US1364343A - Furnace-charging car - Google Patents

Description

's., a WRIGHT. I FURNACE- CHARGING CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 16| 1.918

1,364,343. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ncmus PEIEns. m: Limo wAsMmuvnn. n c

S..D.WR1GHT.

FURNACE CHARGING cA'R; APPLICATION FILE!) DEC. 16. $918.

1,3643343. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

.Zzzzrezzzm:

s. n. WHiGH-T.

FURNACE CHARGING .cAR. APPLICATION FILED DH. 16 1918.

15 21, EETSESYHEET s.

s. n. WRIGHT.

FURNACE CHARGING CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- I6, I918. hggj ggg Batented Jan. 4,1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- S. D. WRIGHT.

FURNACE CHARGING CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- l6, 1918.

1,364,343. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMSON D. WRIGHT, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

FURNACE-CHARG-IN G CAR.

Application filed December 16, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMsoN D. WVnIGH'r, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FurnaceCharging Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furnace'charging cars, and more particularly to cars for charging measured quantities of crushed or pulverized materials into furnaces for treatment thereof in certain metallurgical or industrial chemical processes.

In certain chemical and metallurgical processes a charge of crushed or pulverized material, such as native rock, roasted ore, or some intermediate crushed or pulverized product in a chemical process, is charged into a furnace around a previously formed central core, such as a carbon rod, so that the carbon rod can later be utilized either as an electrode or as a resistance element for heating the charge during the next step in the metallurgical or chemical process. For

example, material is handled in this way in the process of fixation of nitrogen from the air, in which process a charge of pulverized material is deposited cold in a furnace around a carbon pencil which serves as a resistance element for heating the charge and thereby producing some chemical effect and solidifying the charge into a solid mass or cake, which is later cooled, pulverized and further treated.

The present invention relates entirely to the car and the mechanism thereon for receiving a measured charge of material and depositing it in the manner stated in the furnace, and is suitable for use in any process in which material is handled in this way, so that further reference to a particular process in which the car is used is unnecessarv.

The present invent-ion has for its object to provide an improved car of the character described which enables the'material to be received in measured quantities and deposited in the furnace around the central core, so as to build up a charge in proper form for furnacing. A further object of the invention is to provide a charging car so arranged as to shield the material from corn tact with the open air during handling of the material in the car and while depositing it in the furnace. A further object of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Serial No. 266,846.

the invention is to provide a charging car embodying a holding tank or receptacle for the material which can be raised to an elevated position to receive the material and later lowered to another position for depositing the material in the furnace, and which receptacle is provided with suitable valve devices and operating mechanism therefor so arranged as to enable the material to be deposited first at the bottom of the furnace around the lower portion of the central core and then progressively built up or piled around said core toward its upper portion. A further object of the invention is to provide a charging car including a receptacle for the material, a central shield or guard for the core, and a controlling valve for the bottom outlet of said receptacle, said parts being movable vertically together or as a unit and also relatively movable vertically, thereby enabling all of said parts to move down together for introducing the charge into the furnace, and to then move relatively to each other to form an outlet for the material and to enable it to be progressively deposited and piled up around the core, after which the parts can be returned to original position for receiving another charge.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 1-1, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the car from the right in Fig. :2; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation, on a larger scale, on the line 44.-, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a controlling switch; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view thereof, on the line 6-6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation through one of the charging cans or reservoirs and its suspension device, the parts being shown just before the car reaches its lowest position in the furnace being charged; Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the positions of the parts while the can is being elevated to discharge the load; Fi 9 is a detail sectional view of one of the hatchway limit switches; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a can body; Fig. 11 is a detail ele vation thereof, the view being taken in th direction of the arrow A, Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a similar View in the direction of arrow flexible supporting member, such as a chain *{Ior cable 22, which passes upwardly over two B, Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the vertically traveling screw actuated crossheads; Fig. 1 1 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 15 is a cross section on the line 1515,

Fig. 13; and Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits and controlling devices. 1 Referring to the drawings the charging car illustrated comprises a suitable frame" or body 1 having a floor 2 and the necessary posts, columns and cross members to support various parts of the apparatus. As the particular form of the frame work is not essential no detailed description thereof is necessary nor is it fully illustrated in the drawings. The car frame is supported by the wheels 3 adapted to travel along rails or tracks and may be provided with any suitable propelling mechanism, such as a reversible electric motor 4 driving a shaft 5 connected by suitable gearing, as shown in Fig. 3, to one of the wheel axles. This propelling mechanism also forms no part of the present invention and need not be further described.

