US3709387A

US3709387A - Apparatus for handling lids and charging coal into coke ovens

Info

Publication number: US3709387A
Application number: US00156445A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Kinzler; A Jonnet
Original assignee: Koppers Co Inc
Current assignee: Raymond Kaiser Engineers Inc
Priority date: 1971-06-24
Filing date: 1971-06-24
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09
Also published as: ZA723496B; GB1349819A

Abstract

A larry car carrying a vertically movable lid lifting device is positionable over a row of charging lids on a coke oven. Fluid actuated cylinders actuate the pivoting cooperative lifting arms that grasp and raise a lid so that coal, moving by means of a screw feeder, flows through a closed conduit into the coking chamber. The apparatus is actuated then to replace and seat the lid.

Description

11 3,709,387 Jan. 9, 1973 United States Patent [191 Kinzler et al. I

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,142,391 7/1964 Tweit [54] APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LIDS AND CHARGING COAL INTO COKE OVENS [76] Inventors: Raymond C. Kinzler; Albert G. Jon- .214/18 PH both of pp p y, m 3,536,205 10/1970 Bender.........,................2l4/18 PH X Koppers Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Sherman J. Barber et a].

June 24, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A larry car carrying a vertically movable lid lifting device is positionable over a row of charging lids ona 21 Appl. No.: 156,445

coke oven. Fluid actuated cylinders actuate the pivoting cooperative lifting arms that grasp and raise a lid so that coal, moving by means of a screw feeder, flows through a closed conduit into the coking chamber. The apparatus is actuated then to replace and seat the lid.

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7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAM 9 I975 3,709,387

SHEET 2 0F 4 INVENTORS RHYMOND a. K/A/ZLER t ALBERT 6. JONNET s/w xq PATENTEDJAH 9 I875 SHEET 4 [1F 4 FIG. 6

INVENTORS RAYMOND c. K/NZ'LER d BY ALBERT a. JONNET APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LIDS AND CHARGING COAL INTO COKE OVENS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION which were generated in the oven chamber when the [0 fresh car contacted the hot oven walls was discharged to the atmosphere. But, nowadays, there are more stringent anti-pollution regulations that restrict the discharge of such gases to the atmosphere.

Numerous devices have been proposed in the prior art for collecting and handling the gases generated in a coke oven chamber during the coal charging process, but none of these has proved to be entirely satisfactory since they did not adequately prevent gas emissions.

In contrast to the foregoing prior art devices, the apparatus of the present invention is unique and unobvious and is adapted to handle coke oven lids and to prevent the discharge of gases to the atmosphere in a highly efficient manner when coal is charged through the apparatus into a coking chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved mechanism for handling lids and for charging coal into a coke oven chamber includes a first tube fixed vertically to a larry car and a movable second tube disposed coaxially with the first tube. A movable third tube is disposed coaxially within the second tube and means is provided for moving the second tube relative to and into sealing engagement with the first fixed tube.

A movable tubular drop sleeve assembly surrounds the fixed first tube and, when the drop sleeve is lowered onto the coke oven, the drop sleeve forms a gas tight seal with both the first tube and the coke oven battery.

Means is provided for moving the third tube relative to the second tube and also into contact with a lid; a pair of movable fingers being movable to grasp the lid and lift it off the coke oven.

When the third tube is raised, a screw conveyor moves coal into a hopper forming a portion of the fixed first tube and coal charges into the coke oven.

