Abstract: The invention concerns a leveler bar for coke ovens for levelling the coke debris cone forming below the filling holes in the furnace chamber during the filling process. The leveler bar comprises interconnected support elements which extend over the entire length of the oven chamber and are disposed parallel to one another at a distance dependent on the width of the oven chamber. According to the invention, the leveler bar comprises at least three support elements which are arranged parallel to one another, extend over the entire length of the oven chamber and are disposed relative to one another such that the leveler bar has a triangular cross-section. The two lower support elements are disposed at the same level and the upper support element is arranged centrally thereabove.

Abstract: The cycle time for a delayed coker unit is reduced by externally heating the coke drum near the junction of the drum shell and the supporting skirt thereof prior to beginning the hot coker feed fill step. This reduces the thermal stresses at the area around the welds of the drum skirt.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a continuous method for charging and discharging carbonization furnaces (15) moving in a circle, in which method the charging and the discharging are effected in a closed process mainly simultaneously at the opposite ends of the furnace, and the gases are collected and cleaned. Another object of the invention is an apparatus for implementing the method. The equipment comprises carbonization furnaces (15) moving in a circle, a charging device (11, 14, 32), and a discharging device (18, 19), and at least one gas duct for each furnace, the duct being connected at the one end thereof to the furnace and at the other end to a gas collector. According to the invention, the charging device is docked in a gastight manner to the one end of the furnace by means of a docking device (35), and the discharging device is attached in a gas-tight manner to the other end of the furnace for charging and discharging mainly at the same time.

Abstract: In a coke drum an outlet arrangement is provided which allows removal of the coke from the drum without endangering the health or safety of workers heading or unheading the coke drum. Instead of using a manually removable bottom flange for the drum, a semiautomatic bottom flange removal system is provided. A spool is attached to the conventional, pre-existing, about 6 feet in diameter drum stationary bottom flange. The spool includes a tapered clamping surface. A new style removable bottom flange also includes a tapered clamping surface. The tapered clamping surfaces cooperate with clamp ring sectors movable by externally mounted hydraulic cylinders into contact with the spool and the flange, and other hydraulic cylinders mounted directly on the ring sectors move male locking surfaces into locking engagement with cooperating female locking surfaces formed on adjacent clamp ring sectors.

Abstract: A discharge system for a destructive distillation apparatus wherein the discharge solids act as plug to avoid the unwanted flow of product gas or ambient air therethrough while effectively discharging finely divided, disperse solids material from a continuously operating distillation apparatus. The use of a positive displacement two-stage auger having close clearance between the auger and auger cylinder wall, combined with an open section within the auger cylinder where a sealing material plug forms, results in improved sealing of the inventive system from unwanted transfer of gases. The hot, disperse, and finely divided solids exiting a distillation apparatus, such as carbon black formed from the distillation of automobile tire chips, is effective in the formation of a seal plug.

Abstract: A pyrolysis gasifier includes a first auger (26) which moves carbon from a carbon collection tank (24) through an air lock valve (30) to a carbon holding tank (28) The gasifier includes an inner cylindrical sleeve (80) which is configured such that there is a small air gap between it and an interior wall of the gasifier (16). The air lock valve (30) includes an inlet member (96) which connects the housing to a connecting tube from the first auger (26). A plate (100) within the housing is mounted such that in a closed position, the plate is sealingly positioned against a lower edge of the inlet member (96), while in an open position, the plate is away from the inlet member, permitting carbon to move into the carbon holding tank. A fuel spreader apparatus 53 is positioned at the top portion of the gasifier. It includes a stirring rod (44) and two opposed fuel paddle assemblies (67, 69) at the lower end thereof to spread the fuel over the cross-sectional area of the gasifier.

