FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new handling device for sintering plant, and more
particularly to a handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory
cast beams avoiding the limitation of EOT crane approach due to ignition hood. The device
according to the present invention involves a roller table which has been fabricated and
fixed over a newly created horizontal beam placed outside the ignition hood, parallel to the
furnace side wall and inside the main column. Support of this new beam has been taken
from the main column. The roller assemblies are fixed on this newly laid beam at the
designed locations. The present system allows EOT cranes to directly place the refractory
beams on roller table outside the furnace, after which beams are handled and placed easily
on rollers. Both way movements of beams on roller table have made it easier to place /
remove beams from either side, with minimum time, effort and damage during handling,
thus minimising downtime for maintenance, increasing machine availability and reducing
cost of operation. The handling device involving the said roller table according to the
present invention is thus having prospects for wide scale use in steel plants / sinter plants
with economy in furnace operation and maintenance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in steel plant operations that sintering is an agglomeration method, in
which various raw materials e.g. iron ore fines, coke breeze fines, limestone and dolomite
fines, mill scale, LD slag and other metallurgical wastes are partly melted and fused, to
produce lumpy porous iron bearing burden material suitable for Blast Furnace charging. In
a typical Sinter Plant process, various raw materials are sized, screened and mixed as per
pre-calculated proportions; afterwards the homogeneous mix is subjected to specified water
addition and simultaneous rotational movement in Balling Drums. The resultant green
sinter balls so produced are discharged on moving pallets. Subsequently, .the top layer of
green mix is ignited under an ignition hood or furnace. As convention, ignition hood
consists of stationary burners and refractory cast beams. Ignition furnace ignites the coke
breeze on top layer, thus starting the sintering process. Moving pallets are subjected to
downward suction in a simultaneous manner, which causes flame front to move vertically
downwards through the loaded pallet. Pallet speed is adjusted according to the downward
suction, so that sintering of the material in the pallet gets completed till the pallet travels to

the discharge end of the sinter machine. Afterwards, the whole sintered bed is crushed,
preliminary screened in hot condition, cooled and rescreened in cold condition. Finally,
oversize feed of sintered iron ore is charged in Blast Furnaces, while undersize sinter
fraction is re-consumed in sinter making.
All sinter plants of the applicants have been retrofitted with curtain flame ignition system,
developed in-house. Here conventional side mounted burners have been replaced with
single series top mounted vertical burners. This has resulted into direct flame heating of
sinter top layer, thus reducing loss of heat. Hence the objective of .improved sinter
productivity with reduced specific consumption of heat could be achieved. The conventional
arch / hanging bricks arrangement of ignition hood was also replaced with refractory cast
beams, for better support and heat withstanding capability.
Traditional older sinter plants are spacious and direct EOT crane approach over ignition
hood, made beam handling easy. But in the modern compact design of sinter plants, the
crane approach over ignition hood for fixing of roof beams is only partial. Moreover, some
plants have additional facility of a canopy over the ignition hood, designed for collection and
venting out the hot ambient gases along with the dusts generated. This arrangement
further prevents direct crane approach over the ignition hood.
Compact modern sinter plants mostly don't have direct crane approach over ignition hood;
hence refractory beams are placed by crane outside the hood and subsequently dragged
manually over pallets. Dragging of such heavy beams requires huge manpower and other
resources like tools and time. Besides, this dragging causes various kind of damage to
beams, e.g. wear & tear, cracking, surface chipping etc. Though, shuttering plates are
generally not removed till the final placement, but those thin plates (3 mm) can't withstand
such huge dragging force. As a result, multiple channels of heat penetration develop and
life of beams reduces drastically.
In a Sinter Plant, refractory beams are considered as consumables whose life depend on
additional factors e.g. casting material quality, casting process, curing process, beam design
and beam handling. Deterioration in any one factor mentioned, gets multiplied manifold
during high temperature operation and life reduces drastically. So damaged beams are
required to be dismantled and replaced with new beams. For beam replacement in