Upon replacing the lid, the third tube is oscillated about a vertical axis to seat the lid in the coal charging hole.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, references may be made to the following description and the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of equipment in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational view, partly in section of apparatus in accordance with the invention showing it in one operative position;

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to that of FIG. I, but showing only a portion ofit in another operative position;

FIG, 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the apparatus in a third position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. I, showing the apparatus in a fourth operative position;

FIG. 5 is a view of other apparatus associated with that ofFIG. l; and I FIG. 6 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 5, showing it in another operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates apparatus 11 in accordance with the invention and it also illustrates the apparatus in one operative position. The apparatus 11 comprises generally: a frame 13 that includes a pair of upright opposed tee-bar members 15 that are each fixed vertically to a larry car 16 at locations thereon which are in substantial alignment with the charging holes of a coke oven chamber; the tee-bar members 15 are connected together at the top by a cross member 17 which, as shown in FIG. 1, is an I-beam, but which may be any suitable structural shape. The cross member 17 carries a pair of pulley supports 19, 21 and pulleys 23, 25'journaled to these supports.

Each

pulley

23, 25 cooperates with a

wire rope

27, 29 that is connected at one end to a

counterweight

31, 33 and at the other end to a transversely extending bar 35 having

slots

37, 39 in the ends thereof through which pass the upright tee-bar members 15, and the bar 35 also has a central passage 41.

Each

counterweight

31, 33 is surrounded by and reciprocates in, a

tube

43, 45 which is fixed to the body structure of the larry car 16 the 'counterweights are thereby guided in vertical movement only.

The cross member 17 supports a cylinder-piston 47 assembly, having a piston rod 49, which is provided with trunnions 51 that are journaled in bearings 53 mounted to the cross member 17 as shown. The piston rod 49 is pivotally connected, as at 55, to a transverse plate 57, as shown in FIG. 1.

The transverse plate 57 is also connected, adjacent its ends, to a pair of

guide rods

59, 61 which extend upwardly and freely through

holes

63, 65 in the bar 35; the

holes

63, 65 being slightly larger in diameter than the

guide rods

59, 61. Nuts and washers 67 disposed on the ends of the

rods

59, 61 provide engagement with the bar 35 in the manner and for the purpose described hereinafter.

The transverse plate 57 carries a cylindrical lid tube 69 which is the innermost tube of three concentric, spaced-

apart tubes

69, 71, 73. The intermediateseal tube 71 is secured at its top edge to a flange 75 which is bolted, or otherwise suitably fastened to a transverse plate 77, that is similar to the transverse bar 35 in that the plate 77 has

end slots

79, 81 in which the vertically extending tee-bars are located.

The intermediary seal-tube 71. is provided with spacedapart

annular rings

83, 85 that guide the inner or lid tube 69 as it moves vertically as described hereinafter.

The intermediary seal tube 7Iis likewise guided during vertical movement, as hereinafter described, by an annular ring 87 mounted to the fixed outer tube 73. Adjacent the bottom of the fixed outer tube 73, there is an annular ring seat 89 which has a bevelled upper edge 91 against which the lower edge of the intermediary seal tube 71 abuts and forms a seal. The fixed outer tube 73 is secured to the lower end of the vertically ex- The fixed outer tube 73 is provided with a coal hopper 95 having an upwardly and outwardly sloping side wall, as shown, and a top 97. Coal is fed into the hopper 95 by means of a screw conveyor 98 which is a conventional apparatus, or it may be fed into the hopper 95 in any other known manner.

In spaced-apart, and free relation to the lower end of the fixed outer tube 73 there is a drop sleeve assembly 99 which includes three cooperative members: a drop ring 101; a collar 103; and a floating annular ring seal 105.

The drop ring 101 is shaped in cross section about as shown in FIG. 1, having a flat, flanged bottom 107 that is adapted to contact and form a seal with the top surface of the charging hole frame 163, and that is disposed in spaced apart relation to each charging hole 111. The upper portion 113 of the drop ring 101 is flared, as shown, so that it cooperates with the inwardly directed portion 115 of the collar 103.

The collar 103 has a downwardly sloping top 114, with a large central opening 116; the inner edge of the opening 116 being engageable with a seal ring 117 welded about where shown to the lower end of the fixed outer tube 73.

