WO2017168311A1

WO2017168311A1 - System for feeding coke-producing ovens, system for measuring the temperature of heating chambers of a coke-producing oven and charging car for a coke- producing oven

Info

Publication number: WO2017168311A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/051753
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano PELUFFO
Original assignee: Omev S.R.L.
Priority date: 2016-03-30
Filing date: 2017-03-28
Publication date: 2017-10-05
Also published as: EP3461273A1; ITUA20162115A1

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and cars for charging and/or detecting the temperature of heating chambers of coke-producing ovens, comprising a precise positioning of the car charging system and/or the automatic detection of temperatures.

Description

System for feeding coke-producing ovens, system for measuring the temperature of heating chambers of a coke-producing oven and charging car for a coke- producing oven.

The present invention relates to a system for feeding coke-producing ovens, for example for iron metallurgy and a system measuring the temperature of heating chambers of a coke-producing oven, and charging cars for feeding coke-producing ovens.

In the reference technical field it is known that pit coal mixture is fed to the ovens by using charging cars operating on the charging surface of coke oven batteries.

Charging cars, self-propelled on tracks, comprise to this end several hoppers on the car, which are brought by the car at the charging ports. Preferably charging cars comprise as many hoppers as the charging ports of the coke oven to be fed.

In use the charging car moves along the charging surface of the oven and it is placed at the cell of the oven to be charged.

The operation charging the oven provides , among other things, the charging car to perform the following operations :

- lifting lids of the charging ports of the oven cells ;

- cleaning the lids and the frames of the charging ports ; - lowering and introducing the charging conduits (usually telescopic ones) connecting the hoppers of the car to the corresponding ports of the cell to be charged;

- transferring the pit coal mixture from the charging car to the oven cell;

- lifting the telescopic conduits;

- closing the lids of the charging ports .

Once charging is made the charging car is moved under the coal tower to take new mixture to be fed.

Therefore the charging phase has some critical aspects related to possible emissions in the atmosphere, above all gases released when the pit coal mixture is introduced in the oven.

Such emissions, among other things, are caused by the telescopic conduits being not accurately coupled with the oven ports.

The Applicant, after studies and tests, has found that the coupling of the charging car to the oven is subjected to implicit positioning error, and that a highly accurate proper alignment between ports and charging conduits is necessary to limit to a greatest extent emissions that can be released in the atmosphere .

The Applicant has found that, in prior art, while the positioning of the charging car is based on precise references placed at the axis of each individual cell, the positioning of the charging ports of each cell can vary from the plan conditions, with deviations that can be of several centimeters . Such deviations have been considered for a long time and solutions were simply limited to provide the possibility of oscillating the telescopic conduit with respect to its own vertical axis such to be centered with the corresponding charging port. The greater the deviation is between theoretical position and actual position of the charging port and the greater will be the angle of deviation from the vertical line necessary for the telescopic conduit to couple with the port.

The Applicant has found that such deviations have a considerable effect on emissions in atmosphere, since the greater the alignment between axis of the telescopic conduit and axis of the port is, the greater will be their coupling and there will be fewer possible emissions in atmosphere.

The document WO2009/106251 describes a method and a device for charging pit coal mixture to charging ports of ovens, where a hopper is connected by a screw to a charging telescopic conduit whose end is coupled to a charging port of the oven. The telescopic conduit is mounted so as to translate with respect to a discharge outlet of the screw feeder according to at least one direction in the plane parallel to the plane subtended by the opening of the port. In order to prevent dusts from spreading in the area between the inlet of the charging conduit and the outlet of the screw feeder integral with a hopper, the mutual sliding connection of the charging conduit and the screw feeder needs seals that are subjected to mechanical stresses, thermal shocks as well as chemical attacks and that therefore are expensive and require frequent maintenance and/or replacement interventions .

The document WO2009/100815 also provides a solution similar to the document WO2009/106251 mentioned above and it clearly shows the presence of elastic seals between the outlet of the screw feeder and the inlet of the charging telescopic conduit. Therefore also such solution has the drawbacks as the solution according to WO2009/106251.

Therefore the invention aims at improving known charging systems and methods such to guarantee not only a better efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the charging system, but also to efficaciously protect the environment and therefore combining environmental advantages with economic advantages and namely without requiring sacrifices as regards costs.

With reference again to the oven, after preparing and charging the pit coal mixture in the oven cells the coking process starts, where the pit coal is heated by means of combustion chambers (so called heating chambers) adjacent to the cell, that transmit the heat to the pit coal through a wall made of refractory material .

Usually each heating chamber is divided in two vertical sections that compose two separated heating assemblies: alternately they act as combustion chamber and for conveying fumes; each heating chamber is provided with a series of inspection ports openable by means of lids.

