US2588060A - Coke oven door machine - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1952 o. M. TWEIT COKE OVEN DooR MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

OLAV M. TWEIT BY p p/am) ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1952 o.' M. TWEIT COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZ.

Filed July 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

OLAV M. TWEIT flay/W ATTO R N EY- March 1952 o. M. TWEIT COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

OLAV M. TWEIT /3+ I25 /23 BY I 6 /27 ivy/M ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1952 Filed July 11, 1950 0. M. TWElT COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 OLAV M. TWEIT BY 2 ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1952 o. M. TW EIT 2,588,060

COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE Filed July 11, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJO.

INVENTOR.

OLAV M. TWEIT BY h y/W ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1952 o; M. TWEIT COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 11 1950 mw m A m L Y B /3 4 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UN [TE D STAT ES PAT ENT O FF 1 6E COKE OVEN DOOR MACHINE.

Olav M. Tweit', vMountain Lakes; Ni J l, assignor" to" Allied-Chemical & Dye Corporation, New-- York, N. Y-J, a corporation of-New-York ApplicationJuly 11, 1950, SeriaLNoT 173,141

25 Claims.

This invention. relates to. door machinery and is particularly concerned with apparatus .for operating self-sealing, doors. of. the type employed to form the removable end closures for horizontal coking chambers of coke. ovens of. the type commonly used in. the manufacture. of metallurgical coke;

As. used with. horizontal coke ovens, self-seali'ng doors comprise a refractory plug projecting:

into the coking. chamber and a, metal sealing member at the outer side of" the plug which is pressed into contact. with. the metalsurface of the door frame of the coking chamber when the door is in place to seal the door opening. Coke oven doors of the type referred to are heavy structures andmustibe anchoredsecurely in-place in their normal closed. position to prevent gas leakage through theioint'sbetween the doors and cooperating, door frames. It is now standard practice to secure a cokeoven doorofl this. type inplace by the use. of one or more. usually two, latch bars acti'ngbetweena rigid metalouter portionof the door,.and' stationary hook parts located at. the sides of the door and carried by a metallic door frame member or other. portion of the metallic. armor at the sides v off the coke oven battery andinnormall'y fixed relation with the coke oven brickwork. One. type of latch bar is pivotally connected to the door by arotatable member inthe. form of aspindle or jackscrew adapted to. rotate about ahorizontal axis for turning movement from a horizontalposition inwhich the latchbar engages the cooperating stationary hooks on the door frame,.into an inclined positionin which the latchibar. is disengaged fromthehooks. The door also comprises hook .platesarrangedto engage cooperating, hooks on .a door machinefor grasping. the door and manipulating it durin its removal from the coke ovenmouth for cleaning. purposes.

The door machine. generally employed for removing, and .replacingthe above-describedtype of coke oven. door comprises means, in the form of wrenches. for loosening and tightening the spindles or jackscrews on the door, means for. rotating the latch bars thereof into andout of engagement. with. the door frame hooks,.and hook means. for engagement of" the hook. plates of the door to. lift the. door andiholdlit firmly suspended.

in retracted position from the. coke oven mouth.

As. of. the present,.the door machines for operati ing this assembly generally involve the employment of three separate-motorsor' actuating mechanismswith a plurality of controls. for individually operating. the wrenches, latch bar. rotating. meansandmovable hooks ofthe apparatus. This easily operated means associated withv the" door machine for applying equal tightening force to the door spindles" has also been sought after, alongjwith suitable socket wrench mechanism in combination with" such means for readily and quickly engaging the spindles of'a coke oven door even if such spindles areout of alignment due to unevenness of the tracks onwhich thedoor machine is propelled along the battery face, play of? the door hooks" and" hook plates in their re- 5 spective positions on the door machine and the door, small inequalities resulting from uneven expansion ofthe brickwork of the-coke oven batt'ery and thelike.

One object of the invention is to provide door-- machinery of simple and rugged construction to remove and replace jackscrew type coke oven" doors, including a single power'means in association with other suitable means, for coordinating and performing the operations of loosening or tightening the jacksorews or' spindles of the door; rotating the latch bars thereof into or out of engagement with the frame hooks and engagin or disengaging the hooks" from the hook plates on thedoor, in proper sequence-to remove or replace the d'o'or Another object'is to provide a door machine havingmea'nsfor applying equal tightening force or. torque on thespindles of the door. Anotheraim: of my invention is to, afford means:located onthedoor machine forofisetting misalignment between the wrenches on the door machine and. thespindles on the door, and means for-effecting substantially instant engagement between suchwrenches and spindles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will appear hereinafter.

The door machine of my invention comprises first of. all a novel and improved self-aligning socket wrench mechanism for engaging and turning the rotatable members (spindles or jackscrews) of a coke oven door; even if the socket wrenches and associated rotatable members are out of alignment, including a driven shaft, a flared end portion for engaging the rotatable members, a spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of such shaft and having its other end associated with the flared portion, and a sleeve connecting the driven shaft with the flared portion for rotation thereof, the flared portion being angularly movable with respect to the sleeve and the latter being angularly movable with respect to the shaft. Another feature of the invention device constitutes rack and pinion means comprising two racks each in contact with a single pinion and each in respective engagement with a system of gears arranged to cause rotation of the socket wrenches and adapted to exert equal tightening force on the wrenches and rotatable members, during replacement of a door in its frame and tightening of the latch bars in the hook members. provided in conjunction with the foregoing system of gears to allow a measure of play between movement of the rack and pinion means and the thus actuated wrenches and rotatable members, for reasons hereinafter pointed out.

My improved door machine also includes members in the form of fingers for rotating the latch bars of the door into and out of engagement with the hook members on the door frame, hooks for engaging the hook plates of the door and a cam operated member interconnected with the fingers and hooks, the hooks and related structure being preferably designed so that the coke oven door moves upward a short distance against its door frame just prior to retraction of the door from the coke oven mouth, and moves downward against the frame and into its seat just after the door makes contact with its frame during replacement of the door. A spring pressed member is provided which is adapted to urge the lower portion of the door machine against the lower portion of the door whereby, when the door machine and an engaged door are suspended out of contact with the coke oven mouth, the machine and door are in a plane somewhat inclined from the vertical with the lower portion of the machine and door farther forward than the upper portion thereof.