conventional design, where there is no crane approach, the damaged beams are first
removed through pallet movement, followed by placing of new beams by dragging method.
Another methodology followed is to have the entire hood fixed on wheels. However, the
space requirement along the width increases and the movement needs to be powered with
electricity to take care of the huge weight that requires to be moved.
There has been therefore a persistent handling problem relating to placement of refractory
cast metallic beams in sinter plant due to limitation of crane approach which adversely
affected new generation sinter plant operation and maintenance. To overcome this
problem, a new handling device has been conceived, designed and developed by way of the
present invention to place/ remove refractory beams from either side, with minimum time,
effort and damage during handling, thus minimizing downtime for maintenance, increasing
machine availability and reducing cost of operation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and placement
device for ignition hood refractory cast beams of sintering plants to place/ remove
refractory beams from either side, with minimum time, effort and damage during handling,
favouring faster and cost effective operation and maintenance.
A further object of the present invention is directed to providing a simple handling and
placement device for ignition hood refractory cast beams of sintering plant, to ensure that
the beams are placed at its position without any damage even when there is no crane
approach over its final placement location.
Another object of the present invention is directed to providing a simple handling and
placement device for ignition hood refractory cast beams of sintering plant, to ensure that
the beams are placed at its position with minimum human effort only over its final
placement location without any crane assistance.
A further object of the present invention is directed to providing a simple handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams that can withstand
surrounding temperature of about 300°C when the hood is in operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams that can easily be
retrofitted into any existing ignition hood.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams that should be
maintenance free during its life-time.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams, where individual
damaged parts of the device can be easily replaced, if required, during maintenance
reducing downtime.
Yet another object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams that under normal
circumstances, does not allow the beams to change its position, without human
intervention.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a handling and
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams, which involves
minimum additional cost, even for retrofitting, due to simple design and construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basic aspect of the present invention is thus directed to a handling and placement
device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams comprising:
atleast one roller table supported on a pair of horizontal beams located on either side
of the ignition hood but between the ignition hood and the main columns;
said roller table adapted for alignment with respect to the refractory cast beams
whereby beams placed on the roller table outside the furnace can be handled and
placed easily on rollers such that both ways movement of beams on roller table

make the placement /removal of beams from either side with minimum effort and
time.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a handling and placement device for
sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams comprising:
said roller table comprising of a pair of longitudinal horizontal beams having roller
assemblies fastened at definite intervals spacing one on each side of the ignition
hood supporting the refractory cast beams,
said horizontal beams, parallel to pallet movement direction, adapted for alignment
with respect to the refractory beams
said horizontal beams, parallel to pallet movement direction, in turn supported with
respect to said main supporting columns of said ignition hood.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a handling and placement device
for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams wherein said rollers are free to roll
even at temperatures upto about 300 °C free of any external power source.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a handling and placement device
for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams wherein beam placement on both
ways is totally free of external electrical power source.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to said handling and placement
device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams which is adapted to be
retrofitted into any existing ignition hood.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of handling and
placement of beams in refractory cast ignition hood beams in sinter plants involving the
handling and placement device as described above comprising directly placing the refractory
beams on said roller table outside the furnace and handling the beams involving said roller
table.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to said method of handling and
placement of beams wherein by proper alignment and a small pull/push, preferably with
lever means, heavy refractory beams can be handled to and from said ignition hood location
for fitting and dismantling.
The objects and advantages of the present invention is described hereunder in greater
details with reference to the following non limiting illustrative drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURE
Figure 1: is the side view of handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood
refractory cast beams according to the present invention showing the different components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMOPANYING FIGURE
The present invention relates to a handling and placement device involving a roller table, to
place/ remove refractory cast beams from either side, as part of sintering plant ignition
hood with minimum time, effort and damage during handling, favouring faster and cost
effective operation and maintenance.
Reference is invited to the accompanying Figure 1 which is the side view of the handling &
placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast beams according to the
present invention showing disposition of different components. Referring to Figure 1, it can
be seen that the handling and placement device consists of a longitudinal beam (1) on
which roller assemblies (2) are fastened at definite intervals/spacing. The horizontal beam
is supported by welding of metallic supports with the existing main columns. There are 2
nos. of such arrangement one on each side of the ignition hood, supporting the refractory
cast beams (3).
In the handling device according to the present invention, a roller table has been fabricated
and fixed over a newly created horizontal beam placed outside the ignition hood, parallel to
the furnace side wall and inside the main column. Support of this new .beam has been
taken from the main column. The roller assemblies are fixed on this newly laid beam at the
designed locations. EOT crane directly places the refractory beams on roller table outside