During the coking phase, when pit coal remains in the cells for the time necessary to be distilled, both the doors, caps and charging lids are closed.

The control of the temperature in heating chambers (particularly of the wall made of refractory material) is very important for properly performing the coking process .

Currently such control is performed manually by operators equipped with a pyrometer, they raise the lids of the heating chambers and check the temperature thereof.

Such manual control is not only dangerous, but it also involves a quite long time, considering that in a medium size coke oven usually there are provided dozens of heating chambers .

A first aim of the invention is to provide a method and a system for feeding coke ovens able to overcome the above drawbacks .

Another object of the invention is to provide said method and system able to reduce emissions in atmosphere during the phase charging the coke-producing oven .

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method and system allowing an accurate charging.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method and system allowing the temperature of the heating chambers of the oven to be measured in a relatively simple, rapid and less dangerous manner.

Therefore the invention firstly relates to a system for feeding a coke-producing oven, wherein the oven comprises charging ports of the oven cells spatially arranged on at least one charging surface, said system comprising:

a charging car comprising in turn:

a series of hoppers for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells;

a series of charging conduits for the pit coal mixture each one operatively connected to one of the hoppers and intended, in use, to be coupled with the charging ports ,

position detectors or indicators for the charging ports to detect at least on said charging surface the detected positions of said ports,

a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions at least of the charging ports, the control unit being further operatively connected to said detectors and being intended at least to compare the detected positions of the ports with the plan positions, said control unit being further intended to move at least the hopper with the charging conduit in an operating position defined as a function of the comparison between the plan positions and the detected positions of the lids.

It is clear that the connection of each hopper to a corresponding charging conduit such to form a charging assembly where the charging conduit and the hopper are movable integrally with each other, that is together, in said exact operating position, avoids the need of flexible elements and seals between the hopper and the charging conduit, that is between the hopper, a screw feeder and a charging conduit said screw feeder being provided between the hopper and said charging conduit .

The rigid connection of such parts together, besides being cheaper is also less subjected to wear and therefore it affects less the maintenance costs. At the same time the fact of having rigid and more safe connections reduces dust pollution in the environment. It has to be noted that such advantages are added to the fact of obtaining also an accurate centering of the charging conduit with the corresponding charging port. Moreover it has to be noted that the environmental advantages are achieved without the need of increasing costs, but contemporaneously by decreasing costs, at least maintenance costs.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the charging car comprises a frame (30) and for each assembly composed of at least one hopper (2) and at least one corresponding charging conduit (3) it comprises a movable frame (31) translatable with respect to said frame (30) of the charging car, at least according to two displacement directions orthogonal with each other by means of actuators (53, 54) and at least one of such translation directions is parallel to the displacement direction of the frame of the charging car 1.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the charging ports are provided with removable closing lids and to the charging car to each hopper a device opening the lids is associated that can be moved together with the charging conduit and the corresponding hopper with respect to the charging car, that is the frame thereof.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the charging car comprises a series of devices cleaning the frames of the ports, each one movable, integral with the corresponding hopper and lid opening device, with respect to the charging car.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, on said charging surface at least one track rests, and wherein the charging car comprises a main frame and motorized wheels rotatably coupled with said main frame and intended to be driven by said track, and wherein the charging car further comprises a series of movable frames displaceable with respect to the main frame at least on a surface parallel to the charging surface, and each of them is coupled to at least one or a combination of some members of hopper, charging conduit and lid opening device, port frame cleaning device, preferably all said devices.

According to a characteristic the detection of the actual position of the ports occurs by an initial step setting up the control system and driving the displacement of the charging assemblies placed on the charging car. The car is placed at each cell of the ovens by the references usually provided on the batteries. In each charging position of the car therefore the actual positions of the center of the lids is detected with respect to a theoretical plan position. Such detection can be made, among other things, by translating each charging assembly with respect to the fixed frame of the charging car such to bring the axis of each telescopic conduit perfectly aligned with the axis of the corresponding lid or port. The measurement of the actual position of each lid is identified by two values that are stored in the control unit of the car.

To this end, the charging car is provided with a frame self-propelling along a horizontal plane and extending such to cover the area along which the oven charging ports are distributed, which frame bears several hoppers movable still in the displacement plane of the car and with respect to the frame thereof as well as the same number of telescopically extendable charging conduits connected at the hopper outlets and intended to be temporarily coupled with a corresponding port during the charging step, there being provided: actuators displacing the assemblies composed of hoppers and the associated charging conduits;

detectors for the travel and/or position of hoppers and/or corresponding charging conduits,

a control unit for the movement of the charging car and hoppers, which unit has at least one storage to store the theoretical and the actual positions of the ports .