An important feature of the invention resides in provision of a single, preferably hydraulic,

actuating means associated with the rack and pinion means and the cam operated member, for automatically coordinating the operation thereof, whereby on actuation of the hydraulic means in one direction to remove a coke oven door, the rotatable members thereon rotate in a direction to disengage the latch bars from the hook members of the door frame, the hooks engage the hook plates of the door and the fingers rotate the latch bars out of the hook members, and the opposite sequence of operations takes place on actuation of the hydraulic means in the opposite direction to replace the door against its door frame.

The door machine of these improvements is supported and balanced on a carrier adapted to retract the machine and an engaged coke oven door away from the coke oven mouth for cleaning and to advance the machine and door toward the mouth of the coke oven for replacement of the door against its frame. A mechanism is further afforded for properly adjusting the position of the door machine and the socket wrenches thereof relative to the rotatable mem- A clutch mechanism is bers on the door, such function being principally in the nature of a fine adjustment.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred apparatus in which the invention may be embodied and practiced but without limiting the invention specifically to such illustrative instances:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the door machine of the invention in operative relationship with a coke oven door;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a type of coke oven door adapted to be handled by the door machine of the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the door machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the door machine and coke oven door of Figure 1 shown partly in section through the upper door fastening mechanism; 7

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of the upper socket wrench mechanism and associated gear system shown in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a section taken along line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a section taken along line of Figure 7; and

Figure 11 is a schematic representation illustrating certain details in connection with the operation of the door machine of the invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown. in vertical section a door machine I 5 positioned at one end of a horizontal coking chamber I6 forming one of a series of laterally adjacent chambers of a coke oven battery, a door frame I1 at the mouth of the chamber I6, and a self-sealing door I8 comprising a refractory plug I9 and a metal sealing edge extending around the entire periphery of the door and adapted to be pressed into contact with the door frame I I. The door I8 (see also Figures 2 and 4) is supported in sealing relation to the coking chamber by a pair of upper and lower latch bars 23 rotatably mounted on the door I8 on spindles or jackscrews 24 which are formed with squared heads 25 and with threaded portions 26 cooperating with threaded brackets 21 on the door assembly so that the bars can be moved perpendicularly of the door by rotating the jackscrews 24. Door frame I! at the mouth of the coking chamber I6 is fitted with hooks 38 which are adapted to engage the latch bars 23 when they are rotated to the horizontal position. By turning the j ackscrews 24 in one direction, the latch bars 23 are forced away from the door I8 and pressed against the hooks 30 to hold the door against the door frame. By turning the jackscrews in the other direction, the latch bars 23 are rotated out of engagement with the hooks 30 to permit removal of the door. The door I8 is provided with upper and lower hook plates 33 and with bosses 34. Bumpers 35 on the door machine cooperate with bosses 34 to hold the door erect during manipulation. v

The door machine I5 is encased in a housing 38 which is entirely suspended from a lever or yoke 39 by means of pivot pins 40, brackets 44 (see Figure 6) connected to pivot pins 40 and housing 38 providing reinforcement for securely maintaining the housing in suspension without oscillationlor swaying thereof. A: ram onscarrierx 4 I. connectedrto; yoke 39: by pins; 42: supports the;

entire door; machineandassociated.housing; Ram? 4| in. turn is: carried .by a. support. 43; and isariranged thereon to be: retracted away; from and advanced toward .a coke: oven. doorby suitablerigidly attached todoor machinehousing'38. Expansion of turnbuckle 45 raises closed end 49.0f

lever 39 and causes the .lever'to'rotate inra clock-- wise direction about pivot pin;.4 2to thereby raise: the entirehousing 38. and enclosedadoor machine; I; When turnbuckledfi is contracted; the closed.- end 49. of 1ever39 is 1owered,,resulting incounterw clockwiserotation of lever39. about pivot: pin 42' andthereby. loweringthe housing 3&andgthe en? closed door machine mechanism.. It. will .be'ape parent that thetforegoinrr turnbuckle means forlowering and raising the door machine,.as hereinafter more-fully, described, .permits1a. fine1- ads; justment of. the door machine: and socket; wrenches (hereinafter to be. described) thereof in relation to thedoorand jackscrews 2,4'thereon,, for more convenient manipulation of" the coke:

oven-:docr. .7

As more clearly seen'in Figure-:Ztherdoonma: chine l5 of the invention includesupper and lower'parallel' self-aligning socket wrench mechanisms 5'0 of'novel construction, comprisingflared; socket wrenches 52, each adaptedtofit over. the. square end .2501" a jackscrew 24. Each. socket wrench 52 has rounde'd zoutwardly extending si'd'e} portions 5! and'an end c1'osuremember58. Sideportions 5! are in frictionalcontact with. the-.in-r ner'surface' of one'end53 of a sleeve53retaihed by housing; 55,'the inner surface of, the opposite;

end 53 of the sleeve being in frictionaliengagee;

ment with the surface of a metal block 51 having rounded outwardly extending side portions; the

shoulder a' ofithe sleever and shoulder b of housing. 5,5;. Usually, such force also. brings about dis. engagement of shoulder c of sleeve 53 and. shoul der d of end; closure:member'58. Under these circumstances, socket wrench 52 is free to move. longitudinally or laterally in; order to fully en' gagethe jackscrewi, The foregoing-socket wrench;

structure is. thus; designed to absorb-anysudden' shock ofjcontactbetweenthe wrench and -a jack:

screw; and is also suchthat the wrench will adjustitself to' iproperly engage. and coactwith a corresponding jackscrew even if" the socket. wrench and jackscrew arev not in perfect alignment.