In the floor 2 are one or a number of hatchways or openings 6, four being shown, although more or less may be employed as desired. At each of said openings is located a charge holding tank or receptacle having vertical movement on the car through said opening. Except as hereinafter noted all of these tanks or receptacles and the operating mechanism therefor are identical, so that in large measure a description of one will suffice for all without repetition.

Each receptacle, as shown in Fig. '7, is in the form of a large cylindrical can having a body portion 7 provided with a top wall 8 having a large central opening 9 surrounded by a cylindrical flange or wall 10 adapted to receive a suitable cover, such as the ordinary can top indicated at 11.. This cover, when applied, protects the material in the receptacle from contact with the open air. At the lower end of the receptacle is located a funnel or hopper shaped bottom member 12 preferably formed of a heavy casting to withstand the wear and tear of service, and whose walls converge downwardly toward the mouth or outlet 13. Said outlet is normally held closed by a hollow bell shaped valve member 141 having a downwardly flaring skirt, and which is secured to the lower end of a tubular member 15 which serves as a shield or guard to receive the central core, as will hereinafter appear. Shield 15 is supported at its upper end by a cross head 18 traveling along vertical guiding ribs 19 on the lnner surface of the can wall. To said runners are pivotally connected bails 20 provided at their upper ends with eyes 21.

Each bail is connected to one end of a :idle sheaves or pulleys 23 and then down- ,wardly at one side of the can, then over a sheave or uilley 24 carried by a cross head 25, and thence upwardly, its opposite supporting end being solidly secured to the car frame, as at 26. Each of the two cables 22 for supporting a particular can has its own set of guiding sheaves or pulleys, and the vtwo pulleys 24 are secured to opposite ends of the same cross head 25. Said cross head is provided between said pulleys with a nut 27 journaled on trunnions 27 therein and traveling upon the threads of a screw 28 whose opposite ends turn in bearings 29, 30, carried by the car frame, so that the screw has no vertical motion but merely turns in its bearings. Cross head 25 also is provided with suitable means for preventing it and its nut from rotating on the screw while traveling vertically thereon, such as a horizontally extending pin 31 traveling in a guiding slot between two vertically extending channels 32 of the frame.

From the foregoing it will appear that the tank or receptacle including its body 7, hopper outlet 12.andtop 8, have'vertical mo tion relative to the central shield 15 and body is supported by and on its bell shaped valve member 14., whose skirt at its lower end is larger than the discharge opening 13 from the can, as shown in Fig. 7. Each can is also provided near its upper end with one or a plurality, two being shown, of laterally extending wings or stops 33, adapted to engage the floor or frame of the car when the can is lowered and limit downward movement. These wings or stops may be adjustable vertically on the cans in any suitable manner or are initially attached thereto in the proper position so as to stop the can during its downward travel at the proper position with relation to the furnace into which the material is being deposited. The can body may also be provided with parallel angle members 33 which travel along vertical frame guides 33 and thereby guide the can during its vertical movement and prevent it from turning. When the screw 28 is rotated in the proper direction nut 26 travels upwardly on said screw and allows the can to descend until either the motor is stopped or the wings or stops engage the car floor.

This stops further downward movement of the can but further rotation of the screw permits the central shield 15 and bell valve 14 to continue downward travel until the outlet from the tank is opened sufficiently to permit the material to how therefrom and be distributed by the bell skirt in all directions around the core.

The central core 34, around which the material is to be deposited, may be pushed up into the shield 15 and there held by a latch or by frictional engagement with said shield so as to be deposited in the furnace when the can is introduced thereto and then be released from the shield so as to be left in the furnace while the charge is piled around the shield, or said core may be stood up in the furnace before the can is introduced thereto and when the can comes down it is brought into registering relation with the core so that the core will enter the shield. The particular manner in which the core is manipulated is not essential, but it will be understood that the final downward movement of the shield and bell brings the bell to a position practically in contact with the bottom of the furnace and below the out let from the can.

Suitable means is provided for latching the can and bell valve in their discharging relation just described, so that during the upward or discharging movement of the can the parts will move upwardly together or as a unit with the outlet open. Preferably the can is introduced into a cylindrical guard or casing previously placed in the'furnace and made, for example, of heavy paper or paper board. Said shield or guard is large enough to receive the can and forms a wall to confine the crushed material as it is discharged from the can and thereby enables the elevating or discharge movement of the can to progressively deposit the material in the casing 35 around the core 34 and progressively build up around the core a c vlindrical mass.