Data can be combined together such to generate combined commands actuating the actuators translating the hoppers and the charging conduits. In a preferred embodiment, each hopper and the charging conduit associated thereto are mounted on a combination of carriages intended to move according to two directions orthogonal to each other, of which a direction preferably parallel to the direction of movement of the frame of the charging car and the other direction perpendicular to the latter direction, a carriage being mounted so as to move with respect to the frame of the charging car and the second carriage being mounted so as to move in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the first carriage, on said first carriage and the hopper being in turn mounted on said second carriage.

The displacement of the carriages can be controlled by any actuator means and preferably is controlled by hydraulic cylinders.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous characteristics, the car further comprises a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store the actual position with respect to the plan position at least of said lids of the charging ports, the control unit being further operatively connected to said detectors and being intended at least to compare the detected positions of the ports with the plan positions, said control unit being further intended to move together at least the hopper and the charging conduit in an operating position defined as a function of the comparison between the plan positions and the detected positions of the ports. Another object of the invention is a charging car of a coke-producing oven, comprising a series of charging assemblies each one composed of :

a hopper for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells

a charging conduit for the pit coal mixture operatively connected to the hopper and intended, in use, to be coupled with a charging port of the oven closed by a lid,

a device opening and cleaning the lids;

a device for cleaning the frames of the ports, at least one device measuring the temperature of the oven heating chambers .

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the device measuring the temperature of a heating chamber comprises a supporting plate movable at least vertically and a device for hooking the lid, associated to said supporting plate, preferably said hooking device comprising an electromagnet.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the device measuring the temperature of a heating chamber comprises a vertical upright connected to the supporting plate and wherein the hooking device is mounted on the supporting plate translatably on a horizontal plane, such to be movable in at least two conditions: a condition where it is aligned with the telescopic upright and one condition where it is not aligned therewith. According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the supporting plate carries at least one temperature detector preferably a pyrometer.

According to an advantageous characteristic, alone or in combination with the previous ones, the car comprises a plurality of devices measuring the temperature, preferably arranged at the front of the car, on opposite sides and centrally.

Another object of the invention is a system for measuring the temperature of heating chambers of a coke-producing oven, wherein the heating chambers are closed by lids spatially arranged on at least a first surface, said system comprising:

a charging car having at least some of the characteristics mentioned above and wherein the system further comprises a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions at least of said lids of the heating chambers, said control unit being further intended to move at least the device measuring the temperature of the oven heating chambers to an operating position defined as a function of the plan positions.

In this case the displacement of the measurement devices can occur both by using the means moving the charging assembly and as an alternative by using independent means moving the measuring devices.

These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig.l is, from top to bottom, diagrams showing the position of the oven ports in a theoretical (or plan) situation, in a real situation and with a correction according to the system of the invention respectively;

Fig.2 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of a charging car according to the invention ;

Fig.3 is a side view of the charging car of fig.2; Fig.4 is a section of the charging car of fig.2 and 3 ;

Fig.5-8 are details of the charging car of fig.2-4 in different operating moments;

Fig.9 is a side view of a second embodiment of a charging car according to the invention;

Fig.10 is a front view of the charging car of fig.9;

Fig.11-13 are part of the charging car of fig.9 and 10 in different operating moments;

Fig. 14 and 15 are details of the charging car of fig.9 and 10.

Fig.16 is a detail of the charging car of fig.2-4. While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, some preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described below in details.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific embodiment disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention of the invention is to cover all modi ications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of "for example", "etc", "or" indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise noted.

The use of "includes" means "includes, but not limited to," unless otherwise noted.

Terms as "vertical" and "horizontal", "upper" and "lower" (with no other indications) have to be read with reference to the assembling (or operating) conditions and with reference to the standard terminology in use in common speech, where "vertical" means a direction substantially parallel to that of the vector of the force of gravity "g" and horizontal means a direction perpendicular thereto.

Firstly reference will be made to a first embodiment of a charging car 1, part of the system of the invention that is shown in fig.2-8.

In order to better understand details of the invention, first make reference to the annexed fig.l.

It schematically shows, from top to bottom, three different diagrams showing the position of the oven ports in a theoretical (or plan) situation, in a real situation and with a correction according to the system of the invention respectively.

More in details the diagrams show a plan view of the charging surface of the oven, upon which the charging ports, provided with lids, open.

The oven 10 comprises charging ports 11 of the oven cells which are closed by lids 12 and which ports are spatially arranged along at least one charging surface 13.

The top part of fig.l shows a diagram corresponding to the map of plan position PP of the ports identified by lids 12 that in the shown example are five.

Obviously, from the design perspective, it is possible to suppose the plan positions PP of the ports to be perfectly aligned on a common line and spaced apart from each other in a precise manner.

On the contrary from the real constructional perspective, due to normal tolerances, shown in the central portion of fig.l, it has to be noted that real positions DP of the charging ports are not coincident with plan positions PP.

