US3910431A

US3910431A - Automatic coal charging car

Info

Publication number: US3910431A
Application number: US430987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Homer Donald Fuller; James Arthur Little
Original assignee: Allied Chemical Corp
Current assignee: Allied Corp
Priority date: 1974-01-04
Filing date: 1974-01-04
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved coal charging car, adapted for delivering coal to the charging holes of a coke oven battery for conversion of coal to coke. This coal charging car includes: a coal hopper assembly, a turntable assembly, a lid lifter assembly and a coal drop assembly. The coal hopper and turntable assemblies are displaced from the charging hole when coal is being deposited in the charging hole to avoid exposure of these assemblies to the heat from the charging hole. A heat insulation layer is provided and is disposed between the turntable assembly and the coal hopper assembly for the purpose of insulating the turntable assembly from the extreme heat emanating from the coke oven during the time when coal is being charged into the charging hole of the coke oven. A support is provided for the turntable platform and the support extends substantially under the entire turntable platform to provide more complete support of the turntable platform and to reduce warpage of the turntable platform. An air intake pipe is provided which cools the oil in the speed reducer and maintains the cleanliness of the speed reducer.

Description

Oct. 7, 1975 United States Patent [191 Fuller et a1.

ABSTRACT AUTOMATIC COAL CHARGING CAR Inventors: Homer Donald Fuller; James Arthur Lmle both of Ashland This invention relates to an improved coal charging car, adapted for delivering coal to the charging holes [73] Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, New

York, N.Y. of a coke oven battery for conversion of coal to coke.

This coal charging car includes: a coal hopper assem- [22] Filed 1974 bly, a turntable assembly, a lid lifter assembly and a [21] Appl. No.: 430,987 coal drop assembly. The coal hopper and turntable assemblies are displaced from the charging hole when coal is being deposited in the charging hole to avoid [52] U.S. 214/35 R, 202/263, 212/4, exposure of these assemblies to the heat from the charging hole. A heat insulation layer is provided and is disposed between the turntable assembly and the coal hopper assembly for the purpose of insulating the mm 2 0 .l. H MwR 2 5 3 WH P m8 "H m4 .1 m2 mh "c r. a "e "S 2. d Ld mm 1] 00 55 202/262 263 turntable assembly from the extreme heat emanating References Cited from the coke oven during the time when coal is being UNITED STATES PATENTS charged into the charging hole of the coke oven. A

support is provided for the turntable platform and the support extends substantially under the entire turnta- 214/18 PH 214/18 PH X ble platform to provide more complete support of the 214/18 PH turntable platform and to reduce warpage of the turni; g table platform. An air intake pipe is provided which 214/18 PH X cools the 011 in the speed reducer and maintains the 214/18 PH x cleanliness of the speed reducer. Ledinsky 214/18 PH X 919 Underwood....t....... 299 9/1952 McCabe 391 7/1964 Tweit.......

145 4/1969 Tucker et a1. 218 11/1970 Herbst 676 12/1971 Tucker 519 6/1972 Pries Primary Exammer-Robert G Sheridan 26 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John P. Kirby, .lr.

US. Patent Qct.7,1975 Sheet10f16 3,910,431

wlrs US. Patent (M11975 Sheet 3 of 16 3,910,431

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet4 of 16 3,910,431

llill "III-ll FIG.

US. Patent 00. 7,1975 Sheet 5 of 16 3,910,431

FIG.

US. Patent 0m. 7,1975 shw 6 of 16 3,910,431

U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet7 of 16 3,910,431

IIIIIIIIPI FIG. 7

U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 8 of 16 3,910,431

FIG. 8

FIG.

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 90f16 3,910,431

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 shw 10 of 16 3,910,431

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet11of16 3,910,431

' I72 F|G 16 173 I72 III US. Patent Sheet 14 of 16 Oct. 7,1975

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 15 of16 3,910,431

QON

ON w

5 wow US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 shw 16 of 16 3,910,431

FIG. 22

FIG. 21

AUTOMATIC COAL CHARGING CAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved coal charging car adapted for delivering coal to at least one coke oven. The coal charging car of this invention may be used with a variety of coke ovens for the conversion of coal to coke by carbonization. An example of the coking plant and process in which the coal charging car of this invention may be used is described in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, edited by R. E. Kirk and D. F. Othmer, Volume 3, pages 160 167 (1954 edition).

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,672,519 and 3,675,797 to Fries and 2,448,953 to L. Wilputte et al, disclose charging cars for coke ovens which differ in design from the coal charging car of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The coal charging car of this invention is adapted to convey coal automatically from a coal supply source to at least one coke oven, by lifting at least one lid from a charging hole on the coke oven and delivering or charging coal through the charging hole into the coke oven. In normal operation, the charging hole has heat emanating from it when the coke oven is in operation. The coal charging car in combination includes at least one, and preferably three, of each of the following assemblies: a coal hopper assembly, a turntable assembly, a lid lifter assembly, and a coal drop assembly.

