US3432400A - Coke oven door - Google Patents

Description

L. e. TUCKER COKE OVEN DOOR March 11, 1969 Filed May 1, 1967 Pf/OE ART FIG. 2

I NVENTOR. L/NWOOD G. TUCKER March 11, 1969 G. TUCKER 3,432,400

COKE OVEN DOOR Sheet,

Flled May 1, 1967 llllwofl INVENTOR. LIA/W000 6, TUCKER BY M Pillar/leg United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coke oven door is comprised of a marginal door frame having transverse members that support door latching mechanisms and a centrally open portion. A diaphragm covers the centrally open portions and is fastened to the marginal door frame. A plurality of door side stops are mounted to each longer side of the door frame, wherefore when the door is latched the door side stops engage the door jamb and limit the deflection of the door frame as well as the amount of stress placed on the peripheral sealing frame. Further, because the diaphragm is relatively thin there is less metal in contact with the conventional door plug and, consequently, the door frame receives less heat from the door plug with the result that there is less distortion of the door due to heat.

Background of the invention The invention relates to coke ovens and more particularly to an improved coke oven door of the self-sealing type.

A principal difiiculty in sealing a coking chamber of a horizontal coke oven battery is providing and maintaining a good metal-to-metal seal between the coke oven doors and their respective door jambs. While a coke oven door structure may provide adequate sealing at ambient temperature, it may not always provide adequate sealing at temperatures experienced under in-service conditions. It is particularly important to be able to maintain a good tight seal between the door frame and the door structure at the high temperatures experienced under in-service conditions.

A conventional coke oven door is generally a massive single cast structure that comprises a marginal door frame portion and integrally formed panels disposed between the door frame portion and latch bar supports, Also, conventional coke oven doors are generally provided with a metal sealing ring that is formed into a U-shaped structure which is attached to the door in such a way that a knife edge of one leg of the U-shaped structure bears against a flat surface of the door jamb. Spring loaded plungers are used to exert a force against the U-shaped seal ring and urge the knife edge against the door jamb. However, because of the extreme difference in temperature of the door structure when it is cold, or just after fresh coal has been charged into the coking chamber, and just before pushing the coke from the chamber, it has not been possible heretofore to effect a good tight eifective seal around the door for all in-service temperature conditions.

The present invention, however, provides a coke oven door structure that overcomes most of the difliculties experienced in using the door structures of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a coke oven door for horizontal coke oven chambers having doorways at the ends of the chambers and door jambs around the margin of the doorways comprises a door frame having a centrally open portion and a peripheral sealing frame member mounted to the door frame that is coopera ble with a peripheral sealing surface on the door jamb. A relatively thin diaphragm is fastened to the door frame covering the centrally open portion, and a plurality of door side stops are mounted to each longer side of the door frame. The door side stops engage the door jamb and limit the deflection of the door frame and reduce the stres in the sealing frame member when the door is latched.

For a further understanding of the invention and for advantages and features thereof, reference may be made to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, for the purpose of exemplification, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a coke oven door in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a coke oven door in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a vertical front elevational view of a portion of the door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-1V of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view ofa portion of one side of the door frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates, in a vertical section, a coke oven door 11 that is comprised of a generally open rectangular door frame 13 and a diaphragm closure plate or membrane 15 that is secured over the opening in the door frame 13 to seal the door 11 against the leakage of gases and heat from the coke with which it may be associated.

Secured to the inner surface of the diaphragm or membrane 15, as by cap screws 17, is a conventional sealing frame designated generally by the numeral 19. The conventional sealing frame 19 is rectangular in shape and is of such a size that it surrounds in spaced apart relation a conventional door plug 21 that is also secured in the usual manner within conventional liner retainers 23. Each liner retainer 23 is secured to upper 25 and lower 27 latch bar supporting structures and to conventional upper 29 and lower 31 lifting hook structures.

The conventional sealing frame 19 comprises a flexible U-shaped metal sealing section 33 that is secured to the peripheral door frame and terminates in an inwardly extending sealing knife edge 35 which engages a fiat planar sealing surface 37 on the exterior of the door frame 39.

The door frame 13 also includes conventional spaced apart marginal spring pressured plungers 41 operating in recesses 43 in the door frame 13 with springs 45 that are adjustable by a screw 47 for conforming the sealing knife edge 35 to the sealing surface 37 of the door frame 39.

The sealing surface 37 of the door frame 39, however, does not remain planar under conditions of high in-surface temperature.

When the coke oven battery is in operation, the portion of the door jamb that is nearest the coking chamber itself is considerably hotter than the portion of the door jamb that is exposed to the ambient temperature and which is located furthest from the coke oven chamber. Consequently, the door jamb under in-service temperature conditions assumes an arcuate shape characterized by the fact that the upper and lower extremities of the longer vertical sides of the door jamb extend further out from the center of the coke oven chamberthan the mid or central vertical portion of the door jamb. Consequently, the U-shaped metal sealing section 33 and the knife edge 35 must also assume the same arcuate curvature if the sealing frame is to provide an adequate door seal. Heretofore, the massive unitary cast doors of the prior art have been constructed in such a way that the door frame could not readily conform to the arcuate shape of the door jamb; consequently, under in-service temperature conditions the knife sealing edge 35 could not provide an adequate seal for gases and heat.