Driven shaft Whats a gear. 61 fixed thereon near'the end opposite the hollow portion ofthe shaft,, the, latter being mounted in bearings 62 retained in. a housing- 53. Meshing with gear fi l.

is a largerjgearg loosely mounted on a driving shaft 65 disposed parallel to shaft 54; Asseen" particularly'in Figure 10, shaft-65 has aseriestof equally spacedjawsbfi. thereonmounted to fit within a series of similar equally spaced jaws 6] located on gear 64. The space between the adjacent jaws 66 and 61 provides a clutch mechanism allowing, about 20- degrees of rotation be: tween shaft65 and. gear 65. However, the difference in size betweensgear 64 and gear 5.] on; driven-.shaft5 l is such that the amountof free rotation. between driving: shaft 65 and driven shaft; 54 and theassociatedsocket wrench; 52;;isr about degrees. Mounted on the. oppositeend of shaft from gear 54 is another gearlo havingteeth59, and a flat portion 18 (Fig. 6). Shaft'55 blockbeing keyed to the endof a-driven shaft:

54. In this arrangementsleeve 53 is none-rotatable with respect to shaft 54 and socket wrench 52', and the sleeve and-wrench accordingly rotate; in unison with the shaft. However; sleeve'53 may move angularly withrespect to shaft 540ver' the:

rounded convex'surface of member 5T, and-'socket" wrench 52 may moveangul'arly with respect to sleeve 53" through contact'ofi the end 53" of the sleeve with the similarly rounded'outer sid'e'por tions 5 I' of the socket wrench. It is apparent then that this sleeve arrangement connecting driven" shaft 54 with socket wrench 52permit'sboth longi-- tudinal and lateral" movement of the socket wrench in relation to a corresponding jackscre'w; Mounted in a hollow end portion 59 of shaft' 54s is a compression spring 50; the opposite. end'ofl which is in contact with the end closuremember 58 of socketwrench 52-. I

When the socket wrench is in free-position out of: contact with a jackscrew, spring 50 urges sleeve 53 and socket wrench 52 forwarduntil shouldera at end 53" of sleeve 53 makes contact with shoulder b of housing 55', and'shoulder c at end53' of sleeve 53-is in engagementwith shoul der (1 of end closure member 55- of socket-wrench I When socketwrench 52 is in operative engagement with the" square end 25 of a jackscrew, as

illustrated in Figure 7', the force against-the" spring generallycauses it to contract moving and gears 64- and' 10 are mounted on bearings.

H arranged inhousingy63 which iscomposedof two portions 12 and 13 fastened together by means of'bolts ,14. .The; housing 63 is supported by a base plate 15' which is secured.bymeans of-bolts 88 to aplatelficonnected to door machine hous-- As moreolearly seen in FigureB, the upper and. lower. socket wrench mechanisms are composed of, thesamestructural elements designated-bylike reference numbers except that in the lowermechanism an idler B9 is included in=engagement with gears Bi and. 64 togivethe same directional rotation. to; both. the upper and lowersocket wrenches 52.

Referring particularly to Figure 6; a pair of parallel segmental racks'll located one above the other are provided, each: of these racks havin teeth containing end segments 11c and 11b and,

eachofsegments 11a. containing an adjacent flat portion 59. Teeth; l3! of end segments 11a are; adaptedfor operative engagementwith teeth 69 ofigearsfluand'fiat. portions 15 of rack segments" Ha are arranged to, cooperate'with vfiat portions 1.8.of gear-5.10.. .End segments Fla of racks" are eachmountedto slide in a rack housing v83 constituting anextended portion of housing 63 while the respective, opposite end segments 11b closely adjacent each other are mounted. to slidein a common housing 84; Within housing 84; teeth 85 of each' of. rack segments lib areincontact withthe teeth 90. of a pinion 86 mounted; to. rotate aboutpinB?! (see also; Figure 3):. Apair, of compression: springs 88. are positioned in housing 84- in contact with. endsegment jw of racks- 111 urging them away and tending, to maintain' the? racks-in a centered positionwithirespect to; each other.

Rack'ihousingafl alongwithi racks T?! andrpini'on 86 is recipr-ocated: back: andv forth: a verticari direction by nieaus ofiaihydraulically driven pi's ton 9| (see Figure 3) contained in a cylinder 92 and attached to a piston rod 93 having sliding engagement with a bearing I99. The opposite end of piston rod 93 is connected to a cross head 95 comprising members 99 which are arranged to slide in guideways 91 of a plate 98 attached to door machine housing 38 by means of bolts 99. Referring now chiefly to Figure 5, a pair of arms I92 connected to cross head 95 and fitting through slots I9I in rack and pinion housing 84, have a rectangular cam member I93 attached to their opposite ends by means of bolts I94.

On initial actuation of piston 9I in a downward direction, cross head 95 carries housing 84, enclosed pinion 86 and both racks 1'! simultaneously in the same direction, such movement causing rotation of both the upper and lower socket wrenches and associated jackscrews in a direction to allow disengagement of latch bars 23 from the frame hooks 39. Rotation of the jackscrews ceases when flat portions I9 of rack segments I'Ia make contact with flat portions I8 of gears I9 in the position shown in Figure 6. Actuation of the piston 9| in an upward direction from the position shown in Figure 6, brings about movement of both racks TI, along with housing 84 and pinion 89 simultaneously in the same direction to cause rotation of the socket wrenches and jackscrews in a direction to tighten the jackscrews through contact of teeth 8| of rack segments 'I'Ia plete tightening of the upper jackscrew. Under these circumstances continued upward movement of the piston causes pinion 86 to rotate with respect to the racks and act as a diiferential to permit the lower rack to continue to move upward and rotate the lower socket wrench until the lower jackscrew has been tightened with a force equal to that applied to the upper jackscrew.

As seen in Figure 3, door machine I has a pair of upper and lower movable hooks I95 in the form of levers having pivotal connection with bumpers at points I96. One end of each of bumpers 35 is connected by a pin I98 to a bracket I99 attached to the door machine housing'38, the other end of each of the bumpers being connected to a spring pressed pin II5 also supported by the door machine housing, to help cushion any shock of contact between bumper 35 and hook plates 33 of the coke oven door. The upper. and lower hooks I95 are pivotally connected at points III for synchronous movement by means of a rod I91 having a turnbuckle Hi! to adjust the length of the rod and the position of the hooks I95 with respect to each other. Another rod H2 is pivoted at one end to the hook portion of upper hook lever I95 at point H3 and is attached at its opposite end to pivot pin II8. Rod II2 also "has a turnbuckle I I4 to adjust its length.

