CA1075634A - Coke quencher car apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A coke quencher car apparatus comprises a receptacle that is similar to a standard quencher car, but having one internal baffle forming coke compartments, and a frame at each end thereof on which is supported metal curtain material. Each curtain is stretchable to cover one of the coke compartments during and after the pushing of coke is completed. The quencher car is connected to a traction car carrying equipment to remove and clean gases arising from the pushed coke in the quencher car and to move the quench-ing car.

Description

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This inventlon relates to a receptacle mounted on a frame of a quencher car that is movable along the coke side of a coke battery has an open top and a flexible screen arranged on each end of the receptacle. The screens are stretchabl,e and retractable over the receptacle to coyer hot coke therein. ~eans for moving the quencher car along the battery is provided and it carries equipment that removes and cleans gases arising ~rom hot coke pushed into the receptacle portion of the quencher car.
The apparatus that receives and transports hot coke pushed from a coke oven battery chamber comprises an open-topped receptacle mounted on a frame that is movable along the coke side of the battery and that receives coke pushed from a chamber of the battery; a fleY.ible screen arranged on the receptacle and stretchable thereover to cover the hot coke in the receptacle; means or stre~ching and retracting the screen as the receptacle moves along the battery; and means carrying equipment that removes, cleans and exhausts gases arising from the coke in the receptacle for mo~ing the receptacle along the battery.
In a modification of the invention, the screens are supported on powered reels journaled at each end of the receptacle.
For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the ollowing description and - ;
the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment and modifications in accordance with the invention.
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~rie~ Descri tion of the Drawin~s In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational yiew of a quenche~ car apparatus in accordance with the present in~ention;
~ ig. 2 is a sche~atic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a view along line III-III of ~ig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a portion o~ the appaLatus of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 5 and Sa illustrate schematically an eleYational yiew of another for~ of a quencher car in accordance with the inYention;
Fig. 6 is a plan Yiew of the top of the apparatus oE ~ig. 5a;
Fig. 7 i9 a schematic view of the power system for moving the screens of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the top of a modifica~ion of the apparatus of ~ig. Sa;
Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the power system for ~oving the screens of Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 i8 a view along line X-X of Fig. 9 and showing details not illustrated in Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a view along line XI-XI of Fig. 9 and showing details not illustrated in Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a viaw of one end o a quencher car in accordance with the invention in operative position at a coke oven battery.

Detailed Description Referring to Fig. 1, a quencher car 11 in accordance with the inYention comprises a frame 13 supported on conventional trucks 15 that coace ~ith rail~ 1~ located alontside ~ coke oYen bat-ery 19.

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The quencher car 11 carries on the ~rame 13 a rect~ngular shaped container or receptacle for hot coke having end ~alls 21, 23; an elon~ate side wall 27; and a sloping bott~m 29. The entire rectangular co~part~ent or receptacle is supported by co~mns 31 and cxoss bracing 33 on the frame 13, as suggested in Fig. 3.
~ ithin the rectangular container or receptacle there i5 one trans-verse baffle 35 that subdivides the lnterior of the receptable into two separate coke compartments.
The sloping bottom 29 extend6 outside of the columna~ supports 31 on both sides, as shown in ~ig. 3, and on the side of the quencher car adjacent the coke o~en battery 1~, there is a vertical plate 37 that connects to and extends the length of the bottom 29.
The Yertical side wall 25 carries an elongate duct 27 that communicates -with the coke compartments through several openings 39 in the side wall 25 of éach compartment. The duct 27 is closed at the right-hand end, as Yiewed in Fig. 1, and the duct extends toward the left beyond the frame 13 and connects to a gas scrubber situated on another car 41 descrlbed herelnafter.
The fra~e 13 of the quencher ~ar 11 e~tends beyond the end walls 21 23 a sufficlent distance to support a pair of stanchions 43, 45 at each end of the car 11. These stanchions 43, ~5 carry a transYersely e~tending shaft 47 on the ends of which are mounted sheaves 49. ~he end p~rtion of U-shaped pipe frames 51, 51a extend along the sides of the receptacle and the frames 51, 51a connect to a support 52 at the mid-length point of the receptacle.
The pipe frame carries two separate sections oE ~lexible metal curtains S3, 55 ~hat are supported on the pipe frame at spaced inter~als by loops or rings 57 that are secured suitably to the metal curtains 53, 55 and that slide along the pipe frame 51p 51a. The loops or rings 57 nearest the looped-end of the pipe frames 51, 51a are connected to the looped-end by a length oE
wire rope 58 or the like. One type of ~etal curtain material ~hich has been Eound to be satisfsctory is that mdde and aold by A~dubon Metalwar- belt Corp.

