US3869051A

US3869051A - Furnace charging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3869051A
Application number: US357507A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley T Sczerba
Original assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1973-05-04
Filing date: 1973-05-04
Publication date: 1975-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-04

Abstract

A charging apparatus for an open hearth furnace includes a plurality of adjacent open topped boxes which are individually pivotally mounted on a support car. Each box has a trunnion mounted hydraulic cylinder associated therewith for individually pivoting the boxes to discharge a load of steel scrap or other solids into an open hearth furnace. The support car is mounted on tracks to enable positioning the charging boxes in alignment with the furnace charging doors.

Description

titted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,869,051 Sczerba Mar, 4, 1975 FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS 3,107,797 10/1963 McFeaters et al. 214/18 so [75] Inventor: Stanley T. Sczerba McKeesport, Pa. 3,206,046 9/1965 Houdeshell 214/18 SC Assigneei Pennsylvifnia Engineering Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Corporation, Plttsburgh, fi- Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fred Wiviott [22] Filed: May 4, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 357,507 [57] ABSTRACT A charging apparatus for an open hearth furnace in- 52 us. c1. 214/18 sc, 266/33 cludes a plurality of adjacent Open topped boxes 51 1m. (:1. F27b 3/18 which are individually Pivmally mounted on a Supp)rt [58] Field of Search 214/18 R 18 SC 35 R car. Each box has a trunnion mounted hydraulic cylin- 2l4/314 5 der associated therewith for individually pivoting the s 7 boxes to discharge a load of steel scrap or other solids [56] References Cited into an open hearth furnace. The support car is 1 mounted on tracks to enable positioning the charging UNITED STATES PATENTS boxes in alignment with the furnace charging doors. 1,471,028 10/1923 Hogenson 214/24 2,606,015 8/1952 Brooke 214/24 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Open hearth furnace practice generally involves charging the furnace with materials such as steel scrap, cold pig iron, iron ore, limestone and various other solid materials. The type, quantity and proportions of charged material depend on the capacity and the type of furnace lining, ie., acid or basic and on the desired chemistry of the steel produced. Conventionally furnace charging machines usually include a cantilever arm or peel which engages a charging box containing solid materials to be placed in the furnace. The opposite end of the peel is supported on a trolley which may be moved toward or away from the furnace. The peel is advanced to insert the charging box into the furnace through a charging opening after which the peel is ro tated to invert the charging box and discharge its contents onto the furnace hearth. The trolley is then moved away from the furnace to withdraw the charging box.

Supporting the charging box on a long cantilever type peel requires that the connection between the peel and the trolley be capable of withstanding extremely high bending moments. Therefore, conventional charging apparatus are generally massive in relation to the volume of the charging boxes. The conventional cantilever type charging apparatus also requires considerable floor space behind the furnace, which must be kept clear over the length of the furnace bay to allow trans verse movement of the apparatus if it is used to charge other furnaces. Moreover, because of the large areas and wide movements involved, the apparatus presents a significant safety hazard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved charging apparatus for open hearth furnaces.

A general object of the invention is to provide an open hearth furnace charging apparatus which permits the use of material charging containers or boxes having a greater capacity in relation to its support and drive apparatus than conventional apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furnace charging apparatus which requires less aisle space in which to operate than is required by conventional charging apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a furnace charging apparatus which promotes rapid furnace charging.

How the foregoing and other more specific objects of the invention are achieved will be set forth in the more detail description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In general terms the invention comprises one or more open topped charging boxes pivotally mounted on a support car mounted on tracks adjacent the furnace and means for individually pivoting the boxes to discharge solid materials therefrom into an open hearth or other suitably designed furnace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an open hearth furnace and a charging apparatus according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an open hearth furnace which may be charged with the new charging apparatus 11. Such furnaces and their components are well known in the art and accordingly a general description will suffice. Furnace 10 includes a refractory shell 12 surrounded by a supporting framework which is generally designated by the numberal 13. The refractory lining 12 generally defines a hollow vessel having a shallow hearth 14 for containing molten metal, not shown. A plurality of charging openings 15 are located along the back of the furnace 10 and each is provided with a charging door 16 which may be raised and lowered when desired with any suitable means such as a motor operated hoist 18 mounted on frame 12. The furnace 10 itself may be mounted on stationary concrete or steel supports, not shown, or it may be mounted, as illustrated, on gear segment rockers 20 which are in turn supported on a stationary mating gear rack 22. The furnace 10 may be tilted on its rockers 20 in any suitable manner such as for example, an extensible trunnion mounted fluid operated extensible cylinder assembly 24. The front of the furnace opposite the charging openings 15 has an opening and a contiguous pouring spout 26 for permitting deslagging and pouring molten metal from the furnace 10. The furnace 10 may also have a fuel burner assembly 28 extending through one or both for melting and heating the charge within the vessel, while an opening (not shown) may be provided in the opposite ends for exhausting gases generated during metal processing operations.

