ZA200503780B - Seals for coke oven doors and the use thereof. - Google Patents

Description

oo WO 2004/067680

Sealing Arrangements for Coke Oven Doors and their Application

The invention relates to sealing arrangements for coke oven doors in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1, as well as their application.

Special requirements are raised of coke oven doors with regard to their leakproofness which extend to reliable sealing being effected even after a long service life. This requirement is fulfilled, however, by only few of the numerous known door constructions.

One essential reason for this is severe contamination of the doors, in particular in the form \ of tarry constituents contained in the coke oven gas which become deposited on the sealing elements and on the sealing surface of the door frame. These oily residues necessitate cleaning measures to be conducted periodically, which are time-consuming and damage the sealing elements to such an extent that in prior art door constructions an adequate sealing effect is no longer guaranteed after a long service life. A further complicating aspect is that the sealing elements have to be adapted to the bending line of the coke oven door which does not become established until after commencement of operation. Since this bending line changes after lengthy operating periods or when the coke oven door has been left open for longer periods, it is essential for such sealing elements to be adaptable.

DE 30 16 165 Al discloses a coke oven door where a metallic sealing element is roughly ) adjusted by hammer blow and where, at the same time, an automatic fine adjustment of the sealing arrangement occurs by virtue of a spring-loaded device.

These metallic sealing strips (hammer blow strips) present a problem insofar as the sealing strip has a high resistance moment in the direction of the desired deflection, i.e. the sealing strip cannot adequately adapt to the irregularities/deformations of the sealing surface of the door frame thus causing arching of the sealing strip and therefore leakages. Furthermore, upon adjustment of the hammer blow strip to the irregularities/deformations, rebound may occur. In addition, “rockers” may be created at the sealing strips by raised areas in the sealing surface. The hammer blow strip is retained in place by clip bolts. These clip bolts cannot be optimally adjusted. On the one hand, the clip bolts must be firmly tightened so that the hammer blow sealing strip is held in the required position by adequate friction oo WO 2004/067680 forces. On the other hand, the friction forces must not be of such magnitude that the

E adjustment/reshaping of the hammer blow strip are thereby prevented.

The same applies to the setting of the elastic forces of the spring-loaded elements. The elastic forces must be set such that the friction forces of the clip bolts are overcome and the resistance moment of the hammer blow strips is overcome in the desired bending direction.

That means that a total of great force is needed which in turn requires great door latching forces. The great door latching forces lead to high loading of the door latching elements and the door frame. When retrofitting these door sealing arrangements, it would be necessary for the door latching device to be redesigned in view of the resulting great forces.

The hammer blow strips and other sealing elements are, as a rule, welded at the comers.

Repairs to the sealing elements are also made by welded connection. Due to the temperatures required for the welding process, these welded connections result in structural and dimensional changes which necessitate a labour-intensive aftertreatment of the sealing elements.

It 1s the object of the present invention to propose sealing arrangements for coke oven doors which are adaptable in shape to any irregularity or deformation of the door frame at low interlocking forces so that the known door locking devices can also be used in } retrofitting situations. Furthermore, the seals shal] not be subjected to welding.

The solution to the problem is provided by the inventive features of Claims 1 and 13.

Further developments are in accordance with the features of the dependent claims.

By virtue of the comb-shaped sealing strip in accordance with the invention with sealing edge and slots, the moment of resistance in the direction of the desired deflection can be greatly reduced. This reduction depends on the slot depth and slot width as well as the slot number. By virtue of the correct selection of the slot depth, slot width and slot number as well as the material thickness, the sealing edge of the comb-shaped sealing strip is easily deformable and is therefore very easily adaptable to any unevenness of the sealing face of the door frame. Due to the adaptability of the comb-shaped sealing strip, the sealing effect : is substantially improved.

The slots can be designed in any known geometric shape. It is also possible to design the slots to be closed by a bridging segment at their ends opposite the sealing edge. Even in that design, the moment of resistance is reduced in the direction of the desired deflection.

The slot width can also be reduced at the end opposite the sealing edge so that, upon bending of the comb-shaped sealing strip, the moment of resistance is changed by the smaller slot width as soon as the opposite sides of the slot come into contact.

The comb-shaped sealing strip can be fastened, in a punctiform manner, with bolts, pressure discs, springs or pressure strips. By means of the pressure strip, the punctiform pressure forces are evenly distributed across the length of the pressure strip.

By blows onto the “tines” of the comb-shaped sealing strips, the sealing edge can be driven against the sealing surfaces of the door frame in such a manner that the sealing edge becomes sealingly seated on the door frame. The friction forces which are generated by the pressure discs or the pressure strips prevent the sealing edge of the comb-shaped sealing strip from springing back because of the relatively low resistance moment.