Abstract: A pyrolysis gasifier includes a first auger (26) which moves carbon from a carbon collection tank (24) through an air lock valve (30) to a carbon holding tank (28). The gasifier includes an inner cylindrical sleeve (80) which is configured such that there is a small air gap between it and an interior wall of the gasifier (16). The air lock valve (30) includes an inlet member (96) which connects the housing to a connecting tube from the first auger (26). A plate (100) within the housing is mounted such that in a closed position, the plate is sealingly positioned against a lower edge of the inlet member (96), while in an open position, the plate is away from the inlet member, permitting carbon to move into the carbon holding tank. A fuel spreader apparatus 53 is positioned at the top portion of the gasifier. It includes a stirring rod (44) and two opposed fuel paddle assemblies (67, 69) at the lower end thereof to spread the fuel over the cross-sectional area of the gasifier.

Abstract: A combination liquid seal and spiral auger conveyor feeding system which provides both a liquid seal, effective under normal operating conditions, with a sealed spiral auger conveyor, which is effective to seal against the surge flow of distillation gases back through the feeding system. This is attained while providing for a reliable, continuous flow of solid bulk material such as rubber tire chips to a reactor or distillation unit. A bulk feeding system having a partially submerged inclined spiral auger conveyor is provided, communicating at its base with a liquid reservoir so as to form a liquid seal within the combined apparatus. Solid bulk material is introduced to the upper end of the liquid reservoir above the liquid level where it descends by the action of gravity into the liquid and sinks to the bottom of the reservoir to by picked up by the partially submerged rotating auger conveyor and elevated thereby.

Abstract: A coke oven door for placement against a door jamb of a coke oven comprises a segmented door body and plurality of toggle mechanisms coupled to the door at the juncture of each segment. The toggle mechanisms include inner and outer toggle links pivotally connected by an intermediate pivot shaft and the links are pivotable between an extended length and a shortened length. Inner ends of the toggle mechanism are coupled to the segmented door body and outer ends of the toggle mechanisms are coupled to a flexible latch tension bar. The latch tension bar engages latch hooks connected to the door jamb and vertical movement of a latch actuator rod coupled to the intermediate pivot shaft moves the toggle mechanisms to an extended position to flex the latch tension bars and force the door body against the door jamb to seal the coke oven.

Abstract: The inlet of a coke chute is pushed upwards by a plurality of actuators until it encompasses the bottom outlet of a coking vessel. The inlet is preferably surrounded by a skirt which tapers inwardly from top to bottom, and the entire chute is preferably retractable below the level of the floor underneath the coking vessel. A plurality of locks can be used to secure the skirt to the lower portion of the vessel.

Abstract: A method of charging coal into a chamber furnace-type coke oven. The coal is fed from a table feeder from a coal hopper so as to be dropped and charged into a carbonization chamber of the coke oven, through a charging cylinder. The coal fed from the table feeder is accelerated by rotation vanes at the initial stage in which the coal starts to drop. The vanes have a rotation center which is located upward on the exterior of a locus of the stream of free fall gravitated by the coal. The rotation speed of the vanes is progressively increased in the latter half of charging of the coal. The coal is thus allowed to accumulate in the carbonization chamber so that the bulk density of the coal in the vertical direction can become uniform. Also disclosed is an apparatus for charging coal into a chamber furnace-type coke oven. The apparatus includes a coal hopper for storing the coal therein. A table feeder feeds the coal from the hopper.

Abstract: A coke oven door extractor is mounted on the rail car and includes door engaging supports movable in individually differing amounts relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry and movable vertically, allowing the door extractor to compensate for front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery and variations in individual door heights. The extractor includes a first frame pivotally mounted to the car, a second frame horizontally translatably mounted to the first frame, and a third frame vertically translatably and pivotally mounted to the second frame, with the third frame including the door supports.

Abstract: A vessel unheading device and method especially suited to handle shot coke produced in a delayed coker unit of a petroleum refining process. The device includes a car having mounted thereon one or more bottom head retracting support members which can be laterally positioned below the head assembly. The support member includes a vertically retractable member suitable for elevating a bearing plate mounted at an upper end thereof into pivotable load bearing engagement with the head, and a horizontally retractable member having one end attached to the bearing plate and another end attached to the vertically retractable member for applying a pivot force. Shot coke or other debris is captured from the opened vessel by a mobile chute wheeled into position adjacent the unheading car. Following complete retraction, the head is transported to a remote location for maintenance.