If one desires to simplify, by imaging to provide two axes X and Y perpendicular to each other and lying on the charging surface itself, the real position DP of the geometrical center of gravity of each port is displaced, with respect to the plan position, by a given amount along X axis and by another amount along Y axis .

Now with reference to fig.2-8 they show a first embodiment of a charging car 1 part of the system for feeding a coke-producing oven according to the invention .

The car 1 preferably comprises several (conventionally three to five) hoppers 2. In use each hopper is charged with pit coal or with a pit coal mixture that then is introduced in the coke-producing oven by a charging conduit 3, that is operatively connected to the hopper 2 by means of a feeding screw 201 and that is intended, in use, to connect with a charging port 11, such as shown in the operating step corresponding to fig.7.

The car 1 then comprises a series of devices 5 opening the lids 12 , of the type known in prior art and not further dislosed herein and, optionally, a series of cleaning devices 7 for the port frames, also of a type known in prior art and not further disclosed herein .

The charging car 1 further comprises position indicators or detectors for the ports 12 that can be of any type and that in the current embodiment are composed of sensors measuring the displacement travel of the frame of the charging car 1.

As it is clear in the figures each hopper 2 is connected to the corresponding charging conduit 3 by means of the feeding screw 201 and such members are fastened in a not displaceable manner with respect to each other and form a single feeding assembly or unit.

According to one embodiment, as will be described in more details below, said feeding or charging assembly or unit can further comprise also a device 5 opening the lids 12 and/or cleaning devices 7 for the port frames, which are also substantially not displaceable with respect to the members 2, 3 and 201, at least as regards displacements for accurate alignment with a corresponding port as it will be described in more details below.

With reference to figure 16, the assembly of hopper 2, feeding screw 201 and charging telescopic conduit 3 and optionally devices opening the port lids and devices cleaning them as described above is mounted on the frame of the charging car 1 by a pair of carriages 50 and 51 respectively, a carriage of which being movable by means of an actuating cylinder 53 with respect to the frame of the charging car according to a first direction and the second carriage 51 being movable also by means of an hydraulic cylinder 54 with respect to the first carriage upon which it is mounted and according to a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the first carriage.

In one embodiment, one of the displacement directions of the two carriages is preferably parallel to the displacement direction of the charging car 1.

This is not absolutely necessary since it is sufficient that the assembly of hopper 2, screw 201 and charging conduit 3, called also as charging or feeding assembly, can move relative to the frame of the charging car in the plane parallel to the plane along which charging ports are distributed.

Even in this case there are provided movement or position sensors for the two carriages with respect to the frame of the charging car 1.

In this embodiment, the detection of actual positions, that is real positions of the charging ports can occur by using the position sensors of the charging car 1 and the displacement or position transducers of the carriages 50, 51.

In a first initial phase setting up the car, the detection of the real positions of the ports and therefore the differences between theoretical plan positions and real positions occurs by placing the charging car 1 at each oven cell, by means of the references usually arranged on batteries and therefore moving each assembly composed of hopper 2, screw 201 and charging conduit 3 such to bring the charging conduit in the position exactly centered with a corresponding port. The displacement or position data detected therefore can be used for determining, in the selected reference system, the position of the ports 11 and the control signals of the displacements of the assemblies composed each one of at least the hopper 2 , screw 201 and charging conduit 3 such to bring the axes of the charging conduits 3 exactly aligned with the axes of the corresponding ports 11.

As an alternative or in combination it is possible to provide other types of position indicators or detectors that for example in some embodiments can be optical detectors, such as tele camera, video camera or the like, or magnetic sensors.

The system of the invention further comprises a control unit (not shown) provided with at least storage means to store a pre-set map of plan positions PP at least of the charging ports 11, that is positions PP that are the theoretical ones where ports should be arranged, as in the top part of fig.l.

The control unit is operatively connected to the position detectors of the lids above mentioned, such to detect positions DR during the initial set up phase of the system and to compare them with the plan positions (PP) , such to generate a correction, substantially as that in the bottom part of fig.l on the basis of which the translation of the two carriages 50 and 51 is controlled such to bring the charging conduit 3 in a position exactly vertically aligned with the port 11.

As it will be disclosed below, together with the assembly of hopper 2, screw 201 and charging conduit 3 the control unit moves also at least the device 5 opening the lids 12 in a specific operating position, corresponding to a proper operating position.

This can take place by the fact that the device opening the lid 12 is brought by the same structure bringing the hopper 2, that is by the pair of carriages 50, 51 and therefore it is part of the charging assembly itself or by means movably supporting the carriage opening device that are independent from that of the hopper and that can be made even by a pair of carriages likewise the carriages 50 and 51 provided for the charging assembly.