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~75634 o~ ~hiladelphia, Pennsylyania, ~.S.~.~ though curt~in ~ate~ial ~anuf~ctured by othe~s may be ~ound to be suitable. ~ feature o~ such-metal curtain mater-ial is that it is flegible in one directîon, lengthwise o~ the rec~p~acle~
but is practically in~legible in the other direction, ~ran~versQly of the receptacle.
There i8 provdied at both ends of the frame 13 and an both sides there~
of, as shown in Fig. 2, suitable rotar~ elements 59, S9a. Each such ro~ary element 59, S9a carries a sheave 61 and 61a, and the rotary elements, 59, 59a are mounted on suitable supporting platforms 60, 60a.
At the mid-lengt~ position of the car 11, there are mounted to the center baffle 35 a pair of sheaves ~3, 65 on each side of the car, and at the end walls 21, 2~ there is mounted a single sheave 67, 69 on each side of the car 11.
` A wire cable or rope 71 is connected to the loop or ring 5~ at the end of the metal curtain S3 and passes around sheaves 49, 61, 6~, ~3 and con-nects again to the loop or ring 57 in endless fashion. In like manner, at the other end of the car 11, another wire cable or rope 73 is connected to the loop or ring 57 at the end of the metal curtain 55 and passes around sheaYes 49, 61a, 69 and 65, on both sides and is connected to the same loop or ring at the end of the metal curtain S5 in endless fashion.
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Thus, when the rotary element 59 is activated, the wire cable or rope 71 moves in the direction of the arrow A ~Fig. 1.) and the metal curtain 53 is withdrawn fro~ its stowed or folded position, at the left-hand of the car 11, and is ~tretched to coYer the left-hand coke compartment of the car 11, as shown in the drawing, the wire rope 58 limiting the traYel o the metal curtain toward the right.
It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the meta-l curtain 55, at the right-hand end of the car 11, is in the stowed or folded position, wherefrom lt can be withdrawn~and stretched o~er the right-hand compartment of the receptacle by activating the rotary element 59a.

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-- The loops or rings 57 on the pipe fr2me portion nearer the coke oven battery 19 also carry ~ertical side portions o~ simllar metal curtain material 75, 77 which can be stretched to a flat attitude as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, from a stowed or Eolded position, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. The vertical side portions 75, 77-move concurrently with the top portions 53, 55 when the rotary elements 59, 59a are activated.
The wire rope 58 also limiting the travel of the side wall ~5 toward the right.
From Figs. 1 and 3 it will be observed that two lower portions 79, 81 of the side wall 25 are hinged, as at 83, 85, and each hinged portion 79 and 81 is operable by ~echanism ~not shown) to dump hot coke 87 from the coke compartments of the car 11. The two lower portions 79, 81 may be opened singly or t'ogether, as the case may be.
The other car 41 is a traction car or locomotiye on which is situated, besides the gas scrubber already mentioned herein, a fan, a stack and a loco-motive operator's cab wherein there are controls for actiYating car b~l and the equipment on ~he cars 11, 41.
Figs. 5 and 5a illustrate another embodiment of the present invention;
~ the respective Figures S and 5a matching along line A-A in both figures.
t At the right--hand end of Fig. 5 there is shown a gas cleaning car ~; 9 which includes a fan 91 that is powered by a Diesel engin e 93, the fan drawing gases from a cyclons separator 95. The clean gases withdrawn by the fan 91 are discharged to atmosphere through a stack 97 located about where ~, .
shown.

Gases enter the b~ttom of the cyclone separator 95 through a conduit ) t 89 in which there is a wet Venturi Scrubber 101. ~he water used in ths wet Venturi scrubber being supplied to sprays ~not shown) connected to a spray header 103~ Pu~ps 105 deliver the water to the spray header 103 from a storage tank ~not shown) on the car ~9.
At the left-hand end o~ the gas cleaning car 80 there is an electri-'t . : .
~; cal control panel 101, and in the conduit 99 there is sho~n a plurality of gas cooling sprays 109. Water for the sprays 109 is supplied by a spray header 111 and the pumps 105.

