US3112153A - Writer for recording rotation and vertical variations of an apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 HALL ETAL 3,112,153

WRITER FOR RECORDING ROTATION AND VERTICAL VARIATIONS OF AN APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1961 I9 23 34 [3 :I I j: 3s- 2 =3 7 T I f :1, 2s 1 M I as l l7 32 IJZZZiFiZZ.

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United States Patent WRITER FOR RECORDING ROTATION AND VER- TICAL VARIATIONS OF AN APPARATUS James Ivan Hall and Casimir S. Forde, Salinas, Califi,

assignors to Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 87,840 5 Claims. (Cl. 346-113) The present invention relates to a device for indicating variations in the elevation of rotating cylindrical devices; and more particularly, it relates to a device for indicating variations in the elevation of a rotating kiln, especially during hot operation of the kiln.

A rotary or rotating kiln, such as is used in many plants for calcining ores, manufacturing cement and the like, is mounted at a slight or acute angle to the horizontal so that the ore or other feed is charged in at the upper end and flows generally down the slope of the kiln interior surface to the discharge or lower end, fuel generally being fed at such lower end. Such kilns are of great lengths in most instances, often being from 200 to 275 feet in length, and are supported at various locations along their lengths by support bases upon which are mounted trunnions. Tires are affixed around the kilns at these locations and ride in or on the respective trunnions.

When a new kiln is being built or installed, it is a simple engineering job to set the trunnions to an exact center line and at the correct elevations. After a kiln has once been placed on the trunnions, the same engineering procedure is no longer possible, and any surveys thereafter must be made along the top of the kiln for vertical control or adjustment. Such procedures are very laborious and time-consuming; and they also have several mechanical inaccuracies. For one thing, after the heavy kiln has been operated for some time and has expanded lengthwise under heat, the \trunnions will have worn or become hollowed out under the tires at the hot location. As the kiln cools, it shrinks in length and the tires then are drawn up on the unworn parts of the trunnions and elevations determined under cool conditions, as according to the prior art do not reveal the true operating elevations.

After several years of operation of a rotary kiln, trunnions and tires become worn, old trunnions may be replaced with new ones, bearings become worn, and numerous other variables are introduced. it has been a problem in this art to determine how extensive these changes have been, in order to devise proper corrections. It is desirable also, for instance, to know more precisely what variations in kiln shell configuration may occur during operation and while the kiln is being fired and is hot. The kiln shell is of ferrous metal, or steel, and it is lined with refractory bricks while cold. When the operation is set up and the kiln gets hot, flat spots or bulges may occur, and it is sometimes desirable to determine these. More especially, however, when vertical misalignment occurs because of the aforementioned factors or others, there are set up undesirable stresses in the refractory linings and unfavorable effects otherwise in the kiln operation, and it has been desired to be able to measure such changes while the kiln is hot. When a kiln has gone out of alignment, actual breaking down of the refractory brick lining has been observed at some locations, as well as breaking off of rivets at the joints of the shell itself.

According to the present invention, the variations in elevation or in vertical alignment of an operating rotary kiln are indicated by a simple and inexpensive device comprising a pair of wheels rotating in contact with, and actuated by the rotation of, a rotary kiln shell, and in turn actuating a recording device. The rotating wheels 3,112,153 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 are preferably spaced from each other, and they are disposed on a cross arm adjacent the upper end of a vertically movable supporting element. A recording device stylus is also alfixed to the vertically movable supporting element and thereby records vertical motions, or changes in the kiln shell or its vertical alignment.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the device of this invention where- FIGURE 1 shows an elevation view of the device in operative engagement with a kiln surface;

FIGURE 2 shows a front view of the recording element especially, omitting the stylus.

Referring to the drawings, base support 11 is suitably a round steel column maintained vertically in any desired manner, e.g. by an adjustable tripod or other means (not shown). Movable vertical element or bar 17, preferably rectangular in cross-section, is slidably attached to base support 11 by brackets 33 and 34, each of which has a rectangular aperture through which bar 17 passes and in which it is sufficiently closely fitted that no twisting or turning occurs; and between lower bracket 33 and retaining pin 35 and coiled around bar 17 is disposed spiral spring 18 which is under compression and acts to maintain rotating Wheels 20 and 21 in firm contact with shell 10 of a rotary kiln under investigation.

Attached to vertically movable bar 17 is arm 16 which carries at its end pencil or stylus 15, which records vertical movements of bar 17 on chart 14, as will be further explained.

Aflixed to bracket 33 at its outer face and extending at an angle from the vertical upwardly therefrom is plate support 24. Adjacent the upper end of plate 24 is attached rotatable sprocket wheel 23. Adjacent the lower end of plate support 24 is aperture 42, through which there extends lead screw 26. At its outer end lead screw 26 passes through frame rod 37 and is held by cap screw 32 over collar 31 and washer 30, so that it turns freely when actuated by the chain-and-sprocket means, or manually. At its opposite end, there is affixed to lead screw 26, sprocket 2S and crank 28, the latter providing for manual turning or rotating of the screw to re-set the chart, for instance, or for any other purpose.