Within the collar 103 there is disposed the annular seal ring 105 which is so sized that its lower surface contacts and forms a seal with the upper edges 119 of the drop ring, while the outer perimetrical edge forms a seal with the inner surface of the collar 103.

The transverse plate 57 carries in suspended fashion a platform 121 which is disposed within the innermost or lid tube 69, about as shown in FIG. 1. Mounted to the platform 121 is an hydraulic rotary actuator 123, of the type which is marketed by Ex-Cell-O Corp., Greenville, Ohio under the trademark ROTAC. Those skilled in the art will understand that any other suitable rotary actuator may be used if preferred.

The ROTAC actuator carries in suspended fashion a cylinder-piston assembly 125 and piston rod 127 to which is connected a clevis 129. The piston rod 127 is disposed to reciprocate vertically in a guide 131 mounted to the innermost lid tube 69, about where shown in FIGS. land 2.

The clevis 129 carries a transversely extending pin 133 which coacts in

slots

135, 137 in the upper end portion of each of a pair of

lifter arms

139, 141. The lifter arms are pivotable about a shaft 143 mounted transversely in the lower end of the innermost lid tube 69.

Each

lifter arm

139, 141 is provided at its lower end with a slotted

bottom

145, 147 that coacts with the upstanding round Tee'head portion 149 of a charging hole lid 151.

The bottom edge of the innermost or lid tube 69 is serrated about as shown at 153 in FIG. 2, and the serrations 153 coact with a single lug 155 which is welded to the upper surface of the charging hole lid 151 in such a location that it will fit into one of the serrations 153.

It will be noted that the lid lifter apparatus 11 is intended to be used with a lid 151 like that shown in FIG. 2, which is a circular steel plate having a cylindrical peripheral surface 157. A beveled edge is not provided on the lid, but such an edge is provided on a lid seat 163 set into the top of the coke oven battery.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an apparatus 165 for raising and lowering the drop sleeve assembly 99. The apparatus comprises generally linkages and a fluid actuated. cylinder-piston assembly 167.

A pair of parallel outer compensator arms 169, 171 are pivotally connected at 173 to the collar 103-, about where shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and to lugs 175 as by pivot pins 177.

Another pair of inner drop-

sleeve arms

179, 181, having the shape of bellcranks, are pivoted as at 183 to lugs 185, and to the collar 103, as at pivot pins 187.

It will be noted from FIG. 5 that the distance between pivot pins 183, 187 is equal to the distance between pivot pins 173, 177, and that the

arms

179, 181 are parallel to the arms 169, 171. In fact, the distance between pins 173, 187 is equal to the distance between

pins

177, 183. Thus, the

arms

169, 171 and 179, 181 form the parallel sides of a parallelogram.

The bell cranks 179, 181 are connected to a link 189 which is itself secured to a crank 191 mounted to a shaft 193 that is journaled to supports 195 mounted to the larry car 16. Adjacent one end of the shaft 193 is another crank 197 which is connected to the piston rod portion of the cylinder-piston assembly 167; the cylinder-piston assembly 167 being pivotally mounted as at 199 to adjacent fixed structure 201 on the larry car 16.

Now, FIG. 1 represents the traveling position of the lid lifter apparatus 11 which has just been spotted above the charging hole lid 151. The larry car 16 which carries the apparatus 11, should be spotted within a preselected maximum allowable tolerance of the exact centerline of the coke oven chamber to be charged.

The pneumatic cylinder-piston 167 is actuated to pivot the bell cranks 179, 181 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5. Movement of the bell cranks in this direction, lowers the drop sleeve assembly into engagement with the top of the coke oven chamber, as shown in FIG. 4. After the drop ring 101 engages the oven chamber, the collar 103 continues downward until the peripheral edge of the sloping top 114 engages and seats on the seal ring 117. The internal floating ring seal then engages the upper edge 119 and forms a seal with it as well as a seal with the inner wall of the collar, as shown in FIG. 4.