The coal hopper assembly receives coal from a coal supply source, such as a coal bin. A turntable assembly is disposed below each coal hopper assembly and is adapted to dispense coal from the coal hopper assembly in a uniform flow. A lid lifter assembly is disposed adjacent to each coal hopper assembly. The lid lifter assembly is adapted to clean the lid of a coke oven, lift the lid up and off the charging hole of the coke oven, swing the lid out of the way prior to charging coal into the charging hole of the coke oven and replace and seat the lid on the charging hole of the coke oven after charging has been completed. A coal drop assembly is connected to and disposed below each coal hopper assembly. The coal drop assembly delivers coal from the coal hopper assembly to the charging hole of the coke oven and conducts coal gases away from the charging hole of the coke oven.

The coal charging car of this invention is an improved design of previous coal charging cars and includes the following features which are among the features which distinguish it from previous coal charging cars. The coal hopper assembly and the turntable assembly are displaced from and out of alignment with the charging hole of the coke oven when coal is being charged into the charging hole, thereby avoiding direct exposure of the coal hopper assembly and the turntable assembly to the heat from the charging hole. In the preferred embodiment, a heat insulation layer is provided and is disposed between the turntable assembly and the coal hopper assembly for the purpose of insulating the turntable assembly from the extreme heat emanating from the coke oven during the time when coal is being charged into the charging hole of the coke oven. In the preferred embodiment, a support is provided for the turntable platform and the support extends substantially under the entire turntable platform to provide more complete support of the turntable platform and to reduce warpage of the turntable platform. In the preferred embodiment, an air intake pipe is provided which cools the oil in the speed reducer and maintains the cleanliness of the speed reducer. As a result of these and other improvements described subsequently, the coal charging car of this invention operates more efficiently and more effectively than cool charging cars known in the prior art and operates with less wear and damage to the coal charging car.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a coal charging car according to this invention mounted on a battery of coke ovens.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the coal charging car, viewed from the direction shown by arrow 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one turntable assembly used in the coal charging car shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section of FIG. 5 along the lines 66.

Fig. 7 is a side view of FIG. 5 along the lines 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the deflector positioned within the coal hopper assembly.

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of one lid lifter assembly which is used in the coal charging car shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the lid lifter assembly shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical section of FIG. 11 along the lines 12-12.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section of FIG. 10 along the lines 1313.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical section of FIG. along the lines l4l4.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical section of FIG. along the lines 15-15. I

FIG. 16 is an enlarged vertical section of FIG. along the lines 1616.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged vertical section of FIG. along the lines 1717.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of three lid lifter assemblies which are used in the coal charging car shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of one coal drop assembly which is used in the coal charging car shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 20 is a disassembled view of part of the coal drop assembly shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of one coal drop assembly which is used in the coal charging car shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction Referring to FIG. 1, the coal charging car of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 1. The coal charging car 1 is adapted to be mounted on the roof 4 of a battery of coke ovens. The battery of coke ovens is indicated generally by the numeral 5 and comprises a plurality of coke ovens 8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each coke oven is approximately 16 feet 8 inches high, 47 feet 1% inches long and 1 foot 5%.

inches wide. The roof 4 of the coke oven battery 5 is a horizontal plane and, as a result of additional support structure under the coke oven battery 5, the roof 4 is approximately 30 feet above the ground.

In the battery 5 of coke ovens 8, each coke oven 8 has three charging holes 9 disposed on the roof 4 of the battery 5 of coke ovens 8. The coal charging car 1 of this invention is disposed on the roof 4 and is adapted for conveying a volumetrically controlled amount of coal to the coke ovens 8 by lifting a lid on each charging hole 9 and depositing or charging coal in the charging hole 9. Other batteries 5 of coke ovens 8 may have a greater or lesser number of charging holes 9.

In typical operation, the coal charging car 1 delivers coal either sequentially or simultaneously into the three charging holes 9 of one coke oven 8. Then, the charging car 1 moves in a horizontal direction on rails 18 which form a track and which guide the charging car 1 to a coal supply source, such as a coal bin .(not

shown). After obtaining another supply of coal, the charging car 1 moves to the next coke oven 8 to repeat the operation of delivering or charging coal into the next group of three charging holes 9. It is possible to operate the charging car 1 to charge into each of the three charging holes 9 separately, known as sequential charging, or to charge all three charging holes of one coke oven 8 in unison, known as simultaneous charg ing. The next coke oven 8 to be charged may be adjacent to the previous coke oven 8 charged or it may be any other coke oven 8 in the battery 5.

Each coke oven 8 has an exhaust standpipe 16 diposed on the roof 4 over the coke oven 8 for the pur pose of aspirating and conducting coal gases out of the coke oven 8. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illus trates nine coke ovens 8, but a coke oven battery 5 may comprise more than nine coke ovens or less than nine coke ovens. For purposes of clarity and simplification, FIG. 1 does not show an exhaust standpipe 16 for each coke oven 8, although normally each coke oven 8 has an exhaust standpipe 16.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the coal charging car 1 includes the following major assemblies: at least one coal hopper assembly, referred to generally by the numeral 20, at least one turntable assembly, referred to generally by the numeral 22, at least one lid lifter assembly, referred to generally by the numeral 24, and at least one coal drop assembly, referred to generally by the numeral 26. There are three of each of the foregoing assemblies because there are three coal charging holes 9 for each coke oven 8. Preferably, the number of the foregoing major assemblies is equal to the number of coal charging holes 9 for each coke oven 8. Thus, if each coke oven 8 has four coal charging holes 9, the coal charging car 1 might be arranged with four of the foregoing major assemblies. Similarly, if each coke oven 8 had two coal charging holes 9, then the coal charging car 1 might be arranged to have two of the foregoing major assemblies. In summary, the coal charging car 1 may comprise one of each of the foregoing major assemblies or a plurality of each of the foregoing major assemblies.