Abstract: An evaporator, which includes a water chamber for receiving water to be evaporated. A plurality of evaporator tubes which when heated, and when water is on an inner wall of a tube, evaporates at least a portion of that water. A plurality of distributors spatially connecting the water chamber with the evaporator tubes in a manner so that each distributor uniformly and distributes the water from the water chamber to an inner wall of a corresponding evaporator tube. A heat source, which heats the plurality of tubes to an evaporation temperature. Apparatus distills the water vapor resulting from the water evaporation to provide distilled water.

Abstract: A rotary hearth calciner for treating petroleum cokes with a puffing inhibitor has a horizontal or inwardly sloping hearth floor rotatable around a vertical axis for receiving particles of coke to be calcined and a central opening in the hearth floor for discharging the coke into a soaking pit. A water cooled, refractory covered feed pipe extending downward into the calciner interior has an inlet for connection to a source of petroleum coke puffing inhibitor and an outlet near the edge of the hearth central floor opening for adding the puffing inhibitor to the coke as the coke is discharged from said hearth floor. The feed pipe outlet is approximately at or below the level of the hearth floor to reduce loss of inhibitor in gas flow above the hearth floor. A puffing inhibitor such as sodium carbonate is supplied by a screw feed mechanism to the feed pipe to add the puffing inhibitor at a desired rate for reaction with the coke. The coke is normally maintained in the soaking pit for about 30 minutes at 1200.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering energy values of waste tar sludge comprises dewatering the waste tar sludge, transporting the dewatered tar sludge in enclosed containers vented through activated carbon to remove volatile hydrocarbons before vapors are vented to the atmosphere, and injecting the dewatered tar sludge into the side wall of a coke oven charging hole along with a stream of coking coal introduced through the top of the charging hole.

Abstract: A pyrolytic converter utilizing a rotatable drum surrounded by an outer drum support structure and disposed in an oven chamber pyrolyzes materials including plastic waste, tires, materials from automobile shredding operations, containers and trays of plastic material, rubber, leather, garbage, sewage sludge, coal, oil shale, broken asphalt and the like. These materials are formed into cartridges by a compactor using a reciprocating ram which forms cartridges in an injection tube wherein another ram injects the cartridges into the converter drum.

Abstract: The reactor forms a chamber which contains the reaction process. There are accesses to the chamber for receiving shredded tires and oil. There are egresses from the chamber for discharging the tire oil and for discharging unreacted elements. Apparatus is located within the chamber which separates the unreacted components of the shredded tires from the tire oil. The apparatus also provides for the removal of the unreacted elements from the chamber means. The reactor also includes a heater which heats the inside of the chamber to a temperature sufficient to cause a reaction between the shredded tires and the oil.

Abstract: An arrangement for filling coal in oven chambers of a coke oven battery has a telescopable filling tube mountable on a filling car and having a lower end which is lowerable to a filling hole frame of a filling hole of a coke oven battery, an upper sealing ring arranged on an outer side of the upper end of a lower tubular piece and a lower sealing ring arranged on an outer side of the lower end of the lower tubular piece of the filling tube, and each having the shape of a portion of a sphere and being provided with upwardly and downwardly directed circular segment-shaped outer surfaces, an additional sealing ring arranged on an inner side of the lower end of an upper tubular piece of the filling tube and having an outer surface which is inclined upwardly, a contact ring loosely located on the lower sealing ring and corresponding to the latter, a filling hole frame sealing ring extending in a funnel-shaped manner into the filling hole opening and has a sealing surface with a spherical cross-section, elastic sea

Abstract: A process for disposing of filter media is provided, which process comprises (a) mixing a filter media with a hydrocarbonaeous mixing stream to form a media-hydrocarbon mixture and (b) feeding said media-hydrocarbon mixture to a coking vessel. Preferred coking vessels include delayed cokers, fluidized cokers, and coke calciners. An apparatus for disposing of filter media is provided, which apparatus comprises (a) a coking vessel; (b) a mixer to mix the filter media with a hydrocarbonaeous mixing fluid to form a media-hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture; and, (c) a feed means to feed the media-hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture to the coking vessel. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a size reduction means to reduce the size of the filter media to form a media staple comprising fiber clusters having a desired shape and size.

