APPARATUS FOR TREATING ATTACHED COAL FOR GRID BAR
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
5 This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2014-0158308 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office
on November 13, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manufacture of molten iron. In more
detail, the present invention relates to an apparatus for treating attached coal for
removing coal attached to a grid bar in equipment for manufacturing molten iron.
15 (b) Description of the Related Art
A smelting reduction process uses a reduction furnace for reducing iron
ore and a melting furnace for melting the reduced iron ore. In order to melt iron
ore in a melting furnace, coal briquettes are put into the melting furnace, as a
heat source for melting the iron ore. After melting the reduced iron in the
20 melting furnace, the reduced iron is converted into molten iron and slag in the
melting furnace, and then discharged outside.
The coal briquettes are supposed to be able to increase reaction
efficiency and heat transfer efficiency between materials by ensuring air
permeability and liquid permeability for smooth flow of gas and liquid in the
2
melting furnace. To this end, the coal briquettes are manufactured in the type
of briquettes having a predetermined size by mixing powder coal containing an
appropriate amount of water with molasses that is a binder and then
press-forming it in a molding machine.
5 Coal briquettes manufactured in a molding machine are powdered by
falling and impact while it is carried before being put into a melting furnace.
When coal briquettes having a large ratio of powder are put into a melting
furnace, fine powder is not used for a heat source by flying due to rising gas in
the furnace, and thus is collected as dust. Further, coal briquettes produce
10 char by being thermally decomposed by gas at the high temperature of 1000 C
or more in a melting furnace, and the powdered coal briquettes cannot form a
good char bed due to a small grain size and makes the work with the melting
furnace unstable.
Accordingly, although it is important to not make coal briquettes under a
15 required cold strength, it is required to allow coal briquettes having a large grain
size to be put into a melting furnace by appropriately removing powdered coal
briquettes having a grain size under a predetermined level before putting them
into the melting furnace.
In existing structures, a grid bar for sorting and filtering powdered coal
20 briquettes having a small grain size from coal briquettes to be put into a melting
furnace is disposed under a storage bin keeping coal briquettes. While coal
briquettes pass through the grid bar, powdered coal briquettes having a small
grid size are caught and separated on the grid bar and only coal briquettes
having a large grain size are supplied into the melting furnace.
3
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for
enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore
it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known
in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an
apparatus for treating attached coal for a grid bar that can more easily remove
powdered coal briquettes sticking or attached between bars of grids while
sorting the coal briquettes in accordance with the grain sizes through grids.
10 Further, the present invention provides an apparatus for treating
attached coal for a grid bar that can minimize powdered coal briquettes with a
small grain size to be put into a melting furnace.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an
apparatus for treating attached coal for a grid bar that includes: a plurality of grid
15 bars disposed under a storage bin keeping coal briquettes and arranged with
gap to separate powdered coal briquettes having small grains sizes from coal
briquettes to the put into a melting furnace; frames disposed at both ends of the
grid bars and supporting the grid bars; and rotary shafts disposed at the centers
of both ends of the grid bars and rotatably coupled to the frames, in which the
20 grid bars have a non-circular cross-section, so that the gaps between the grid
bars are changed in accordance with rotation of the grid bars.
The apparatus may further include a driving unit connected to the rotary
shaft of at least any one of the grid bars and adjusting the gaps between the grid
bars by rotating the rotary shaft.
4
The driving unit may include link bars having one end fixed to the rotary
shafts and the other end radially extending from the rotary shafts, an actuating
bar rotatably coupled to the outer ends of the link bars, and a driving cylinder for
straightly reciprocating the actuating bar.
5 The actuating bar may extend in the arrangement direction of the grid
bars, the link bars may be coupled to the rotary shafts of the grid bars, and the
link bars may be coupled to the actuating bar.
The grid bars may have an elliptical cross-section.
The grid bars may have a rectangular cross-section.
10 The grid bars may have diamond cross-section.
The driving unit may further include an extension bar connected to the
piston rod of the driving cylinder and extending in the axial direction of the driving
cylinder, a touch bar disposed on the extension bar, two position sensors spaced
from each other to detect the touch bar moved by extension/retraction of the
15 piston road of the driving cylinder, and a control unit connected to the position
sensors and controlling operation of the driving cylinder in response to detection
signals from the positions sensor.