The latching means referred to is as follows: Bails 20 extend through small openings in the can top, and each bail is pro vided near its upper end with a laterally extending latching projection 37 having a horizontal upper latching surface 38 and a lower inclined surface 39. On the outer surface of the can wall, opposite each bail, is a bracket 40 to which are pivotally connected at 41 a pair of bent arms 42 connected at their upper ends by a cross latching pin 43. Arms 42 are provided with rearwardly extending plates 44 connected by a cross pin to a collar 45 on a screw 46 passing loosely through an opening in the floor of the bracket 40. Below said floor the screw is provided with adjustable lock nuts 47 and above said floor with a compression spring 48 working against an adjustable collar 49.

The normal tendency of said spring is to push upwardly on the collar 49 and turn arms 42 so as to move the latching pin 43 horizontally inward toward the center of the can. hen the can stops during its downward travel into the furnace the weight of the load in the can on the bell valve 14 causes the bails 20 to continue to move downwardly. Latching pins 43 thereupon ride upwardly over the-inclined surfaces 39 and into latching engagement with the horizontal surfaces 38 of projections 37, as shown in Fig. 8, in which position the can body 7 is supported directly by the bails 20 with its hopper bottom 12 above the bell 14.

The charge in the can is gradually discharged and distributed around the core and within the guard 35 as the can moves upwardly and is fully discharged therefrom before the nut 26 reaches the lower end of the screw 28. While the can is moving upwardly and just after the charge therein has been fully discharged, the upper ends of the screws 46 engage stops 50 carried by the car frame. These stops are shown as threaded upon screws 51 carried by a channel of the frame, so that said stops may be adjusted a limited amount vertically. Said stops hold the screws from further upward movement and compress the springs 48 so as to cause outward movement of the latching pins 43 and thereby release the latching engagement, so that the can drops away from the bails to the closed position shown in Fig. 7. The can is then ready to receive another charge after which it is again in troduced into the jacket 35 in another frame.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for actuating the several shafts 28, but preferably said mechanism should be so arranged that said shafts may be operated individually or collectively in any number so that any one or more of the cans may be operated as desired. As illustrated the car is provided with a can hoisting motor whose shaft is provided with a pinion 53 driving a gear 54 on a horizontal shaft said shaft being operatively connected by the gears 56 to a parallel shaft 57. The motor and driving gearing are located near the center of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, and the opposite ends of the two shafts 55, 57, are utilized to individually drive the screws for the four cans shown. 7

The clutches and operating connections from the shafts 57, to their respective screws are substantially identical so that a description of one will suffice for all. For

example, as shown in Fig. 3 one end of shaft is provided with a sleeve :38 adapted to be connected to rotate with said shaft by any suitable form of clutch 59. Clutch 59 is actuated by a lever 60 connected by a link 61 to one arm of a bell crank lever 62 whose opposite arm is connected by a link 63 to the which is a circuit completing bridge mem lower arm of the operating lever G l pivoted at 65 in the car frame. Sleeve 58 is pro vided with a bevel gear 66 meshing with a bevel gear 67 on the screw shaft 28. lVhen the clutch lever 64: is pushed over to the left in Fig. i the clutch is closed and, if the motor is running and turning the shaft 55, the screw 28 corresponding to the particular lever e which has been pushed back is turned to produce vertical motion of the corresponding can.

Although not essential, controlling devices are preferably also provided which involve cooperating relation between the clutches for mechanically connecting the can hoisting mechanism to the hoisting motor and the electrical circuits for controlling said motor, said controlling devices being also arranged so that the operating mechanism for each can automatically controls or limits the amount of can travel. For this purpose suitable portions of the car frame are provided with automatic travel limiting switches, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 9. Each of said switches comprises a suitable casing 68 in which is a slidable rod 69 provided outside of the casing with an. antifriction member, sucroller 70. Said rod slides in suitable guides and is normally moved in one direction, to

tie position shown in Fig. 9, by a compres sion spring ll. 72 represents a stop which limits movement of said roe to a position in which a contact 73 carried thereby is i contacting relation with sta LlOllll 7%. Two of these switches are provided ior each can, said switches being supported by the frame near the upper and lower ends of the screw 28 in such position that th rollers '70 thereof will he engaged by the cross head 27 at the opposite ends of tlitYQl of the nut 26, so that motion of said cross head. as it approaches the end of its travel, will push in the rod 69 and open the switch.

Each of the four clutch oaerating levers 66% also carries an insulating block 75 on her 76 cooperating with two stationary cents is 77, said contacts and the bridge 76 forming what may be termed a clutch. interlocking switch. All of the terminals 77 for the four levers 64: are preferably mounted in the same board in proper cooperating relation to the several levers, which are placed side by side, as shown in F 2.