As is also seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging apparatus 11 is positioned immediately behind the furnace l0 and includes one or more charging boxes 32 which are supported on a car 34. While three charging boxes 32 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, any number may be used, although generally there will be one for each charging door 16. The car 34 has wheels 35 which roll along tracks 36 supported on an elevated foundation 37 behind furnace 10. The tracks extend generally parallel to the rear wall of the furnace 10 to facilitate aligning the charging boxes 32 with the charging doors 15 of the furnace 10.

Since each of the charging boxes 32 are identical, only one will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The charging box 32 comprises an open topped container or box of any suitable material, such as steel and having a pair of side walls 37, a floor 38, a rear wall 39, and an open front end which has a discharge spout 40 affixed thereto. Aplurality of generally L-shaped support ribs 41 are affixed to the floor 38 and rear wall 39 of box 32. As shown in FIG. 2, each charging box 32 is mounted on car 34 by means of a frame assembly 42 which includes a pair of generally L-shaped side plates 43 which are interconnected by cross members 44. The plate 43 includes a top leg portion 45 for engaging the box 32 and a generally vertical short leg portion 46 whose lower end is pivotally connected to the car 34 by generally horizontally extending pivot shaft 47 suitably journaled to the car 34.. The frame assembly 42 is pivotable on shaft 47 in a vertical plane which is generally perpendicular to the tracks 36 so as to permit swinging box 32 toward and away from furnace 10. The car 34 includes a vertical support column 48 on the side thereof away from furnace I I) for supporting the leg 45 of frame assembly 42.

The charging box 32 may be affixed to the frame assembly 42 in any suitable manner such as by pins 55 extending from ribs 41, which pins are rigidly held against brackets 56 on the support frame 42 by means of retainer plates 57 which are attached to the brackets 56 by means such as bolts 58. In its normally supported position on the car 34, the discharge spout 40 is disposed toward the furnace and the box 32 is tilted backwardly to a slight degree relative to horizontal so the closed end of the box 32 is lower than the spout end to retain material in the box.

The lower end of hydraulic cylinder 62 is pivotally mounted to car 34 by a pin 63 having an axis generally parallel to shaft 47. The body of cylinder 62 extends generally upwardly and has a reciprocal shaft 64 extending therefrom which is pivotally journaled on a horizontal shaft 65 extending between frame members 44. The axis of shaft 65, shaft 47, and pin 63 are parallel. Thus it can be seen that when pressurized fluid from a source (not shown) is supplied to the cylinder 62 to extend the shaft 64, the support frame 42 will pivot clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 to move the box 32 from its position shown by full lines to its position shown by the phanton lines, thereby discharging the contents of the box 32 by way of spout 40 through charging opening 5 of ernal9-w A horizontally extending lift bar 65 extends between ribs 41 to enable removal'and lifting of the charging box 32 from the support frame with a conventional crane hook not shown. In addition, if hydraulic cylinder 61 should become inoperative, the support frame 42 and charging box 32 may still be pivoted for discharging by engaging a conventional crane hook (not shown) withthe bar 65 7 In operation, the charging apparatus is normally prepared by loading the charging boxes 32 with scrap or other solid material to be charged into the furnace 10. Loading may be done remotely from the furnace after which the car 34 is transported along rails 36 by an suitable means to a position behind the furnace 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the three charging boxes 32 are in alignment with three charging doors of the furnace 10. When it is desired to charge the furnace 10, the cylinder 24 is actuated to tilt the furnace about rocker as shown in FIG. 2 while the charging doors 16 are opened by operating the winch mechanism 18. The cylinders 62 are then actuated, either independently or simultaneously to pivot the support frame 42 and charging boxes 32 to the position shown in planton in FIG. 2 whereby the load of solid material is discharged by gravity into furnace 10 from the spouts 40 on the open end of the charging box 32. After discharge of the material from the charging boxes 32, the cylinders 62 are each retractcd to bring the support frames 42 back to their normal positions shown by full lines in FIG. 2.