A typical door 49 of the prior art, illustrated in FIG. 2, is described in Patent 3,032,483 and includes a unitary door body 51 that is a massive cast structure having a flat central portion 53 of significantly greater thickness than the thin diaphragm closure plate 15 of the door 11. The door 49 of the prior art has an integrally formed marginal flange portion 55 in which and to which the usual other operating equipment of the door 49 are attached. One reason why the doors of the prior art, such as door 49, do not provide a satisfactory seal under in-service temperature conditions, is due to the fact that the door body 51 is so massive and so rigid that it is not flexible enough to readily conform to the arcuate shape of the door jamb when heated to in-service temperatures.

In contrast to the door 49 of the prior art, the door 11 of the invention has a relatively flexible marginal door frame 13 and a relatively thin diaphragm plate 15 which is secured to the door frame 13 in any suitable manner, as by fasteners 17. Thus, there is some relative movement between the door frame and the door diaphragm. But, the principal advantage of the door 11 of the present invention is that its construction with th door frame 13 and separately attached diaphragm 15 is significantly more flexible than the door of the prior art. Therefore, the door frame 13 is more readily conformable to the arcuate shape of the door jamb.

Actually, in the taller coke ovens that are being constructed at the present time, the door frame 13 may be more flexible than is desired. Consequently, the U-shaped sealing frame 19 may be unduly distorted when the door is latched unless some preventive measure is taken to limit the amount of deflection of the door frame 13. To obviate any undue distortion of the U-shaped sealing frame 19, there is provided a plurality of door side stops on each of the longer vertical sides of the door frame 13. The door side stops 57 are comprised of a rectangular base portion 59 (FIG. and a vertical rectangular stop portion 61 that is welded to, or integrally form with, the base portion 59. The base portion 59 is provided with holes through which bolts or other suitabl fasteners 63 pass to secure the side stops 57 to the door frame 13. In a typical door 11 of the invention, there are two spaced apart door side stops 57 attached to each of the longer vertical sides of the door frames 13. In some applications, however, more or less number of door side stops may be used if desired.

From FIG. 4, it will be noticed that bolts 17 which secure the U-shaped metal sealing section 33 to the door frame 13, also secure the diaphragm to the door frame 13. Between the diaphragm 15' and the sealing section 33, there is a sealing ring gasket 65 that effectively seals the diaphragm 15 and sealing section 33 against leakage of hot gases from the coking chamber.

The door 11 is also provided with th usual adjustable corner door stops (not shown), in addition to the two door side stops 57. Thus, the relatively flexibl door frame 13, when latched, deflects sufficiently to allow the sealing section 33 and knife edge 35 to conform to the arcuate door jamb, but the corner and door side stops 57 limit the deflection of the door frame so as not to unduly distort and overstress the U-shaped sealing section 33 to such an extent that it is no longer effective in sealing against the door jamb sealing section 37.

In the door 11, the liner retainers 23 Which support the door plug 21 are secured to the door frame 13 at the top and bottom, and to one or two spaced apart cross members 67 which link the vertical side portion of the door frame together and which support the latching bar mechanisms 25, 27. Intermediary the main supports for the liner retainers 23, they contact the thin diaphragm plate 15 which does not have great heat retentive characteristics, but which readily radiates heat from the door plug and liner retainers to the atmosphere. Thus, the liner retainers 23 transmit heat to the door frame 13 only at the zones of support and not through the entire door structure, as is characteristic of the prior art doors. Consequently, there is less distortion of the door 11 due to heat than in doors of the prior art because less metal of the door 11 is in contact with the plug 21 and liner retainers 23.

A feature of the present coke oven door is that it is a composite structure with a peripheral door frame and a relatively thin diaphragm covering the central open portion of the door frame. The door of the invention is lighter in weight than conventional coke oven doors and is less affected by heat than the monolithic type doors of the prior art. A feature of the present coke oven door is that those surfaces which are in direct contact with the door plug and liner retainers are thinner and therefore less liable to distort since the thinner members retain less heat than the thicker members of prior art doors. The door of the present invention, and particularly the door frame, is more flexible and, is more readily conformable to the arcuate heated door jamb. Further, the knife edge portion of the U-shaped sealing section, mounted to the door frame of the present invention, more readily conforms to the arcuate heated door jamb and is more effective as a gas-tight seal.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A door for a coke oven having door jambs compris- (a) generally rectangular marginal door frame comprised of a pair of spaced longer side members and a pair of spaced shorter end members connecting together said side members encompassing a large centrally open portion;

(b) a relatively thin diaphragm secured to the frame to close said open portion whereby said door is flexible and conformable to said door jamb when said jamb becomes deformed by heat;

(0) a flexible sealing member around said frame to seal said frame to said jamb; and

(d) stop means mounted to each of said longer sides at locations remote from the corners of said frame and cooperating with said door jamb to limit the flexure of said door frame to relieve said sealing of fiexural stresses and to maintain an effective seal between said door and said jamb.

2. The structure of claim 1 including:

(a) means for gas sealing the connecion of said diaphragm to said door frame whereby said door is impervious to the passage of gases.

3. The structure of claim 1 including:

(a) a plurality of door side stops mounted to the longer sides of said door frame and disposed in spaced apart relation, said side stops being adapted to engage said door jamb and thereby limit the deflection of said door frame when the same is latched.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,239 8/1938 Beimann 202248 2,478,215 8/1949 Van Ackeren 202248 2,800,435 7/1957 Homan 202248 2,965,550 12/1960 McClure 202248 3,032,483 5/ 1962 Van Ackeren 202248 NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

D. EDWARDS, Assistant Examiner.

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