It has to be noted that the car 1 moves along the charging surface 13 by means of a track placed on the surface 13 and correspondingly the car 1 is equipped with powered wheels cooperating with the track; thus the car 1 moves, in a straight direction, on the surface 13, for example in direction Y.

The map of the plan positions PP is used by the control unit to move, once the car 1 is placed at the oven to be charged, the charging assemblies, such to exactly align the telescopic conduits of the charging conduits 3 with the charging ports.

The charging car 1 comprises in the preferred embodiment a number of charging assemblies (each one comprising at least one hopper 2, a screw 201 and a charging conduit 3, and optionally also a device 5 opening and cleaning the lids, as well as optionally a assembly 7 cleaning the port frames which number of charging assemblies is equal to that of ports 2 to be contemporaneously charged.

Such ports to be contemporaneously charged usually are those lying on a same row (along X axis) and the car 1 moves along the Y axis to pass from one row to the following one.

Due to the fact that the detected real positions DR are different from the plan positions, it results that, once the car 1 arrives (moving along the Y axis) at a row of ports 11 to be charged, it is necessary a fine adjustment to be performed individually for each charging assembly (or at least for each opening device 5 and/or each hopper 2 and/or each charging conduit 3) such to displace it with respect to the corresponding port 11 and/or lid 12.

Such fine adjustment is performed by the control unit as a function of said comparison between plan positions PP and detected positions DR of the lids 12 and the generation of corresponding control signals for the translation units 50, 51, 53, 54.

Preferably as in the embodiment shown in fig.2-8 the charging conduit 3 is movable, integral with the hopper 2, the screw 201 and optionally also the device 5 opening the lids, with respect to the charging car 1.

Preferably such displacement is obtained by the same system of carriages and actuators as in figure 16; thus once the control unit has properly placed the hopper 2 and the charging conduit 3, the device 5 opening the lids is also properly placed with respect to the lid 12 to be opened.

As it is clear moreover the device 5 opening the lids 12 comprise its own structure 105 allowing the movement handling the lid to be performed such to apply or remove it.

In a variant embodiment it is possible for the control signal controlling the pair of carriages 50, 51 to carry out movements for precisely centering the conduit 3 with the port to be used for controlling the structure 105 in a manner corresponding to a proper handling of the lid, that is the real position of the port 11 and therefore of the lid 12 is not compensated for by making it integral with the hopper 2, but it is compensated for by modifying the handling paths of the lid 12 by the opening device 5. Obviously in this case the structure 105 has to be able to perform movements of the member grasping the lid 12 that allow for compensation strokes between the theoretical position and the real position of the ports.

Advantages deriving from such characteristics are maximized when the whole charging assembly comprising a hopper 2, a charging conduit 3 a device 5 opening and cleaning the lids, an assembly 7 cleaning the frames of the ports 11 is movable with respect to the car 1 in a monolithic manner (that is when the hopper 2, the charging conduit 3 and the device 5 opening and cleaning the lids and an assembly 7 cleaning the frames of the ports 11 are integral with each other: thus by only one fine position adjustment operation it is possible for each assembly to displace with respect to a port 11 to be charged a plurality of devices taking part in charging.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig-2-8, the charging car 1 comprises a main frame 30 bearing the powered wheels intended to be guided by the track; moreover the charging car 1 comprises a plurality of movable frames 31. Each movable frame 31 is movable with respect to the main frame at least along a plane parallel to the charging surface 13 and in the two directions parallel to the translation direction of the charging car 1 and perpendicular to said translation direction.

Preferably each charging assembly composed of hopper 1, screw 201 and charging conduit 3 is mounted on the movable frame 31 composed of the pair of carriages or slides 50, 51 and of the actuating cylinders 53, 54 said pair of carriages or slides being coupled to the main frame 30.

In some variants - less developed one - a movable frame 31 is coupled only to parts of the charging assembly, particularly at least one of the hopper 2, charging conduit 3 and lid opening device 5. Likewise, when the device 7 cleaning the port frames is provided, it is movable, likewise the device 5 opening the lids 12, preferably by the same assembly 31 controlling the translation of the charging assembly, therefore also the cleaning device 7 is integral in the motion with the other parts of the charging assembly.

With reference to the cleaning assembly and to the movement centering with the port 11 the same considerations made on possible variants for the device 5 opening the lids 12 are valid.

Now, briefly, with reference to the system just described as regards its operation, fig.5 shows a charging assembly of the charging car 1 (that in the shown embodiment comprises five assemblies, intended for the same number of lids/ports of the oven) ; the charging assembly here comprises a hopper 2, a screw 201, a charging conduit 3, a device 5 opening and cleaning the lids and a device 7 cleaning the port frames and it is mounted on the frame 31 movable with respect to the main frame 30 by means of actuating cylinders 53, 54 that allow the pair of carriages 50, 51 forming the frame 31 to move with respect to the frame 30 of the charging car 1 on a surface parallel to the charging surface 13.