Abstract: A device for collecting evaporated matter from a vat which first collects the evaporated matter and then condense the evaporated matter into a liquid which is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production of charcoal by the comingling of a source of wood and ground sludge where the sludge is received from a paper making plant as wet sludge, grinding the wet sludge to a desired reduction, feeding the ground sludge into a furnace where it is comingled with wood, and circulating the furnace hot gas exhaust back through the grinding of the wet sludge to initiate the drying thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pyrolyzing used tires into a char fraction, wire, fiberglass, oil fraction and gas fraction. The tires are continuously conveyed to a preheating chamber where they are heated to a temperature level of 200.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. The heated tires are metered into a cavity having disposed therein a ram system, which shapes and forces the whole tire into a pipe which leads to a pyrolyzing chamber. The tires form a plug at the front end of the system to prevent the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere and also to prevent air from entering the pyrolyzing chamber. Similarly, solid residue produced by pyrolysis of the apparatus is forced into a discharge column, forming a plug to seal the system at its outlet end. An alternate embodiment of the invention apparatus operated manually can also be used for compacting, neutralizing and disposing of medical waste, infectious materials and the like as well as auto tires.

Abstract: A low pressure distillation apparatus in which evaporation takes place at sub-atmospheric pressures. An evaporation chamber has a feed liquid inlet port, a concentrated liquid outlet port, and a vapor outlet port. The vapor outlet port is in communication with a vapor treating device immersed in distillate in a distillate chamber. The preferred vapor treating device is a rotating impeller pump which reduces the pressure in the evaporation chamber to a working pressure, draws off vapor boiled from the liquid in the evaporation chamber, entrains the vapor in a stream of distillate, and condenses the vapor in the stream of distillate to transfer the latent heat of condensation of the vapor directly to the distillate.

Abstract: A rotary, continuous pyrolytic conversion system converts solid hydrocarbon containing feedstocks into gases, liquid hydrocarbons and char. A converter drum is contained within an outer drum which is in substantially air-tight relationship with an injector for introducing the feedstock in the form of bales and with a discharge chute for the solid products of pyrolysis. A casing around the outer stationary drum defines an oven chamber which is heated by combustion products. A rod extends into the injection end of the converter drum for supporting scrapers against the inner periphery of the converter drum. A crusher bar is carried in the drum at the discharge end thereof and crushes the solid products. A second pyrolysis reactor may receive the solid pyrolysis products and be operative at higher temperature than the first converter to destroy chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Vacuum distillation system which has a vacuum distillation column (1) having a column inlet (6), a bottom outlet (8) and a top outlet (10), a furnace (2) provided with a heat-exchange tube (27) having a tube inlet (28) and a tube outlet (29), and a connecting conduit (3) extending between the tube outlet (29) and the column inlet (6), wherein the inner diameter of the heat-exchange tube (27) increases along the length of the heat-exchange tube (27) to between 2.4 and three times the inner diameter of the tube inlet (28), and wherein the inner diameter of the connecting conduit (3) gradually increases along the length of the connecting conduit (3) to between 2.5 and 5.4 times the inner diameter of the tube outlet (29).

Abstract: A filling car for filling coal in oven chambers of a coke oven battery comprises a telescopable filling pipe having an upper part and a lower part and a lower end to be lowerable to a filling frame of a filling opening of a coke oven battery, a supporting ring in which the lower part of the filling pipe is supported for turning about a horizontal axis, a liftable and lowerable supporting bracket in which the supporting ring is held, a mechanism for suspending the lower part of the filling pipe in the supporting ring and including two oppositely located hinge arms, and a mechanism for holding the supporting ring on the supporting bracket and including two oppositely located pivot pins arranged so that the supporting ring is turnable about a horizontal axis relative to the supporting bracket, the hinge arms and the pivot pins being offset relative to one another by 90.degree..