Attached to bracket 33 by any desired means is frame support 12 which in this embodiment is composed of four steel bars 36, 37, 38 and 39 welded together to form a rectangular frame of greater length than width. Chart holder 13 is a rectangular metal plate of about the same width as frame support 12 and shorter than support 12. Holder 13 is slidably movable along top bar 38 and bottom bar 36 of the frame support and attached to the back of holder 13 is a threaded nut 29 through which passes lead screw 26, so that the screw and nut support and effect movement of chart 13.

Pivotally attached to the upper end of bar 17 by bolt 43 is rocker arm 19; and disposed on arm 19 and spaced from each other are rotatable knurled wheels 20 and 21 of which 21 is an idler wheel and 20' includes a sprocket. Chain 22 connects sprockets 20 and 23; and chain 44 connects sprockets 23 and 25. Also disposed on plate support 24 is idler wheel 27 which keeps chain 44 taut, in the known manner.

When operation is to begin, chart 14 is placed on chart holder 13, suitably by bolts and screw caps or any other suitable means for aflixing the chart to the holder. For example, if a wooden chart holder or base is used, the chart can be affixed by thumb tacks or the like.

In an example of the mode of operation of the device of this invention, the device is placed beneath a hot, rotating kiln shell so that bar 17 extends vertically directly in line With the center or central axis of the kiln.

The center line is determined at the time the kiln installation is originally made, and it is marked on, for instance, the concrete pier base 40 by molding therein, in permanent position, brass indicator pin 41. Wheels 20 and 21, which are preferably knurled on their surfaces of contact with the kiln, rotate in contact with shell 10. As wheel 20 turns, it causes wheel 23 to turn, by means of sprocket chain 22. Chart 14 will have been previously attached to holder 13 and stylus 15 is placed in contact with chart 14 at its left extremity, suitably by spring means (not shown), and in this example adjusting the holder and chart by means of hand crank 28. As wheel and sprocket turns, it causes chain 22 to move and this in turn actuates sprockets 23 and 25 and causes lead screw 26 to turn. As screw 26 turns in threaded nut 29, this nut moves along the screw threaded and thus causes holder frame 13 and attached chart 14 to move to the right or left, as desired; and this movement is traced on chart 14 by stylus 15. As the shell 10 turns, spring 18 acts to hold wheels 20 and 21 firmly against the shell and as these wheels ride or pass over flat spots, bulges or other irregularities in the shell, they will cause bar 17 to move up or down, and this vertical movement is also recorded on chart 14 by stylus 15. Principally, of course, the position of the wheels 20 and 21, and vertical bar 17, measures on chart 14 the mean vertical position or alignment of the kiln shell, as will be further explained. The screw pitch and chart size are so selected that the variations over one complete revolution of the kiln are shown thereon.

In operating the device and method of this invention, the chart is placed on the holder and the device is set beneath a kiln shell while the latter is operating at full heat, in order to determine the true working position of the kiln at the selected position along the length of the kiln. The device is placed beneath the kiln adjacent a concrete pier, such as 40, so that bar 17 is in vertical alignment with the kiln central axis as indicated by pin 41. The vertical alignment at each tire location is generally determined in order to correct any variations.

Wheels 20 and 21 are therefore placed in contact with the kiln surface at its lowermost area and these wheels turn, actuated by the rotation of the kiln shell. Stylus 15 is placed in contact with the chart, e.g. at the upper left side. As the kiln continues to rotate, chain 22, sprocket 23, chain 44 and sprocket 25 are actuated as described above, and screw 26 is thereby caused to turn, moving nut 29 and the attached chart holder and chart, so that stylus 15 records on the chart a horizontal line of movement. by the vertical motion imparted to stylus 15 by vertical motion of bar 17 to which the stylus-carrying arm is attached.

Thus, the graph across chart 14 usually shows a series of humps and depressions. It has been found that this device records weld spots, rivet heads and the like as well as larger bulges or flat spots on a kiln shell. A mean or average line is drawn on the chart, determined by the points on the graph obtained during one complete rotation of the kiln shell. The elevation or distance above the ground of the brass pin (or other means) is known from the original kiln installation design. A measurement is now made of the distance from the vertical reference point, that is, the brass pin to the mean on the chart, and from the mean on the chart to the kiln shell; and these values, that is, the elevation of the brass pin in lineal units, e.g. feet and inches, of the distance from the pin to the mean line and from the latter to the lowermost point on the kiln shell, when added together, give the elevation or vertical distance above the ground of the shell at that point. The chart support is suitably returned to the starting position by rotating the lead screw in reverse direction by means of the hand crank.