The coal hopper assembly 20 receives coal from a coal supply source, such as a coal bin (not shown), by means of a bin gate 23 and a bin gate operator 25. Re ferring to FIGS. 4 and 19, the coal hopper assembly) has a discharge spout 28 at the bottom of the coal hopper assembly 20 adjacent to the coal drop assembly 26 at the place where the upper end of the coal drop assembly 26 is connected to the coal hopper assembly 20. The coal from the coal hopper assembly 20 passes through the discharge spout 28 on its way to the charging hole 9, shown in FIG. 1. The turntable assembly 22 is adapted to dispense coal at a uniform rate from the coal hopper assembly20 to the coal drop assembly 26. Referring to FIG. 4, the discharge spout 28, the coal hopper assembly 20 and the turntable assembly 22 are not positioned directly over the charging hole 9, shown in FIG. 1, but instead are displaced from, that is, positioned'out of alignment with the charging hole 9, shown in FIG. 1, when coal is being charged into the charging hole 9. This displacement avoids exposure of the turntable assembly 22 to heat emanating fromthe charging hole 9. This heat is the result of the high temperature in the coke oven 8 when the coke oven 8 is in operation. The coal is carbonized within the coke ovens 8 at a temperature which is commonly in the range of from 1800 to 2200F.

The lid lifter assembly 24 is disposed adjacent and under the coal drop assembly 26, the coal hopper assembly 20 and the turntable assembly 22. The lid lifter assembly 24 is adapted to move under the coal drop assembly 26 to clean the lid 29 covering the charging hole 9, lift and swing the lid 29 out of the way prior to the charging of coal into the charging hole 9 of the coke oven 8 and replace and seat the lid 29 onthe charging hole 9 of the coke oven after such charging. The coal drop assembly 26 is connected to and disposed below the coal hopper assembly 20. The coal drop assembly 26 is disposed adjacent to and predominantly below the turntable assembly 22 and slightly higher than the lid lifter assembly 24. The coal drop as.-.

sembly 26 is adapted to deliver coal from the coal hopper assembly 20 to the charging hole 9 of a coke oven 8, shown in FIG. 1, and to conduct coal gases away from the charging hole 9 of the coke oven 8. Ree

ferring to FIG. 4, the displacement of the coal hopper assembly 20 and the turntable assembly 22 is the result of an inclined coal section 200 of the coal drop assembly 26. The inclined coal section 200 is described in detail subsequently.

COAL HOPPER ASSEMBLY Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4,5, 7 and 19, the ,coal

hopper assembly 20 includes a coal hopper 30, a discharge spout 28, a deflector 48, and a coal guide 34,

none of which rotate.

The coal hopper 30 is a large container which functions as a receptacle for the purpose of receiving coal from a coal source (not shown) and as an intermediate storage reservoir for the purpose of holding coal until the coal is ready to be delivered to a charging hole of a coke oven. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the coal hopper 30 has a substantially circular shape at its upper portion, referred to generally by the numeral 36, and a partial funnel shape at its bottom portion, referred to generally by the numeral 38. Referring to the view in FIG. 6, the lower portion 38 of the coal hopper 30 has an inclined side 40 and a substantially vertical side 42. Referring to the view in FIG. 7, two

other sides

44 and 46 of the lower portion 38 of the coal hopper 30 are inclined. The combination of the substantially vertical side 40 and the three

inclined sides

42, 44 and 46 give the lower portion 38 of the coal hopper 30 its partial funnel shape.

Referring to FIG. 19, the discharge spout 28 is located at the bottom of the coal hopper 30 and is positioned at one side of the coal hopper 30 adjacent to the coal drop assembly 26. The discharge spout 28 is connected to the coal drop assembly 26 and is adapted to pass coal from the coal hopper 30 to the coal drop assembly 26.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 19, the deflector 48 is disposed in approximately the bottom half of the coal hopper 30 and occupies approximately onequarter of the area in the bottom half of the coal hopper 30. The deflector 48 is adapted to deflect coal from the coal hopper 30 into the discharge spout 28. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the deflector 48 includes: two

flat plates

50 and 52, arranged at about a 90 right angle to one another, and a curved plate 54. The two

flat plates

50 and 52 each have a straight substantially vertical edge 56, a straight substantially horizontal edge 57 and a

curved edge

58 and 60. As a result, the two

flat plates

50 and 52 each have the approximate shape of a quarter circle, but with the vertical edges 56 being slightly longer than the horizontal edges 57. The straight vertical edges 56 are joined to one another at the right angle. The curved plate 54 is a shell-like structure having a shape similar to that of a one-eighth section of an orange peel. The curved plate 54 has a curved bottom edge 62 and curved side edges. Each curved side edge of the curved plate 54 is joined to the

curved edge

58 and 60 of one of the flat plates. As a result, the deflector 48 is enclosed on all three of its upstanding sides by