The control unit may further include a timer for driving the driving cylinder
at a predetermined time.
20 As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment,
powdered coal briquettes attached to grid bars can be easily removed, so that it
is possible to prevent the gaps between the grid bars from clogging.
Further, by preventing clogging of the gaps between the grid bars, coal
briquettes are sorted well in accordance with grain sizes, so that powdered coal
5
briquettes that are put into a melting furnace can be minimized.
Accordingly, it is possible to more stably work with a melting furnace and
contribute to reducing the manufacturing cost of a molten iron.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection structure of an
apparatus for treating attached coal in equipment for carrying coal briquette
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for treating
attached coal for a grid bar according to the present embodiment.
10 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating operation of an apparatus for
treating attached coal according to the present embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The terminologies used hereafter are only for describing specific
exemplary embodiment and not intended to limit the present invention. The
15 singular terms used herein include plural terms unless phrases clearly express
opposite meanings. The term ‘including’ used herein embodies concrete and
specific characteristics, regions, positive numbers, steps, operation, elements,
and/or components, not limiting existence or addition of other specific
characteristics, regions, positive numbers, steps, operation, elements, and/or
20 components.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those
skilled in the art can easily achieve the present invention. As understood by
those skilled in the art, the following exemplary embodiments may be modified in
6
various ways without departing from the concept and scope of the present
invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments
may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present invention.
5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection structure of an
apparatus for treating attached coal in equipment for carrying coal briquettes
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is connected to grid equipment
130 installed under a storage bin 120 and removes and treats powdered coal
10 briquettes attached to grid bars of the grid equipment.
Coal briquettes briquetted through a molding machine 100 are carried by
a belt conveyer and stored in a cooling bin 110. Coal briquettes sufficiently
cooled in the cooling bin are carried and stored in the storage bin 120. The coal
briquettes kept in the storage bin 120 are discharged through the bottom of the
15 storage bin 120 and put into a melting furnace 140 with powdered coal
briquettes with small grain sizes removed through the grid equipment 130.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the grid equipment 130 includes grid bars 12
fixed at both ends between two space frames 14, and the plurality of the grid
bars 12 are arranged with intervals along the frames 14. While the coal
20 briquettes discharged from the storage bin 120 pass through the grid bars 12,
coal briquettes with grain sizes larger than the gaps between the grid bars 12 are
sent to a melting furnace. Powdered coal briquettes having grain sizes smaller
than the gaps of the grid bars 12 are separated and fall through the gaps of the
grid bars 12 while passing the grid bars 12.
7
In this process, powdered coal briquettes attached to the grid bars 12 of
the grid equipment and the gaps of the grid bars 12 are clogged in the gap of the
grid bars 12, but the apparatus 10 of the present invention operates and easily
removes the attached coal.
5 To this end, the apparatus 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, includes rotary shafts 16 disposed at the center of both ends
of the grid bars 12 and rotatably coupled to the frames 14, wherein the grid bars
12 can be rotated about the frames 14, and the grid bars 12 have a non-circular
cross-section so when the grid bars 12 are rotated, the gaps between the grid
10 bars 12 change.
The rotary shafts 16 protrude at both ends of the grid bars 12,
respectively. The rotary shafts 16 are rotatably coupled to the frames 14
through the frames 14. Accordingly, the grid bars 12 are freely rotatably
coupled to the frames 14 through the rotary shafts 16.
15 In the present exemplary embodiment, the grid bars 12 may have
elliptical cross-sections. Accordingly, the grid bars 12 have a surface having a
relatively small diameter passing the rotary shaft 16 that is a center and a
surface having a relatively large diameter. Accordingly, when the grid bars 12
are rotated by the rotary shafts 16 with respect to the frames 14, the surfaces
20 having a small diameter of the grid bars 12 are moved close to each other or the
surfaces having a large diameter are moved close to each other, so the gaps
between the grid bars 12 increase or decrease.
As described above, as the gaps between the grid bars 12 are changed,
coal briquettes attached or stuck to the grid bars 12 are removed from the grid
8
bars 12.
The grid bars 12 may have, for example, a rectangular cross-section,
other than the elliptical cross-section. Further, the grid bars may have diamond
cross-sections having two different diagonal lengths. As the grid bars have
5 non-circular cross-sections such as an elliptical, rectangular, or diamond
cross-section, they can be applied to all structures as long as the gaps between
grid bars are changed when the grid bars are rotated.