Abstract: A retorting apparatus including a vertical kiln and a plurality of tubes for delivering rock to the top of the kiln and removal of processed rock from the bottom of the kiln so that the rock descends through the kiln as a moving bed. Distributors are provided for delivering gas to the kiln to effect heating of the rock and to disturb the rock particles during their descent. The distributors are constructed and disposed to deliver gas uniformly to the kiln and to withstand and overcome adverse conditions resulting from heat and from the descending rock. The rock delivery tubes are geometrically sized, spaced and positioned so as to deliver the shale uniformly into the kiln and form symmetrically disposed generally vertical paths, or "rock chimneys", through the descending shale which offer least resistance to upward flow of gas. When retorting oil shale, a delineated collection chamber near the top of the kiln collects gas and entrained oil mist rising through the kiln.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a heating device, an inlet for medium to be distilled, a vapor outlet, a distillation space between the distillation medium inlet and the vapor outlet and a drain for the separate components of the solvent, arranged in the bottom part of the distilling space and extending from same. In a heating vessel, which is able to be filled with a heating medium to be heated by the heating device, there is a downwardly extending down tube joined with the inlet and an up tube extending upwards to the vapor inlet. During operation the two tubes are surrounded by heating medium and form the distillation space. The drain is arranged under the junction between the up and down tubes and is provided with a U-trap.

Abstract: A method and device for removing, from liquid such as water, dissolved volatile substances and gases when water is being distilled or evaporated. Feed water of a distilling apparatus or evaporator is heated to a sufficiently high temperature, whereby part of the feed water changes into vapor, and is then conducted to a purifying device. The feed water is discharged in the purifying device in the form of a thin film. The gaseous substances present in the feed water or liquid are separated by a separator device provided in the purifying device, and then conducted away through a connector provided on the purifying device.

Abstract: A liquid product (4) leaving a furnace (2) is introduced into a series of cyclone separators (5, 6, 7). The liquid product to be vaporized is introduced tangentially into the top portion (5a, 6a, 7a) of each cyclone to place the product into contact with a side wall (5b, 6b, 7b) of the cyclone. A gaseous phase (11, 12, 13) formed in each cyclone is collected in the central zone (8, 9, 10) of the cyclone and is then introduced into a vacuum distillation column (3). The liquid phase obtained in each cyclone is collected at the bottom (5c, 6c, 7c) of the cyclone and then is introduced tangentially into the top (6a, 7a) of the following cyclone or, in the case of the last cyclone, is introduced directly into the vacuum distillation column (3). The side wall (5b, 6b, 7b) of each cyclone (5, 6, 7) is heated to a temperature near the maximum temperature allowable for avoiding all thermal deterioration of the product.

Abstract: A method for forming a terraced structure in the upper surface of a particulate solid bed, typically oil shale, moving upward through an upflow retort and removing particulate solids from the upper surface, which includes rotating a scraping means comprising a shaft having a plurality of scrapers secured thereto arranged in a vertically spaced-apart relationship and in a radially outwardly-stepped relationship relative to a vertical axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting hydrocarbons from tar sands. Stationary heater plates have a central opening therethrough through which a horizontal axle extends. Rotors having a central hub and a number of arms are splined on the axle, one closely sandwiched between every two heater plates. A ring is provided between the heater plates closely outward of the rotor arms. Sand retaining pockets are defined between adjacent arms of each rotor, the rotor hub, the ring and adjacent heater plates. Sand is retained in the sand retaining pockets for about one revolution about the axis between feed and removal positions. While retained in the pockets, the sand is heated and hydrocarbons driven off are collected.

Abstract: Oil shale is well mixed and efficiently, effectively, and economically retorted in a special gravity flow retorting process and system which utilizes novel arrangements of internal baffles in a static mixer.

Abstract: The device for closing the charging opening of an autoclave (1) has a cover (2) which can be lowered into the interior of the autoclave by means of a drive means supported at the outer side of the autoclave (1). The charging opening overlaps with its annular rim (7) the sealing surface (17) of the cover (2).