plates

50, 52 and 54, except for a passageway 64 in one of the substantially vertical plates 50. Coal is fed from the coal hopper assembly through the passageway 64 into the deflector 48 and then into the discharge spout 28.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the coal guide 34 is disposed within the coal hopper assembly 20, at the bottom of the coal hopper 30, approximately centered over the turntable assembly 22. The coal guide 34 is adapted to cooperate with the turntable assembly 22 in guiding coal on to the turntable platform 82 0f the turntable assembly 22. The coal guide 34 is a large, dishshaped, substantially circular, partially funnel shaped, structure having an open bottom. The upper periphery of the coal guide 34 is partially funnel-shaped, the middle periphery is irregularly funnel-shaped; and the lower periphery is substantially circular. The partially funnel shape'of the upper periphery isthe result of the following configuration. Referring to the view in FIG. 6, the upper periphery has an inclined side 66 anda substantially vertical side 67. Referring to the view in FIG. 7, the upper periphery has two

inclined sides

68 and 69. The incline of

sides

68 and 69 more closely approaches the vertical plane than does inclinedside 66. Referring to FIG. 6, since side 67 is substantially vertical, the upper periphery does not have a completely funnel shape, but only a partial and irregular funnel shape.

The irregular funnel shape of the middle periphery is the result of the following configuration. Referring to the view in FIG. 6, the middle periphery has an inclined side 72 and an inclined side 73. The incline of side 73 more closely approaches the vertical plane than does the incline of side 72. Referring to the view in FIG. 7, the middle periphery has an inclined side 74 and an inclined side 75. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, since the incline of side 72 is different from the similar incline of

sides

73, 74 and 75, the funnel shape of the middle periphery is irregular. The shape of the upper periphery andthe middle periphery of coal guide 34 is consistent with the shape of coal hopper 30 having inclined side 40 and substantially vertical side 42. The

sides

66, 67, 68 and 69 of the upper periphery of the coal guide 34 are affixed to the

side walls

40, 42, 44 and 46 of the coal hopper 30. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower periphery of the coal guide 34 is defined by sides which are substantially vertical and circular in configuration. The coal guide 34 provides a transition between the non-rotating coal hopper assembly 20 and the rotating turntable assembly 22. A heat insulation layer 79 is maintained in the lower periphery of the coal guide 34, defined by the sides 80 of the coal guide 34. This insulation layer 79 is adapted to insulate the turntable assembly 22 from the heat emanating from the coke oven 8. Preferably, the head insulation layer 79 is a bed of coal and is approximately 3 inches in depth.

Referring to FIG. 4, the coal hopper assembly further includes a volumetric control 78 which controls the volume of coal received by the coal hopper assembly 20 from the coal source (not shown).

Turn Table Assembly Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the turntable assembly 22 includes a rotating turntable platform 82 and a rotating turntable support 84. The turntable platform 82 is a large, substantially flat plate, which is substantially circular in shape, and approximately centered beneath the coal hopper assembly 20. The turntable support 84 is approximately centered below the turntable platform 82 and supports the turntable platform 82. The turntable support 84 is substantially circular in shape and the diameter of the turntable support 84 approaches the diameter of the turntable platform 82, but is slightly less than the diameter of the turntable platform 82. The turntable support 84 extends substantially under the entire turntable platform 82 to provide substantially complete support to the turntable platform 82 and to reduce warpage of the turntable platform 82. Such warpage might otherwise occur as a result of heat emanating from the coal charging hole 9 and the load forces resulting from the weight of the coal in the coal hopper assembly 20. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 19, the turntable platform 82 and the turntable support 84 are disposed at the bottom of thecoal hopper 30 and are adapted to rotate to dispense coal from the coal hopper 30 through the discharge spout 28 to the coal drop assembly 26.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the turntable assembly 22 further includes a drive motor 86, a speed reducer 88 and a support coupling 90. Optionally, the support coupling 90 may be made in two

sections

91 and 92 for convenience. The drive motor 86 is adapted to supply rotating power to rotate the turntable platform 82. The speed reducer 88 is cooled by oil, is connected to the drive motor 86 and is adapted to reduce the speed of the rotating power supplied from the drive motor 86. The support coupling 90 and the speed reducer 88 are disposed directly beneath and connected to the turntable support 84. The support coupling 90 is adapted to transmit power from the speed reducer 88 to the turntable support 84 to rotate the turntable platform 82. Referring to FIG. 4,215 a result of the inclined coal section 200 of the coal drop assembly 26, the coal drop assembly'26 is not directly under the coal hopper assem-

Claims

1. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven having a lid on a charging hole, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car in combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to cooperate in dispensing coal from said coal hopper assembly; means for displacing said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly from said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to remove said lid from said charging hole of said coke oven, prior to the charging of coal into said charging hole; a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal hopper assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven, said displacing means comprising: an inclined coal section of said coal drop assembly, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined at an angle with reference to the horizontal plane, said inclined coal section having a length which exceeds the maximum width within said coal drop assembly and being connected to said coal hopper assembly, said inclined coal section being adapted to receive coal from said coal hopper assembly, and said length of said inclined section substantially displacing said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly from and out of vertical alignment with the charging hole during the charging of coal into the charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole, said substantial displacement resulting from said length of said inclined coal section.