The comb-shaped sealing strip in accordance with the present invention can be used for ) new coke oven doors as well as for existing coke oven doors. In a coke oven door with hammer blow strip, merely the existing hammer blow strip needs to be exchanged against the comb shaped sealing strip. In a retrofitting or repair situation, the existing hammer blow element does not, necessarily, need to be exchanged. It is also possible to mount the comb-shaped sealing strip in addition to the hammer blow strip. In such an arrangement, the comb-shaped sealing strip must be provided either with its own fastening means or, otherwise, the existing fastening means for the hammer blow strip can be used.

The comb-shaped sealing strip in accordance with the invention is well suited for repairs of sealing elements. In a repair situation where, for instance, the sealing edge of an existing sealing strip or the sealing surface of the door frame is damaged or worn, it is possible, by mounting the comb-shaped sealing strip at the damaged site, to restore full sealing function. In this case, the comb-shaped sealing strip is optimally adapted to the worn area. - It is also possible to mount the comb-shaped sealing strip within the area of the damaged site in an overlapping manner onto the existing sealing element.

The sealing engagement of the comb-shaped sealing strip intended for the repair is achieved by form closure to the existing sealing element, and not by way of welding as was done to date. This sealing method offers the advantage that the time-consuming aftertreatment of the sealing edge, which is necessitated by welding, can be dispensed with.

The aforementioned sealing method by form closure can be applied to all prior art sealing elements for coke oven doors. It is possible to accomplish the form closure by a mitre joint, a butt joint or a stepped joint as well as a diagonal joint. By using a sealing agent, a leakage of coke oven gas is prevented from the outset. Later on, the tar additionally assists the sealing action.

This sealing engagement by form closure can also be provided within the region of the corner joints. In such an arrangement, the butt joint can additionally be provided with a flexible seal. A particularly good sealing effect, even after lengthy operating periods, can be achieved where the flexible seal is mounted into the mitre Joint of a corner connection.

This seal can be additionally coated with an elastic sealing agent. ) In accordance with a further development of the invention, the flexible seal can consist of sealing sheets which, at their ends which protrude from the butt joint, are embodied as round segments. Such a design results in a spring action which causes the sealing sheets, by virtue of the spring action, to sealingly bear against any developing gaps. The cavities of these sealing sheets can be filled with a material, such as for instance Teflon, glass wool or the like. The sealing sheets can also be coated on their exterior with an elastic sealing agent.

The abutting sealing elements can also be sealed by means of a T-piece. The gas channels disclosed in WO 01/30939 A2 can be advantageously sealed by means of a double T-sea].

i S

The double T-seal for the gas channels is particularly advantageously fabricated from a : flexible sealing arrangement with sealing sheets and round segments, i.e. the sealing sheets are simply flanged, in the manner of a double T-seal, until they bear upon the walls of the gas channel. s

The sealing effect can also be achieved by means of any other plugging connection.

Plugging connections are particularly well suited if they are used as connections with the gas channels disclosed in WO 01/30939 A2.

The aforementioned components, as well as those claimed and described in the

Cy embodiment examples and to be used in accordance with the invention, do not have to fulfil any particular exceptional requirements as regards their size, shape and desi gn, material selection and technical concept so that any selection criteria known in this field can find unrestricted use.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention are detailed in the following description of the related drawing where - by way of example - preferred embodiments of the seals in accordance with the invention for coke oven doors are presented.

Shown are in: }

Fig. 1 a schematic drawing of the comb-shaped sealing strip;

Fig. 2 adrawing of the comb-shaped sealing strip with bolts and pressure discs;

Fig. 3 acomb-shaped sealing strip with bolts and a pressure strip;

Fig. 4 adrawing of the comb-shaped sealing strip which has adapted to the irregularities of the door frame;

Fig. 5 aschematic drawing of a flexible sealing element with spring action;

Fig 6a~ Fig. 6d various sealing options of sealing strips without welded joints;

Fig. 7 the sealing option for sealing strips by means of a T-piece and a double T-piece.

Co ; Fig. 1 shows a comb-shaped sealing strip 1, which has a sealing edge 2. By way of slots 3, the resistance moment of the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 is reduced in the direction of the desired deflection. At a given material thickness 14, the resistance moment can be specifically influenced by selectively dimensioning the slot width 4 and slot depth 5.

Fig. 2 illustrates that the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 is fastened in a punctiform manner at the door body (not shown) by means of bolts 6 and pressure discs 7.

