US2229725A - Treating apparatus for coal and like material - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1941. T. c. CHEASLEY TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL I 2 Filed March 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a C. Cheqs/e] Thom I ATTORN EY Jan. 28, 1941, T. c. CHEASLEY 2,229,725

TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed March 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Thomas CCheas/ey ATTORN EY TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed March 18, 1938 4 Shee ts-Sheet s INVENTOR Tho as .Che s/ey BY ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1941- T. 9:. CHEASLEY TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 18, 1958 INVENTOR The a .Cheas/ey ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 28, 1941 PATENT OFFICE TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Thomas C. Cheasley, Kansas City, Mo.

Application March 18, 1938, Serial N0. 196,717

7. Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating coal and similar fuels with a liquid coating solution, and has for its principal object to provide an apparatus of this character constructed for efiicient application of the solution.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus for applying the solution in spray form; to provide the apparatus with a hood for confining the spray directly to the zone of application; to provide the apparatus with means for maintaining substantially uniform temperature at the zone of application; to provide the fuel inlet and outlet ends of the hood with independently movable flaps to prevent loss of the atomized coating material from the coating chamber; to provide means for ad coal through the spraying zone; and to provide.

means for selectively diverting discharge of the coal from the treating hood.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved coal treating apparatus associated with the discharge end of a leading boom, parts of the apparatus being broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view from a different angle to illustrate the fuel inlet side of the treating chamber, a part of the hood wall and closure flaps being broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention showing a double outlet whereby the treated coal is diverted from one outlet to the other for providing continuous operation of the treatingv apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates my improved treating apparatus associated with the discharge end of a loading boom 2. The loading boom 2 may be of any standard construction but is here shown as including side frames 3 and 4 having adjustable bearing blocks 5 for journalling the ends of the conveyor shaft 6. Fixed on the shaft 6 are sprockets l for carrying the discharge end 8 of an endless conveyor 9 of belt, apron or similar type, having an upper run l0 carrying the coal or similar fuel to be treated in the apparatus I.

The apparatus l includes a housing or hood ll, having side walls l2 and I3 rigidly o-r detachably secured to the side frames 3 and 4 of the boom and connected by a top I4 and a bottom l5 to form an enclosed treating chamber [6. The bottom 15 slopes downwardly from the discharge end of the conveyor belt and includes a plate portion I! having its ends rigidly connected to the side walls and having the edge i8 thereof spaced from the conveyor to accommodate an adjustable section [9. The section H) has its upper edge 20 located in close relation with the conveyor belt to catch the coal as it is discharged therefrom, while the opposite edge 2| overlaps the fixed section I! and is adjustably secured thereto by fastening devices, such as bolts 23 extending through openings 24 in the section l9 and through aligning slots 25 in the fixed section, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The section 19 is thus adjustably supported for movement to and from the discharge end of the conveyor belt so as to assure deflection of the discharged coal into the treating chamber.

In order to reduce degradation incidental to discharge of the coal from the conveyor belt, the sections I1 and 19 are covered with a sheet of yielding material, such as rubber or thelike 26. Fixed to the edge of the section ll, opposite the edge I I, is a transverse plate 21 for pivo-tally supporting the upper end 28 of a section Zllwhich is adjustable for slope to control gravitational discharge of the coal from the treating chamber whereby the coal is caused to roll at the proper velocity to assure exposure of all sides to the coating solution, as later described. The sheet of yielding material 26 preferably overlaps the adjustable section 29 so as to cover the joint between it and the fixed section II, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

'The top I4 includes a portion 30 that is spaced above the upper run of the conveyor belt and extends substantially parallel therewith to terminate in a downwardly inclined portion 3|, substantially conforming to the slope ofthe bottom I5. The side walls at the inlet end 32 of the housing are connected by a cross plate 33 having its upper edge connected with the section 38 of the top I4 and its lower edge 34 spaced above the upper run of the conveyor to form an inlet opening 35 therebetween. Fixed within the housing and spaced from the plate 33 is a similar plate 36.