The apparatus 10 of the present exemplary embodiment mechanically
rotates the grid bars 12. To this end, the apparatus 10 further include a driving
10 unit that is connected to the rotary shaft 16 of at least any one of the grid bars 12
and adjusts the gaps between the grid bars 12 by rotating the rotary shaft 16.
The driving unit includes link bars 20 having one end fixed to the rotary
shaft 6 and the other end radially extending from the rotary shafts 16, an
actuating bar 22 rotatably coupled to the outer ends of the link bars 20, and a
15 driving cylinder 24 for straightly reciprocating the actuating bar 22.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the grid bars 12 are all moved
together. The actuating bar 22 extends in the arrangement direction of the grid
bars 12, the link bars 20 are coupled to the rotary shafts 16 for the grid bars 12,
respectively, and the link bars 20 are coupled to the actuating bar 22.
20 As illustrated in FIG. 2, the link bars 20 are fixed at one end to the rotary
shafts 16 for the grid bars 12 that extend outward from the frame 14. The link
bars 20 are arranged perpendicular to the rotary shafts 16. The link bars 20
coupled to the grip bars 12 have the same length, and may be coupled to the
actuating bar 22 in parallel with each other.
9
The other ends of the link bars 20 are coupled to the actuating bar 22.
The link bars 20 are freely rotatably coupled to the actuating bar 22.
The lengths of the link bar 20 and the straight movement amount of the
actuating bar 22, that is, the protrusion/retraction amount of the driving cylinder
5 24, limits the rotational angle of the rotary shafts 16. When the length of the link
bars 20 is reduced, the rotational angle of the rotary shaft 16 can be increased
even though the protrusion/retraction amount of the driving cylinder 24 is small.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the grid bars 12 may be rotated
by 90 degrees such as the surfaces having a small diameter are adjacent to
10 each other or the surfaces having a large diameter are adjacent to each other.
It is possible to rotate the grid bars 12 by 90 degrees by appropriately adjusting
the length of the link bars 20 or the protrusion/retraction amount of the driving
cylinder 24.
Since the link bars 20 coupled to the grid bars 12 are coupled to one
15 actuating bar 22, when one actuating bar 22 is reciprocated, all the grid bars 12
can be rotated by the same angle.
The actuating bars 22 are coupled to an end of a piston rod 26 of the
driving cylinder 24 and moved straight. An end of the driving cylinder 24 may
be coupled to the equipment such that the actuating bars 22 move along a
20 rotational radius when the link bars 20 are rotated.
The driving unit further includes an extension bar 30 connected to a
piston rod 26 of the driving cylinder 24 and extending in the axial direction of the
driving cylinder 24, a touch bar 32 disposed on the extension bar 30, two
positions sensors 34 spaced from each other to detect the touch bar 32 moved
10
by protrusion/retraction of the piston rod 26 of the driving cylinder 24, and a
control unit 40 connected to the positions sensors 34 and controlling operation of
the driving cylinder 24 in response to detection signals from the positions
sensors 34.
5 The extension bar 30 is moved forward/backward with the piston rod 26
when the driving cylinder 24 protrudes/retracts. The two position sensors 34
may be disposed at a position corresponding to the touch bar 32 when the
driving cylinder 24 maximally protrudes and a position corresponding to the
touch bar 32 when the driving cylinder 24 maximally retracts, and are fixed to the
10 equipment.
Accordingly, when the driving cylinder 24 protrudes or retracts, the touch
bar 32 moves close to the position sensors 34 and the position sensors 34
transmits detection signals about the touch bar 32 to the control unit 40. The
control unit 40 can repeatedly rotate the grid bars 12 by extending or retracting
15 the driving cylinder 24 in response to detection signals from the position sensors
34.
The control unit 40 may further include a timer 42 for driving the driving
cylinder 24 at a predetermined time. Accordingly, when the touch bar 32 is
detected by the position sensors 34 and a time set in the timer passes, the
20 control unit 40 can repeatedly rotate the grid bars 12 by extending/retracting the
driving cylinder 24.
Hereinafter, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will
be described as follows with reference to FIG. 3.
