is lowered theyolres will drop below the level of the pins, as indicated in dotted lines.

in 'F ig. l, so that they do not interfere with the forward movement of the box. lhen the empty box has been returned vto the posi-- tion of Fig. l, lifting movement of the bridle bar will re-engage the yokes with the pins, to enable removal of the empty box.

The improved charger may be controlled by a single operative. By means of the crane the voperative picks up a loaded box,

and delivers it to the tilting frame of the carriage pertaining to the cupola to be charged. Lowering the yokes 3l, he Will then operate the valve controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to and from the cylinder l2, tomove the piston in a direction to allow the carriage with itsloadl to run toward the cupola under the influence of gravy the lcarriage moves backward, they are di-v vei'tedv into the traclrway between the rails 23,-2Ll 25 and 26-27-28. j rlhe framev is tilted Jfurther, as it moves outward and the whole of the charge in the box is distributed on top of that alreadydelivered. Thus the chargev is evenly distributed throughout thecross-sectional area ot the cupola stack.

lhen the carriage leaves the position ol' Fig. l, the yolics 8l are lifted, the empty box is removed to the place otreiilling, and a lilled box may then be delivered to the same,

or another cupola. @ne crane and operator may serve several cupolas, as for instance three. The charge is laid onto the contents of the cupola instead of being' dropped, so that the colre is not broken, there is a minumum risk` orp injury to the refractory lining, and the tipple and charger box are never in the cupola'long enough orthe heat toy damage them. Since the charging opening is at aboutthe l-evel otthe top of the material in the cupola, high stack cupolas are notv essential, so that the construction is tmore.

economical vthan with the usual process.

The charge fed at' each operation may bev as large as required, s otliat the device is not J limited to cupolas of relativelysmalvl .capacr ity, although ,it is equallywell .adapted for suchV cupolas. No part of .the charging mechanism is subjected to the heat ofthe lcupola except the charging boxes and .the

Vdrop to cause jar or shock.

:abruptly further tiltfthev box to tipple frame which are easily renewable.

l low, and the operating and maintenance costs are also low. The front end of the charging box bottom lays the charge instead of dumping or chuting and there is no long sa A minimum ot labcr is required in charging, and the device can be served by standard `overhead cranes or trolleys.

lVhile fluid pressure controlled mechanism s is utilized in the present instance to control the movement of the loaded carriage under gravity, it is obvious that any other suitable means might be substituted. Gravity is utilized to move the load, and power to return the empty carriage.l Thus the power consumption Vvis extremely low.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is: j

l. In a cupola having a charging opening, means to support and guidea charging boi; through the opening' into andeutet the cupola, inechanism for tilting the box vas itl moves toward and Afrom the cupola, said mechanism including meanslto gradually ti,t

ingl as it moves into the cupola, vand other means to abruptly furthertilt the box to dis.- charge the contents thereof as it begins its movement of withdrawal, thereby to spread said vcontents in a lay-er from ythe rear to the IH front of the cupola.V 2. In a cupolahaving a chargingopening, means to support and guide a chargingbou under the linfluence of gravity through the opening rinto and out of the cupcla, mechan lig nism for tiltingthe box as it nioves`toward and from the cupola, said mechanism includ ing means to gradually tiltthe box to a position just short of discharging as it moves into the cupola, and other means to abruptly l urther tilt the box to discharge the contents thereof as it begins its movement of withdrawal, thereby to spread said contents in a layer from the rear to the front of the cupola. 3. In a cupola having a charging opening, means to support and guide/.a charging bex through the opening .into and out oil the cupola, mechanism for tilting .the box as moves `toward and ,from the cupola, -iid mechanism including means to gradually tilt the box to atpositionjust short of discharging as it moves into lthecupola, means to discharge the contents thereot as lit beginsv its `movement of withdrawal, thereby to spread said i .in

contents in a layer from the rear to the front of the cupola, and other means to return the box to its normal position as the movement of withdrawal is completed.