The plates 33 and 36 are provided with a series of vertical slots 31 and 38 for adjustably mounting a plurality of juxtaposed flaps 39 and 48 that are individually secured at their upper ends by fastening devices M and 42, extending through the slots 37 and 38 and through registering openings 43 and 44 in the flaps, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The flaps are preferably formed of yieldable material resistant to the coating solution and to the abrading action of the coal moving thereunder. The flaps 33 are of sufficient number and of suitable length to depend in close proximity with the upper run of the conveyor belt so as to substantially close the opening after the lumps of coal are carried thereunder by the conveyor. The flaps are thus independently movable so that the large lumps passing certain of the flaps have noeiiect on movement of the other flaps whereby the lower edges of all the flaps are maintained in close proximity with the coal. The flaps 40 are of sufficient length to depend over the discharge end of the conveyor belt and terminate in close proximity with the inclined bottom I to cooperate with the flaps 39 to form a spray collecting compartment 45 for any of the coating spray that may pass between the slits of the inner flaps 48. The opposite end of the housing includes an end wall 46 connected with the lower end of the inclined section 3i and with the terminal ends of the side wall, as shown in Fig. l. The lower edge 47 of the end wall terminates above the discharge end of the bottom section 29 to form an outlet opening 48 through which the treated coal is discharged into a car or the like.

Fixed to the face of the end wall are spaced transverse plates 49 and 50 having a series of spaced vertical slots 5I and 52, corresponding to the plates 33 and 36, previously described. Fixed to the plates are flexible fiaps 53 and 54 having their lower ends substantially contacting the up per surface of the bottom section 9, the upper ends of the flaps being secured to the plates 49 and 58 by fastening devices 55 and 53 extending through openings 51 and 58 therein and through the slots 51 and 52. The flexible flaps thus cooperate with the plates in forming a spray collecting compartment 59 at the discharge end of the housing, similar to the spray compartment 45 at the inlet end.

In treating small lump and nut coals, the coal is moved in a uniform layer substantially across theentire width of the belt, and there is a tendency for the coal to pile up in front of the flaps. To overcome this difficulty, the plates 33, 35 and 58 and the lower portion of the plate 49 may be hingedly supported by suitable hinges 68 to allow movement of the flaps in the direction of the advancement of the coal so that the spaces under the flaps are such as to allow movement of the coal without causing the coal to pile up in front of the flaps. In the instances of the larger and heavier lumps of coal, the weight thereof is sufficient to prevent piling up of the coal and the flaps yield sufficiently to permit free passage thereof to and from the treating chamber.

In order to facilitate maintenance of uniform temperature within the housing, the side, top and end wall 46 are preferably formed of spaced jackets 6| and 62' for enclosing an insulating material 63. Located in the inclined portion 3| of the top wall and extending transversely there- 5 across is a substantially rectangular shaped opening 64 that is closed by a continuation of the inner jacket 62 Which is provided with a series of openings 65, 66 and 61 corresponding to spacing of spray nozzles 68, 69 and I0, later described. The spray nozzles are enclosed by a box-like housing II, having side walls I2 and end walls I3 and I4 corresponding to the rectangular shaped opening 63. The end wall I4 is formed as a part of the top wall I5 that is hinged to the opposite end wall I3 by hinges I6, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to provide access to the spray nozzles when the end and top walls are raised to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Extending through suitable openings 11 and I8 in the end walls of the housing is a pipe I9 that is connected with a source of supply of treating solution, and which is provided with T-fittings 80, BI and 82 aligning with the openings 65, 66 and 61 and which are provided with nipples 83, 84 and 85 carrying the respective spray nozzles so that they are located concentrically within the openings and substantially in the plane of the inner jacket sheet 62 that forms the bottom of the nozzle housing. When the'coating solution is discharged through the nozzles, an aspirating action is produced through the openings so as to effect a vacuum within the nozzle housing. I therefore utilize this vacuum for drawing any of the atomized coating solution that tends to collect within the compartments 45 and 59 and to prevent escape thereof from the hood. This is accomplished by providing sets of suction pipes 85 and 81 leading from alignment with the respective nozzles through the insulating space of the top wall and terminating over the compartments 45 and 59 in downturned ends 88 and 89, so that the spray collecting within the compartments is drawn into the spray housing and discharged along with the spray into the treating chamber.