Abstract: A shale oil retorting system and novel continuous feed means for retorting oil shale within a retort housing employs a tilted circular conveyor within the housing which allows for continuous feeding of crushed oil shale within the conveyor for subsequent immersion in a hot process oil bath and unloading from the housing. The retort housing is constructed of side body members arranged to provide primary refluxing action of flammable process oil vapors evolved during retorting to prevent explosion. Safety is further augmented by providing an overhead vapor outlet and a sufficient level of process oil in the bath to produce a slight overpressure in the free board region conducive to quickly exhausting shale oil vapor from the housing into an overhead condensing unit. The spent shale particles discharged from the housing are immediately quenched to recover process oil coating the particles and minimize generation of flammable vapors from the hot particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of oil from shale is disclosed in which the shale travels through processing zones on a moving grate. Among the processing zones are a destructive distillation zone and a carbon combustion zone. A conduit is provided for recirculating gases to the carbon combustion zone.

Abstract: A hot coke receiving device of a type having a coke bucket body which has a cylindrical or polygonal form with a discharge gate provided in the bottom thereof, and having the coke bucket turnably mounted on a bucket car, said receiving device comprising: a ring-like horizontal frame surrounding the outer periphery of the coke bucket body without contact therebetween, said frame being connected to the discharge gate by means of a pair of rods and a pair of pins; a pair of outwardly projecting trunnions disposed at opposing points on the said ring-like horizontal frame; a pair of vertical hanger beams secured at opposing positions near but apart from the positions of said trunnions; said vertical beams having a projecting block which engages with said trunnion.

Abstract: An assembly of a rotary coke bucket and a bucket car for transporting hot coke to a dry quenching facility comprising: at least three rollers arranged on the upper surface of the bucket car in a circular configuration; and a rotary arm with the rotating axis being identical to the center of the circular configuration of said rollers, said rotary arms having a both ends upward projections; driving means for rotating the rotary arm; a pair of semicircular rails, provided on each of two gate members forming the discharge gate provided on the bottom surface of the coke bucket; and a plurality of recesses formed on the bottom surface of the discharge gate members to loosely engage with the upward projections of the rotary arms.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detection and selective after-quenching of red hot pockets in previously quenched hot coke lying on a coke bench, in which the temperature of the coke is sensed and recorded over the entire surface or area of the coke bench by temperature sensors installed thereabove, and if excessively hot coke portions or local areas are found, only those excessively hot coke portions are acted upon for after-quenching automatically in controlled manner with a focused water jet or spray using only a minimum amount of water for as short a time as possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing bulk materials by induction wherein the materials are processed within a plurality of compartments whose walls comprise a material which is adaptable to being heated by induction and wherein the plurality of compartments commonly share an induction coil means which surrounds the plurality of compartments. The apparatus possesses features which make it adaptable to operate in a closed system to be acceptable to the environment and also features which guarantee uniform charging of the material to be processed and uniform discharging of the processed material. In applications where sulfur, tars and oils are a problem, means are provided to deal with such problems by reacting the sulfur and by cracking the tars and oils. The apparatus lends itself to economically process tonnages of great magnitude at a low operating cost and also it requires low investment cost.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solids from a solids upflow vessel, preferably an upflow retort, which includes a horizontally reciprocatable carriage containing a vertical feed cylinder that extends downward from a horizontal seal plate. A vertically reciprocatable piston is located inside the feed cylinder. One section of the seal plate contains a hole and a sliding door for opening and closing the hole. During normal operations when the apparatus is used to feed solids from a feed chute to an upflow vessel, the carriage is reciprocated between a first stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the outlet of the solids feed chute while at least a portion of the closed hole in the seal plate is aligned with and below the inlet to the upflow vessel, and a second stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the inlet to the upflow vessel while another section of the seal plate is aligned with the outlet from the feed chute.

Abstract: A retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved through an elongated housing, includes a plurality of heat exchangers located in the housing for transferring heat to or from the shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define in sequence a drying zone, a preheating zone, a cracking and distillation zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the shale in the cracking and distillation zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom. The tubes of the heat exchangers are elongated ovals in cross-section and are offset from each other in alternate rows to increase the area of heat exchange and to reduce the temperature drop between the entering heated air and exiting heated air flowing through each heat exchange tube.