It should be noted that the seal tube 71 moves downward also, and the lower end of it engages the beveled surface 91 of the ring seat 89 and forms a seal with that surface. The seal tube 71 then is in position, as shown in FIG. 1, while the drop sleeve assembly is being lowered.

Thereupon, the cylinder-piston assembly 47 is actuated so that the rod 49, the lid tube 69 and the mechanism attached to the transverse plate 57 move downward. The lid tube 69 engages the top surface 159 of the lid 151; the lug 155 coacting with one of the serratious 153. In the down position (the lid tube being in contact with the lid), the lid lifter arms are open and in the position shown in FIG. 2.

Cylinder-piston assembly 125 is then extended and the pin 133 coacts with the

slots

135, 137 and pivots the lid lifting arms about the fixed pin 143 to the closed position, shown in FIG. 3, in which they surround the tee-head 149.

Cylinder-piston assembly 47 is thereupon actuated to raise the lid tube and the lid. During the upward move ment, the transverse plate 57 engages the other transverse plate 77 and the seal tube is thereafter raised vertically also.

It should be noted that when the lid tube is urged downward, the

counterweights

31, 33 move upward within their

respective guide tubes

43, 45. So, too, when the lid tube and the seal tube move upwardly, the counterweights move downwardly.

The transverse-bar 35, which moves upwardly along with the lid tube 69 and seal tube 73, contacts a pair of

stops

203, 205 that are suitably fastened to the vertical tee-

bar members

15, 13 about where shown in FIG. 1. Contact with these stops arrests the downward move ment of the counterweights, but the

tubes

69, 71 continue to rise until they reach the position shown in FIG. 4 with the lower ends of the tube 71 above the screw conveyor 98.

As soon as the mechanism has stopped its upward movements, the screw conveyor 98 is actuated so that coal discharges into the hopper 95. [t then flows through the tube 73 and drop sleeve arrangement 99 and gravitates into the coke oven chamber.

Gases which evolve before, during and after the charging process cannot escape to the atmosphere because of the seal provided at surface 91 in the seal tube arrangement and because of the close tolerance between the ring seal 105 and the drop ring 101 and the collar 103.

After charging is completed, the cylinder-piston assembly 47 is extended until the seal tube contacts and makes a seal with the beveled edge of the ring seat. This seals against smoke issuing into the hopper and screw trough, and also prevents any loose coal from running out of the discharge spout.

The cylinder-piston assembly 47 extends further until the lid contacts the charging hole and the lid tube contacts the lid. Thereafter, the rotary actuator, ROTAC, is activated to oscillate the lid tube and the lid about the vertical axis of the lid tube; the oscillatory action being confined to an arc of about 30.

Thereupon, the cylinder-piston 125 is again actuated to move the clevis and pin 129, 133 downward, thereby opening the lifter arms. The mechanism may now be raised and made ready for movement to another oven to be charged.

This is accomplished by activating the cylinderpiston 47 which results in raising the lid tube and the apparatus connected to the transverse plate 57. Simultaneously, or nearly so, the mechanism 165 must be activated to raise the drop sleeve arrangement to the up position shown in FIG. 1.

it should be noted that the counterweights hold the lid tube and the mechanism attached to the transverse plate 57 in the up or travel position.

It is customary to move the larry car to the next coke oven chamber that is to be charged and to be dampered off. After the larry car is spotted at the oven, cylinderpiston assembly 47 is activated, thereby extending the piston rod 49. The lid tube again contacts a lid and the cylinder-piston arrangement 125 is activated. The piston rod 127 is extended and the lifting fingers are brought into engagement with the Tee-head on the lid.