4f. In a cupola having a charging opening, a trackway to support and guide a charger box for movement through the opening into and out of the cupola, said traclrway inclined to cause the box to move by gravity toward the cupola, tilting mechanism for the box including means to gradually tilt the box as it moves into the cupola to an inclination just short of discharge, means to further tilt the box to discharging position as it commences its movement of withdrawal, means to restore the box to normal position at the completion of the movement of withdrawal, and power' operated means for moving the box away from the cupola and for controlling the movement thereof toward the cupola.

5. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including a carriage moving by gravity toward the charging opening, means to control the movement of the carriage toward the opening and to return the same, a tilting frame at the front end of the carriage for supporting a charger box, mechanism to tilt the frame as the carriage moves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the box to a position just short of discharge as it reaches the end of its inward movement, means to impart a sharper tilt .to the frame as the carriage commences its movement of withdrawal, and other means to gradually return the box to normal position at the end of the movement of withdrawal.

6. ln a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including a carriage moving` by gravity toward the charging opening, means to control the movement of the carriage toward the opening and to return the same, a tilting frame at the front end of the carriage for supporting a charger box, mechanism to tilt the frame as the carriage moves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the box to a position just short of discharge as it reaches the end of its inward movement, means to impart a sharper tilt to the frame as the carriage commences its movement of withdrawal, and other means to gradually return the box to normal position at the end of the movement of withdrawal, and means for engagement by the carriage to positively checlr the movement thereof just before the charger box reaches the rear wall of the cupola.

7. ln a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including a carriage moving by gravity toward the charging opening, a tilting frame at the front end of the carriage 'for supporting a charger box and extending beyond the carriage to support the box with approximately half the length thereof beyond the carriage end, means to control the movement of the carriage toward the opening and to return the same, and mechanism for tilting the frame as it moves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the frame to a position just short of discharging as it reaches the end of its inward movement, means to further tilt the box to discharge the contents as the carriage commences its return movement, and other means to gradually return the frame to normal untilted position as it reaches the end of its outward movement.

8. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including a track inclining' downwardly toward the opening, a carriage on the track, a tilting frameat the forward end of the carriage, said tipple having means to support a charger box with the end toward the cupola open, means to control the movement of the'carriage toward the cupola under the influence of gravity, and mechanism for tilting the frame as it moves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the frame to a position just short of discharging as it reaches the end of its inward movement, means to further tilt the box to discharge the contents as the carriage commences its return movement, and other means to gradually return the frame to normal untilted position as it reaches the end of its outward movement, and stops on the track to limit the movement of the carriage toward the cupola, so Yplaced that the frame will extend into the 'cupola and to near the rear wall thereof when the stops are engaged by the carriage.

9. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including a track inclining downwardly toward the opening, aV

carriage movable on the track, a tilting frame at the forward end of the carriage for supporting a chargerv box and so placed with respect to the carriage that vthe weight of the box will normally Vjnevent tilting of the frame, mechanism for tilting the frame as the carriage moves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the box to a position just short of discharge as it reaches the end of its inward movement, and means to further tilt the box to discharge the contentsthereof as it begins its movement of Withdrawal, said mechanism including rollers at the rear of the frame, traclrways one above the other inclining in opposite directions to the horizontal for engagement by the rollers, and switches for deflecting the rollers from the lower to the upper traclrways when the box commences its return movement from the cupola.

10. In a cupola charger, a tipple, and a depending yoke, each yoke including an i5 means to place the boxes on the tipple and remove them therefrom, including yokes, each having a substantially horizontal arm with recesses on the upper edge thereof, the boxes having laterally extending pins to rest in the recesses, said arms engaged and disengaged by relative vertical movement of theV yolzes and box. v

l1. In a cupola charger, a tipple, and means to place charger boxes on the 'tipple, and remove them therefrom, each box having at each end a pair of laterally extending pins, a bridle bar provided at each end With upper arm connected With the bridle bar and a lower arm extending substantially horizontal, and recessed on its upper edge to receive the pins of the charger box, and to be engaged With and disengaged from the pins by relative vertical movement of the yokes and box.

Signed at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State ot' Alabama, this 13th day of May A. D. 1926.

JAMES W. MOORE. STEPHEN D. MOXLEY.

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