Some treating solutions tend to congeal at ordinary temperatures and it is, therefore, desirable to provide the housing with a heater, such as coils 9I that are located in the top of the spray chamber and are connected by pipes 92 and 93 with a suitable source of supply of heating medium, such as steam, heated oil, or the like.

In order to support the adjustable section 29 of the bottom I5 in any selected position, the ends thereof are provided with brackets 94 and 95, projecting through the discharge opening and pivotally connected with reciprocating bars 96 and 91 guidingly supported in looplike brackets 98 carried by the end wall 46. The upper ends of the rods have handles 99 to facilitate movement thereof. The bars are retained in adjusted posi- .tion by fastening devices, such as pins I08 that are projectable through openings lIlI in the looplike brackets, and through one of a series of openings I82 in the bars, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that illustrated in the form of the invention just described, with the exception of the bottom of the hood II. In this form of the invention the bottom includes oppositely diverging sections I04 and I95 respectively leading to outlet openings I85 and III! through whichthe treated coal is selectively discharged. The bottom section I85 is hinged to the section I84 by a hinge I88 so that the inclination of the section is adjustable similarly to the section 29 in the preferred form of the invention. Fixed to the sides of the hood, at a point adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor, is an angle shaped plate I09 having an inclined portion III] located substantially in the plane of the movable section I05 to support an adjustable plate III that cooperates with a deflector I I2 to form a continuation of the bottom section I85 when the treated fuel is to be diverted through the opening I01. The section H2 is secured adjacent the juncture of the sections I84 and I05 on a rod II3, the rod II3 being provided with an actuating lever I Hi whereby the deflector may be swung into the plane of the section I05 or moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 for closing the outlet IG'I. The angle shaped plate includes diverging wings H5 and H6 to which flexible flaps Ill and H8 are secured, as described in the preferred form of the invention, to normally close the outlet IilIi but to permit passage of coal down the bottom section I04 when the deflector is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The opening I0! is normally closed by similarly arranged flexible flaps II 9 and I20 corresponding to the sets of flaps 53 and 54 in the preferred form of the invention. When the deflector H2 is swung to the position indicated in dotted lines at I2I, the coal discharges off the conveyor and rolls by gravity across the deflector onto the bottom section I05 for discharge through the outlet IIII. When a car has been filled through the outlet IB'I it is ordinarily necessary to stop discharge of the treated fuel while another car is being moved into receiving relation with the boom. However, with this form of the invention it is only necessary to swing the deflector to the full line position shown in Fig. 4 to close the passageway through the opening IIJ'I, whereupon the treated coal is delivered through the opening I06 to a car located on an adjacent track or coupled behind the first car. Discharge of the treated coal through the opening I06 may be continued until that car is filled. In the meantime another car is moved into receiving relation with the opening IIJI. It is, however, better practice to continue the discharge of coal through the opening ID! as soon as another car is moved into receiving relation therewith. This is particularly true since the coal dropping onto the bottom section I94 is apt to be broken. The path of travel is also shorter through the hood so that the coal may not be sufiiciently treated.

In operating an apparatus constructed and assembled as described, and assuming that the treating apparatus is mounted on a boom as shown in the drawings, a car is moved into receiving relation with the hood of the treating apparatus. The conveyor is then started to move the coal on the upper run of the boom conveyor. When the coal reaches the inlet of the hood the first flaps will be deflected and. the coal will pass thereunder into the spray collecting chamb r and will be carried therethrough, past the second series of flaps onto the inclined bottom I5. The fall of the coal will be eased by the sheet covering 26 so as to prevent undue breakage of the coal. The treating solution is discharged under pressure through the nozzles and directed upon the coal as it rolls down the inclined bottom. The coal after being treated will roll under the flexible flaps 53 and 54 at the discharge end of the housing and into the car. During winter weather or when using coating solutions that tend to congeal a heating medium is circulated in handling coal about a mine.

through the heating coil to maintain the desired temperatures. in the treating chamber, thereby preventing congealing of the material on the side walls thereof and assuring contact of the solution with all parts of the coal as the solution is maintained in liquid state until the treated coal has passed out of the hood.