While a single embodiment of the invention has thus been described it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations could be provided without departing from the inventive concept. For example the embodiment has been described with regards to a tiltable open hearth furnace, but could easily be adapted for use with conventional fixed furnaces. Furthermore, other mechanically equivalent tilting mechanisms could also be provided. Accordingly, the foregoing description is not intended to be limiting and the scope of the invention is to be taken soley from an interpretation of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. The apparatus for charging a metallurgical vessel which has at least one charging opening for receiving material, said apparatus comprising:

transport means,

container means for receiving material which is to be charged into said vessel,

said transport means being constructed and arranged for being positioned adjacent said vessel to dispose said container means adjacent said vessel opening, frame means pivotally mounted on said transport means, said frame means including a first elongate frame portion extending generally vertically and being pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said transport means on the side of said transport means adjacent said vessel, the pivotal axis of said first frame portion lying a substantial distance below said opening and extending in a direction generally parallel to said opening,

said frame means also including a second frame portion affixed adjacent the upper end of said first frame portion and extending over said transport means in a direction generally away from said opening, container means mounted on the second portion of said frame means,

operator means coupled to said second frame portion and operative to tilt said frame means about said pivotal axis and toward said vessel opening,

said container means having an open discharge end disposed generally above the junction of said first and second frame portions, the pivotal move ment of said frame means moving the open end of said container means a substantial distance toward said vessel and into said opening and tilting the opposite end of said container upwardly for discharging the contents thereof into said opening.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes means for supportingly engaging said second frame portion at a point remote from the junction between said first and second frame portions and at an elevation lower than said junction so that said container means is normally supported in an inclined position with its open end elevated relative to its opposite end.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said container means is normally supported with the major portion thereof disposed on the remote side relative to said vessel of the vertical plane containing said pivotal axis, the tilting of said container means by said operator means being effective to dispose a major portion of said container on the near side of said plane relative to said vessel.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said metallurgical vessel has a plurality of aligned openings disposed on one side for receiving material,

said transport means comprises elongate car means supported for movement on tracks extending in a direction generally parallel to the alignment of said vessel openings, a plurality of container means for material to be charged into said vessel, said container means being spaced apart on said car means a distance substantially equal to that between said openings and a plurality of said frame means, each of said container means being mounted on one of said frame means, and

actuating means for individually or collectively pivoting said container means between a supported posi- 6 transport means and each having its other end pivotally connected to the second portion of its respective frame means at a point remote from the junction between said first and second portions, said cylinders being selectively or jointly actuable to tilt said container means

Claims

1. The apparatus for charging a metallurgical vessel which has at least one charging opening for receiving material, said apparatus comprising: transport means, container means for receiving material which is to be charged into said vessel, said transport means being constructed and arranged for being positioned adjacent said vessel to dispose said container means adjacent said vessel opening, frame means pivotally mounted on said transport means, said frame means including a first elongate frame portion extending generally vertically and being pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said transport means on the side of said transport means adjacent said vessel, the pivotal axis of said first frame portion lying a substantial distance below said opening and extending in a direction generally parallel to said opening, said frame means also including a second frame portion affixed adjacent The upper end of said first frame portion and extending over said transport means in a direction generally away from said opening, container means mounted on the second portion of said frame means, operator means coupled to said second frame portion and operative to tilt said frame means about said pivotal axis and toward said vessel opening, said container means having an open discharge end disposed generally above the junction of said first and second portions, the pivotal movement of said frame means moving the open end of said container means a substantial distance toward said vessel and into said opening and tilting the opposite end of said container upwardly for discharging the contents thereof into said opening.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes means for supportingly engaging said second frame portion at a point remote from the junction between said first and second frame portions and at an elevation lower than said junction so that said container is normally supported in an inclined position with its open end elevated relative to its opposite end.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said container is normally supported with the major portion thereof disposed on the remote side relative to said vessel of the vertical plane containing said pivotal axis, the tilting of said container by said operator means being effective to dispose a major portion of said container on the near side of said plane.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said metallurgical vessel has a plurality of aligned openings disposed on one side for receiving material, said transport means comprises elongate car means supported for movement on tracks extending in a direction generally parallel to the alignment of said vessel openings, a plurality of container means for material to be charged into said vessel, said container means being spaced apart on said car means a distance substantially equal to that between said openings and a plurality of said frame means, each of said container means being mounted on one of said frame means, and actuating means for individually or collectively pivoting said container means between a supported position on said car means and a second position in which discharge ends of said container means are moved into said openings and the opposite ends elevated for discharging material into said vessel.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said actuating means comprises an extensible hydraulic cylinder having one end pivotally connected to said transport means and each having its other end pivotally connected to the second portion of its respective frame means at a point remote from the junction between said first and second portions, said cylinders being selectively or jointly actuable to tilt said container means.