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EP0885371B1 - Four a tunnel - Google Patents

Four a tunnel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0885371B1
EP0885371B1 EP97905240A EP97905240A EP0885371B1 EP 0885371 B1 EP0885371 B1 EP 0885371B1 EP 97905240 A EP97905240 A EP 97905240A EP 97905240 A EP97905240 A EP 97905240A EP 0885371 B1 EP0885371 B1 EP 0885371B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
kiln
tunnel kiln
hearth
tunnel
narrow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97905240A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0885371A1 (fr
Inventor
William Frederick Boylett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Consultant Gas Engineers Ltd
Original Assignee
Consultant Gas Engineers Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Consultant Gas Engineers Ltd filed Critical Consultant Gas Engineers Ltd
Publication of EP0885371A1 publication Critical patent/EP0885371A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0885371B1 publication Critical patent/EP0885371B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B9/00—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
    • F27B9/06—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity heated without contact between combustion gases and charge; electrically heated
    • F27B9/062—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity heated without contact between combustion gases and charge; electrically heated electrically heated
    • F27B9/063—Resistor heating, e.g. with resistors also emitting IR rays
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B9/00—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
    • F27B9/14—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment
    • F27B9/20—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment the charge moving in a substantially straight path
    • F27B9/24—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment the charge moving in a substantially straight path being carried by a conveyor
    • F27B9/2407—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment the charge moving in a substantially straight path being carried by a conveyor the conveyor being constituted by rollers (roller hearth furnace)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
    • F27D3/12—Travelling or movable supports or containers for the charge
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
    • F27D3/12—Travelling or movable supports or containers for the charge
    • F27D2003/124—Sleds; Transport supports

