Rotating Shaft Fixture for Furnace Component Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The removal and installation of furnace components, particularly heating units, from and into furnaces is cumbersome and requires significant effort and resources due to the need for counterweights and extensive disassembly of surrounding structures, leading to high maintenance costs and risks.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing a frame element with a rotatable shaft and fixing elements to align and secure furnace components, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without counterweights, using carrier and trolley elements for horizontal movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If conventional methods are used to remove and install furnace components, then the components can be replaced, but the process requires counterweights and extensive disassembly of surrounding structures, leading to high complexity and time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of furnace component removalVSAvoidcomplexity of removal apparatus
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: a frame element that provides structural support, a shaft element that enables rotational movement, and fixing elements that secure the furnace component. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while enabling easy removal and installation of furnace components without requiring complex counterweight mechanisms or extensive disassembly of surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If conventional methods are used to remove and install furnace components, then the components can be replaced, but the process requires significant time and resources, leading to low productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of furnace component installationVSAvoidspeed of maintenance operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame element and shaft element are prepared and positioned in advance before the furnace component removal operation begins. The fixing elements are pre-positioned to engage with the furnace component, allowing for rapid attachment and detachment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site assembly of complex support structures and counterweights, significantly reducing maintenance time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of repair

If conventional methods are used to remove and install furnace components, then the components can be replaced, but the process requires counterweights and extensive space, leading to high space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of furnace component handlingVSAvoidspace required for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The complex counterweight mechanisms and extensive support structures required by conventional methods are completely extracted from the apparatus. Instead, a compact frame element with a rotational shaft and fixing elements is used, which can be easily positioned and repositioned in limited spaces. This extraction of unnecessary components dramatically reduces the space required for maintenance operations while maintaining ease of furnace component handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4656996A1An apparatus for arranging a furnace component in a wall of a furnace and/or for removing a furnace component from a wall of a furnace
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SELAS LINDE
  • EP4656996A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4656996A1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4656996A1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus (200) for arranging a furnace component (150) in a wall (110) of a furnace and/or for removing a furnace component (150) from a wall (110) of a furnace, comprising: a frame element (210) configured to be moved relative to the wall (110) of the furnace, particularly towards the wall (110) and away from the wall (110), particularly in a horizontal direction, particularly in a direction perpendicular to an outer plane of the wall (110) of the furnace; and a shaft element (220) configured to be arranged at a number of predetermined positions at the frame element (210) such that the correspondingly arranged shaft element (220) can rotate around its axis, wherein the shaft element (220) is further configured to carry the furnace component (150) such that the furnace component (150) can rotate around the shaft element (220).