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1~3 75634 The gas cleaning ca~ 89 ~s coupled, as at 113, to one end of a traction car or locomotlve 115 that is coupled at the other end, as at 11~, to one end of a modified coke quencher car 119. The locomotive 115 includes an operator's cab 121 which is similar to the operator's cab of ~ig. 1.
Also, the locomotive 115 carries a length of conduit 123 t~at is coupled at one end to the conduit 99 and at the other end to a conduit 125 carried on the quencher car 119.
q`he quencher car 119 has a frame 127 that is carried by conventional front and rear ~left and rear, as shown in Fig. 5a) wheel and a~le trucks 129, 131. The frame 127 carries a rectangular~shaped open-topped receptacle 133 into which falls hot coke pushed from a coke oven cha~3ber 135 of a coke oYen battery 137.
The receptacle 133 has two end walls 139, 141 and two long side walls 143, 145. The long side wall 145 is hi~her than the opposite long side wall 143 as may be seen in Fig. 12. The long side wall 145 is proYided with a plurality of rectangular-shaped ports or openings 146 through ~hich gases arising from hot coke falling into the receptacle flow into the conduit 125;
the let-hand end of the conduit 125, as viewed in Fig. 5a, being sealed.
Referring to Fig. 12, it is seen that the long side wall 145 is considerably higher than the long side wall 143. Thus, the plane of the open top of the receptacle 133 is slanted do~nwardly t~ward the bottom of the coke oven bat-tery 137.
As shown in Fig. 12, the receptacle 133 has a planar bottom 147 like ; the bottom 29 shown in Fig. 3; the bottom 147 sloping downwardly away from the coke oven battery 137 toward a conventional coke wharf 149.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is a plan view of a let-hand screen or curtain 151 and a right-hand screen or curtain 153 that both coYer the slanted oyen top of the receptacle 133. The left-hand screen 151 is similar to the screen or curtain 53 of Flg. 2 and the right-hand screen 1S3 i8 similar to the screen Dr curtain 55 of Fig. 2. While not shown as s~ch in Fig. 6, the right-hand screen 153 is folded in loops llke the right-hand screen 55 of Fig. 2.

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~7~634 In like manner, the left-hand scxeen~ ~hen ret~acted as desc~ibed hereafter, also folds, as does the screen or curtain 53 o$ ~ig. 2 in the space to the le~t of end wall 139 of Fig. 6. The respective screens 151, 153 are each proYlded with a plurality of spaced-apart stiffeners 155, 157 that e~tend transversely of the receptacle 133 and that are supported on the top surface of the long side walls 143, 1~5 by rollers (not sho~l). Each right- and left-hand curtain being provided with an end stiffener or screen drawbar 155a, 157a.
! ' Between the screen drawbars 155a and 1S7a is an opening lS9 extending transversely the full width of the receptacle 133. This opening 159 is the opening through which hot coke enters the quencher car ~rom a coke guide 161 and hood 16~ arran~ement, like tha~ shown in Fig. 12 or any other suitable arrangement of-coke guide and hood apparatus.
The screens 151, 153 are èach connected to a s~stem of draw chainæ
that cooperate wlth dri~en sprockets 165, 167 at each end oE th~ receptacle 13~. The sprockets 167 are ~nounted to a shaft 169 ~Fig. 12) that is pro~ided with a sprocket 171 where ~hown. An electric motor and a clutch coupling assembly 173 is mounted to a suitable support 175 at each end of the structural supports for the receptacle, and a sprocket and clutch assembly 177 is mounted adjacent the motor-clutch assembly 175. The sprocket and clutch assembl~ 177 carries on the end of a shaft a bevel gear 179 that cooperates with the sprocket 171.
As shown in ~ig. 12, one of the axle-wheel assemblies 129, 131 at each end of the quencher car 11, carries a sprocket 181 around which a chain 183 is looped that also is looped around the sprocket 177 in a dri~ing relation thereto.
The quencher car 119 of Fi~. 6 is shown in position after the recep-tacle thereof has been filled with hot coke. The openlng 159 is shown as a minimum opening to accommodate the fume hood 163.