A pair of upper and a pair of lower fingers I 23 are provided, each pair being connected to a bar I24 near the opposite ends thereof. Bar I24 is supported by arms I25 through pivotal connections at points I26. At the opposite ends of arms I25, as noted in Figure 4, are pivot pins I22 connected to door machine housing 38 by means of brackets I28. Bar I25 has a clevis pin I3I intermediate its ends, the clevispin being connected to pivot pin I I8.

Pivot pin II8 having rod H2 and bar I24 connected thereto is in turn attached to a bell crank II'I. Bell crank H1 is mounted to oscillate about pin H9 and carries a roller I29 bearing against cam member I93 as it reciprocates up and down in response to the movement of piston rod 93 and guided cross head 95. Bell crank II'I operates in accordance with the movements 01. roller I29 over the surface of 0am member I93. It is apparent that oscillation of the bell crank about pin II9 with consequent movement of pin I I8 provides for synchronous actuation upwardly or downwardly of door hooks I and fingers I23. Hence, for example, in removal of a coke oven door, the fingers I23 rise and rotate the latch bars 23 of the door I8 out of the frame hooks 39 at just about the same time that hooks I95 of the door machine make contact with the hook plates 33 of the door. Turnbuckles H9 and H4 enable adjustment of the relative position of hooks I95 and the fingers I23 to provide the desired coordinated movement therebetween for contacting in proper sequence the hook plates and latch bars of the door. It is noted that the hooks I95 are usually so adjusted through turnbuckle I I4 on rod H2, in relation to cam II! that hooks I95 will continue to rise a short distance after contact thereof with the door hook plates 33, thus raising the coke oven door slightly against the door frame before the door is retracted from the coke oven mouth.

The lower portion of the door machine I5 is balanced in relation to the ram or carrier 4| by means of a turnbuckle connection I35 pivotally connected at point I36 to ram M, the other end being attached by means of pivot pin I34 to one end of a bell crank I32 connected to door machine housing 38 through pivot pin I33. A spring I39 maintained under compression and resting on member I49 attached to the door machine housing, is connected to the opposite end of hell crank I32 from pivot point I34 through rod I4I fixed at its upper end by means of nuts I42 to the top of spring I39, the other end of the rod having pivotal connection with bell crank I32 at point I43. This arrangement, as illustrated in Figure 11, is such that when the door machine is not in contact with a door in the coke oven mouth, the spring I39 urges rod I4I upwardly causing the bell crank I32 to oscillate clockwise principally about pivot point I34, but with some pivotal movement also about pin I33, urging the front edge I44 of the bell crank forward to the dotted line position indicated. Thus, when the door machine is out of contact with a door in the mouth of the coke oven, the lower portion I45 of the door machine is projected somewhat farther forward than the upper portion I46 thereof so that under these circumstances the door machine is not suspended in a perfectly vertical plane as indicated by position X, but is in a slightly inclined or tilted position as indicated by X with the upper portion I49 somewhat behind the lower portion I45. The degree of tilt of the door machine may be regulated by expanding or contracting turnbuckle I35.

When the door machine I5 is moved forward toward a coke oven door for removal thereof, the lower portion I45 of the door machine makes contact first with the door, and as the upper portion I45 of the door machine engages the door on further forward-movement of the ram'4I, spring I39 will be opposed by such forward movement of the ram through turnbuckle I35, thus causing the bell crank I32 to turn in a counterclockwise direction chiefly about pivot point I33 to the full line position shown. On the other hand, when the door machine is rethe jackscrews.

jackscrews :on the coke oven door-have been tracted outwardly away from the mouth of the oven, the upper portion I46 of the door machine will move away from the mouth of the coke oven first and as pin I36 onram 4I continues to be further retracted, the resistance of the ram against spring I39 will gradually be removed allowing thespring through rod I4I to urge bell crank I32 from the full line position tothe dotted line position shown in Figure 11. .'lower portion of the door machine is finally free W hen the from contact with thelower portion of the-door frame the door machine once again is in the inclined position above described with the bottom portion I45 of the door machine advanced farther forward than the upper portion MB-thereof. In complete operation of the door machine of the invention for removing and replacing a coke oven door from the mouth of a .coke oven'battery, 'door machine I5 is first spotted adjacent the door I8 and the door maclline is moved forward toward it. On contact ofbumpers 350i the door machine with hook plates 33 of the door, socket wrenches 52 are brought into engagen'cent w'i'th thesquared heads 25 of the corresponding upper and lower jackscrews 25. If the socket wrenches are not in perfect alignment with the jackscrews, 'turnbuckle 46 my be either expanded orc'ontracted so as to either raise or lower "the door machine. This raising or lowering of the door machine through rotation of yoke 39 about pins 3 42 results in a raising or lowering ofthe socket wrenches 52 constituting a -fine adjustment of the socket wrenches relative to the position of the jackscr'ews to enable proper engagement therebetween. Should the pointed end of a, jack- Screw strike the i of t flaredhportioh a socket wrench '52 to center on thejackscrew.

1 The free rotational play or back la'sh between shaft '65 and gear 64 broughtabout through the arrangement of clutch jaws '66 and 6''! respectively thereon, allows sufiicient rotation of the socket wrench 52 "onto the squared head 25 of "the"jackscrew for-full engagement therewith. Hence, "springs 60 in conjunction with the free rotational play afforded "by "the aforementioned clutch "mechanism, permit substantially instant engagement betweenthe socket wrenches and corresponding J'ackscrews.

rotation of gears 'I0 which, throughgears 64 and 6|, in turn cause rotation of shafts 54, socket wrenches 52 and the engaged jackscrews' in a clockwise direction-for movement of the latch bars '23 toward the door and out of engagement with frame hooks 35. It is noted that the aforementioned back lash due to clutch jaw s"66 and 61 will allow the piston to begin its :ini tial downward stroke before meeting any resistance from When both the upper and 'lower rotated sufiiciently to loosen the latch bars from Figures 1, 3 and stroke-is taken up in rotating the socket Wrenches and the :enga'ged jackscrews.