Now then, the cylinder-piston assembly 47 is activated to raise the lid tube and the lid to the travel position. The larry car next moves to the coal bin and, after receiving a supply of coal, it returns to the oven to be charged. The other charging hole lids are removed in the manner described hereinbefore and the oven is charged as described.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will recognize numerous features and advantages among which the most significant are:

That the lid lifter unit is easily replaceable when it is desirable or necessary to do this. Only the bolts holding the tee-members to the larry car need to be removed and the entire lid lifter assembly may be quickly removed. A new or repaired lid lifter unit can be as quickly installed:

That the lid lifter assembly has effective seals that prevent smoke and dust from being emitted to the atmosphere;

That the lid lifter assembly is readily adaptable for use on any conventional type of coal charging larry car having either a screw feed, gravity feed, or turntable feed system;

That the assembly may be adapted for use with either a mechanical type of lid engagement apparatus, like that shown and described, or a magnetic lid lifting apparatus of a known type;

That the oscillation of the lid is due to a positive mechanical engagement of lid and lid tube, but it may be modified to accommodate any other type of oscillating apparatus, such as a saw blade that is associated with a magnetic lifter; and

That the several cylinder-piston assemblies may be activated by either air, hydraulic fluid, or they may be electrically operated cylinders.

' Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coke oven battery having; a larry car and a lid on a coal charging hole of a coking chamber of said battery, the improved mechanism for handling such lid and charging coal into said chamber comprising:

a. a vertically aligned frame fixed to said larry car;

b. a first tube fixed vertically to said frame and positionabie in vertical alignment with said charging hole, said first tube carrying an internal sealing ring and an external sealing ring;

c. a movable second tube disposed in coaxial,

spaced-apart relation to and within said first tube;

d. a movable third tube disposed in coaxial, spacedapart relation to and within said second tube;

e. first means for moving said second tube relative to and into sealing relation with said internal sealing ring;

f. a movable tubular assembly disposed coaxially with and surrounding said first tube;

g. second means for bringing said tubular assembly into contact with said coke oven battery and surrounding relation to said lid, said tubular assembly making a sealing engagement with said external sealing ring;

h. third means for moving said third tube relative to said second tube and into contact with said lid;

. fourth means associated with said third tube for engaging and grasping said lid;

. fifth means for activating said fourth means and raising said lid from said charging hole;

. a hopper mounted to and communicating with interior of said first tube; and

. means for moving coal into said hopper whereby it gravitates into said coking chamber.

. The apparatus of claim 1 including:

a lug on said lid; and

. means on said third tube engageable with said lug;

and

. means for oscillating said third tube about its vertical axis and also for oscillating said lid.

. The apparatus of claim 1 including: spacers mounted internally of said second tube for guiding said third tube as it moves relative to said second tube; and

. a spacer mounted internally of said first tube for guiding said second tube as it moves relative to said first tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable tubular assembly comprises:

a. a first tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube in spaced-apart relation;

21 second tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and spaced apart from said first tubular ring, one portion of said first tubular ring being cooperative with a surface portion of said second tubular ring; and

. an annular ring concentrically surrounding said 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means includes:

a. a plurality of levers pivotally mounted to said tubular assembly and to adjacent structure of said larry car;

. a fluid activated cylinder-piston assembly pivotally mounted to said larry car; and

. linkage means connecting said levers and a pistonrod of said cylinder piston assembly whereby when said cylinder piston is actuated, said levers and linkage means raise and lower said tubular assembly relative to said first tube.

6. In a coke oven battery having a larry car and a lid on a coal charging hole of a coking chamber of said battery, the improved mechanism for handling such lid and charging coal into said chamber comprising:

a vertically aligned frame fixed to said larry car;

. a first tube fixed vertically to said frame and positionable in vertical alignment with said charging hole, said first tube carrying an internal sealing ring and an external sealing ring;

a movable second tube disposed in coaxial, spaccd-apart relation to and within said first tube,

. a movable third tube disposed in coaxial, spacedapart relation to and within said second tube;