Coal briquettes discharged from the storage bin 120 are sorted through
11
the grid equipment 130, so powdered coal briquettes having small grins sizes
are separated. The grains sizes of the powdered coal briquettes that are
separated depend on the gaps between the grid bars 12.
While the coal briquettes are sorted and separated, powdered coal
5 briquettes are attached to the grid bars 12 and the gaps of the grid bars 12 are
clogged. Accordingly, the apparatus is operated and the gaps between the grid
bars 12 are adjusted, so the attached coal briquettes attached between the grid
bars 12 are downwardly removed.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the driving cylinder 24 retracts in
10 accordance with the operation of the apparatus, the surfaces having a large
diameter of the grid bars 12 having an elliptical cross-section are moved close to
each other. Accordingly, the gaps L between the grid bars 12 are the distances
between the surfaces having a large diameter, so they are relatively reduced.
In this state, when the driving cylinder 24 protrudes, the straight
15 movement of the driving cylinder 24 is converted into rotation motion of the grid
bars 12, so the grid bars 12 are rotated. That is, when the driving cylinder 24
protrudes and the actuating bar 22 connected to the piston rod 26 is moved
forward, the link bars 20 coupled to the actuating bar 22 are moved with the
actuating bar 22. As the link bar 20 is moved, the rotary shafts 16 connected to
20 the link bars 20 are rotated about the frames 14. Accordingly, while the grid
bars 12 having the rotary shafts 16 are rotated about the frames 14, the gaps
between the grid bars 12 are changed.
When the driving cylinder 24 fully protrudes, the elliptical grid bars 12 are
rotated by 90 degrees, so the surfaces having a small diameter of the grid bars
12
12 are moved close to each other. Accordingly, the gaps D between the grid
bars 12 are the distances between the surfaces having a small diameter, so they
are relatively increased.
Further, when the driving cylinder 24 retracts back, as stated above, the
5 surfaces having a large diameter of the grid bars 12 are moved close to each
other and the gaps between the grid bars 12 are reduced again.
As described above, since gaps between the grid bars 12 are changed,
coal briquettes stuck between the grid bars 12 are separated and fall down from
the grid bars 12.
10 While this invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but,
on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
15
10: Apparatus 12: Grid bar
14: Frame 16: Rotary shaft
20: Link bar 22: Actuating bar
24: Driving cylinder 30: Extension bar
20 32: Touch bar 34: Position sensor
40: Control unit

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for treating attached coal for a grid bar, the
apparatus comprising:
5 a plurality of grid bars disposed under a storage bin keeping coal
briquettes and arranged with a gap to separate powdered coal briquettes having
small grains sizes from coal briquettes to be put into a melting furnace;
frames disposed at both ends of the grid bars and supporting the grid
bars; and
10 rotary shafts disposed at the centers of both ends of the grid bars and
rotatably coupled to the frames,
wherein the grid bars have a non-circular cross-section, so the gaps
between the grid bars are changed in accordance with rotation of the grid bars.
15 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the grid bars have an elliptical cross-section.
3. (Added)
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
20 the grid bars have a rectangular cross-section.
4. (Added)
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the grid bars have a diamond cross-section.
14
5. The apparatus of any one of claim 1 to claim 4, further comprising
a driving unit connected to the rotary shaft of at least any one of the grid
bars and adjusting the gaps between the grid bars by rotating the rotary shaft.
5
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein
the driving unit includes link bars having one end fixed to the rotary
shafts and the other end radially extending from the rotary shafts, an actuating
bar rotatably coupled to the outer ends of the link bars, and a driving cylinder for
10 straightly reciprocating the actuating bar.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein
the actuating bar extends in the arrangement direction of the grid bars,
the link bars are coupled to the rotary shafts of the grid bars, respectively, and
15 the link bars are coupled to the actuating bar.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein
the driving unit further includes an extension bar connected to the piston
rod of the driving cylinder and extending in the axial direction of the driving
20 cylinder, a touch bar disposed on the extension bar, two position sensors spaced
from each other to detect the touch bar moved by protrusion/retraction of the
piston road of the driving cylinder, and a control unit connected to the posi tions
sensors and controlling operation of the driving cylinder in response to detection
signals from the positions sensor.
15
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the control unit further includes a timer for driving the driving cylinder at a
predetermined time.