The remainder :of the *downwardtstrokeof the piston in cylinder 92 carries cam member I03 downwardly from its position shown in- Figure 3, resulting in movement of roller I20 in engagement therewith to the right and over the top of cam member 503. Under the circumstances, bell crank II'I oscillates about pin H9 in acounterclockwise direction causing pivot pin 1 I8 to move upwardly carrying rod H2 and bar 425 simultaneously in the same direction. Such movement of rod II-Z first brings hooks I05 into engagement with hook plates 33 or the coke oven door while continued upward movement of .rod H2 causes the engaged hooks to raise the door a short distance above its seat, say on the order of about one-inch, to facilitate its removal from the coke oven mouth, the self-aligning socket wrench mechanisms of the door machine of the invention compensating for any relative movement between the iackscrews and socket wrenches during such upward movement of the door. Further, while the door is being thus raised vertically, it remains in contact with the door frame and tends to loosen any incrustations of-carbonaceous material which may have been deposited along the sealing edges of the door and/or frame during carbonization.- In this same period while the hooks-I05 are making contact with hook plates 33 and raising the door slightly, fingers I23 mounted on bar 24 rise into contact with and rotate latchbars 23 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, sufficiently away from the horizontal to clear the hooks Won the door frame. The door machine I5 with the door firmly grasped thereby is then retracted outwardlyron ram M by a separate power means (not shown), the top portion of the door moving away from the door frame before the lower portion of the door breaks contact with the door plates 33.

vhooks 3il 'on the door frame II.

frame so that the door is held balanced and suspended away from the door frame in a slightly 'inclinedrposition from the vertical in the'manner described above.

For -replacing a coke oven door I8 in its frame in :the mouth of thecoke oven, ram 4! carrying the door machine I5 and the engaged door is moved forward until the door makes contact with the door frame. Inso doing, through the arrangement of spring I39, bell crank I32-ancl turnbuckle I35 as described above,the lower portion of thedoor I8 engages the doorframe first and as the ram continues to move forward slightly, the upper portion of the door then makes contact'with the door frame.- Hydraulic pressure is applied to the bottom of cylinder 92 causingpistbn ii-I and attached-piston rod 93 and cross head 95 with associated gear racks II to move upwardly. The first portion of upward travel of the-piston brings roller I20 in contact with theunderside of 0am member I03, as seen in Figure dyoscillating bell crank II! in a clockwise direction and lowering rod I I2 and bar I24. Such movement 0f the rod :lowers the door I8 vertically into its seat in the door frame after which hooks 405 become disengaged from hook During this :period the lowering of bar I24 causes fingers I23 to move-downwarclly to rotate the latch bars 23 'of the door =downwardl-y in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, into a horizontal position in the The lowering of rod H2 and bar I24 is brought about largely by their weight and the weightof the associated parts. I V e 95'continue to moveupwardly, theteeth 8I of end segments 'IIa of racks 17 make contact with the teeth 69 of gears to rotate the socket wrenches 52 and the engaged jackscrews in a counterclockwise direction to tighten the jackscrews and move latch bars 23 away from the door and into tight frictional engagement with frame hooks 30. Should the full tightening force be applied to one jackscrew before the other, the pinion 86 in conjunction with racks 11 functions in the manner above described, i. e. as a differential, in effecting equal tightening of the other jackscrew to insure a gas-tight seal between the door and its frame. After the piston reaches the top of the stroke the socket wrenches are disengaged from the jackscrews, following which the racks 11 return to a centered position with respect to each other by the action of springs 88. The door is now in gas-tight position in the coke oven mouth with the sealing edge of the door tightly pressed against the door frame H. The door machine 15 may then be retracted and another coking cycle commenced.

I claim:

1. A door machine for manipulating a coke oven door adapted to seat against a door frame, said door comprising a plurality of rotatable members and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises means for operating said rotatable members, means for rotating said latch bars, door engaging means, and a single actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

7 2. A coke oven door machine for manipulating a coke oven door adapted to seat against a stationary door frame, said door comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate horizontal axis and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, rack and pinion means arranged to operate said wrenches, means for rotating said latch bars, door engaging means, and a single actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

3. A door machine for manipulating a coke oven door adapted to seat against a stationary door frame, said door comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate horizontal axis and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, rack and pinion means constructed and arranged to rotate said wrenches through a system of gears, means for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, door engaging means, and a single actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

4. A coke oven door machine for grasping and suspending a coke oven door out of contact with the mouth of a coke oven, said door being adapted to seat against a door frame and comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate horizontal axis and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, rack and pinion means constructed and arranged to rotate said wrenches through a system of gears, means for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, door engaging means, a spring pressed member adapted to urge the lower portion of said door machine against said door, and a single hydraulic actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

5. A coke oven door machine for grasping and suspending a coke oven door in balanced position out of contact with the mouth of a coke oven, said door being adapted to seat against a-stationary door frame and comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate hori zontal axis, and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, each of said wrenches including a driven shaft, 9, flared end portion for engaging said rotatable members, a spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in contact with said flared end portion and a sleeve connecting said shaft with said flared portion for rotation thereof, said flared portion being angularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to said shaft; rack and pinion means constructed and. arranged to rotate said shaft, means for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, door engaging means, and a single actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

6. A coke oven door machine for grasping and suspending a coke oven door in balanced position out of contact with the mouth of a coke oven, said door being adapted to seat against a stationary door frame and comprising a plurality of rotatable members with their axes in a horizontal plane and a plurality of latch bars pivotally connected to said members for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, rack and pinion means comprising two racks each in contact with a single pinion and each in respective engagement with a system of gears arranged to cause rotation of said wrenches, said rack and pinion means being adapted to exert equal tightening force on said wrenches and rotatable members during replacement of a door in its frame and tightening of said latch bars in said hook members, means for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, door engaging means, and a single actuating means interconnected with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoingmeans in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

