On-line coal analyzer

Claim 2

Apparatus for the on-line analysis of a coal sample comprising a porous sample cup of predetermined volume, a first station including means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal, a second station including means for performing one or more analysis procedures on said sample, a third station including means for receiving the residue of said sample after completion of said analysis procedures, a fourth station including means for cleaning said sample cup, and means for indexing said sample cup sequentially from said first through said fourth stations and back to said first station, said first, second, third and fourth stations are arranged along a circular path; said indexing means comprises an indexing motor disposed centrally of said circular path, an arm extending radially from an output shaft of said indexing motor, and means attaching said sampling cup to said arm in position to traverse said circular path and means on said arm for providing a continuous indication of the weight of said sampling cup.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for filling said sampling cup is operable to overfill said sampling cup, and said sampling cup comprises a cylinder open at one end, said apparatus further including scraper means disposed along said circular path in position to scrape off the overfilled portion of said sample level with the open end of said sampling cup.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said porous sampling cup allows one or more gases to be passed through said cup and into the sample therein in the second station to provide for the analysis procedures therein.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of arms extending radially from the output shaft of said indexing motor, each of said arms having a sampling cup fixed thereto, said arms being arranged to simultaneously position a sampling cup at each of said stations.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said arm is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said apparatus further including means adjacent said third and fourth stations operable to engage said arm to rotate said arm as said sampling cup traverses said circular path.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a gear fixed to said arm for rotation therewith, and said means operable to rotate said arm comprise racks arranged in position along said circular path to engage said gear.

Claim 8

Apparatus for the on-line analysis of a coal sample comprising a centrally disposed indexing motor with a rotatable shaft, a plurality of arms connected to said shaft at one end and extending radially outwardly to a free end, a heat resistant sample cup of predetermined volume being connected to said free end of each arm, each of said arms having means connected thereto for providing a continuous indication of the weight of said sampling cup, a first station means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal, a second station including means for pyrolizing said sample while in each of said cups and performing one or more analysis procedures on said sample, a third station means for receiving the residue of said sample after completion of analysis procedures, a fourth station means for cleaning said sample cup, said stations being located along a predetermined path situated about said indexing motor and means for indexing each of said sample cups sequentially from said first through said fourth stations and back to said first stations.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the on-line analysis of a coal sample comprising a centrally disposed indexing motor with a rotatable shaft, a plurality of arms connected to said shaft at one end and extending radially outwardly to a free end, a heat resistant sample cup of predetermined volume being connected to said free end of each arm, each of said arms having means connected thereto for providing a continuous indication of the weight of said sampling cup, a first station means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal, a second station including means for pyrolizing said sample while in each of said cups and performing one or more analysis procedures on said sample, a third station means for receiving the residue of said sample after completion of analysis procedures, a fourth station means for cleaning said sample cup, said stations being located along a predetermined path situated about said indexing motor and means for indexing each of said sample cups sequentially from said first through said fourth stations and back to said first stations.

Claim 10

Apparatus arranged along a circular path for the on-line analysis of a coal sample sequentially moved along stations of the circular path comprising a porous sample cup of predetermined volume, arm support means having automated weighing means for supporting said porous sample cup, a first station including means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal, a second station including means for performing one or more analysis procedures on said sample, a third station including means for receiving the residue of said sample after completion of said analysis procedures, a fourth station including means for cleaning said sample cup means for indexing said sample cup sequentially from said first through said fourth stations and back to said first station, said second station having an upper and lower section for engaging and enclosing said sample cup and means for supplying an oxidizing gas upwardly through the lower section of the combustion chamber of said second station and upwardly through said sample cup.

Claim 11

Apparatus arranged along a circular path for the on-line analysis of a coal sample sequentially moved along stations of the circular path comprising a porous sample cup of predetermined volume, arm support means having automated weighing means for supporting said porous sample cup, a first station including means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal, a second station including means for performing one or more analysis procedures on said sample, a third station including means for receiving the residue of said sample after completion of said analysis procedures, a fourth station including means for cleaning said sample cup means for indexing said sample cup sequentially from said first through said fourth stations and back to said first station, said second station having an upper and lower section for engaging and enclosing said sample cup and means for supplying an oxidizing gas upwardly through the lower section of the combustion chamber of said second station and upwardly through said sample cup.

Claim 12

Apparatus for on-line analysis of coal sample comprising a porous sample cup of predetermined volume, arm support means having automated weighing means for supporting said porous sample cup, a first station having means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal of a predetermined volume and a known weight, a second station incuding insitu means for drying, pyrolyzing with heated oxygen and analyzing the sample using electrochemical analyzers, a third station including means for dumping the sample after the completion of the drying and analyzing procedures by rotating the sample cup 180°, a fourth station having means for cleaning the sample cup and means for moving the sample cup from said first through said fourth station along a circular configuration.

Claim 13

Apparatus for on-line analysis of coal sample comprising a porous sample cup of predetermined volume, arm support means having automated weighing means for supporting said porous sample cup, a first station having means for filling said sample cup with a sample of pulverized coal of a predetermined volume and a known weight, a second station incuding insitu means for drying, pyrolyzing with heated oxygen and analyzing the sample using electrochemical analyzers, a third station including means for dumping the sample after the completion of the drying and analyzing procedures by rotating the sample cup 180°, a fourth station having means for cleaning the sample cup and means for moving the sample cup from said first through said fourth station along a circular configuration.