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As the quencher ca~ llg moyes along in ~ront o~ the chamber 135 being pushed, the chain drive a~se~hly o~iginating with the sprocket 181, turning with the wheel-axle assemblies 129, 131, dxi~es the sprockets 165~
167 so that screens 151 and 153 move si~ultaneously across the sloping top of the receptacle 133 and keep it closed as hot coke gravitates into the receptacle.
When the quencher car 119 reaches the coke quenchin~ station and is stationary there, the operator in the operator'5 cab car press a swith botton on a control console to engage the motor-clutch 173 with the s~rocket clutch 177. The motor then provides power to open the screens 151, 153 to admit the quenching fluid to the hot coks. After quenching, the operator closes the screens 151, 153 beEore the quencher car stops at the coke w~arf to discharge the quenched coke. The car then returns to the battery and is spotted at the next oven to be pushed.
Figs. 8-11 illustrate another form of apparatus for accommodating the screens when they are wi~hdrawn from coyering the open top of the quenching car 119.
A~ each end of the quencher car 119 thore is positioned a cylindrical reel or drum 185, 181 which is suitably journaled, as at 189, to quencher car structure 191. Each reel or drum 1~5, 1~1 is driven by a chain 193 looped around a sprocket 195 on the drum shaft 197 and around a sprocket 199 of a power train 201.
In Fig. 9, the power train 201 is shown in schematic form, but in Fig. 10 the power train 201 is 'shown as comprised of a sprocket 203 mounted to the wheel-axle assembly 131 ~only one wheel-axle assembly is actiYe in this embodiment of the inventlon) and a drive chain 205 that loops around it and another sprocket 201 of a jack-shaft assembly 209 mounted about ~here shown in ~ig. 10. The ~ack-shaft assembly 209 includes a bevel ~ear 211 that coacts with a be~el gear 213 mounted to an automatic driYe assembly 215 about as shown in Fig. 10. The auto~actic driYe assembly includes a sprocket-clutch assembly 217 that is Fonnected to a curtain drive sprocket 219 ~ounted to a curtain drive shaEt 221 suitably journaled as at 223 by a chaill 225.

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Draw chains 22~ ~o~ moying the screens 151, 153 axe sho~n also in Fig. 9.
In ~ig. 10, the right-hand screen 153 is shown in the xolled-u~
position on the drum 181.
Fig. 11 illus~rates the motor drive for the screen 151, located at the left-hand end oE the quencher car shown in ~igs. 8 and 9. T~e motor drive includes an electric motor 229 w~th a torque couplin& 23] that is engaged to a sprocket-clutch 233, the sprocket portion carr~ing a drive chain 23S that loops around a drive sprocket 23~ on a drive shaft 239 of the screen 151 journaled as at 2~1 to suitable structure 243. ~he chains 2~7 that move the screen and the trans~erse support bars 155 for the screen are also shown in Fi~. 11.
In operation, th~ quencher car 11 is positioned at an oven chamber to be pushed in such a way that the coke passing through a coke guide 161 and hood 1~3 falls initially into the first compartment at the right-hand end of the quencher car ll, as viewed in Fig. 2; the metal curtain 55 at the right-hand end, being in:Ltially in the stowed or folded position as shown, and the metal curtain 53at the left being extended covering the left half o the quencher car. As the coke falls lnto the quencher car, it is moved by the traction car or locomotive toward the right, as Yiewed in Fig.

2. At the same time, the rotary elements 59a on both sides of the receptacle are activated to commence s~retching the metal curtain 55 on the right-hand side over the coke in the compartment of the right-hand half of the receptacle and retracting the metal curtain 53 on the left side.
When pushing i8 completed, the left-hand metal wove curtain closes over the let-hand coke compartment, and the coke guide moves to the ne~t oven to be pushed. Then, the quencher car is ready to be moved to the quenching station or other location.
; During the pushing sequence and during the time the car is travelling to the quenching statlon, the equipment on the t~action ca~ is operating to remove and scrab the gases ari6ing from the hot coke.