7. A door machine for manipulating a, coke oven door adapted to seat against a door frame, said door comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate horizontal axis, a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame and a plurality of- 'ho'okplates; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, rack and pinion means constructed and arranged through a system of gears to rotate said wrenches, fingers for rotating said latch cars into and out of engagement with said hook members, hooks for engaging said hook plates, a cam operated member connected to said fingers and said hooks, and

.a single means interconnected with said rack and pinion means and said cam operated mem her for actuating and automatically coordinating .the operation of said rack and pinion means and said member with associated fingers and hooks in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

,8. A coke oven door machine for removing and replacing a coke oven door and maintaining it suspended in balanced position out of contact with the mouth of a coke oven for cleaning purposes, said door being adapted to seat against a door .frame and comprising a plurality of members each rotatable on a separate horizontal axis, said members being located substantially in a vertical plane, a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to said members respectively members, a clutch mechanism arranged in conjunction with said system of gears to allow a measure of play between movement of said rack and pinion means and the thus actuated wrenches, fingers for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, hooks for engaging said hook plates, a, cam operated member interconnected with said fingers and hooks, a spring pressed member adapted to urge the lower portion of said door machine and door against said door frame, and a single hydraulic actuating means interconnected with said rack and pinion means and said cam operated member whereby, on actuation of said hydraulic means in one direction to remove said door, said rotatable members rotate in a direction to disengage said latch bars from said frame hooks, and thereupon said hooks engage said hook plates and said fingers rotate said latch bars out of said frame hooks, and on actuation of said hydraulic means in the opposite direction to replace said door against its door frame, the opposite sequence of operations takes place.

9. A coke oven door machine as defined in claim 8 wherein the door machine is supported and balanced from points near its top and bottom,

...ment of the door against its frame, said door machine including a mechanism to raise and :14 lower said machine for properly adjusting the position of said socket wrenches relative 'to'said rotatable members; said "spring pressed member being in association with the -bottom point of balance of the machine'on said carrier and urging the lower portion of said door machine against the lower portion of said door whereby, when the door machine and anengaged' door are suspended out of contact with 'the coke oven mouth, said machine and door are in a plane somewhat inclined from the vertical with the lower 'portionof said machine and door farther forward thanthe upper portion thereof; and "said cam operated member and interconnected fingers and hooks being so designed that said door moves upwarda short distance against its door frame just prior to retraction of thedoor from the coke oven mouth, and moves downward against the frame and into its seat just after the door makes contact with its frame during-replacement of the door.

10. Acoke-oven door machine for 'remov-ing'and replacing a coke oven'door and maintain-ing-it in balanced position out of contact with the mouth of a coke oven, said door being adapted to seat against a stationary door frame and comprising a plurality-of members eachrotatable -on a separate horizontal axis, said members being located substantially in a vertical-plane, and a plurality of latch bars each pivotally connected to-said members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame; which comprises self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable members, each of said wrenches including. a driven shaft, a flared portion for engaging said rotatable members, said flared portion having a closure member at one end thereof, a spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in contact with said closure member and a sleeve connectingsaid driven shaft with said flared portion for rotation thereof, said flared portion beingangularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to said shaft; rack and pinion means comprising two racks each in contact with a single pinion and each in respective engagement with a system of gears arranged to cause rotationiof, said wrenches on movement of said racks, said rack and pinion means being adapted to exert equal tightening force on said wrenches and rotatable members during replacement of a door in its frame and tightening of said latch bars in said hook members, means for moving-said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, door engaging means, and a single hydraulic actuating means interconnected. with all of said foregoing means for automatically coordinating the operation of said foregoing means in proper sequence to manipulate said door.

11. A coke oven door machine for removing and replacing a coke oven door and maintaining it suspended in balanced position outof contact with the mouth of a coke oven for cleaning purposes, said, door being adapted to seat against a door frame and comprising upper and lower parallel rotatable members located substantially in a vertical plane, a pair of latch bars each pivotally connected to said upper and lower members respectively for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members, on

- said door frame and upper and lower hook plates;

which comprises upper and lower self-aligning socket wrenches each including a hollow driven 15 shaft, a flared portion having rounded outwardly extending sides for engaging said rotatable members, said flared portion having a closure member at one end thereof, a spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in contact with said closure member, the hollow end of said shaft having rounded outwardly extending sides, a sleeve in frictional contact with the outwardly extending sides of said shaft and said flared portion for rotation thereof in unison with said shaft, said flared portion being angularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to said shaft, thereby permitting longitudinal and lateral movement of said wrenches in relation to said rotatable 'tem of gears to allow a measure of play between movement of said racks and the thus actuated wrenches, fingers for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, hooks for engaging said hook plates, a

member interconnected with said fingers and hooks,'a cam element for operating said member, a spring pressed member adapted to urge the lower portion of said door machine against said door and a single hydraulic actuating means attached to said rack and pinion means and said cam element whereby, on actuation of said hydraulic means in one direction to remove said door, said rotatable members rotate in a direction to disengage said latch bars from said hook members, and thereupon said hooks engage said hook plates and said fingers rotate said latch bars out of said hook members, and on actuation of said hydraulic means in the opposite direction to replace said door against its door frame, the opposite sequence of operations takes place.

12. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechanism for rotating a spindle of a coke oven door, comprising a driven shaft, a flared end portion for engaging said spindle, said flared portion having a closure member at one end thereof, a

spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in contact'with said closure member and a sleeve connecting said driven shaft with said flared portion for rotation thereof, said flared portion being angularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to said shaft, whereby said flared portion is adapted to properly engage and rotate a corresponding spindle even if said flared portion and said spindle are out of alignment.

13. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechanism as defined in claim 12 having a driving shaft in operative engagement with said driven shaft and a clutch mechanism on said driving shaft constructed and arranged to impart a measure of play between said driving and driven shafts.

14. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechaanism for rotating the jackscrews of a coke oven door for manipulation thereof, which comprises a driven shaft having a hollow portion in one end, the hollow end of said shaft having rounded outwardly extending side portions, a sleeve mounted on said shaft with the inner surface of one end of said sleeve in frictional contact with said rounded side portions, a flared socket wrench having rounded outwardly extending side portions and adapted to engage the end of one of said jackscrews, a closure member in contact with the other end of said socket wrench, the rounded side portions of said socket wrench being in frictional contact with the inner surface of the other end of said sleeve, a compression spring having one end mounted in the hollow portion of said shaft and the other end in contact with said closure member, said socket wrench and said sleeve being fixed for rotation in unison with said shaft, and said socket wrench being adapted to move angularly with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being in turn adapted to move angularly with respect to said shaft, thereby permitting longitudinal and lateral movement of said wrench in relation to a corresponding jackscrew for proper engagement and rotation thereof even if out of alignment with said wrench.

15. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechanism as defined in claim 15 including an outwardly extending shoulder at the end of said sleeve in contact with said shaft, a stop member adjacent thereto, an inwardly extending shoulder at the opposite end of said sleeve and a shoulder on said closure member, whereby, when said socket wrench is in free position out of contact with a jackscrew, said spring urges said sleeve forward so that said outwardly extending shoulder at one end of said sleeve is in engagement with said stop member and said inwardly extending shoulder is in contact with the shoulder on said closure member, thus maintaining the socket wrench mechanism substantially perpendicular to the face of the coke oven door prior to engagement thereof.

16. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechanism as defined in claim 14 for rotating the jackscrews of a coke oven door for removing and replacing said door, having a first gear fixed to the other end of said driven shaft from the hollow portion thereof, a driving shaft parallel to said driven shaft, a second gear loosely mounted on said driving shaft near one end thereof and in engagement with said first gear, jaws on said driving shaft and interlocking jaws on said sec- 0nd gear, said jaws being respectively spaced so as to allow a degree of free rotation between said driving shaft and said second gear and between said driving shaft and said socket wrench, said spring and said degree of free rotation permitting said socket wrench to adapt itself for substantially instant engagement with the end of a corresponding jackscrew.

17. In a coke oven door machine of the type described having upper and lower socket wrenches for rotating the upper and lower spindles of a coke oven door, a device for applying equal tightening force to said socket wrenches and spindles when in operative relationship, which comprises two parallel racks each in contact with a single pinion and each in respective engagement with a system of gears arranged to cause rotation of said socket wrenches, whereby on movement of said racks and associated pinion in a direction to effect tightening of said spindles and socket wrenches, said pinion acts as a differential to exert equal tightening force on both spindles. I .18. In a coke oven ,doormachine of the type described having upper and lower socket wrenches for rotating the upper and lower jackscrews of a coke oven door, a device for applying equal tightening force to said socket wrenches and iackscrews when in operative relationship, which comprises two parallel racks each being encased at one end in a housing having sliding engagement with said racks, a pinion in said housing in engagement with said racks, springs in said housing each in contact with the respective ends of said racks urging them away and tending to maintain the racks in a centered position with respect to each other, the opposite end of each of said racks having engagement with a system of gears arranged to cause rotation of said socket wrenches, whereby on movement of the racks and pinion in a direction to effect tightening of said jackscrws and socket wrenches, said pinion acts as a difierential and commences to rotate with respect to said racks after one jackscrew has been completely tightened and until the same tightening force has been applied to the other jackscrew.

19. In combination in a coke oven doormachineof the type described, upper and lower selfaligning socket wrenches for rotating the upper and lower spindles of a coke oven door, each comprising a driven shaft, a flared portion for engaging said spindlessaid flared portion having a closure member at one end thereof, a spring mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in contact with saidclosure member and a sleeve connecting said driven shaft with said flared portion for rotation thereof, said flared portion being angularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to i 18 gear; and a device fcrapplying equal tightening force to said socket wrenches and jackscrews when in operative relationship which comprises a pair of parallel racks each in contact at their opposite ends with said third gear, the other ends of said racks being encased in a housing having Y sliding engagement with said racks, a pinion in said housing in engagement with said racks, springs in said housing in contact with the respective ends of said racks urgin them away and tending to maintain the racks in a centered position, saidracks and pinion mechanism being adapted to rotate said socket wrenches by reciprocating movement of said mechanism, whereby on movement of the racks and pinion in a direction to effect tightening of said jackscrews and socket wrenches, said pinion acts as a differential and commences to rotate with respect to said racks after one jackscrew has been completely tightened and until the same tightening force has been applied to the other jackscrew 21. Ina coke oven door machine of the type I described, upper and lower interconnected hooks for engaging the hook plates .of a coke oven door,

' an arm pivotally engaged at one end thereof .to

spindle even if they are outoi alignment, a driving shaft in operative engagement with said driven shaft and a clutch mechanism on said driving shaft to permit a measure of play betweenwsaid driving and driven shafts; and a devicefor applying equal tightening force to said socket wrenches and spindles when in operative relationship, which comprises two parallel racks each in contact with a single pinion andeach in operative engagement with one of said driving shafts to cause rotation of said socket wrenches, whereby on movement of said racks and associatedpinion in a direction to effect tighten-ing of said spindles and socket wrenches, said pinion acts as a .difierential to exert :e ual tightening force on both spindles.

'20.. In combination in a coke over door machine-of the type described, upperand lower selfalign-in socket wrench mechanisms as defined in claim 15 for :retating the upper and lower jackscrews of a coke oven door for removing and replacing said door, said mechanisms having a first gear fixed to the other end of said :driven shaft from the hollow portion thereof, a driving shaft parallel to said driven shaft, a second gear loosely mounted on said driving shaft near one end thereof and in engagement with said first gear, jaws on said driving shaft and interlocking jaws on said second gear, said jaws being respectively spaced so as to allow a degree of free rotation between said drivingshaft and said second "gear, and third gear mounted .on said driving shaft near the end opposite said second one of said hooks and at the other end to a p'ivoted bell crank, said bell crank having a roller mountedthereon, a pair of upper and lower fingers adapted to make contact with the latch bars of said door, said fingers being mounted on .a bar pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said bell crank, and an actuating mechanism having a cam member in contact a with said roller, whereby on actuation of said cam member, the associated roller moving in response thereto causes oscillation of said bell crank and synchronized actuation of said hooks and fingers for manipulation of said door.

