Material or article handling – Chamber of a type utilized for a heating function and... – Charging of chamber
Patent
1999-01-21
2000-12-05
Brahan, Thomas J.
Material or article handling
Chamber of a type utilized for a heating function and...
Charging of chamber
414207, 414421, 373 81, B65G 6534
Patent
active
06155765&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading bulk material into an electric arc furnace. More particularly, this invention relates to a bulk material loader that quickly and efficiently delivers bulk material through an open roof of an electric arc furnace thereby decreasing metal refining processing time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bulk material, such as lime, carbon, slag formers, alloying elements, and the like, are rapidly charged in an electric arc furnace (EAF). Bulk material are delivered to the EAF through an open furnace roof. Preferably, the charging of the bulk material occurs during the period in which the furnace roof is open and receiving the scrap metals. The amount of time during which the roof is open, however, should be held to a minimum in order to minimize the amount of heat lost by the furnace and to decrease the production time.
Needs exist for a bulk material loader that allows a large quantity of non-scrap bulk material to be charged in a short period of time.
One type of existing material loading equipment for loading bulk material into an EAF utilizes a scrap charging bucket. The scrap charging bucket carries both scrap and bulk material. Consequently, use of the scrap charging bucket causes the bulk material to be charged simultaneously with the scrap. Use of the scrap charging bucket has numerous drawbacks. When the bulk material is charged along with the scrap, some of the bulk material is carried away with the thermal flow of furnace off-gases. This loss of bulk material decreases the amount of material available for the metal melting and refining process. It also increases the particulate material that must be removed and treated by associated environmental pollution equipment and increases the amount of fugitive particles entering the shop environment.
Another type of existing material loading equipment for loading bulk material into an EAF utilizes large sacks that are carried to the furnace and emptied through an open roof of the furnace. This process has numerous drawbacks. For example, this process requires that the furnace roof be opened for an extended period of time which raises numerous environmental concerns. Also, this process often requires that multiple sacks be used. This leads to an increase in furnace downtime since the material handling equipment must discard the remains of the used sack before retrieving another sack. Finally, the use of sacks is expensive.
Other existing bulk material loading equipment requires that a slag door be opened and that the bulk material be charged through the slag door opening. When the bulk material is charged through the slag doorway, the slag door must be kept open. As a consequence, this procedure allows excessive infiltration of ambient air which results in an undesirable decrease in the internal temperature of the furnace. Furthermore, the excessive infiltration of ambient air into the furnace resulting from this procedure decreases the efficiency of the air/gas pollution control equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invented bulk material loading apparatus can be utilized on any electric arc furnace having a roof which can be opened, rotated or moved a sufficient distance to allow enough clearance for bulk material to be charged into the furnace.
The invented apparatus has a swing arm pivotally mounted on a base. The swing arm rotates between a standby position and a charging position. In a preferred embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder controls the movement of the swing arm. The hydraulic cylinder is secured to the base and connected to a central region of the swing arm.
In alternative embodiments of the present invention, other sources of energy, either kinetic or potential, can be utilized to power the swing arm. Those other sources of energy include, but are not limited to, a motor and gear reducer combination, rack and pinion gearing, power screws, winches employing flexible mechanical components such as wire ropes or chains, and the use of counterweights with any type of ener
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patent: 3069030 (1962-12-01), Schellentrager
patent: 3146901 (1964-09-01), McDowell et al.
patent: 3777920 (1973-12-01), Wiese
patent: 4729549 (1988-03-01), Lonardi et al.
McAllister Sam H.
Warnix Bruce J.
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