US2517470A - Seal for rotary driers or coolers - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1, 1950- J. L. ERISNIIAN SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1946 INVENTOR .li-alrmem RNEY A1181 1, 1950 J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR BY i WRNEY 1950 J. L ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS OR COQLERS V Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J8 INVENTOR Jbzzifiirmwm kmw ATTORNEY 1950 J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4:

INVENTOR BY EY A g- 1950 J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 'ATT NEY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFlCE John L. Erisman, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Link Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,753

8 Claims. (01. 28596.1)

This invention relates to new and :useful improvements in seals for rotary dryers or coolers. Dryers or coolers of the type broadly covered by the Gustav Bojner et a1. Patent No. 1,709,456, issued April 16, 1929, each involves a rotatable, horizontal cell or cylinder which is provided with an annular series of longitudinal passages at its inner periphery. The hot or cold treatment fluid is delivered to these passages at one end of the revolvin cell or cylinder by means of a stationary distributor head or ring. This head or ring is provided with a fluid delivery duct that spans an area which is approximately equal to the combined area of only a limited number, for example two to four, of the adjacent open ends of the longitudinal fluid passages and is further constructed so that it closes the open ends of all of the remaining longitudinal fluid passages. Of course, as the cell or cylinder rotates, the open ends of all of the annular series of longitudinal fluid passages successively move into and out of register with the fluid delivery duct of the stationary distributor head or ring with the result that the treatment fluid is delivered only to the ends of the longitudinal fluid passages that are arranged at any given moment beneath the bed of material being dried or cooled in the central treatment chamber of the rotating cell or cylinder. Because the distributor head or ring is of annular formation in elevation and it is essential that the hot or cold treatment fluid be prevented from leaking to the surrounding atmosphere ei ther at the zone where it is delivered to the longitudinal fluid passages underlying the bed of material or throughout the region of the remaining longitudinal fluid passages which are not registering with the delivery duct for being supplied with the treatment fluid, sealing means must be provided to close the gaps or spaces left at the joints between the inner and outer peripheries of the stationary distributor head or ring and the associated portions of the rotatable cell or cylinder. To be practical and efficient, the sealing means must possess the two essential characteristics of being readily serviced at least insofar as the replacement of wearable parts is concerned and of being capable of rendering satisfactory service for a substantial period of time when operating under either high or low temperature conditions.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide extremely efficient sealing means for preventin the escape of hot or cold treatment fluids through the joints between stationary distributor heads or rings and rotatable cells or cylinders of dryers or coolers,

Still another primary object of the invention is the provision of sealing means which is so constructed that the parts receiving the greatest amount of wear easily and quickly may be replaced and the entire sealing means will render long and satisfactory service when operating under either high or low temperature conditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of combined labyrinth and floating ring seals for closing the joints between the stationary distributor head or ring and the rotatable cell or cylinder of a dryer or cooler.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the feed end of a rotatable cell or cylinder type of dryer or cooler embodying this invention,

Figure 2 isa fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, 1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line '!l of Fig. 1,

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a spring clip that is further illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and i Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of driv ing and spring lugs, respectively, which are further illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, and first particularly referring to Fig. l, the reference character I I designates in its entirety the base frame of a rotary dryer or cooler embodying this invention. This base portion carries suitable supporting rolls l2, by means of bearing blocks l3, for engaging the annular trucks I4 secured to the periphery of a rotatable dryer or cooler cell or cylinder. The cell or cylinder is illustrated inthis figure as including an end feed plate l5, having a central feed opening 16, which is fastened to the cell or cylinder to rotate therewith. yAlthough not illustrated in this Fig. 1, the rotatable cell or cylinder is provided with an an 22 of the attachment plates 19 to accommodate this adjustment of the distributor head or ring [8 relative to the adjacent end of the rotatable dryer or cooler cell or cylinder.

By referring to Figs, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the rotatable cell or cylinder is provided with an exterior, cylindrical wall portion'23 that is substantially coaxiallyarranged With reference to :anrouter peripheral wall portion 12!; of :the. stationary distributor -theador ring .58. Y'These two figuresalso illustrate the rotatable cell or cylinder of thezdryerror cooler as including an annular wallportion .25 that is :concentric with :the exteriorwall portion 23 .and .is locatedsubstantially in angularralignment with :the inner periphery of the annular series of longitudinalfiuid passages. To further illustrate the location of this annular inner wall portion 25, it will be noted that thegperipheryof:theend plate liilof the dryer or cooler cell or cylinder is attached .tothis wall portion 25. These two figures also disclose the stationary distributor .heador ring it aszbeing provided with an annular wall portion :26 that is concentric .withiits exteriorwall portion 24 and is arrangedsubstantially .coaxially oithe cell or cylinder .Wall ,portion 25.