.22. In the device defined in claim 19, interconnected upper and lower hooks for engaging the door, upper and lower fingers for contacting and rotating latch bars pivotallymounted on the spindles of the door, said hooks operating in conjunction with said fingers by means of a cam and roller mechanism, and a single means connected to said racks and to said cam for actuating and coordinating the operation of said racks and associated pinion, and saidcam and roller mechanism with associated hooks and fingers, in proper sequence for removing or re placing a coke oven door.

23. Apparatus for removing and replacin a coke oven door in its frame in the mouth of .a' coke oven, said door comprising upper and lower Jrackscrews adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, a latch bar pivotally mounted on each of said jackscrews for rotation thereon into and. out of engagement with hook members on said door frame and upper and lower hook plates; which comprises a support, a carrier mounted on said support for movement toward and away from the coke oven mouth, a lever supported by said carrier, a door machine pivotally suspended in a housing from a point intermediate the ends of said lever, means for raising and lowering the door machine housing and door machine for proper adjustment of the latter relative to the J'ackscrews on said door, said door machine comprising upper and lower self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said jackscrews, a system of gears associated with each of said socket wrenches, a pair .of racks each engaged at their pposite ends with one gear of said respective gear systems, each of said racks having a fiat portion near one end thereof for contact with flat portion on said one gear, the other ends of said racks being encased in a housing having sliding engagement with said racks, a pinion in said housing in engagement with said racks, springs in said housing in contact with the respective ends of said racks urging them away and tending to maintain the racks in a centered position with respect to each other, said racks and pinion mechanism bein adapted to rotate said socket wrenches by reciprocating movement of said mechanism and said pinion acting as a differential to apply equal tightening force to the socket wrenches and jackscrews on movement of the racks and pinion in a direction to effect tightening of said jackscrews, fingers for rotating said latch bars into and out of engagement with said hook members, upper and lower hooks for engaging said hook plates, a member interconnected with said fingers and hooks, a cam for operating said member, hydraulic actuating means attached to said racks and pinion housing and said cam, a spring pressed member urging the lower portion of said door machine towards the lower portion of said door, said spring pressed member including a compression spring and a rod connected at one end to said spring and at the other end to a bell crank associated with said carrier, whereby, on movement of said door machine and an engaged door away from the door frame, the top portion of the door is retracted from the door frame before the bottom portion thereof and when the door is replaced against the door frame, the bottom portion of the door makes contact with the bottom portion of the door frame before the top portion of the door comes into contact with the door frame, operation of said actuating means in one direction for removal of said door causing movement of said racks in the same direction to rotate said socket wrenches and the engaged jackscrews in a direction to disengage said latch bars from said hook members, followed by engagement of said hooks with said hook plates and contact of said fingers with said latch bars and rotation thereof out of said frame hook members, the opposite sequence of operations taking place during replacement of said door against said door frame.

24. Apparatus for removing and replacing a coke oven door in its frame in the mouth of a coke oven, said door comprising upper and lower parallel rotatable jackscrews having their axes in a horizontal plane, a pair of latch bars each pivotally mounted on one of said jackscrews for rotation thereon into and out of engagement with hook members on said door frame and upper and lower hook plates; which comprises a support, a carrier mounted on said support for movement toward and away from the coke oven mouth, a lever in the form of a yoke having an open end and a, closed end, said lever being in a substantially horizontal plane and being pivotally supported at its open end by said carrier from a position near the upper portion thereof, a door machine pivotally suspended in a housing from a point intermediate the ends of said lever, a turnbuckle having one end connected to a bracket on said housing and the other end pivotally engaged to the closed end of said lever, said turnbuckle being adapted to rotate said lever about its point of connection with said carrier to thereby raise and lower the door machine housing and door machine for proper adjustment of the latter relative to the jackscrews on said door, said door machine comprising self-aligning socket wrenches for engaging said rotatable Jackscrews, rack and pinion means constructed and arranged through a system of gears to rotate said wrenches and exert equal tightening force thereon during replacement of a door in its frame and tightening of said latch bars in said hook members, a clutch mechanism arranged in conjunction with said system of gears to allow a measure of play between movement of said rack and pinion means and the thus actuated wrenches, upper and lower interconnected hooks for engaging the hook plates of said door, an arm pivotally engaged at one end thereof to one of said hooks and at the other end to a pivoted bell crank, said bell crank having a roller mounted thereon, a pair of upper and lower fingers adapted to make contact with the latch bars of said door, said fingers being mounted on a, bar pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said bell crank, a hydraulic cylinder having a piston, a rod'connected thereto and a cross head attached to said rod, said cross head being connected to said rack and pinion means and to a cam member in contact with the roller on said bell crank, a second pivoted bell crank connected at one end to the lower portion of said carrier and at the other end to a compression spring by means of a rod, said sprin urging the lower portion of said door machine toward the door, whereby on movement of said door machine and an engaged door away from the door frame, the top portion of the door is retracted from the door frame before the bottom portion thereof and .when the door is replaced against the door frame, the bottom portion of the door makes contact with the bottom portion of the door frame before the top portion of the doorcomesinto contactwiththe doorframe, actuation of the piston rod and attached cross head in one direction for removal of said door causing movement of said rack and pinion means in the same direction to rotate said socket wrenches and the engaged jackscrews in a direction to disengage said latch bars from said hook members, followed by engagement of said hooks with said hook plates, contact of said fingers with said latch bars and rotation thereof out of said frame hook members, and a slight raising of the door above its seat, the opposite sequence of operations taking place during replacement of said door against said door frame.

25. In a coke oven door machine of the type described, a self-aligning socket wrench mechanism for rotating a spindle of a coke oven door, comprising a driven shaft, a flared end portion for engaging said spindle, a resilient member mounted at one end in a hollow portion of said shaft and having its other end in'contact with said flared end portion and a sleeve connecting said driven shaft with said flared portion for rotation thereof, said fiared portion being angularly movable with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve being angularly movable with respect to said shaft.

OLAV M. TWEIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,724,861 Thomas Aug. 13, 1929 2,157,566 Potter May 9, 1939 2,299,916 McIntire Oct. 27, 1942

Images