These measurements are repeated at each tire location and where the kiln is fitted with five tires, for instance,

This line of movement is modified, however,

the vertical alignment at each tire is determined as above, to give five reference points. It is easily observed whether all five points fall on a common straight line or whether one or more points are displaced from a straight line common to the other remaining points. For instance, it can be seen in some instances that the kiln is from A; inch to 1 inch 01f the reference line at one or more points. This variation is then corrected, in one mode of operation, by changing the position of the trunnions at the point in question. Where the kiln has been as low as 1 inch below the reference line at one point or tire location, the correction has been made in practice by placing a steel shim below the worn portion of the trunnion to raise the trunnion and therefore the kiln. It has been found that periodic checks of the vertical alignment of the kiln and correction for such undesirable variations in elevation as indicated above has resulted in much longer life for the refractory kiln linings, and has other advantages.

It will be understood that the above specific description has been given for purposes of illustration only and that variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For instance, belts and wheels can be substituted for the chains and sprockets, although somewhat less satisfactory because many belts tend to expand under the heat radiating from the kiln. It is preferred that the vertical movable bar 17 be square in cross-section and that the bracket holes conform thereto to prevent any twisting or turning of bar 17. Instead of the chart and chart holding device shown, a revolving round chart could be used, a rotating motion being imparted by means of the chain and sprocket or other moving means. Alternatively, also, a single wheel could be used in contact with the kiln shell, but this arrangement is less efficient because the single wheel tends to be displaced by irregularities in the kiln surface.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a rotating kiln comprising in combination a base support, a vertically movable vertical support bar mounted on said base support in slidable engagement there- With, a pair of Wheels adapted to rotate in contact with the exterior surface of said kiln, said wheels being disposed on a rocker arm and spaced from each other, said rocker arm being disposed adjacent the upper end of said vertically movable vertical support bar, a spiral compression spring disposed around said bar to maintain said wheels in contact with said surface, a fixed chart support, a horizontally movable chart-holding frame disposed on said chart support, means actuated by said rotating wheels to effect horizontal movement of said frame, and a stylus fixed to said vertically movable support bar to record rotation and vertical variations on said chart.

2. Device as in claim 1 wherein said means actuated by said rotating wheels includes a series of chains and sprockets and a lead screw, said lead screw engaging a threaded nut atfixed to said movable frame.

3. Device as in claim 2 wherein said lead screw is manually operable for re-setting said chart-holding frame.

4. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a hot, rotating kiln shell comprising in combination a base support, a vertically movable bar of rectangular cross-section slidably engaged by upper and lower brackets on said base support, a rocker arm pivotally attached to the upper end of said movable bar, a knurled rotatable wheel disposed at each end of said rocker arm, a sprocket axially disposed adjacent one of said wheels, a support plate extending angularly upwardly from said lower bracket on said base support, an upper and a lower sprocket disposed on said support plate, a chain engaging said rocker arm sprocket and said upper sprocket, a second chain engaging said upper sprocket and said lower sprocket, a chart support frame aflixed to said sup- J pert plate adjacent its lower end, a movable chart support disposed on said frame, a threaded nut affixed to the rear surface of said chart support, a lead screw extending from said plate support and engaged by said threaded nut and by said lower sprocket, means for manually rotating said lead screw, stylus means attached to said movable bar for recording rotating and vertical motion, and a chart on said chart support.

5. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a rotating kiln comprising in combination a base support, a vertically movable support means mounted on said base support and in slidable engagement therewith, a pair of wheels adapted to rotate in contact with the exterior surface of said kiln, said wheels being disposed on a rocker arm and spaced from each other, said rocker arm being disposed adjacent the upper end of said vertically movable support means, means for maintaining said wheels in contact with said kiln surface, a fixed chart support, a horizontally movable chart-holding frame disposed on said chart support, means actuated by said rotating wheels to effect horizontal movement of said frame, and means fixed to said vertically movable support means to record rotation and vertical variations on said chart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,858 Richard Jan. 9, 1951 2,676,867 Kareby Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 571,817 France Feb. 8, 1924

Claims (1)

1. DEVICE FOR INDICATING VARIATIONS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF A ROTATING KILN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BASE SUPPORT, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE VERTICAL SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED ON SAID BASE SUPPORT IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, A PAIR OF WHEELS ADAPTED TO ROTATE IN CONTACT WITH THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID KILN, SAID WHEELS BEING DISPOSED ON A ROCKER ARM AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, SAID ROCKER ARM BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICALLY MOVABLE VERTICAL SUPPORT BAR, A SPIRAL COMPRESSION SPRING DISPOSED AROUND SAID BAR TO MAINTAIN SAID WHEELS IN CONTACT WITH SAID SURFACE, A FIXED CHART SUPPORT, A HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE CHART-HOLDING FRAME DISPOSED ON SAID CHART SUPPORT, MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID ROTATING WHEELS TO EFFECT HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, AND A STYLUS FIXED TO SAID VERTICALLY MOVABLE SUPPORT BAR TO RECORD ROTATION AND VERTICAL VARIATIONS ON SAID CHART.

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