DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A HYRDAULIC PUSHER AND PULLER SYSTEM FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING CHARGE IN A FURNACE

Applicant:
BEML Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
BEML Soudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 027,
Karnataka, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] This patent application claims priority from Indian Provisional Application 202041002700 filed on January 21, 2020.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to a hydraulic puller and pusher system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace.
BACKGROUND
[003] Generally, charge mechanisms are employed to feed stroke charge into and from a furnace respectively. Reliable functioning of the charge mechanisms is required for ensuring high efficiency of the furnace. Conventionally used charge mechanisms are driven by chain and sprocket arrangement powered by geared motor. On account of high temperature inside the furnace, the chain and sprocket drive are subjected to repetitive break down , thereby affecting it’s reliability and efficiency of the furnace. Further, the chain and sprocket drive has less load carrying capacity. Hence, there is need to devise a reliable system for operating the charge to achieve higher efficiency of the furnace.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[004] The main object of the present invention is to provide a reliable system for loading and unloading charge to achieve higher efficiency of the furnace.
[005] It is an object of the present invention to prevent repetitive break down of the drive operating loading and unloading of the charge.
[006] It is an object of the present invention to improve availability of the drive that loads and unloads the charge.
[007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a drive for charge capable of operating at the designed load.
SUMMARY
[008] Before the present system and method are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular machine or an apparatus, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments that are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace, and the aspects are further elaborated below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the proposed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the proposed subject matter.
[009] A hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace comprises a guide rod configured for mounting a hydraulic cylinder, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is configured for receiving oil into a rod end or a piston end from a vane pump and a directional control valve configured for selectively directing flow of oil from said vane pump into said rod end or said piston end of said hydraulic cylinder for extending or retracting piston of said hydraulic cylinder to push or pull container loaded with charge into and from said furnace respectively.
[0010] A method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace comprises the steps of activating, forward push button, for permitting flow of oil from vane pump to rod end of a hydraulic cylinder to extend piston in forward direction for loading container into said furnace. Further, the method comprises activating, interlock push button, for extending a clamping and declamping unit into said furnace to interlock the container with said clamping and declamping unit. Furthermore, the method comprises activating, reverse push button, for permitting flow of oil from said vane pump to piston end of said hydraulic cylinder to retract piston for enabling reverse movement of said container from said furnace.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing:
[0012] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer like features and components.
[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0016] The figure depicts various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising", “having”, and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0018] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0019] Referring now to figure 1, in one aspect of present invention, a hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace is disclosed.
[0020] Referring now to figure 2 and figure 3, a top view and a front view of hydraulic pusher and puller system for loading and unloading charge in a furnace respectively is disclosed. A furnace 102 provided with a door 104 is configured to receive a container containing charge from the hydraulic pusher and puller system 100. A hydraulic pusher and puller system 100 for a furnace 102 comprises a guide rod 106 configured for mounting a hydraulic cylinder 108, wherein said hydraulic cylinder 108 is configured for receiving oil into a rod end 118 or a piston end 120 from a vane pump 112 and a directional control valve 114 configured for selectively directing flow of oil from said vane pump 112 into said rod end 118 or said piston end 120 of said hydraulic cylinder 108 for extending or retracting piston of said hydraulic cylinder 108 to push or pull container loaded with charge into and from said furnace 102 respectively.
[0021] A clamp and declamping unit 116 is configured to interlock said container and pull said interlocked container outside from said furnace 102. The vane pump 112 is configured to be operated by a motor 110. The directional control valve 114 is configured to be operated by electrical signals for directing flow of oil from the vane pump 112 into the hydraulic cylinder 108. An oil tank having storage capacity of 100 liters is connected to said vane pump 112. The said motor 110 has a rating of 5 HP and 1400 rpm. The vane pump 112 is configured to be mounted with a pressure gauge 118 at its outlet for monitoring pressure of oil exiting said vane pump 112. Further, the hydraulic cylinder 108 is configured to be mounted with a pressure relief valve 120 for relieving excessive oil pressure built up in said hydraulic cylinder 108 into an oil tank.
[0022] A method comprises of loading the charge in the container. Upon activation of the forward movement push button, the directional control valve 114 is configured to permit flow of oil from the vane pump 112 into the rod end 118 of the hydraulic cylinder 108 thereby enabling forward movement of the container into the heating chamber of the furnace 102. Upon activation of the interlocking push button, the clamping and declamping unit 116 is extended into the heating chamber of the furnace 102 to interlock the container containing the charge. Post interlocking of the container and activation of the reverse movement push button, the directional control valve 114 is configured to permit flow of oil from the vane pump 112 into the piston end 120 of the hydraulic cylinder 108 thereby enabling reverse movement of the container.
[0023] The method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system 100 for a furnace 102 comprises the steps of activating, forward push button, for permitting flow of oil from vane pump 112 to rod end 118 of a hydraulic cylinder 108 to extend piston in forward direction for loading container into said furnace 102. Further, the method comprises activating, interlock push button, for extending a clamping and declamping unit 116 into said furnace 102 to interlock the container with said clamping and declamping unit 116. Furthermore, the method comprises activating, reverse push button, for permitting flow of oil from said vane pump 112 to piston end 120 of said hydraulic cylinder 108 to retract piston for enabling reverse movement of said container from said furnace 102.
[0024] The method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system 100 for a furnace 102, wherein upon activation of forward push button, a directional control valve 114 directs flow of oil from said vane pump 112 to rod end 118 of said hydraulic cylinder 108 to extend piston for enabling forward movement of said container into said furnace 102 and upon activation of reverse push button, said directional control valve 114 directs flow of oil from said vane pump 112 to piston end 120 of said hydraulic cylinder 108 to retract piston for enabling reverse movement of said container from said furnace 102.
[0025] Further, the invention can be used, but not limited to, in the following applications.
[0026] One embodiment of the invention can be used for establishment of centre hole of an irregular shaped component.
[0027] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
[0028] Some object of the present invention reduces breakdowns.
[0029] Some object of the present invention improves efficiency and productivity.
[0030] Some object of the present invention reduces maintenance cost.
[0031] Some object of the present invention enables easy operation.
[0032] Some object of the present invention increases load carrying capacity.
,CLAIMS:
1. A hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) comprises:
a guide rod (106) configured for mounting a hydraulic cylinder (108); wherein said hydraulic cylinder (108) is configured for receiving oil into a rod end (118) or a piston end (120) from a vane pump (112); and
a directional control valve (114) configured for selectively directing flow of oil from said vane pump (112) into said rod end (118) or said piston end (120) of said hydraulic cylinder (108).