. a first cylinder-piston assembly having a piston rod connected to said third tube for moving it into engagement with said lid;

f. a lug on said lid;

g. serrations on the end of said third tube that are engageable with said lug for oscillating said lid when said third tube oscillates;

h. means for oscillating said third tube about its vertical axis;

i. means for moving axially said second tube into sealing engagement with said internal sealing ring;

j. a pair of lifter arms pivotally mounted within said third tube that are adapted to engage and hold said lid and raise said lid when said third tube moves axially, each lifter arm having an elongate slot in each arm that cooperates with a pin in a clevis secured to a piston rod;

k. said piston rod being coactive with a second cylinder-piston assembly so that, when the second cylinder-piston assembly is actuated, said lifter arms are pivotable for grasping and releasing said lid;

1. a first tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube in spaced-apart relation;

m. a second tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and spaced apart from said first tubular ring, one portion of said first tubular ring being cooperative with a surface portion of said second tubular ring;

n. an annular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and being disposed freely within said second tubular ring, said annular ring being engageable with said first tubular ring and being disposed closely adjacent said second tubular ring and forming seals therewith when said first tubular ring is in contact with said coke oven;

0. a plurality of levers pivotally mounted to said tubular assembly and to adjacent structure of said larry car;

p. a fluid actuated cylinder-piston assembly pivotally mounted to said larry car;

q. linkage means connecting said levers and a piston rod of said cylinder-piston assembly whereby, when said cylinder-piston assembly is actuated, said levers and linkage means raise and lower said tubular assembly relative to said first tube;

r. a hopper mounted to and communicating with said first tube; and

s. screw conveyor means for moving coal into said hopper and into said first tube so that said coal gravitates into said coking chamber after said lid has been raised.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein:

a. said means for moving axially said second tube includes: i. a first transverse member having an opening therein which is secured to the upper end of said second tube with the opening being coaxial with said second tube,

means on said transverse member cooperating with said frame for guiding said second tube as it reciprocates vertically;

iii. a second transverse member secured to said frame and carrying a pair of spacedapart pulleys;

iv. flexible means looped over said pulleys with one end of each flexible means being connected to a third transverse member that is secured to said first transverse member and with the other end of each flexible means being connected to a counterweight, and

. a fourth transverse member connected to said zg gy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. I J ated January 9, 1973 Inventor) Raymond C. Kinzler and AlbertG. Jonnet It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent v and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

c The nameand address of the Assigrlee should b printed on the face of the patent as shown below;

7 Assignee: Koppers Company; 1110 a corporatioh of Delaware Signed 'and sealed this 24th day of September 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting' Officer c. MARSHALLDANN Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In a coke oven battery having a larry car and a lid on a coal charging hole of a coking chamber of said battery, the improved mechanism for handling such lid and charging coal into said chamber comprising: a. a vertically aligned frame fixed to said larry car; b. a first tube fixed vertically to said frame and positionable in vertical alignment with said charging hole, said first tube carrying an internal sealing ring and an external sealing ring; c. a movable second tube disposed in coaxial, spaced-apart relation to and within said first tube; d. a movable third tube disposed in coaxial, spaced-apart relation to and within said second tube; e. first means for moving said second tube relative to and into sealing relation with said internal sealing ring; f. a movable tubular assembly disposed coaxially with and surrounding said first tube; g. second means for bringing said tubular assembly into contact with said coke oven battery and surrounding relation to said lid, said tubular assembly making a sealing engagement with said external sealing ring; h. third means for moving said thiRd tube relative to said second tube and into contact with said lid; i. fourth means associated with said third tube for engaging and grasping said lid; j. fifth means for activating said fourth means and raising said lid from said charging hole; k. a hopper mounted to and communicating with interior of said first tube; and l. means for moving coal into said hopper whereby it gravitates into said coking chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including: a. a lug on said lid; and b. means on said third tube engageable with said lug; and c. means for oscillating said third tube about its vertical axis and also for oscillating said lid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including: a. spacers mounted internally of said second tube for guiding said third tube as it moves relative to said second tube; and b. a spacer mounted internally of said first tube for guiding said second tube as it moves relative to said first tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable tubular assembly comprises: a. a first tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube in spaced-apart relation; b. a second tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and spaced apart from said first tubular ring, one portion of said first tubular ring being cooperative with a surface portion of said second tubular ring; and c. an annular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and being disposed freely within second tubular ring, said annular ring being engageable with said first tubular ring and being disposed closely adjacent said second tubular ring and forming seals therewith when said first tubular ring is in contact with said coke oven.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means includes: a. a plurality of levers pivotally mounted to said tubular assembly and to adjacent structure of said larry car; b. a fluid activated cylinder-piston assembly pivotally mounted to said larry car; and c. linkage means connecting said levers and a piston-rod of said cylinder piston assembly whereby when said cylinder piston is actuated, said levers and linkage means raise and lower said tubular assembly relative to said first tube.