the furnace, after which beams are handled and placed at the desired location easily on
rollers. Both way movements of beams on roller table have made it easier to place/ remove
beams from either side, with minimum time, effort and damage during handling, thus
minimising downtime for maintenance, increasing machine availability and reducing cost of
operation.
The handling & placement device (roller table) for refractory cast beams according to the
present invention, which are part of sintering plant ignition hood, are mounted with proper
alignment, such that a small pull / push with the help of levers can move the heavy
refractory beams, which can be placed easily at its proper place without damage to the
refractory casting of the beams. The rollers are free to roll even at temperatures of about
300 °C without any external power supply. The newly placed beam ensures roller
assemblies to be supported externally, from main supporting columns. The entire job of
dismantling of damaged refractory beams and placement of all new roof beams can be
completed within one shift only. In addition, the handling device is so designed that, it can
easily be retrofitted into any existing ignition hood.
It is thus possible by way of the present invention to provide a handling and placement
device involving a roller table, to place/ remove refractory cast beams from either side, to
move to desired location with a small pull/push, preferably using lever means. Thus, the
heavy refractory beams can be handled to and from said ignition hood with minimum time,
human effort and damage during handling, favouring faster and cost effective operation and
maintenance. Importantly also, the handling device is adapted to be retrofitted into any
existing ignition hood and thus capable of wide industrial application.

We Claim:
1. A handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast
beams comprising:
atleast one roller table supported on a pair of horizontal beams located on either side
of the ignition hood but between the ignition hood and the main columns;
said roller table adapted for alignment with respect to the refractory beams whereby
beams placed on the roller table outside the furnace can be handled and placed
easily on rollers such that both ways movement of beams on roller table make the
placement /removal of beams from either side with minimum effort and time.
2. A handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast
beams as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
Said roller table comprising of a pair of horizontal beams, parallel to pallet
movement direction, having roller assemblies fastened at definite intervals spacing
one on each side of the ignition hood supporting the refractory cast beams,
said horizontal beams, parallel to pallet movement direction, adapted for alignment
with respect to the refractory beams
said horizontal beams, parallel to pallet movement direction, in turn supported with
respect to said main supporting columns of said ignition hood.
3. A handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast
beams as claimed in anyone of claims 1 or 2
Wherein said rollers are free to roll even at temperatures of upto 300 °C free of any
external power source.
4. A handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition hood refractory cast
beams as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 which is adapted to be retrofitted into
any existing ignition hood.

5. A method of handling and placement of beams in refractory cast ignition hood beams
in sinter plants involving the handling and placement device as claimed in anyone of
claims 1 to 3 comprising:
directly placing the refractory beams on said roller table outside the furnace and
handling the beams involving said roller table.
6. A method of handling and placement of beams as claimed in claim 4 wherein by
proper alignment and a small pull/push preferably with lever means heavy refractory
beams can be handled to and from said ignition hood.

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a handling and placement device for sintering plant ignition
hood refractory cast beams avoiding the limitation of EOT crane approach over ignition
hood. The device involves a roller table which has been fabricated and fixed over a pair of
horizontal beams placed on two sides outside the ignition hood, parallel to the furnace side
wall and inside the main column. Support of the beams has been taken from the main
column. The roller assemblies are fixed on these beams at the designed locations. The
present system allow EOT crane to directly place the refractory beams on roller table
outside the furnace, after which beams are handled and placed easily on rollers at the
desired location away from crane approach. Both way movements of beams on roller table
with simple push/pull made it easier to place/ remove refractory beams from either side,
with minimum time, effort and damage during handling, thus minimising downtime for
maintenance, increasing machine availability and reducing cost of operation.