Abstract: A device and method for dry cooling incandescent coke comprises a closed cooling chamber having a coke inlet, for example, at its top end and a coke delivery or discharge at its bottom end which is subdivided by a plurality of vertical walls so as to leave coke flow spaces between the walls. The walls are constructed to define a continuous meandering path for coolant which is circulated through the walls during the flow of coke therethrough. The walls comprise superposed ducts arranged vertically one over the other and which for example are welded together and which have respective ends connected to a superjacent or subjacent duct so as to form a continuous meandering coolant flow passage. The coolant is circulated through inlet and outlet connections arranged exteriorly of the chamber and the coke flow and coolant flow are controlled through the chamber as desired to affect the cooling rate selected.

Abstract: At a coke oven of a coking plant, each operating machine is provided with a U-shaped detector unit equipped with infrared light gates. Each operating station of the coke oven is provided with a signal plate carrying positioning marker elements for fine tuning the positioning of the operating machine at the operating station and with identification marker elements for identifying the respective operating stations. Each infrared light gate includes an infrared light source and an infrared light sensor connected to an electronic evaluation circuit comprising a memory with a reading monitor for detecting and correlating the coded identification markers on the signal plates.

Abstract: A leveler bar for a coke oven is controlled in its travel toward and away from the coke side of the oven by semi-automatic means to move the leveler bar during a "cycle" mode through half strokes and during the "finish" mode it performs four "full" strokes of which a full stroke can mean a 3/4 distance of full travel across the oven. Electrical circuitry which modifies or adds to prior art circuitry to accomplish this leveler bar movement is included herein.

Abstract: A dry sealing leg apparatus is comprised of four chambers through which a moving bed of retorted shale particulates from an oil shale retort is passed serially: a surge chamber, a gas injection chamber, a seal leg chamber, and a gas disengaging chamber. In the gas injection chamber, a sealing gas penetrates the moving bed of shale and divides into two portions. One portion travels countercurrently to the shale through the surge chamber and enters the retort at a positive pressure to seal product gases therein. A second portion travels co-currently with the shale through the seal leg chamber and gas disengaging chamber and exits at a pressure less than that of the retort, having been reduced in pressure by resistance to its passage through the shale.

Abstract: Retorted shale particles are recovered from a retort and delivered to a gas lift for transport to a fluidized combustor by passage, serially, through a sealing vessel, a crusher preferably operating at retort pressure, and a surge vessel. In the sealing vessel, a sealing gas is introduced, and after commingling with the shale, the gas passes countercurrently to the shale and enters the retort, thus sealing the retort gases in the retort while separating the retorted shale from the retort gases. Retorted shale from the sealing vessel is transported to a crusher, wherein the shale is reduced in size to that suitable for combustion under fluidized conditions. To prevent the crushed shale from packing, the shale is passed to a surge vessel, wherein the crushed shale is held as a fluidized bed, from which the crushed shale is continuously withdrawn at a regulated rate and introduced into the gas lift leading to the fluidized combustor.

Abstract: An improved retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved by gravity through a passageway of an elongated housing includes a control assembly connected adjacent the outlet end of the housing to control the rate of movement of the crushed oil shale through the passageway. A plurality of heat exchangers are located in the housing for transferring heat in sequence to or from the crushed oil shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define a drying zone, a preheating zone, a hydrocarbon recovery zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. A pump recirculating circuit is provided for passing waste heat recovered from the waste heat recovery zone to the preheating zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers in the hydrocarbon recovery zone delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the crushed oil shale moving through the hydrocarbon recovery zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for stopping a truck such as a larry car for coke oven operation at a preselected position in relation to an object such as a coke oven. The apparatus includes stopping members such as blocks placed along the path of movement of the truck and a clamping mechanism carried by the truck and adapted to cooperate with one of the blocks to locate and stop the truck. The clamping mechanism includes a pair of levers swingable about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck by the operation of a fluid-operated cylinder and adapted to clamp the selected block from the front and rear sides of the block. In operation, the truck is temporarily stopped by a brake at such a position that the selected block is positioned between two levers and then the levers are swung toward each other to clamp the block therebetween to locate and stop the truck precisely at the designated position. During the running of the truck, the levers are laterally swung to clear the blocks.