Figs. 2 and 3 are taken on the section lines illustrated in .Fig. l and, for that reason, are 10- cated at portions of the distributor head .or ring which close the adjacentzendslz-lof longitudinal fluidzpassages. For-ithat reason, th distributor head or ring [8 is provided witha plate .28 that lies between the annular wall portions 24 and .26,

By an inspection ,Of FigsMZand 3, it-will be seen that the hot or .cold treatment fluid would ,be permitted to escape to the surrounding atmosphere if suitable sealinglmeans were not provided for closing the gaps or openings formed by the joints between-substantially axially aligned wall portions 23 and 24 and between the substantially axially aligned wall;p0rtions;25 and 26. In other words, leakage can occur both at the inner -pe-, riphery andthe outenperiphery of the distributor head'or ring 18 wheredt-cooperates with :opposed portions of the rotatable dryer cell or cylinder. For that reason, two annular seal structuresmust be provided forclosing these two joints. Because these two annular seal structures are identical in many respects, the descriptions-of thetwo structures will be combined or consolidatedas much as possible.

Each one of the seal structures includes .a labyrinth type-of sealland a floating .ring type of seal Which-cooperates with the labyrinth sealby closing the gap-or opening left by the =latter seal. The labyrinth seal portion of .each one of the twoiseal structures includes a labyrinth seal .ring 29 thatis illustrated -.in the several figures as being welded :to :a walliportion of the distributor head'or ring 48. .It. is to'be understood, however,

that this :labyrinth :seal ring can just as readily be welded to a wall portionof the rotatable cell or cylinder, This .labyrinthseal .ring is ;providedwith an annular radially extending ..ace ,3llthat rings 38.

is machined to provide a true, smooth surface. The labyrinth seal also includes a labyrinth seal band 3| that is secured to the remainder of the two substantially coaxial Wall portions. This labyrinth seal band 3| is illustrated as being attached to the Wall portion of the rotatable cell or cylinder because the labyrinth seal ring 29 is illustratedras being attached to the .wall portion of the stationarydistributor head or ring. However, these labyrinth seal members may be reversed so that the labyrinth seal band would be attached to the wall portion of the stationary distributor head or ring Ill.

The labyrinth seal band 3| is arranged so as to overlap the gap or space formed by the joint between the coaxial wall portions of the distributor head or ring it and the cell or cylinder of the dryer 'or cooler. The concentrically arranged laybrinth seal band is of: greater internal diameter than .eitherof the .wall portions :with which it is associated. This..-greater diameter is provided for the purpose of allowing for som misalignment of the associated wall portions. The labyrinth seal .band may be of proper angular formation in radial section to allow for the 'mountingof one circumferential edge portion on one .of the coaxially aligned wall .portions while leaving theremainder of the sealing band spaced from the otherv wall portion, :However, it is preferable to 1 employan annular filler member 32 .in combination with a truly cylindrical seal band 3|. The filler member 32 is welded to its associated wall portion and the labyrinth seal band 3| is suitably welded to its filler -member 32. These labyrinth .1: seal rings and bands wand-3|, respectively, are

provided for both the .innerand the-outer joints between the stationary distributor head or ring i8 and the .rotatable'celllor cylinder. For that reason, the same reference characters will be employed for the labyrinth seal elements of both joints. It will be noted that the.;labyrinth seal bands and the labyrinth seal'rings .form a tortuous path for retarding leakage of treatment fluid .through either joint. The gaps vor openings leitby :the labyrinthseals, therefore, must be closed .by;.additional :sealing means. This :additional sealing means, which can be broadly describedgas floating ring sealing means, now will be: specifically disclosed.

Concentrically associated .Withthe exterior surface of=the labyrinthseal band 3.! associated with the joint iormed by the wall portions 2-3 and 2.4, and concentrically associated with the inner surface of the labyrinth :seal :band 13E, associated :.with the .joint between the wall portions 25 and .26, .are the two .pairs of (floating rings 33, 34,.35iand .36, .The floatingrings33 and 35 each has suitably welded to its inner face the annular keeper band 3-1. By particularly inspecting Figs. :2, 3,16;and 7,, it will :be seen that the spaced floating rings x33.34 :or :35-36, theirassociated keeper bands .31, and their associated labyrinth seal bands 'form annular .grooves or spaces for receiving .and compressing packing Each one of these packing rings .38 is to be tightly compressed against its associated exterior :or interior surface of a labyrinth seal band .3! to prevent leakage of treatment fluid between these ring and band members 38 and .3l respectively. Any suitable fiexibler packing material can be employed for forming the rings ,38.

