Method of charging a plurality of coking ovens

A method of charging a plurality of coking ovens which are arranged in a horizontal row, by means of an endless scraper conveyor which extends along the row above the charging holes of the ovens and has an upper run and a lower run each extending from a first end portion of the conveyor adjacent one end of the row of ovens to a second end portion of the conveyor adjacent another end of the row of ovens, comprising the steps of admitting a quantity of coal at a location adjacent said first end portion through said upper run of said conveyor onto said lower run thereof;

• transporting the coal on said lower run lengthwise of said row in direction from said one end towards said other end of said row;
• charging coal from said lower run into the charging holes of said ovens in a sequence which begins with an oven closer to said other end than to said one end and which progresses counter to said direction of transportation to ovens which are successively closer to said one end while skipping intermediate ovens;
• terminating the charging of the respective ovens in response to generation of a signal indicating that a predetermined filling level has been reached in the charging hole of the oven;
• conveying any residual portions of the coal which have not been discharged from the lower run by the time respective increments of the lower run reach said second end portion of the conveyor, from said lower run onto said upper run and thereon counter to said direction towards said first end portion;
• and discharging said residual portions of coal from said upper run onto said lower run at said location adjacent said first end portion of the conveyor.