Once the control unit has placed the car 1 at a row of lids 12/ports 11 of the oven 10, using the position control derived from the theoretical positions of the ports 11, that is plan positions, the control unit operates, for each charging assembly 2, 201, 3, 5, 7 associated to a port 11, the cylinder 53, 54 of the pair of carriages 50,51 that form the movable frame 31 such to displace the corresponding charging assembly in the proper position with respect to the corresponding port 11. Such displacement therefore is dedicated and proportioned to the position difference detected for each specific port 11 with respect to the expected plan position .

Fig.6 shows an operating moment of the device 5 opening the lids that is lowered on the corresponding lid 12 and it grasps it by moving it from the condition closing the corresponding port 11.

Once the lid 12 is removed, with reference to figure 8, the lid cleaning device, if any, and the device 7 cleaning the port frames are operated.

Once the lids and port frames are cleaned, with reference to fig.7, the charging conduit 3 is coupled to the port 11 left open, such to allow the pit coal mixture to be charged which is in the hopper 2 to which the charging conduit 3 is connected.

In the last phase telescopic conduits are removed and lids are closed not contemporaneously but in sequence for each port.

In the embodiment the charging conduit 3 is equipped with a telescopic tube lowering till being introduced in the port 11; other embodiments however can be provided depending on installations.

Now with reference to fig.9-15 they show a developed embodiment of the charging car 1' being part of the system of the invention. In this embodiment some characteristics just described with reference to the above figures and about the first embodiment of the car 1 are omitted; it has to be intended that such characteristics however can be provided in more developed embodiments, but will not be again described here for brevity reasons.

In the second embodiment the charging car 1' comprises, generally, a series of charging assemblies each one composed of : one hopper 2 for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in oven cells, a charging conduit 3 for the pit coal mixture operatively connected to the hopper 2 and intended, in use, to couple with a charging port, a device opening the lids and optionally a device cleaning them and/or the port frames.

Characteristically the car 1' comprises at least one device 40' , 40' ' measuring the temperature of the heating chambers of the oven, preferably a plurality of such devices 40', 40''.

A detail of two different embodiments of the devices 40' and 40'' is provided in fig.14 and 15; the main difference between them is the fact of being adapted to detect the temperature of one (device 40' fig.14) or two (device 40'' fig.15) heating chambers.

With reference to fig.14 firstly the device 40' detecting the temperature of one heating chamber of the oven is described and then the differences of the embodiment 40' ' intended to contemporaneously detect the temperature of two heating chambers will be described. As regards the latter, it has to be noted that each heating chamber 11' is closed by a series of lids 12' that have to be raised to allow temperature to be detected.

The device 40' , in the shown exemplary embodiment, comprises a telescopic upright 42' in turn comprising at least two half-uprights 43' and 44 slidably fittable inside each other.

The upper half-upright 43' is coupled to the car 1' , while the lower half-upright 44' is coupled to a supporting plate 45' that therefore is movable, at least vertically, together with the lower half-upright 44', by slidably operating the latter that can be obtained in different manners (e.g. hydraulic, electric operation or the like) .

The supporting plate 45' bears a device 46' hooking the lid 12' of the heating chamber 11' ; in a preferred embodiment the lid 12' is made of ferromagnetic material and the hooking device 46' comprise an electromagnet, that when powered, exerts a force enough to firmly hook the lid 12' to bring it removed from its seat or port of the heating chamber 11' .

Preferably the hooking device 46' is mounted on a supporting plate 45' in a manner so as to translate along a horizontal plane, such to be moved in at least two conditions: a condition when it is aligned with the telescopic upright 42' and one where it is not aligned therewith .

The supporting plate 45' bears then also a temperature detector 41' , preferably a pyrometer, for example an electric or optical pyrometer that, when the lid 12' is raised, is able to detect (or deduce) the temperature inside the heating chamber 11' .

Preferably the temperature detector 41' is not vertically aligned with the hooking device 46' , but it is placed immediately at the side of the latter.

Now with reference again, shortly, to the device 40' ' it comprises the same parts denoted by the same reference and with the same functionality, just described for the device 40' and therefore it is not further disclosed here.

The main difference is that the device 40' ' is intended to contemporaneously measure the temperature of two heating chambers 11' by contemporaneously raising the corresponding lids 12' .

With reference thereto it is noted that the device 40' ' comprises two hooking devices 46' coupled to the supporting plate 45' and two temperature detectors 41' also preferably not vertically aligned with the corresponding hooking devices 46', likewise above.