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to tunnel kilns.
  • Kilns for firing ceramic wares are of two basic types namely a fixed hearth version and a moving hearth version.
  • ware to be fired are placed on wheeled trolleys and pushed through a kiln. The trolleys are exposed to the heat.
  • the bottom of the kiln consisting of thermal insulation is in the form of an upper run of an endless belt as shown in United Kingdom patent application no. GE 2,080,927, the endless belt including a longitudinal succession of T-section insulating blocks which in the upper run slide in a T-section slot in a fixed base with the sides of the slot under the side walls of the kiln.
  • FR-A-2089276 discloses a tunnel kiln for ceramic products in which support trays are driven by chain driver elements.
  • One aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention is to minimize the amount of waste heat.
  • a brick firing tunnel kiln having a fixed hearth which is interrupted by at least two narrow endless conveyors for bricks to be heat treated thereon, the upper surface of an upper run of each narrow conveyor defining a moving hearth comprising solid piers of refractory material which project proud of adjacent fixed hearth blocks and provide an unyielding proud part extending along the base of the kiln.
  • the width of the kiln is not limited by the same mechanical or thermal constraints as is the case for a single moving hearth as in GB 2,080,927. Thus, more acceptable proportions of width and length of the kiln are available.
  • the thermal mass of the moving hearths of the narrow conveyors can be considerably reduced.
  • the reduced volume of moving hearths in the narrow conveyors means that a lower thermal mass undergoes the cycle of heating, cooling and re-heating.
  • the underside of the kiln is substantially sealed, thus eliminating the ingress of cold air and improving efficiency and temperature uniformity. Sealing can be achieved more efficiently because there is a less absolute thermal expansion at any given point. Improved sealing can be achieved by the provision of a sealing plate across the underside of the kiln tunnel.
  • the plurality of moving hearths means that the kiln overall can have a low thermal mass by including more fixed hearths across its width, enabling rapid heating and cooling. This makes production interruptions less of a problem, and less costly.
  • the ware to be fired go through the kiln on batts straddling the proud surfaces which batts are typically thin refractory plates.
  • the fixed hearth comprises a pre-cast refractory material.
  • the narrow conveyors comprise a low thermal mass fibre.
  • At least one heating element is located between at least part of a fixed or moving hearth and the level of the upper surface of a narrow conveyor.
  • the at least one heating element is between at least one fixed hearth and the level of an upper surface of a narrow conveyor.
  • at least one fixed hearth includes an elongate channel in which is located a heating element.
  • the elongate channel is open towards the tunnel of the kiln.
  • This configuration allows heat to be inserted into the kiln directly underneath the support batts enabling better temperature uniformity and allowing material to be fired at a faster rate with high quality. A shorter kiln can therefore be produced, reducing capital costs and floor space requirements.
  • Each narrow conveyor comprises a pier projecting from a moving hearth of the narrow conveyor.
  • the pier comprises a refractory material. With such a pier it is possible to fire heavy ware which may compress ceramic fibre insulation used in the narrow conveyors.
  • the present invention finds particular advantage in firing bricks or tiles but has wider application.
  • the kiln shown in Figures 1 and 2 is generally similar to the kiln described in British patent application no. GB 2,080,927 having a tunnel of thermal insulating material and means for conveying ware through the kiln in the form of an endless belt.
  • GB 2,080,927 The content of GB 2,080,927 is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a tunnel kiln 10 having a frame 10 enclosing a conveyor structure 12 and an insulating structure 14.
  • the conveyor structure 12 consists of ceramic fibre elements 16, carriers 18 therefor and transporter means 20, together constituting an endless conveyor for ware to be conveyed and heat-treated therein.
  • a superstructure 22 ( Figure 1) defines the upper region of a tunnel 24 having a preheat section 26, a firing section 28 and a cooling section 30. Cooling air can be provided by a blower 31.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a tunnel roof insulating element 100 supported by opposed side wall insulating elements 102, 104, supported on opposed base insulating elements 106, 108.
  • a plurality of moveable 32 and fixed 34 hearth blocks extend along the base of the kiln.
  • the insulating elements 100-108 and hearth blocks 32, 34 define the tunnel 24.
  • a steel sealing plate 110 is provided across the underside of the kiln tunnel 24 substantially to prevent the flow of air to or from the kiln tunnel 24.
  • the plate 110 includes U-shaped channels 112a, 112b to allow room for the endless conveyors bearing the narrow conveyors.
  • the conveying means is in the form of two narrow conveyors comprising moving hearth blocks 32a, 32b having piers 40 which project proud of adjacent fixed hearth blocks 34a, 34b, 34c.
  • the fixed hearth blocks 34a-34c are of a pre-cast refractory material and the moving hearth blocks 32a, 32b are of a low thermal mass fibre.
  • the kiln illustrated is an electrically heated kiln having electrical elements 36.
  • the fixed hearth blocks 34a-34c include elongate channels open towards the kiln tunnel 24 in which heating elements 36 are located.
  • the ware to be fired travels on kiln furniture such as flat refractory batts 38 which are proud of the fixed hearth blocks 34a 34c.
  • the narrow conveyors illustrated include solid refractory piers 40 projecting through a bed of high temperature ceramic fibre material such as SAFFIL (registered trade mark) to provide an unyielding proud part of the narrow conveyor.
  • the fixed hearth blocks 34a-34c project beyond the conveyors at both ends (see generally reference numeral 42) so that the batts 38 laden with the ware can be placed on the fixed hearth 34 and slid along that hearth 34 until the batts 38 are picked up by the narrow conveyors at the input end and then will be pushed out at the other end so the batts can be removed.
  • Figure 3 shows a conveyor configuration for a two track kiln with four moving hearths across the width of the kiln.
  • the full kiln arrangement is shown in Figure 4 in which similar reference numerals are used as for Figures 1 and 2 for equivalent or similar parts.
  • the kiln of Figure 4 is generally similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 except that in this case there are four moving hearths 32a-32d and three fixed hearths 34a-34c between them.
  • two batts 38a, 38b are shown carrying ceramic ware 44.
  • the kiln arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 is of double width so batts can go through the kiln side-by-side.
  • the batts 38a, 38h can bridge between two moving hearths 32a, 32b on one side of the kiln and between two other moving hearths 32c, 32d on the other side of the kiln.
  • the first mentioned and second mentioned pairs of moving hearths have independent drives 46a, 46b independently operable at different speeds so that two different types of ware can be fired with different timings.
  • the narrow conveyors must be proud of the fixed hearth and can simply be the ceramic hearth.
  • the solid piers provide a proud surface.
  • the embodiment described herein is suitable for firing almost any ceramic material up to a temperature of about 1450°C and probably about 1600°C.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Tunnel Furnaces (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Four tunnel pour la cuisson de briques ayant une sole fixe (34) qui est délimitée par au moins deux convoyeurs sans fin étroits (12) destinés à recevoir dessus les briques à traiter thermiquement,
       la surface supérieure d'une longueur supérieure de chaque convoyeur étroit définissant une sole mobile comprenant des piliers solides (40) de matériau réfractaire qui font saillie au-delà de blocs de sole fixes adjacents (34) et qui fournissent une partie solide en saillie s'étendant le long de la base du four.
  2. Four tunnel selon la revendication 1, comprenant au moins quatre convoyeurs étroits, dans lequel des paires de convoyeurs adjacents (12) possèdent des mécanismes d'entraínement pouvant fonctionner de façon indépendante à des vitesses différentes.
  3. Four tunnel selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel chaque convoyeur comprend des blocs de sole mobiles (32) ayant des piliers (40) qui font saillie au-delà de blocs de sole fixes adjacents (34).
  4. Four tunnel selon la revendication 3, dans lequel les blocs de sole mobiles (32) présentent une configuration en forme de T inversé.
  5. Four tunnel selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4, dans lequel chaque bloc de sole mobile (32) comprend un lit de matériau de fibre de céramique haute température, un pilier réfractaire solide (40) ayant une surface supérieure en saillie par rapport au bloc de sole mobile, dont la surface supérieure supporte une dalle mince (38) à l'usage.
  6. Four tunnel selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4, dans lequel le pilier solide de chaque convoyeur étroit comprend les blocs de sole (32).
  7. Four tunnel selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le pilier (40) s'étend sur toute la longueur de la surface supérieure du convoyeur.
  8. Four tunnel selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la face inférieure du four est sensiblement scellée.
  9. Four tunnel selon la revendication 8, dans lequel une plaque de scellement (10) est prévue sur la face inférieure du tunnel du four.
  10. Four tunnel selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel on utilise le chauffage par gaz.
EP97905240A 1996-02-22 1997-02-21 Four a tunnel Expired - Lifetime EP0885371B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9603773.4A GB9603773D0 (en) 1996-02-22 1996-02-22 Tunnel kiln
GB9603773 1996-02-22
PCT/GB1997/000494 WO1997031233A1 (fr) 1996-02-22 1997-02-21 Four a tunnel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0885371A1 EP0885371A1 (fr) 1998-12-23
EP0885371B1 true EP0885371B1 (fr) 2003-06-25