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Considering the embodiment of the inYention sho~n in ~igs. 5-12, it will be understood ~y those skilled in t~e art that the right~ and left-hand screens may be stowed in either a folded arrangement or on the reels.
In either case, the screens are moved simultaneously with the quencher car by means of a power train usin~ the axle of one or both trucks as a source of power. This is the source of po~er when the coke is being pushed. After the hood has been raised and the coke guide and hood are moved to the next oven to be pushed, the opening between the screens is closed by moving one screen relative to the other. At the coke quenching station, when the quencher car is stationary and the normal power train is not available, the screens are moved to their respective stowed positions by means of the motor-ized automatic power train under the control of the operator in the locomo~ive.
As in the embodlment oE the invention shown in Fi~s. 1-4 and described therein, the eq.uipment on the gas cleaning car is operative to induce suction in the conduit extending along the higher side wall o~ the quencher car shown in ~igs. 5-12 so tha~ effluent from the hot coke falling into and residin~
ln the quencher car i9 continually removed and cleaned.
In Fig. 5a, conventional limit switches 245 and 247 are provided at the opposite ends of the receptacle. These limit switches prevent overtravel of the screens or curtains wh~ they are operated under control of the opera-tor in the locomoti~e.
Now referring to Fig. 5a, the quencher car 119 is shown in position so that coke being pushed from oven chamber 135 will fall into the car as it travels toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 5a. The locomotive operator ad~usts the screens or curtains by means of switches that control the motors on the ends of the car. The screen or cur~ain at the left-hand end of ~he quencher car is in the folded position or is wound around the left-hand reel or drum. The screen or curtain at the ri~ht is extended over the open top of the receptacle to a position that allows enough space between the screens for the coke hood. After the hoad is lowered into position, the push can commence.

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As the coke is being pushed rom the oyen, the screens or cu~tains are automatically controlled. That is to sa~, the le~t-hand sc~een or curtain unfolds or unwinds ~rom the real or drum, and the right-hand screen or curtain (as Yiewed in Fig. 5a~ ~olds into the sto~age space at the right-hand end of the car, or it is wound up on the reel or drum.
After the car is loaded and the fume hood is raised, the opening is closed by extending the rigl~t-hand screen or curtain to ~eet the left-hand screen or curtain under the control of ~he operator in the locomotive.
With the car completely covered by the screens or curtains, it is then moved to the quenching station. Both screens or curtains are retracted to the folded or rolled-up positions; the coke is quenched; and the car is moved to the coke wharf where the coke i5 unloaded. The`car then is moved to the next oven to be pushed and the cycle is repeated.
~ s described herein, there is a screen or curtain drive mechanism at each end of the car that moves the respectiYe right- and left-hand screens or curtains.
The drive mechanism is powered either 1) by a chain drive from an axle of the car9 or 2) by an electric motor and gear reducer and bevel gears.
Those skilled in the art will understand that conyentional controls will be interlocked to permit the operation of the hood and of the screens or curtains to follow a preselected sequence.
From the foregoing description oE embodiments of the inyention, those skilled in the art should recogniæe many important ~eatures and advan-tages of it, among which the following are particularly significant:
That the apparatus of the invention is both effective and efficient in containing, removing and cleaning gases arising from hot coke as it is being pushed into the coke quencher car and as the car is being mo~ed to the quencher station;
That the apparatus of the invention is readily adaptable to existing coke oYen batteries as lt is to newly constructed batteries; and That the apparatus of the ~nYention ca~ be made so that operation is automatic, requiring minimum attention by oRerating personnel.

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Although the inyen~ion has been descxibed herein ~ith a cextain degree of particulari~y it is understood that the present disclosure has - been made only as an example and that the scope of the inyention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

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Claims (19)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus that receives and transports hot coke pushed from a coke oven battery chamber comprising:
(a) an open-topped receptacle mounted on a frame that is movable along the coke side of said battery and that receives coke pushed from a chamber of said battery;
(b) first and second flexible screen parts arranged on said receptacle and stretchable thereover to cover said hot coke in said receptacle, said parts being stretchable to cover respective portions of said receptacle and said screen parts being secured respectively to opposed ends of said receptacle;
(c) means for stretching and retracting said screen parts as said receptacle moves along said battery; and (d) means carrying equipment that removes, cleans and exhausts gases arising from said coke in said receptacle for moving said receptacle along said battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
(a) said means carrying equipment is a traction car on which is mounted a gas scrubber, a fan, and a stack through which flow said gases; and including (b) a duct communicating with said receptacle and said gas scrubber through which said gases flow.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
(a) a pivotable means in said receptacle that is operable to discharge coke from said receptacle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
(a) each said flexible screen part includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion that forms a side of said receptacle when stretched therealong.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
(a) each said flexible screen part includes horizontal and vertical portions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
(a) means on said receptacle for stowing said screen parts when they are retracted from covering said receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
(a) means on said receptacle for stowing each screen part.