With reference now to fig.10 it has to be noted that with reference to a cross section of the car 1' , in the preferred embodiment the charging car 1' comprises two devices 40' placed at the opposite sides of the car 1' , externally to the wheels R engaged on the track B .

Between the devices 40' there is provided a device 40'', substantially at the center line of the car.

With reference to fig.9 it has to be noted that with reference to a longitudinal section of the car 1' , such devices 40' and 40' ' are preferably placed on the front side of the car 1' .

Now analysing the operation, reference is made to figures 11-13, that for clarity reasons show only the devices 40' and 40''.

Fig. 11 shows an idle condition, where the devices 40' and 40' ' have the bases 45' raised, with the hooking devices 46' and the temperature detectors 41' not in operation, for example since the car 1' is moving and/or it is not necessary to measure the temperature of heating chambers 11' . In the case when the hooking devices 46' are translatable on the supporting plate 45' they are not vertically aligned with the corresponding upright 42' .

Fig.12 shows a condition with the lids 12' in the hooked condition: the devices 40' and 40'' have the bases 45' lowered towards the lids 12' and the hooking devices 46' are in operation; if the latter are electromagnets they are powered with electric current; if the hooking devices 46' are translatable on the supporting plate 45' they are moved till being vertically aligned with the corresponding lid 12' and/or with the upright 42' .

In this condition the temperature detectors 41' are not in operation, since the presence of the lids 12' closing the heating chambers 11' would not allow temperature to be detected.

Fig.13 shows a condition detecting temperature of the heating chambers 11' : the devices 40' and 40' ' have bases 45' lifted with the hooking devices 46' in operation that accordingly lift the lids 12' , that therefore are removed from the position closing the heating chambers and open them; if the hooking devices 46' are electromagnets, the latter continue to be powered by electric current.

If the hooking devices 46' are translatable on the supporting plate 45' they are moved till being not vertically aligned with the corresponding upright 42' .

In such condition the temperature detectors 41' are operating, since the absence of the lids 12' makes the heating chambers 11' as accessible and therefore allows their temperature to be measured.

As mentioned above, generally, the arrangements provided for the car 1 can be also provided for the car 1' .

Particularly the car 1' can be a part of a system for measuring the temperature of heating chambers 11' of a coke-producing oven, wherein the heating chambers 11' are closed by lids 12' spatially arranged on at least one first surface, said system comprising:

- a charging car 1 comprising in turn:

- a hopper 2 for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells;

- a charging conduit 3 for the pit coal mixture operatively connected to the hopper 2 and intended, in use, to be coupled with a charging port,

- a device 40' , 40' ' measuring the temperature of heating chambers of the oven;

- position detectors or indicators for the lids 12' of the heating chambers to detect at least on said first surface the detected positions DR of said lids 12;

- a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions PP at least of said lids 12' of the heating chambers, said control unit being further intended to move at least the device 40' , 40' ' measuring the temperature of heating chambers of the oven in an operating position determined as a function of the plan positions PP.

In a preferred embodiment corresponding to the disclosed one, the measurement device is mounted integral with the movable frame 31 associated to the charging assembly.

As an alternative to the above, it is possible to provide to mount measurement devices 40' , 40' ' on frames movable with respect to a main frame of the car, such that they can be moved by the control unit for the fine position adjustment.

Then likewise what described above it is possible to provide the other characteristics of the car 1, that is one embodiment is provided for a charging car that combines both the characteristics of the car 1 and those of the car 1', with synergy of advantages.

Claims

1. System for feeding a coke-producing oven, wherein the oven (10) comprises charging ports (11) for the oven cells and wherein the charging ports (11) are closed by lids (12) said charging ports (11) with the corresponding lids (12) being spatially arranged on at least one charging surface (13) , said system comprising :

a charging car (1) comprising in turn:

a series of hoppers (2) for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells

a series of charging conduits (3) for the pit coal mixture each one being operatively connected to a corresponding hopper (2) and each one is intended, in use, to be coupled with a charging port (11) ,

a series of devices (5) opening the lids (12) , position detectors for the charging ports (11) to detect at least on said charging surface the detected positions (DP) of the ports (11) ,

a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions (PP) at least of the charging ports (11) , the control unit being further operatively connected to said detectors and being intended at least to compare the detected positions (DP) of the ports (11) with the plan positions (PP) , said control unit being further intended to generate control signals to move at least the hopper (2) with the charging conduit (3) in an operating position defined as a function of the comparison between the plan positions (PP) and the detected positions (DP) of the ports (11) at which the charging conduit (3) is exactly centered with the corresponding port (11) , and which system is characterized in that

each hopper (2) is connected to a corresponding charging conduit (3) forming a charging assembly wherein the charging conduit (3) and the charging hopper (2) are movable integrally with each other, that is together, in said operating position.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the charging car comprises a shared frame (30) for integral displacement of a plurality of charging assemblies while each charging assembly (2, 3) is supported by a movable frame (31) translatable with respect to said frame (30) of the charging car, at least according to two displacement directions orthogonal with each other by means of actuators (53, 54) and at least one of such translation directions being parallel to the displacement direction of the frame (30) of the charging car (1) .