6. In a coke oven battery having a larry car and a lid on a coal charging hole of a coking chamber of said battery, the improved mechanism for handling such lid and charging coal into said chamber comprising: a. a vertically aligned frame fixed to said larry car; b. a first tube fixed vertically to said frame and positionable in vertical alignment with said charging hole, said first tube carrying an internal sealing ring and an external sealing ring; c. a movable second tube disposed in coaxial, spaced-apart relation to and within said first tube; d. a movable third tube disposed in coaxial, spaced-apart relation to and within said second tube; e. a first cylinder-piston assembly having a piston rod connected to said third tube for moving it into engagement with said lid; f. a lug on said lid; g. serrations on the end of said third tube that are engageable with said lug for oscillating said lid when said third tube oscillates; h. means for oscillating said third tube about its vertical axis; i. means for moving axially said second tube into sealing engagement with said internal sealing ring; j. a pair of lifter arms pivotally mounted within said third tube that are adapted to engage and hold said lid and raise said lid when said third tube moves axially, each lifter arm having an elongate slot in each arm that cooperates with a pin in a clevis secured to a piston rod; k. said piston rod being coactive with a second cylinder-piston assembly so that, when the second cylinder-piston assembly is actuated, said lifter arms are pivotable for grasping and releasing said lid; l. a first tubular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube in spaced-apart relation; m. a second tubular ring concentrically sUrrounding said first tube and spaced apart from said first tubular ring, one portion of said first tubular ring being cooperative with a surface portion of said second tubular ring; n. an annular ring concentrically surrounding said first tube and being disposed freely within said second tubular ring, said annular ring being engageable with said first tubular ring and being disposed closely adjacent said second tubular ring and forming seals therewith when said first tubular ring is in contact with said coke oven; o. a plurality of levers pivotally mounted to said tubular assembly and to adjacent structure of said larry car; p. a fluid actuated cylinder-piston assembly pivotally mounted to said larry car; q. linkage means connecting said levers and a piston rod of said cylinder-piston assembly whereby, when said cylinder-piston assembly is actuated, said levers and linkage means raise and lower said tubular assembly relative to said first tube; r. a hopper mounted to and communicating with said first tube; and s. screw conveyor means for moving coal into said hopper and into said first tube so that said coal gravitates into said coking chamber after said lid has been raised.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein: a. said means for moving axially said second tube includes: i. a first transverse member having an opening therein which is secured to the upper end of said second tube with the opening being coaxial with said second tube, ii. means on said transverse member cooperating with said frame for guiding said second tube as it reciprocates vertically; iii. a second transverse member secured to said frame and carrying a pair of spaced-apart pulleys; iv. flexible means looped over said pulleys with one end of each flexible means being connected to a third transverse member that is secured to said first transverse member and with the other end of each flexible means being connected to a counterweight, and v. a fourth transverse member connected to said third tube and to said piston rod of said first cylinder-piston assembly, said fourth transverse member being engageable with said first transverse member as said fourth moves vertically and thereby axially moving said second tube.