For the purpose of sealing between the :machined inner .faces oilthe labyrinth seal rings 29 and their opposed floating rings 83 and .35,

sealingrings 39 are provided. These rings may be made of any suitable material, suclrasspecial bronze, copper, wood, or thelike. The sealing rings 39 are secured to the floating rings 33 and 35 by a suitable number of bolts 40. These bolts pass through openings formed. in the rings 33 and 35 and are threaded into openings formed in the sealing rings 39. Because of the relative angular movement that will take place between the labyrinth seal rings 29 and the sealing rings 39 that bear against the machined faces 30 of the rings 29, the sealing rings 39 and 29 will be subject to the only wear that will occur in these sealing structures. For that reason, the sealing rings 39 can be readily replaced by merely removing their retaining bolts 46. i

It will be appreciated that the labyrinth seal rings 29 and the special bronze, copper or wood sealing rings 39 just as readily could be connected by the bolts 43. If that were the case, the sealing rings 39 would have to bear against and partake of relative angular movement with respect to the floating rings 33 and 35.

For the purpose of drivingly attaching the two pairs of floating rings 33-34 and 35--36 to their associated cell or cylinder wall portions 23 and 25, a suitable number of driving pins 4| are secured by Welding in openings provided to receive the same in the floating rings 33 and 35. These driving pins 4| also pass through aligned openings formed in the floating rings 34 and 36 and are received in the notches 42 of the driving lugs 43 that are attached by welding to the wall portions 23 and 25. These driving pins and lugs 4| and 43, therefore, cause the floating rings 33 to 36 inclusiveto rotatewith the dryer or cooler cell or cylinder. Of course, if the labyrinth seal rings 29 and bands 3| were reversed with respect to their associated wall portions, so that the labyrinth seal rings would be carried by the wall portions of the rotatable cell or cylinder, the driving lugs 43 would be attached to the stationary wall portions and 26 of the distributor head or ring l8 and their associated driving pins 4| would hold the floating rings 33 to 36 and the sealing rings 39 against rotation, or stationary with the distributor head or ring l8. It is necessary to so apply spring pressure that the sealing rings 39 will be forced against the labyrinth seal rings 29, and so that the floating rings 34 and 36 will be forced toward their associated floating rings 33 and 35, respectively, to compress the two packing rings 38 against their associated labyrinth seal bands 3|. Because slightly different spring pressure applying mechanisms are employed for the outer and inner sealing structures, these spring mechanisms will be described separately.

Figs. 3, 4 and 8 best illustrate the spring structures provided for the outer seals. Each one of these outer spring structures includes a spring end seating pin 44 that is welded in placein an opening formed in the floating ring 34. The compression spring 45 has one of its ends seated on the associated pin 44. The remaining end of each compression spring 45 is seated on a threaded adjusting stud 46. Each stud has pinned to the intermediate portion of the same a nut 41 that bears against the adjacent end of its compression spring 45. An angle-iron ring 48 is welded to the exterior of the wall portion 23. This angle-iron ring is provided with notches 49 at suitable intervals to freely accommodate the adjusting studs 46 and their fixed nuts 41. For the purpose of spanning each one of these notches 49, a sprint,

clip50 is provided. These spring clips are welded to the inner face of the angle-iron ring 48 with fillers 5| interposed. Each one of these spring clips 50 is provided with an internal, threaded opening 52 for connection with its associated spring adjusting stud 46. Consequently, by rotating the studs 46 in the proper direction, they will be adjusted axially with respect to their spring clips 50 for moving the spring adjustment nuts 41 to further compress the springs 45. A. look nut 52 is threaded on each spring stud 46 and functions to retain the stud in any desired adjusted position.

Figs. 3 and 5 disclose the spring devices for the inner floating ring seal structure. Each one of these spring devices includes a spring seating pin 54 that is welded in a receiving opening formed in the cell or cylinder feed plate |5-. Each one of these pins seats the end of a compression spring 55. The remaining end portion of each spring 55 is seated on an associated end of a spring adjusting stud 56. A spring abutment nut 51 is pinned to each one of the studs 56. A spring lug 58 is provided for each spring stud 56. and is welded to one face of the floating ring 36. Each one of these spring lugs is provided with an internally threaded opening 59 for threaded connection with its associated spring stud. 56. A locking nut 60 cooperates with the threaded lu 58 and the threaded stud 56 for locking the stud in any desired adjusted position. By rotating the stud relative to its lug, the compression spring 55 may be adjusted. M

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first Wall portion to provide a radially directed gap therebetween, of means for sealing the gap between said wall portions, comprising means directly mounted on and extending circumferentially of substantially axially alined annular surfaces of said wall portions, re-v spectively, forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap, and meansforming afloating contact seal for closing the outer portion of the opening of said labyrinth seal.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head hav-' ing an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means for sealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprising a labyrinth seal band mounted on and extending oircumierentially of one surface of one of said wall portions and telescopically associated with the corresponding surface of the other annular wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by said corresponding surface of said other annular wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axially spaced relation to the free edge of the latter, and means forming a floating seal for closing the open spacebetween said labyrinth seal band and ring. l

3. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion. and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means for sealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprisin means directly mounted on and extending c'n'ciunferentially of substantially axially alined annular surfaces of said annular wall portions, respectively, forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap, means forming a floating seal for closing the outer portion of the opening of said labyrinth seal, said floating seal means comprising a p citing ring bearing against the means of the labyrinth seal thatis carried by thev surface of one of said an;

nular wall portions, a sealing ring bearin against themeans of the labyrinth seal that is carried by the corresponding surface. of the other of said annular wall portions, and means. for carrying said packing and sealing rings.