The adjustable section 29 of the bottom may be positioned so that it is at the desired angle to prevent discharge of the coal with sufficient force to cause breaking thereof. the spray through the nozzles causes a vacuum effect to form within the nozzle housing, whereupon atomized solution collected in the end compartments is drawn through the sets of tubes 86 and 81 and returned to the treating chamber.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 operates in substantially the same manner as the preferred construction with the exception that the boom conveyor may operate continuously. In this instance the deflector is positioned so as to divert the treated coal through one opening while a car is being moved into receiving relation with the other opening.

While I have specifically described the invention as being associated with a boom, it is obvious that a hood employing the flaps as shown may be-located on any of the various conveyors used The hood as shown confines the spray to the zone of application and prevents drafts of air from blowing the solution away from the coal being treated. The heating coil and insulation maintain the required temperatures to prevent rapid solidification of the coating mtaerial and maintain the material sufficiently fluid to assure complete coverage of each particle of coal as it rolls down the inclined bottom into the car. The flaps provide double seals for preventing escape of the atomized solution through the openings, the flaps being independently movable so as to individually pass the various size lumps that may contact with them. When the lower ends of the flaps become worn they may be readily adjusted to maintain them in sealing contact with the coal by adjusting the fastening devices in the slots as is readily apparent upon inspection of the drawings.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a conveyor, a housing having an inlet and spaced outlet openings, means supporting the housing relatively to the conveyor whereby the material discharged from the conveyor passes through the housing, means in the housing for spraying said material, means in the housing for selectively diverting said material through one and the other of said outlet openings, and means supporting the spraying means in position to discharge spray on the material as it is diverted through a selected opening.

2. In combination with a boom conveyor, a spray housing having an inclined bottom and inlet and outlet openings for material conveyed by said boom conveyor, means supporting the spray housing on the boom conveyor, a nozzle in the housing for spraying the material rolling over said bottom, sets of juxtaposed flexible flaps supported by the housing and closing said openings to form a trap for the spray tending to escape through said openings, a housing enclosing said nozzle, and a suction duct connecting the nozzle housing with said trap to draw said trapped spray into the spray housing.

3. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing having an opening for pas- Discharge of sage of material treated in said housing, means located in the housing remote from said opening for spraying a treating solution on the material, means normally closing said opening and movable responsive to contact of the material for retarding escape of the treating solution from the housing, a suction chamber over said opening and in the path of spray that tends to escape through said opening, and suction means for returning spray from said suction chamber into the housing at a point above material passed through the housing.

4. In a treating apparatus, a housing having an outlet opening, means for delivering a material into the housing for discharge through the outlet opening, spaced sets of closures for said outlet openin gand yieldable responsive to movement of the material to form a collecting compartment, means in the housing for discharging a treating solution onto the material, and means connecting said collecting compartment with the housing for returning excess spray of said solution which collects in the compartment into the housing.

5. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing having inlet and outlet openings for passage of material to be treated, means in the housing for discharging a treating solutionon the material, pairs of closures for said openings yieldable responsive to movement of the material through the housing, said closures in each pair beingspaced to provide collecting chambers for excess spray from the solution that tends to escape through said openings, and means for withdrawing excess spray from said collecting chambers including means for returning the excess spray to the interior of said housing.

6. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing having inlet and outlet openings for the passage of material to be treated, means in the housing for discharging a treating solution on the material, spaced sets of closures for the respective openings yieldable responsive to movement of the material through the housing and forming collecting compartments for trapping excess spray from the treating solution which tends to escape through said openings, and means for effecting a suction in said collecting compartments including means for withdrawing excess spray trapped in said compartments and returning said excess spray to the housing.

7. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a spray housing having inlet and outlet openings for passage of material to be treated, a nozzle housing having connection with an opening in said spray housing at a point spaced inwardly from said inlet and outlet openings, a nozzle supported in said last named opening for spraying a treating solution onto the material, suction chambers located over said inlet and outlet openings and in position for collecting spray tending to escape through said openings, and ducts connected with the nozzle housing and with said suction chambers to conduct the collected spray into the nozzle housing incidental tothe aspirating effect of the spray discharged from said nozzle.

THOMAS C. CHEASLEY.

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