Kiln seal

Claim 2

A seal for a rotary kiln having nozzle means defining an opening therein comprising a movable seal portion fixedly attached to said nozzle for rotation therewith, seal mounting means in said movable seal portion, a stationary seal portion, seal mounting means in said stationary portion, a seal element in sealing engagement with each mounting means, one of said seal mounting means permitting relative movement of said seal element between said rotating and stationary seal portions, and centering means comprising a circular plate connected to said rotation portion of the seal and extending perpendicular to the kiln axis, said stationary seal portion including a plurality of rollers contacting the periphery of said plate to transmit to said stationary seal portion radial movements of said rotating seal portion.

Claim 3

The seal according to claim 1 wherein said inlet nozzle is rigidly and perpendicularly secured to said rotating plate, said stationary seal portion includes a member extending parallel to said rotating plate mounting said rollers and means for adjusting said rollers radially with respect to said rotating plate.

Claim 4

The seal according to claim 1 wherein one seal element is an annular member of flexible wear-resistant sheet material secured to one of the seal mounting means and the other seal element comprises a pair of opposed annular shoes secured to the other seal mounting means and pressing against opposite faces of said flexible sheet material.

Claim 5

The seal according to claim 3 wherein said stationary seal portion supports the opposing shoe elements in fluid-tight engagement therewith, spring means maintain said shoes in contact with said flexible seal element, and means secure said flexible seal element in fluid-tight engagement with said rotating seal portion.

Claim 6

A seal for a rotary kiln having nozzle means defining an opening therein comprising a movable seal portion fixedly attached to said nozzle for rotation therewith, seal mounting means in said movable seal portion, a stationary seal portion, seal mounting means in said stationary portion, a seal element in sealing engagement with each mounting means, one of said seal mounting means permitting relative movement of said seal element between said rotating and stationary seal portions, means for maintaining said stationary seal portion in central relation to the axis of rotation of said kiln despite displacement of said axis with contraction and expansion of said kiln, a stationary housing for a kiln feed mechanism, and the like, and an inlet nozzle to said kiln, a part of the stationary portion of said seal being flexibly mounted to said housing for sealing the area between said housing and said inlet nozzle, the remainder of said stationary seal portion being connected to rollers which roll on the peripheral edge of a circular member which is fixed to, and substantially concentric with, said kiln, each of said stationary seal parts mounting one of said opposing shoe elements.

Claim 7

A seal for a rotary kiln having nozzle means defining an opening therein comprising a movable seal portion fixedly attached to said nozzle for rotation therewith, seal mounting means in said movable seal portion, a stationary seal portion, seal mounting means in said stationary portion, a seal element in sealing engagement with each mounting means, one of said seal mounting means permitting relative movement of said seal element between said rotating and stationary seal portions, means for maintaining said stationary seal portion in central relation to the axis of rotation of said kiln despite displacement of said axis with contraction and expansion of said kiln, a stationary housing for a kiln feed mechanism, and the like, and an inlet nozzle to said kiln, a part of the stationary portion of said seal being flexibly mounted to said housing for sealing the area between said housing and said inlet nozzle, the remainder of said stationary seal portion being connected to rollers which roll on the peripheral edge of a circular member which is fixed to, and substantially concentric with, said kiln, each of said stationary seal parts mounting one of said opposing shoe elements.

Claim 8

The seal according to claim 5 whereiN a wiper seal is provided between the rotating seal portion and said stationary portion, and means are provided for introducing between said stationary and rotating seal portions and said seal element and said wiper seal a gaseous atmosphere at a positive pressure within said seal.