Family

ID=10789227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97905240A Expired - Lifetime EP0885371B1 (fr) 1996-02-22 1997-02-21 Four a tunnel

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0885371B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1886397A (fr)
DE (1) DE69723059D1 (fr)
GB (2) GB9603773D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997031233A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2332503B (en) * 1997-12-19 2000-10-25 Jack Beaumont Kilns Limited Tunnel kiln

Family Cites Families (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1144066A (fr) *
GB295955A (en) * 1927-02-21 1928-08-21 Taine Gilbert Mcdougal Improvements relating to the heat treatment of ceramic articles
DE553804C (de) * 1927-02-25 1932-06-30 Taine Gilbert Mcdougal Tunnelofen zum Brennen keramischer Waren
DE638993C (de) * 1934-01-16 1936-11-26 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Elektrisch beheizter Durchgangsofen
GB488233A (en) * 1937-05-14 1938-07-04 Leif Lee Improvements in furnaces
US2608740A (en) * 1950-07-26 1952-09-02 Ferro Corp Continuous furnace
GB1181676A (en) * 1967-01-04 1970-02-18 West Midlands Gas Board Improvements in Pottery Kilns
DE2106075A1 (de) * 1970-04-06 1971-10-21 Gnii Durchlaufofen zum Brennen von keramischen Erzeugnissen
GB2080927B (en) * 1980-06-19 1983-11-23 Birks James Kiln Builder & Con Tunnel heating apparatus
DE3421365C1 (de) * 1984-06-08 1985-05-02 Ingenierbüro Schröder GmbH, 5410 Höhr-Grenzhausen Tunnelofen
DE3519612A1 (de) * 1985-05-31 1986-12-04 Hutschenreuther Ag, 8672 Selb Einrichtung zum brennen von keramischen formteilen, insbesondere porzellangeschirrteilen
DE3931301A1 (de) * 1989-09-20 1991-03-28 Riedhammer Gmbh Co Kg Tunnelofen
GB2244549B (en) * 1990-05-30 1994-04-27 Jan Komar Kilns
JPH0593587A (ja) * 1991-10-03 1993-04-16 Saamotetsukusu:Kk 加熱炉
FR2686149B3 (fr) * 1992-01-10 1993-12-31 Lorraine Laminage Longeron de four de rechauffage de produits metallurgiques.
GB9601483D0 (en) * 1996-01-25 1996-03-27 Groom Bryan Ltd Kiln assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1886397A (en) 1997-09-10
DE69723059D1 (de) 2003-07-31
GB2310920A (en) 1997-09-10
GB2310920B (en) 2000-09-20
GB9703588D0 (en) 1997-04-09
EP0885371A1 (fr) 1998-12-23
GB9603773D0 (en) 1996-04-24
WO1997031233A1 (fr) 1997-08-28

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