Fig. 16 represents the circuit arrangement for controlling the mechanism of the car. 4; represents the propulsion motor and 52 the hoisting motor, as before. At '78 are indicated the four clutch interlocking switches, any one of which is closed by operation of its respective clutch operating lever. 79 79' indicate the ht travel limiting eig..., switches, which are in two series of four each, the two series being in parallel. One

series 79* includes the four switches at the upper ends of the screws 28 for limiting downward travel of the cans, while the other switches 79 are at the lower ends of said screws and limit upward can travel. Switches 79 are in series with an electro magnet 80 the energization of which closes a switch 81 in the main motor circuit. Switches 79* are in a series with an electroinagnet 80 the energization of which closes another switch 81 in the main motor circuit, but the two switches 81 and 81 while both connected to the series field winding of the hoisting motor, are connected by different wires to different contacts of the controller C. 82 indicates a triple pole double throw switch which can be turned to one position to throw the propulsion motor 4: into operating relation with the controller and line circuit or to a second position to throw the hoisting motor 52 into cooperating relation with the controller and line circuit.

Consideration of the diagram shows that if one of the clutch operating levers 6% is thrown over to close a clutch and thereby connect one of the sets of hoisting mechanism to its driving shaft the subsidiary circuit across the main line is completed through both sets of travel limiting switches and both magnetic switches 81 81 are closed. The controller C can then be turned in either direction to cause raising or lowen ing movement of the screw, current flowing through one or the ot ier of the switches 81 Slhaccording to the direction of rotation of the motor and screw. For example, if the motor is hoisting the can the controller handle is turned to utilize the right half of the controller in Fig. 16, and the motor current flows through the switch 81 but not through the switch 81. Therefore, when the can reaches its upper limitof movement it automatically opens one of the switches 79, thereby opening the subsidiary circuit and allowing switch 81", to be opened by its spring. This breaks the circuit to the motor and the motor stops. Likewise, if any clutch is thrown in and the controller is turned to utilize its left half, Fig. 16, travel of the can to its lower position opens the lower limiting switch and thereby allows magnetic switch 81 to open. By properly setting the limiting switches 79, 79*, with regard to the vertical travel of the corresponding cross heads the can can be made to automatically stop in any desired upper or lower position. a

it will also be clear that by pushing in any two or more of theclutch operating levers any desired group of cans may be either elevated or depressed together. in other words the clutch operating levers pro vide an individual control for the several cans and when operated both mechanically connect the respective cans to their operating mechanism and also electrically connect the controlling mechanism for said can with the electrical circuit, while the controller C, when operated, exercises uniform control of all of the cans whose clutch operating levers have been thrown over.

The apparatus described is of simple construction and enables material to be easily handled in the peculiar manner stated and thereby materially increases the output of the furnace.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical move ment of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means on said frame for opening said valve when the receptacle reaches a low position and for maintaining it open while the receptacle is raised.

2. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means on said frame for opening said valve when the receptacle reaches a low position and for maintaining it. open while the receptacle is raised and for closing said valve when the receptacle is fully elevated.

8. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means for automatically controlling the amount of vertical travel of said receptacle.

4. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means actuated by said moving means for controlling the amount of vertical movement of said receptacle.

5. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means for automatically controlling the amount of vertical travel of said receptacle in either direction.

6. In combination, a frame, a receptacle 8. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, and means for releasing the receptacle when elevated whereby said valve member enters and closes said opening.

9. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, and means for automatically limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

10. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member while rais ing the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, and means for automatically limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

' 11. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, means for releasing the receptacle when elevated whereby said valve member enters and closes said opening, and means for automatically limiting the amount of vertical. travel of said valve member.

12-. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, and means controlled by said raising and lowering means for limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

13. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, and means controlled by said raising and lowering means for limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

14.. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said member for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, means for releasing the member enters and closes said opening,-and

means controlled by said raising and lowering means for limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

15. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a core receiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at its lower end for closing said opening, and means on said frame for producing either relative vertical motion of said receptacle and shield or vertical motion thereof as a unit.

16. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a core receiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at its lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield, and means for raising and lowering said cable.

17. In combination, a having an open bottom, a core receiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at its lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield,

frame, a receptacle means for raising and lowering said cable, said receptacle having vertical motion relative to said valve, and means for supporting said receptacle above said valve member while raising the same.

18. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a core receiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at its lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield, means for connecting said receptacle to be supported by said cable above said valve but independently thereof.

19. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a core receiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at'its lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield, means for connecting said receptacle to be supported by said cable above said valve but independently thereof or for releasing said receptacle and supporting the same directly upon said valve.

In testimony whereof I 'afliX my signature.

SAMSON D. WRIGHT.

Images