4-. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head havan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means for sealing the radial gap between said well portions, comprising means directly mounted on and extending circumferentially of substantially airially al-ined annular surfaces or said annular wall portions, respectively, forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap, means forming a floating seal for closing the outer portion of the opening or said labyrinthseal, said floating seal means comprising, a packing ring bearing against the means of the labyrinth seal that is carried by the surface of one of said annular wall portions, a sealing ring bearing against the means of. the labyrinth seal that is carried by the corresponding surface of the other of said annular wall portions, means for carrying said packing and sealing rings,v means for attaching said ring carrying means to one of said annular wall portions, and means for applying spring pressure against the ring carrying means in the direction to f ce the sealing ring tightly against its assoelated labyrinth seal means.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxialiy of the first wall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means for sealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprising a labyrinth seal band mounted on and extending circumferentially of one surface of one. of said annular wall portions and telescopically associated with the corresponding surface of the other annular wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by the surfaces of said other annular wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axially spaced relation to the free edge of the latter, means forming a floating seal for closing the open space between said labyrinth seal band and ring, said floating seal means comprising a packing ring bearing against the periphery of the labyrinth seal band, a sealing ring bearing against the labyrinth seal ring, and means for carrying said packing and sealing rings.

6. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion to form a radially directed gap, therebetween, of means for sealing the radial gap between said wall pore tions, comp-rising a labyrinth seal band mounted on and extending circumferentially of one surface of one of said annular wall portions and telescopically associated with the corresponding surface of the other annular wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by the surface of said other annular wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axially spaced relation to the free edge of the latter, means forming a floating seal for closing the open space between said labyrinth seal band and ring, said floating seal means comprising a packing ring bearing against the periphery of the labyrinth seal band, asealing ring bearing against the labyrinth seal ring, means for carrying said packing and sealing rings, means for attaching, said ring carrying means to the annular Wall portion carrying the labyrinth seal band, and means for applying spring pressure against the ring carrying means in the direction to force the sealing ring tightly against the labyrinth seal ring.

7. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion, of means for sealing the joint between said wall portions, comprising a labyrinth seal band carried by one of said wall portions and telescopically receiving the substantially coaxially associated other wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by said other wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in spaced relation to the free edge of the latter, a pair of spaced floating rings sur: rounding said labyrinth seal band, a keeper band carried by one of the floating rings in the space between it and the other floating ring, a packing ring positioned in the space formed by the pair of floating rings and the labyrinth seal and keeper bands, a sealing ring carried by one of the floating rings for bearing against the adjacent face of the labyrinth seal ring, spring means for applying force against said floating rings to compress the packing ring against the labyrinth seal band and for pressing the sealing ring against the labyrinth seal ring, and means for attaching the floating rings to the Wall portion carrying the labyrinth seal band.

8. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cell or cylinder having an annular Wall portion and a stationary head having an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the first wall portion, of means for sealing the joint between said wall portions, comprising a labyrinth seal band carried by one of said wall'portions and telescopically receiving the substantially coaxially associated other wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by said other wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in spaced relation to the free edge of the latter, a pair of spaced floating rings sur rounding said labyrinth seal band, a keeper band carried by one of the floating rings in the space between it and the other floating ring, a packing ring positioned in the spaced formed by the pair of floating. rings and the labyrinth seal and keeper bands, asealing ring carried by one of the floating rings for bearing against the adjacent face of the labyrinth seal ring, a plurality of pins attached atone end to the floating ring carrying the sealing ring and projecting through aligned openings formed in the otherfloating ring, a lug for engaging the free end of each pin attached to the wall portion carrying the lab- 10 yrinth seal band. and spring means for applying UNITED STATES PAIENTS force against the floating ring having the'pin re- Number m Date ceiving openings for comp essin he p ck pg ring 1,263,415 Hornsey Am 23 1918 against the labyrinth seal band and for pressing 1,905,613 Bodart Apr 1933 the sealing ring against the labyrinth seaLring. 5 2362 436 stratford 1944 JOHN L. ERISMAN.

FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country D te The following references are of record in the 490,001 Germany Of 1930 file of this patent: 10 348,374 Great Britain of 1931

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