Furnace Transfer Trough Sealing for Movable Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Furnace systems face challenges in maintaining a gas-tight connection between movable furnaces due to thermal expansion, assembly inaccuracies, and relative movements, which can cause metal to solidify in transfer chutes when ambient air enters through leaks.
Innovation Solution
A transfer chute with a movement compensation device featuring axial and radial sealing modules that accommodate thermal expansion and positional changes, ensuring a gas-tight connection between furnaces through movable seals and a pressure bracket system, allowing for easy maintenance and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas-tight seal is designed between two movable furnaces, then ambient air leakage is prevented and metal solidification risk is reduced, but the seal complexity increases due to thermal expansion and positional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two independent modules: an axial sealing module with a seal element that compensates for axial movements and tilting, and a radial sealing module with a seal element that compensates for radial movements. This segmentation allows each module to handle specific movement types independently, maintaining gas-tightness without requiring a complex monolithic seal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Both sealing modules are designed with movable seal elements that can dynamically adjust their positions. The axial seal element can move axially and tilt, while the radial seal element can move radially, allowing the seal to adapt continuously to thermal expansion and positional changes of the furnaces during operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed seal structure is used between furnaces, then assembly is simplified, but thermal expansion and assembly inaccuracies cause leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal elements in both modules are designed to be movable rather than fixed. The axial seal element can shift axially and tilt to accommodate furnace position changes, while the radial seal element can move radially to compensate for thermal expansion. This dynamic capability ensures reliable sealing despite simplified assembly requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal elements are designed with varying geometries that allow them to change their sealing parameters (position, orientation, contact pressure) in response to temperature changes and furnace movements. This enables the seal to maintain tightness across different operating conditions without complex assembly procedures.
3Ease of repair
If seals are made replaceable for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but seal structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into two independent modules (axial and radial), each with its own replaceable seal element. This segmentation allows individual seal elements to be replaced without affecting the other module, simplifying maintenance while keeping each module's structure relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable seal elements are designed to be easily removable and replaceable while maintaining their dynamic sealing capability. The simplicity of each modular unit facilitates quick replacement during maintenance, offsetting the increased structural complexity through standardized, interchangeable components.
4Reliability
If the transfer chute is sealed against ambient air, then metal solidification is prevented, but relative furnace movements cause seal contact loss
Solution Approach 1:
The axial seal element is designed to move axially and tilt along with the furnace, maintaining continuous contact with the transfer chute. The radial seal element can move radially to preserve contact pressure. These dynamic adjustments ensure reliable gas-tight sealing despite thermal expansion and assembly inaccuracies.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the sealing function into axial and radial modules with independent seal elements, each module can specifically address its designated movement type. This segmentation allows precise compensation for different movement sources without compromising seal contact, maintaining manufacturing precision through specialized design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution maintains a gas-tight transfer of molten metal between furnaces despite thermal expansions and positional changes, preventing solidification and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
the seal... slides in the circumferential direction on the cylindrical surface of the transfer chute
Implementation Method 2
a radial sealing module for sealing radial compensation of movements between at least one oven and the transfer chute
Implementation Method 3
when designing the seal it must be taken into account that the two ovens can easily change their position relative to one another due to thermal expansion
Data Source
Figure 1b~1a
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 2
AI summary
The present patent right relates to a transfer trough (1) with a movement compensation device (2) for transferring molten metal between two furnaces (3, 4) that are movable relative to each other, comprising: an axial sealing module (5) for sealing axial compensation of movements between at least one furnace (4) and the transfer trough (1), and a radial sealing module (6) for sealing radial compensation of movements between at least one furnace (4) and the transfer trough (1), wherein the radial sealing module (6) is movably mounted relative to the axial sealing module (5). The patent right also relates to a furnace system comprising two furnaces that are movable relative to each other. It thus provides a technology that ensures a gas-tight connection between two furnaces that are movable relative to each other.