2. A hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein extension or retraction piston of said hydraulic cylinder (108) is configured to push or pull container loaded with charge into and from said furnace (102) respectively.

3. The hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clamp and declamping unit (116) is configured to interlock said container and pull said interlocked container outside from said furnace (102).

4. The hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vane pump (112) is configured to be operated by a motor (110).

5. The hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vane pump (112) is configured to be mounted with a pressure gauge (118) at its outlet for monitoring pressure of oil exiting said vane pump (112).

6. The hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said directional control valve (114) is configured to be operated by electrical signals.

7. The hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder (108) is configured to be mounted with a pressure relief valve (120) for relieving excessive oil pressure built up in said hydraulic cylinder (108) into an oil tank.

8. A method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) comprises the steps of:
activating, forward push button, for permitting flow of oil from vane pump (112) to rod end (118) of a hydraulic cylinder (108) to extend piston in forward direction for loading container into said furnace (102);
activating, interlock push button, for extending a clamping and declamping unit (116) into said furnace (102) to interlock the container with said clamping and declamping unit (116);
activating, reverse push button, for permitting flow of oil from said vane pump (112) to piston end (120) of said hydraulic cylinder (108) to retract piston for enabling reverse movement of said container from said furnace (102).

9. The method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein upon activation of forward push button, a directional control valve (114) directs flow of oil from said vane pump (112) to said rod end (118) of said hydraulic cylinder (108) to extend piston for enabling forward movement of said container into said furnace (102).

10. The method of operating hydraulic pusher and puller system (100) for a furnace (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein upon activation of reverse push button, said directional control valve (114) directs flow of oil from said vane pump (112) to piston end (120) of said hydraulic cylinder (108) to retract piston for enabling reverse movement of said container from said furnace (102).