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each device (5) opening the lids is movable, together, that is integrally, with a corresponding hopper (2) and with the associated charging conduit (3) , with respect to the frame (30) of the charging car (1) , preferably by means of said movable frame (31) .

4. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each opening device (5) comprises independent means for the translation relative to the frame (30) whose actuators are controlled by the control unit by using the same control signals for moving the charging assembly (2, 201, 3) .

5. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the charging car (1) comprises a series of lid cleaning devices each one integral with the lid opening device (5) and possibly a series of cleaning assemblies (7) for the port frames which are movable, integral with the relevant hopper (2) and/or charging conduit (3) and/or the lid opening device (5) , with respect to the charging car (1) .

6. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein on said charging surface (13) at least one track rests, and wherein the charging car (1) comprises a main frame (30) and motorized wheels rotatably coupled with said main frame (30) and intended to be driven by said track, and wherein the charging car (1) further comprises a series of movable frames (31) displaceable independently from each other with respect to the main frame (30) at least on a surface parallel to the charging surface (13) , and to each one of such movable frames (31) there being coupled at least one of the hopper (2) , charging conduit (3) , lid opening device (5) and/or the cleaning device (7) , preferably all said devices connected with each other such to form a single integrated charging assembly that is movable with respect to the frame (3) of the charging car.

7. Charging car (1) for feeding a coke-producing oven, comprising

- a series of hoppers (2) for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells

- a series of charging conduits (3) for the pit coal mixture operatively connected to the corresponding hoppers (2) and intended, in use, to be coupled with the charging ports (5) ,

- a series of devices (5) opening the lids (12) , characterized in that it further comprises

position detectors for the charging ports (11) to detect at least on said charging surface the detected positions (DP) of said lids (12) .

8. Car (1) according to claim 7, further comprising a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions (PP) at least of said charging ports (11) , the control unit being further operatively connected to said detectors and being intended at least to compare the detected positions (DP) of the ports (12) with the plan positions (PP) ,

a charging assembly composed of at least one hopper (2) and of a corresponding charging conduit (3) that are connected with each other in a manner not displaceable with respect to each other, said control unit being further intended to move said charging assembly in an operating position defined as a function of the comparison between the plan positions (PP) and the detected positions (DP) of the ports (11) .

9. Charging car (1') for a coke-producing oven, comprising a series of hoppers (2) for a pit coal mixture intended to be charged in the oven cells

a series of charging conduits (3) for the pit coal mixture each one of such conduit is operatively connected to one of the hoppers (2) and each one of such charging conduits (3) is intended, in use, to be coupled with one of the charging ports (11) of the oven ,

a series of devices opening the lids and optionally a series of devices for cleaning them and/or the frames of the ports,

characterized in that

it comprises at least one device (40' , 40' ' ) measuring the temperature of the oven heating chambers .

10. Car (1') according to the preceding claim 9, wherein the device (40' ) measuring the temperature of a heating chamber comprises a supporting plate (45' ) movable at least vertically and a device (46' ) for hooking the lid (12' ) associated to said supporting plate (45' ) , preferably said hooking device (46' ) comprising an electromagnet.

11. Car (1') according to the preceding claim 10, wherein the device (40' ) measuring the temperature of a heating chamber comprises a vertical upright (42' ) connected to the supporting plate (45' ) and wherein the hooking device (46' ) is mounted on the supporting plate (45') translatably on a horizontal plane, such to be movable in at least two conditions: a condition where it is aligned with the telescopic upright 42' and one condition where it is not aligned therewith.

12. Car (1') according to the preceding claim 11, wherein the supporting plate (45' ) carries at least one temperature detector (41') preferably a pyrometer.

13. Car (1') according to one or more of the claims 10 to 13, comprising a plurality of devices

(40', 40'') measuring the temperature, preferably arranged at the front of the car (1) , on opposite sides and centrally.

14. System for measuring the temperature of heating chambers (11') of a coke-producing oven, wherein the heating chambers (11') are closed by lids (12') spatially arranged on at least a first surface, said system comprising:

a charging car (1') according to one or more of the claims 9 to 13 ,

characterized in that

the charging car (1') further comprises a control unit provided at least with storage means, intended to store a pre-set map of plan positions (PP) at least of said lids (12) of the heating chambers, said control unit being further intended to move at least the device (40' , 40' ' ) measuring the temperature of the oven heating chambers to an operating position defined as a function of the plan positions (PP) .