2. The coal charging car according to claim 1 wherein: said turntable assembly comprises a rotatable turntable platform, a rotatable platform support, and a speed reducer, said platform support extending substantially under the entire turntable platform to provide support for said turntable platform; said platform support and said speed reducer, as parts of said turntable assembly, being disposed from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable platform, platform support and speed reducer to the heat from said charging hole.

3. The coal charging car according to claim 2 wherein said turntable assembly further comprises an air intake pipe extending to said speed reducer of said turntable assembly, said air intake pipe being adapted to cooperate in cooling said speed reducer.

4. The coal charging car according to claim 1 wherein said Coal hopper assembly comprises: a coal hopper having a partial funnel shape at the bottom portion of said coal hopper; a discharge spout at the bottom of said coal hopper through which discharge spout coal passes on its way to said charging hole; a deflector disposed in said coal hopper and adapted to deflect coal from said coal hopper into said discharge spout; and a coal guide disposed within said coal hopper over said turntable assembly and adapted to guide coal on to said turntable assembly.

5. The coal charging car according to claim 1 and further comprising means for retaining an insulation layer in the bottom of said coal hopper assembly, between said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly, said insulation layer insulating said turntable assembly from the heat emanating from said coke oven.

6. The coal hopper assembly according to claim 5 wherein said insulation layer comprises a layer of coal.

7. The coal charging car according to claim 1 wherein said turntable assembly comprises: a rotatable turntable platform which is substantially circular in shape and which is disposed beneath said coal hopper assembly; and a rotatable platform support which is disposed below said turntable platform and which supports said turntable platform, said turntable platform being substantially circular in shape, the diameter of said platform support approaching the diameter of said turntable platform; said turntable platform and said platform support, as parts of said turntable assembly, being displaced from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable platform and platform support to the heat from said charging hole.

8. The coal charging car according to claim 7 wherein the platform support extends substantially under the entire turntable platform to provide substantially complete support of said turntable platform and to reduce warpage of said turntable platform.

9. The coal charging car according to claim 7 wherein said turntable assembly further comprises: a drive motor adapted to supply rotating power to rotate said turntable platform; a speed reducer connected to said drive motor and adapted to reduce the speed of the rotating power supplied from said drive motor; and a support coupling disposed beneath and connected to said turntable support, said support coupling being adapted to transmit power from said speed reducer to said turntable support, said drive motor and said speed reducer being arranged right side up under said coal hopper assembly and under said turntable assembly.

10. The coal charging car according to claim 1 wherein said lid lifter assembly comprises: an electromagnet assembly adapted to attract and hold said lid of said charging hole; a means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane between a work position and a non-work position; a primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane between a raised position and a lowered position, and a carriage for supporting said electromagnet assembly, said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane, and said primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane, said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane being displaced from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane to the heat from said charging hole.

11. The coal charging car according to claim 10 wherein said electromagnet assembly comprises: an electromagnet having a magnetized condition adapted for attracting and grasping said lid while said lid is being lifted off of said cHarging hole and a non-magnetized condition; an electromagnet support plate to which said electromagnet is attached; an electrical conductor connected to said electromagnet and adapted to energize said electromagnet to a magnetized condition and de-energize said electromagnet to a non-magnetized condition; a gimbal in which said electromagnet support plate is mounted; and a gimbal support, adapted to support said gimbal, electromagnet support plate and electromagnet.

12. The coal charging car according to claim 10 wherein said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said horizontal plane comprises: a rotating hydraulic cylinder adapted to supply power for horizontal movement of said electromagnet assembly; a cylinder rod for said horizontal movement, said cylinder rod being adapted for reciprocating motion within said rotating hydraulic cylinder and having an exterior end disposed outside of said rotating hydraulic cylinder; a rotating crank adapted for movement in a horizontal plane, said rotating crank having a cylinder rod end and a mast end, said cylinder rod end of said crank being connected to said exterior end of said cylinder rod; a rotating mast disposed in a vertical position, the upper end of said mast being connected to said mast end of said rotating crank, whereby the reciprocating motion of said cylinder rod turns said crank, which turns said mast, which moves said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane between a work position and a non-work position; and a mast support structure supporting said mast on said carriage.

13. The coal charging car according to claim 10 wherein said lid lifter assembly further comprises a lid oscillating assembly for cleaning said lid of said charging hole, said lid oscillating assembly comprising: a lid oscillating bar attached to said electromagnet assembly, said lid oscillating bar being adapted to shake said lid for the purpose of removing carbonaceous material from said lid; a lid oscillating motor adapted to supply power to said lid oscillating bar; and a means for transmitting power from said lid oscillating motor to said lid oscillating bar.

14. The coal charging car according to claim 10 wherein said primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane comprises: a lifting hydraulic cylinder for supplying power for said vertical movement of said electromagnet assembly; a cylinder rod for said vertical movement, said cylinder rod being adapted for reciprocating motion within said lifting hydraulic cylinder and having an exterior end disposed outside of said lifting hydraulic cylinder; a lifting crank adapted for movement is a vertical plane, said lifting crank having a piston rod end which is connected to said piston rod; a pantograph assembly connected to said electromagnet assembly and adapted to maintain said electromagnet assembly in a substantially level configuration during movement; and a pantograph shaft on which elements of said pantograph assembly rotate; said lifting hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder rod, said lifting crank, said pantograph assembly and said pantograph rod being displaced from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure to the heat from said charging hole.

