Method and apparatus for emission free operation of by-product coke ovens

Claim 3

In a by-product coke oven having charging ports for filling the coke oven chamber, an ascension pipe and elbow including an elbow port opening and cap therefor, the ascension pipe elbow being coupled to a gas collecting main along side said oven, and a larry car having coal charging hoppers with top openings for filling the hoppers and bottom openings including means for introducing the coal to said charging ports, the improvement for preventing atmospheric emissions during the charging operation, comprising, in combination, manifold means pivotally carried by said larry car adapted to sealingly cover said hopper top openings, said manifold including conduit means for sealingly coupling the larry car hoppers to said ascension pipe elbow port opening whereby charging emissions are conducted through said hoppers and manifold to the main, means including an induced draft fan connected to said manifold conduit means for positively moving said charging emissions therthrough, said manifold means comprising a transverse main conduit and a plurality of shroud conduits that intersect the main conduit, the shroud conduits bEing adapted to sealingly cover the top openings in the larry car hoppers, said main conduit having an end adapted to sealingly engage the elbow cap opening of the oven ascension pipe associated with the chamber being charged, actuating means for automatically operating said manifold means to move said manifold to a first out-of-the-way position and a second sealing position with respect to the hoppers.

Claim 4

In a by-product coke oven having charging ports for filling the coke oven chamber, an ascension pipe and elbow including an elbow port opening and cap therefor, the ascension pipe elbow being coupled to a gas collecting main along side said oven, and a larry car having coal charging hoppers with top openings for filling the hoppers and bottom openings including means for introducing the coal to said charging ports, the improvement for preventing atmospheric emissions during the charging operation, comprising, in combination, manifold means pivotally carried by said larry car adapted to sealingly cover said hopper top openings, said manifold including conduit means for sealingly coupling the larry car hoppers to said ascension pipe elbow port opening whereby charging emissions are conducted through said hoppers and manifold to the main, means including an induced draft fan connected to said manifold conduit means for positively moving said charging emissions therthrough, said manifold means comprising a transverse main conduit and a plurality of shroud conduits that intersect the main conduit, the shroud conduits bEing adapted to sealingly cover the top openings in the larry car hoppers, said main conduit having an end adapted to sealingly engage the elbow cap opening of the oven ascension pipe associated with the chamber being charged, actuating means for automatically operating said manifold means to move said manifold to a first out-of-the-way position and a second sealing position with respect to the hoppers.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said main conduit elbow cap opening engaging end includes an articulated flexible portion.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said main conduit elbow cap engaging end includes an extensible interfitting end portion and means for automatically extending and retracting said end portion.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said hoppers include shiftable shield means surrounding its discharge opening, said shield means comprising an upper plate, a lower annular plate spaced from said upper plate and spring biased away from said upper plate and flexible cover means surrounding said spaced plates.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said shield means includes automatic means for extending and retracting said shield means axially with respect to the hopper discharge opening.