According to Fig. 3, the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 is fastened at the door body (not shown) by means of bolts 8 and a pressure strip 9. By means of pressure strip 9, the punctiform pressure forces of the bolts 8 are evenly distributed across the length of the ) pressure strip 9.

Fig. 4 shows the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 which has optimally adapted to the

Irregularities/deformations 12 and 13 of door frame 11. By blows with a hammer onto the tines 10, the sealing edge 2 of the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 is driven against the friction forces of the pressure strip 9, in the direction of the sealing surface of door frame 11, in such a manner that the sealing edge 2 of the comb-shaped sealing strip 1 is sealingly seated upon door frame 11.

Fig. 5 shows a flexible sealing element consisting of two sealing sheets 15 and 16 which, at their ends, are connected by round segments 17 and 18. The flexible sealing element 1s inserted into the joint between two sealing strips in such a manner that the round segmerits

17 and 18 are arranged outside the sealing strips. By means of the round segments 17 and k 18, a spring tension is created in the joint. The sealing sheets 15 and 16 are thereby spring- loaded against the sealing strips connected by butt-joint. The space between the sealing sheets 15 and 16, as well as the rounded segments 17 and 18, can be provided with a filling 19. This filling 19 can consist of a plugging material or some elastic material which further enhances the spring action. To additionally increase the sealing effect of the flexible sealing element, the outside of the sealing sheets 15 and 16 can additionally be provided with a sealing agent which in its turn can be elastic.

Fig. 6a, Fig. 6b, Fig. 6¢, and Fig. 6d show various forms of joint sealing arrangements by ) form closure with and without flexible sealing elements. The sealing strips 20 and 21 can be sealed by way of a mitred joint 22, a butt-joint 23, a stepped joint 24 as well as a diagonal joint 25. To improve the sealing effect, flexible sealing elements 26, 27, 28 and 29 can be arranged in the joints. 1S

Fig. 7 shows that the two sealing elements 20 and 21 are connected with a T-piece 30 or a double T-piece 31. )

BE WO 2004/067680

References 1 comb-shaped sealing strip 2 sealing edge 3 slot 4 slot width 5 slot depth 6 bolt 7 pressure disc 8 bolt

Cy 9 pressure strip 10 tines 11 door frame 12 irregularities/deformations 13 irregularities/deformations 14 material thickness 15 sealing sheet 16 sealing sheet 17 round segment 18 round segment 19 filling ) 20 sealing strip 21 sealing strip 22 mitred joint 23 butt-joint 24 stepped joint : 25 diagonal joint 26 flexible sealing element 27 flexible sealing element 28 flexible sealing element 29 flexible sealing element 30 T-piece 31 double T-piece

Claims (1)

1. Boo ’ I S : Claims

   I. A sealing arrangement for coke oven doors comprising, at the face of the oven chamber, a peripherally enclosing door frame with plane sealing surfaces on its exterior, a door body fixable at the door frame and a peripheral sealing element with slots arranged at intervals fastened at the door body and, upon door closure, seated upon the door frame, characterised in that a comb-shaped sealing strip (1) having a ; sealing edge (2) and slots (3) and tines (10) is fastened at the door body.

   ) 2. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the comb- shaped sealing strip (1) is fastened at the door body by means of bolts (6) and pressure discs (7).

   3. The sealing arangement in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the comb- shaped sealing strip (1) is fastened at the door body by means of bolts (8) and a pressure strip (9).

   4. The sealing arrangement for coke oven doors comprising, at the face of the oven } ) chamber, a peripherally enclosing door frame with plane sealing surfaces on its exterior, a door body fixable at the door frame and a peripheral sealing element with slots arranged at intervals fastened at the door body and, upon door closure, seated upon the door frame, in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the sealing elements are mutually sealed by form closure.

   5. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that, in addition to the form closure, a seal is provided. AMENDED SHEET

   Co : 1 EP0400440 ) :

   ‘. 6. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that a flexible sealing element is provided at the form-closure.

   7. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 6, characterised in that the flexible sealing element consists of two sealing sheets (15) and (16) which, at their ends, are connected by round segments (17) and (18).

   8. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 7, characterised in that the space between the sealing sheets (15) and (16) as well as the round segments (17) and (18) are provided with a filling (19).

   ) 9. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 8, characterised in that the filling . (19) consists of an elastic material.

   10. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the flexible sealing element is coated with a sealing agent.

   11. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that a T-piece 1s arranged at the form-closure.

   12. The sealing arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that a double T-piece is arranged at the form-closure. )

   13. An application of the comb-shaped sealing element (1) in accordance with Claims 1 to 3 for retrofitting and repairing existing coke oven doors. AMENDED SHEET