8. Apparatus that receives and transports hot coke pushed from a coke oven battery chamber comprising:
(a) an open-topped receptacle, mounted on a frame that is movable along the coke side of said battery and that receives hot coke pushed from a chamber of said battery;
(b) first and second flexible screen parts arranged on said receptacle and stretchable thereover to cover said hot coke therein, said parts being stretchable to cover respective portions of said receptacle and said screen parts being secured respectively to opposed ends of said receptacle;
(c) means for stretching and retracting each said screen part as said receptacle moves along said battery;
(d) means on said receptacle for stowing each said screen part when it is retracted from covering said receptacle; and (e) a traction car connected to said frame and carrying equipment that removes, cleans and exhausts gases arising from coke within said receptacle.

9 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:
(a) each said flexible screen part includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion that forms a side of said receptacle when stretched there-along.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:
(a) each flexible screen part includes horizontal and vertical portions;
and including (b) means on said receptacle for stowing each flexible screen part when it is retracted from covering its portion of said receptacle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 including:
(a) means for discharging said coke from said receptacle.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 including:
(a) means within said receptacle that subdivide the interior thereof into coke receiving compartments; and (b) means for discharging said coke from one or more compartments of said receptacle.

13. Apparatus that receives and transports hot coke pushed from a coke oven battery chamber comprising:

(a) an open-topped receptacle mounted on a frame carried by wheel-axle trucks engaging rails, that it movable along the coke side of said battery and that receives said hot coke;
(b) a pair of flexible screens or curtains arranged on said receptacle and stretchable thereover to cover said hot coke, said screens or curtains being stretchable to cover respective portions of said receptacle and said screens or curtains being secured respectively to opposed ends of said recept-acle;
(c) means for stretching and retracting said screens or curtains as said receptacle moves along said battery;

(d) means on the ends of said receptacle for stowing said screens or curtains when said screens or curtains are retracted; and (e) means carrying equipment that removes, cleans and exhausts gases arising from said coke in said receptacle for moving said receptacle along said battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
a) said means for stowing said screens or curtains includes reels journaled to the ends of said frame; and b) said means for collecting and removing said effluent includes a conduit mounted to one side of said receptacle and having one or more openings that are in communication with the interior of said receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
a) said means for stretching and retracting said screens or curtains includes:
i) a chain drive system connecting each stowage reel with one axle of each truck, and ii) means for disconnecting said chain drive system, and iii) means for rotating said reels independtly of said chain drive system.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
a) said means for stretching and retracting each one of said screens or curtains includes:
i) a chain coacting with a sprocket on an axle and a sprocket on a shaft carrying one bevel gear that coacts with another bevel gear carried by said reel carrying said screen or curtain.

17. Apparatus that receives and transports hot coke pushed from a coke oven battery chamber comprising:
a) an open-topped receptacle mounted on a frame that is carried by wheel-axle trucks engaging rails, and that is movable along the coke side of said battery and that receives said hot coke b) a pair of flexible screens or curtains mounted to reels journaled to said frame near the ends of said receptacle on which said screens or curtains are stowed when retracted from covering said open-topped receptacle, said screens or curtains being stretchable to cover respective portions of said receptacle;
c) a locomotive connected to said frame that moves said apparatus on said rails along said coke oven battery;
d) a conduit on said receptacle that collects and conveys effluent arising from said hot coke as it falls into and remains within said receptacle;
e) means carried by a car on said rails that is movable by said loco-motive for receiving, cleaning and exhausting said effluent; and f) drive means connecting said axle with said reel for rotating said reel and thereby extending and retracting each screen or curtain as said apparatus moves along said battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein:
a) said drive means includes:
i) a sprocket on said axle, ii) a sprocket on said reel, and iii) a chain coacting with said sprocket.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein:
said drive means includes:
i) a sprocket on said axle, ii) a sprocket on said reel, and iii) a chain cooperating with said sprockets as the means for rotating said reel as said axle turns.