15. The coal charging car according to claim 14 and further comprising alternate means for raising the electromagnet assembly, said alternate means comprising: a compression spring, a spring mounting around which said compression spring is mounted; and a compressor arm having a spring mounting end and a pantograph end, the spring end being connected to the compression spring, the pantograph end being connected to said pantograph assembly.

16. The coal charging car according to claim 1 wherein said coal drop assembly further comprises: a substantially vertical coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said substantially vertical coal sectioN being connected to said inclined coal section and being adapted to deliver coal from said inclined coal section to said charging hole.

17. The coal charging car according to claim 16 wherein said substantially vertical coal section comprises a stationary coal portion and a movable coal portion, said movable coal portion being adapted to telescope in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said movable coal portion thereby being adapted to bring the bottom end of said coal drop assembly to a position adjacent to said charging hole of said coke oven for the delivery of coal to said charging hole, and said movable coal portion being adapted to be returned from said coal drop position to said raised position.

18. The coal charging car according to claim 17 and further comprising a means for moving said movable coal portion in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said means comprising: a coal drop hydraulic cylinder adapted to supply power to raise and lower said movable coal portion; a cylinder rod adapted to reciprocate within said coal drop hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder rod having an interior end disposed within said cylinder and an exterior end disposed outside said cylinder; a cylinder crank mechanism to which the exterior end of said cylinder rod is attached; a coal drop counterweight which provides a balancing effect during movement of said moveble coal portion; and a coal drop linkage means adapted to link said coal drop crank mechanism to said movable coal portion and transfer power from said hydraulic cylinder to said movable coal portion.

19. The coal charging car according to claim 17 and further comprising an exhaust section adapted to conduct coal gases away from said coal drop assembly.

20. The coal charging car according to claim 19 wherein said exhaust section comprises: a horizontal exhaust portion and a vertical exhaust portion; said horizontal exhaust portion being disposed at approximately a 90* angle to said vertical exhaust portion, said horizontal exhaust portion thereby forming an elbow configuration with said vertical exhaust portion, said vertical exhaust portion of said exhaust section being axially disposed around said stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section and having a space between said outer vertical portion of said exhaust section and said linear stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section, said space forming a stationary exhaust duct between the vertical portion of said exhaust section and the stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section.

21. The coal charging car according to claim 19 wherein said coal drop assembly further comprises an exhaust stack connected to said exhaust section, said exhaust stack being adapted to conduct coal gas away from said exhaust section.

22. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven, lifting a lid from a charging hold on said coke oven and charging coal into said charging hole of said coke oven, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car in combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to dispense coal from said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly being out of alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to lift said lid up from said charging hole of said coke oven, swing said lid out of the way prior to the charging of coal into said charging hold of said coke oven and replace said lid on said charging hole of said coke oven afTer said charging; and a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal hopper assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven; wherein said coal hopper assembly comprises: a coal hopper having a partial funnel shape at the bottom portion of said coal hopper; a discharge spout at the bottom of said coal hopper through which discharge spout coal passes on its way to said charging hole; a deflector disposed in said coal hopper and adapted to deflect coal from said coal hopper into said discharge spout; a coal guide disposed within said coal hopper over said turntable assembly and adapted to guide coal on to said turntable assembly; and an insulation layer of coal disposed in the bottom of said coal hopper assembly, said insulation layer being adapted to insulate said turntable assembly from the heat from said coke oven; wherein said turntable assembly comprises: a turntable platform which is substantially circular in shape and which is disposed beneath said coal hopper assembly; a turntable support which is disposed below said turntable platform and which supports said turntable platform, said turntable platform being substantially circular in shape, the diameter of said turntable support approaching the diameter of said turntable platform, said turntable support extending substantially under the entire turntable platform to provide substantially complete support of said turntable platform and to reduce warpage of said turntable platform, a turntable motor and speed reducer for supplying rotating power to said turntable assembly; and an air intake pipe extending to said speed reducer of said turntable assembly, said air intake pipe being adapted to cooperate in cooling said speed reducer; wherein said lid lifter assembly comprises: an electromagnet assembly adapted to attract and hold said lid of said charging hole; a means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane between a work position and a non-work position; a primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane between a raised position and a lowered position; a carriage for supporting said electromagnet assembly, said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane, and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane; a lid oscillating assembly for cleaning said lid of said charging hold, said lid oscillating assembly comprising: a lid oscillating assembly for cleaning said lid of said charging hole, said lid oscillating assembly comprises: a lid oscillating bar attached to said electromagnet assembly, said lid oscillating bar being adapted to shake said lid prior to removal from said charging hole for the purpose of removing carbonaceous material from said lid; a lid oscillating motor adapted to supply power to said lid oscillating bar; and a means for transmitting power from said lid oscillating motor to said lid oscillating bar; and wherein said coal drop assembly comprises; an inclined coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined at an angle with reference to the horizontal plane, said inclined coal section being adapted to receive coal from said coal hopper assembly, and said inclined section being adapted to allow said coal hopper assembly to be displaced from and out of alignment with the charging hole during the charging of coal into the charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a substantially vertical coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said substantially vertical coal section being connected to said inclined coal section and being adapted to deliver coal from said inclined coal section to said charging hole, said substantially vertical coal section comprising a stationary coal portion and a movable coal portion, said movable coal portion being adaptEd to telescope in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said movable coal portion thereby being adapted to bring the bottom end of said coal drop assembly to a position adjacent to said charging hole of said coke oven for the delivery of coal to said charging hole, and said movable coal portion being adapted to be returned from said drop position to said raised position.

23. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven having a lid on a charging hole, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car is combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to cooperate in dispensing coal from said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly being displaced from said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to remove said lid from said charging hole of said coke oven prior to the charging of coal into said charging hole; and a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal hopper assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven; wherein said lid lifter assembly comprises: an electromagnet assembly adapted to attract and hold said lid of said charging hole; a means for moving said electromagnetic assembly in a horizontal plane between a work position and a non-work position; a primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane between a raised position and a lowered position; and a carriage for supporting said electromagnet assembly, said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane, and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane; wherein said lid lifter assembly further comprises a lid oscillating assembly for cleaning said lid of said charging hole, said lid oscillating assembly comprising: a lid oscillating bar attached to said electromagnet assembly, said lid oscillating bar being adapted to shake said lid for the purpose of removing carbonaceous material from said lid; a lid oscillating motor adapted to supply power to said lid oscillating bar; and a means for transmitting power from said lid oscillating motor to said lid oscillating bar; and wherein said lid oscillating assembly has two lid oscillation bars, said lid oscillating motor has a speed reducer and a speed reducer shaft; and said means for transmitting said power from said lid oscillating motor to said lid oscillating bars comprises: a lid oscillating crank attached at one end to the shaft of said speed reducer; a lid oscillating link having a cam end, said crank end of said link being attached to said crank; a lid oscillating cam having a pivot point in the approximate midportion of said cam, one end of said cam being attached to said crank; and a pair of lid oscillating cables, one end of each cable being attached to opposing ends of said cam and the other end of each cable being attached to said lid oscillating bars.

24. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven having a lid on a charging hole, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car in combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to cooperate in dispensing coal from said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly being displaced from said charging hole when coal is being chargeD into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to remove said lid from said charging hole of said coke oven, prior to the charging of coal into said charging hole; and a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal drop assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven; wherein said coal drop assembly comprises: an inclined coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined at an angle with reference to the horizontal plane, said inclined section being connected to said coal hopper assembly, said inclined coal section being adapted to receive coal from said coal hopper assembly, and said inclined section being adapted to allow said coal hopper assembly to be displaced from and out of alignment with the charging hole during the charging of coal into the charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; and a substantially vertical coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said substantially vertical coal section being connected to said inclined coal section and being adapted to deliver coal from said inclined coal section to said charging hole; wherein said substantially vertical coal section comprises a stationary coal portion and a movable coal portion, said movable coal portion being adapted to telescope in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said movable coal portion thereby being adapted to bring the bottom end of said coal drop assembly to a position adjacent to said charging hole of said coke oven for the delivery of coal to said charging hole, and said movable coal portion being adapted to be returned from said coal drop position to said raised position; said substantially vertical coal section further comprising an exhaust section adapted to conduct coal gases away from said coal drop assembly; wherein said exhaust section comprises: a horizontal exhaust portion and a vertical exhaust portion; said horizontal exhaust portion being disposed at approximately a 90* angle to said vertical exhaust portion, said horizontal exhaust portion thereby forming an elbow configuration with said vertical exhaust portion, said vertical exhaust portion of said exhaust section being axially disposed around said stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section and having a space between said outer vertical portion of said exhaust section and said inner stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section, said space forming a stationary exhaust duct between the vertical portion of said exhaust section and the stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section; and wherein said movable coal portion of said substantially vertical coal section of said coal drop assembly comprises: an outer movable sleeve and an inner movable sleeve; said outer movable sleeve of said movable coal portion being axially and slideably disposed outside of and around said vertical portion of said exhaust section; said inner movable sleeve of said vertical exhaust portion of said exhaust section, and said inner movable sleeve of said movable coal portion being axially and slideably disposed outside of and around said stationary coal portion of said substantially vertical section of said coal drop assembly; said movable coal portion having a space between said inner movable sleeve and said vertical exhaust portion of said exhaust section, said space forming a transition exhaust duct between the inner movable sleeve of said movable coal portion and the vertical exhaust portion of said exhaust section, said movable coal portion having a space between said inner movable sleeve And said outer movable sleeve, said space forming a movable exhaust duct between said inner movable sleeve of said movable portion and said outer movable sleeve of said movable portion; said movable exhaust duct leading to said horizontal portion of said exhaust section, said movable exhaust duct being adapted to conduct coal gas and combustion gas from said charging hole to said horizontal exhaust portion of said exhaust section, said movable exhaust duct being adapted to move with said movable coal portion of said coal drop assembly and being adapted to telescope in a vertical plane from a raised position to a drop position, thereby bringing the bottom end of said movable exhaust duct to a position adjacent to the charging hole of said coke oven.

25. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven having a lid on a charging hole, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car in combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to cooperate in dispensing coal from said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly being displaced from said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to remove said lid from said charging hole of said coke oven, prior to the charging of coal into said charging hole; and a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal hopper assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven; wherein: said coal drop assembly comprises: an inclined coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined at an angle with reference to the horizontal plane, said inclined coal section being connected to said coal hopper assembly, said inclined coal section being adapted to receive coal from said coal hopper assembly, and said inclined section being adapted to allow said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to be displaced from and out of vertical alignment with the charging hole during the charging of coal into the charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; said lid lifter assembly comprises: an electromagnet assembly adapted to attract and hold said lid of said charging hole; a means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane between a work position and a non-work position; a primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane between a raised position and a lowered position; and a carriage for supporting said electromagnet assembly, said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane, and said primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane; said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane being displaced from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a horizontal plane and said means for moving said electromagnet assembly in said vertical plane to the heat from said charging hole; said primary means for moving said electromagnet assembly in a vertical plane comprises: a lifting hydraulic cylinder for supplying power for said vertical movement of said electromagnet assembly; a cylinder rod for said vertical movement, said cylinder rod being adapted for reciprocating motion within said lifting hydraulic cylinder and having an exterior End disposed outside of said lifting hydraulic cylinder; a lifting crank adapted for movement in a vertical plane, said lifting crank having a piston rod end which is connected to said piston rod; a pantograph assembly connected to said electromagnet assembly and adapted to maintain said electromagnet assembly in a substantially level configuration during movement; and a pantograph shaft on which elements of said pantograph assembly rotate; said lifting hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder rod, said lifting crank, said pantograph assembly and said pantograph rod being displaced from and out of vertical alignment with said charging hole, when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure to the heat from said charging hole; and said pantograph assembly comprises: an upper pantograph arm having a pantograph shaft end and a pantograph guide and; a lower pantograph arm having a pantograph support end and a pantograph guide end; a pantograph shaft support for supporting said pantograph shaft on said carriage, said pantograph support end of said lower pantograph arm being rotatably connected to said pantograph shaft support; a plurality of pantograph shaft braces for supporting the pantograph shaft on said carriage; a pantograph guide attached to said guide end of said upper pantograph arm, said guide end of

26. A coal charging car adapted for conveying coal to a coke oven having a lid on a charging hole, said charging hole having heat emanating therefrom when the coke oven is in operation, said coal charging car in combination comprising: a coal hopper assembly which receives coal from a coal supply source; a turntable assembly disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly being adapted to cooperate in dispensing coal from said coal hopper assembly, said turntable assembly and said coal hopper assembly being displaced from said charging hole when coal is being charged into said charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; a lid lifter assembly disposed adjacent to said coal hopper assembly, said lid lifter assembly being adapted to remove said lid from said charging hole of said coke oven, prior to the charging of coal into said charging hole; and a coal drop assembly connected to and disposed below said coal hopper assembly, said coal drop assembly being adapted to deliver coal from said coal hopper assembly to said charging hole of said coke oven; wherein: said coal drop assembly comprises: an inclined coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined at an angle with reference to the horizontal plane, said inclined coal section being connected to said coal hopper assembly, said inclined coal section being adapted to receive coal from said coal hopper assembly, and said inclined section being adapted to allow said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to be displaced from and out of vertical alignment with the charging hole during the charging of coal into the charging hole, thereby avoiding exposure of said coal hopper assembly and said turntable assembly to the heat from said charging hole; said coal drop assembly further comprises: a substantially vertical coal section, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said substantially vertical coal section being connected to said inclined coal section and being adapted to deliver coal from said inclined coal section to said charging hole; said substantially vertical coal section comprises: a stationary coal portion and a movable coal portion, said movable coal portion being adapted to telescope in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said movable coal portion thereby being adapted to bring the bottom end of said coal drop assembly to a position adjacent to said charging hole of said coke oven for the delivery of coal to said charging hole, and said movable coal portion being adapted to be returned from sAid coal drop position to said raised position; said coal drop assembly further comprises: a means for moving said movable coal portion in a vertical plane between a raised position and a drop position, said means comprising: a coal drop hydraulic cylinder adapted to supply power to raise and lower said movable coal portion; a cylinder rod adapted to reciprocate within said coal drop hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder rod having an interior end disposed within said cylinder and an exterior end disposed outside said cylinder; a cylinder crank mechanism to which the exterior end of said cylinder rod is attached; a coal drop counterweight which provides a balancing effect during movement of said movable coal portion; and a coal drop linkage means adapted to link said coal drop crank mechanism to said movable coal portion and transfer power from said hydraulic cylinder to said movable coal portion; and said coal drop assembly further comprises: a pair of said linkage means, each linkage means having an upper bar having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being connected to said crank mechanism; a coal drop lever having an upper bar end, a lower bar end and a pivot point in the approximate center of said lever upon which pivot point said lever rotates, said upper bar end being connected to said upper bar; a lower bar having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being connected to said lower bar end of said coal drop lever; an adjustable linkage means having an upper end connected to said lower end of said lower bar and a lower end connected to said movable coal portion; and a counterweight bar having a lower end connected to said counterweight and an upper end connected to said upper bar end of said coal drop level.