Coke oven rail car with drive control system for positioning the car and door extractor which compensates for thermal distortion of oven jambs

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, and means for moving each said support to compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery in amount different from that of the other said support;
• and
• means for moving each said support to also compensate for side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery in an amount different from that of the other said support.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb comprising:

• a frame;
• a pair of door engaging supports mounted on said frame, said supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for moving each said support relative to a plane parallel to and including a door jamb in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• and
• means for moving each said support relative to a door jamb height axis of symmetry in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can also compensate for side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and its respective coke oven door jamb comprising:

• a first frame adapted to be mounted on a coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame to effect movement of each said support relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb;
• and
• means for moving said first frame relative to the car to effect movement of each said support relative to a door jamb height axis of symmetry in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can also compensate for side-to-side learning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door lamb comprising:

• a first frame adapted to be mounted on a coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame to effect movement of said supports in individually differing amounts relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door lamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb;
• wherein said means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame comprises:
• a pivot connection pivotally connecting an upper end of said third frame to said second frame;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder operably connected between a lower end of said third frame and said second frame;
• whereby extending and retracting said cylinder pivots said third frame and hence said door supports relative to said second frame about said pivot connection.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door lamb comprising:

• a first frame adapted to be mounted on a coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame to effect movement of said supports in individually differing amounts relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb;
• and
• means for moving said first frame relative to the car to effect movement of said supports in individually differing amounts relative to a door lamb height axis of symmetry;
• whereby said door extractor can also compensate for side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb;
• wherein said means for moving said first frame relative to the car comprises:
• a pivot connection pivotally connecting a lower end of said first frame to the car;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder operably connected between an upper end of said first frame and the car;
• whereby extending and retracting said cylinder pivots said first frame and hence said door supports relative to the car about said pivot connection.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb comprising:

• a first frame adapted to be mounted on a coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• means for effecting relative horizontal movement between said first and second frames;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for effecting relative vertical movement between said second and third frames;
• whereby said second frame and hence said door supports can be extended forwardly to engage a coke oven door, and said third frame and hence said door supports can be raised upwardly to remove the door from its door jamb;
• means for moving each said support relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for front-to-back tilting of the coke oven jamb due to thermal distortion of the jamb;
• and
• means for moving each said support relative to door jamb height axis of symmetry in an amount different from that of the other said support;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for side-to-side leaning of the coke oven jamb due to normal distortion at the jamb.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb comprising:

• a first frame adapted to be mounted on a coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• means for effecting relative horizontal movement between said first and second frames;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• and
• means for effecting relative vertical movement between said second and third frames;
• whereby said second frame and hence said door supports can be extended forwardly to engage a coke oven door, and said third frame and hence said door supports can be raised upwardly to remove the door from its door jambs;
• wherein said means for effecting relative horizontal movement between said first and second frames comprises:
• a fourth frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• means for effecting relative vertical movement between said first and fourth frames;
• and
• linkage connecting said fourth and second frames;
• whereby when said relative vertical movement means moves said fourth frame relative to said first frame in a first vertical direction said linkage moves said second frame relative to said first frame in a first horizontal direction, and when said relative vertical movement means moves said fourth frame relative to said first frame in a second vertical direction said linkage moves said second frame relative to said first frame in a second horizontal direction.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a sensor for determining the relative position of said car with respect to a selected oven in the battery;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, said supports being movable in individually differing amounts relative to at least one of a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• and
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movements of said door supports in said individually differing amounts equal to at least one of an angle of front-to-back tilting by which the plane parallel to and including the door jamb deviates from vertical and an angle of side-to-side leaning by which the door jamb height axis deviates from vertical in response to a position determined by said sensor of said car relative to the selected oven;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for at least one of front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a sensor for determining the relative position of said car with respect to a selected oven in the battery;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, said supports being movable in individually differing amounts relative to at least one of a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movements of said door supports in response to a position determined by said sensor of said car relative to the selected oven;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for at least one of front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• a first frame adapted to be mounted on said coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including said door engaging supports;
• and
• means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame to effect movement of said supports in said individually differing amounts relative to said plane parallel to and including the door jamb;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for said front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• wherein said means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame comprises:
• a pivot connection pivotally connecting an upper end of said third frame to said second frame;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder operably connected between a lower end of said third frame and said second frame;
• whereby extending and retracting said cylinder pivots said third frame and hence said door supports relative to said second frame about said pivot connection.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a sensor for determining the relative position of said car with respect to a selected oven in the battery;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, said supports being movable in individually differing amounts relative to at least one of a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movements of said door supports in response to a position determined by said sensor of said car relative to the selected oven;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for at least one of front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• a first frame adapted to be mounted on said coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including said door engaging supports;
• means for moving said third frame relative to said second frame to effect movement of said supports in said individually differing amounts relative to said plane parallel to and including the door jamb;
• whereby said door extractor can compensate for said front-to-back tilting of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• and
• means for moving said first frame relative to said car to effect movement of said supports in said individually differing amounts relative to a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• whereby said extractor can additionally compensate for said side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• wherein said means for moving said first frame relative to said car comprises:
• a pivot connection pivotally connecting a lower end of said first frame to said car;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder operably connected between an upper end of said first frame and said car;
• whereby extending and retracting said cylinder pivots said first frame and hence said door supports relative to said car about said pivot connection.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door lamb;
• a sensor for determining the relative position of said car with respect to a selected oven in the battery;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, said supports being movable in individually differing amounts relative to at least one of a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movements of said door supports in response to a position determined by said sensor of said car relative to the selected oven;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for at least one of front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery;
• a first frame adapted to be mounted on said coke oven rail car;
• a second frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• means for effecting relative horizontal movement between said first and second frames;
• a third frame movably mounted on said second frame, said third frame including said door engaging supports;
• and
• means for effecting relative vertical movement between said second and third frames;
• whereby said second frame and hence said door supports can be extended forwardly to engage a coke oven door, and said third frame and hence said door supports can be raised upwardly to remove the door from its door jamb;
• wherein said means for effecting relative horizontal movement between said first and second frames comprises:
• a fourth frame movably mounted on said first frame;
• means for effecting relative vertical movement between said first and fourth frames;
• and
• linkage connecting said fourth and second frames;
• whereby when said relative vertical movement means moves said fourth frame relative to said first frame in a first vertical direction said linkage moves said second frame relative to said first frame in a first horizontal direction, and when said relative vertical movement means moves said fourth frame relative to said first frame in a second vertical direction said linkage moves said second frame relative to said first frame in a second horizontal direction.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each oven of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting the door, said supports being movable in individually differing amounts relative to at least one of a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry;
• and
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movements of said supports in said individually differing amounts equal to at least one of an angle of front-to-back tilting by which the plane parallel to and including the door jamb deviates from vertical and an angle of side-to-side leaning by which the door jamb height axis of symmetry deviates from vertical;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for at least one of front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery.

A combination comprising:

• a car adapted to roll on rails adjacent to and along the length of a coke oven battery having a plurality of coke ovens, each one of which includes a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door removably securable to the coke oven door jamb;
• a coke oven door extractor mounted on said car for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb, said extractor including a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door, said supports being movable vertically relative to a coke oven door;
• a memory in which to store and from which to recall the vertical position of each said oven door;
• and
• an automatic controller for automatically controlling movement of said supports vertically in response to the vertical position recalled from said memory corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of oven doors;
• whereby said door extractor can automatically compensate for variations in relative vertical height between said door extractor and a plurality of coke oven doors.

A coke oven door extractor for removing and replacing a coke oven door from and onto its respective coke oven door jamb comprising:

• a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a coke oven door;
• means for translating said supports generally horizontally relative to a coke oven door;
• means for translating said supports generally vertically relative to a coke oven door;
• means for rotating said supports front-to-back about a generally horizontal axis relative to a coke oven door;
• and
• means for rotating said supports side-to-side about a generally horizontal axis relative to a coke oven door.

A method of reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door jamb and coke oven door, during removal of the door from the jamb and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb, by a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door, comprising the steps of:

• determining the front-to-back tilting orientation of the door;
• storing in a memory the orientation;
• removing the door from the jamb;
• recalling from memory the orientation;
• automatically moving the supports to the orientation;
• and
• reinstalling the door onto the jamb.

A method of reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door, during removal of the door from the jab and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb, by a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports, for engaging and supporting a door, comprising the steps of:

• determining the side-to-side leaning orientation of the door;
• storing in a memory the orientation;
• removing the door from the jamb;
• recalling from memory the orientation;
• automatically moving the supports to the orientation;
• and
• reinstalling the door onto the jamb.

A method of reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door jamb and coke oven door, during removal of the door from the jamb and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb, by a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door, comprising the steps of:

• determining the vertical orientation of the door;
• storing in a memory the orientation;
• removing the door from the jamb;
• recalling from memory the orientation;
• automatically moving the door extractor to the orientation;
• and
• reinstalling the door onto the jamb.

Apparatus for reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door jamb and coke oven door during removal of the door from the jamb and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb comprising:

• a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door during removal from and reinstallation onto the jamb;
• means for determining the front-to-back tilting orientation of the door;
• memory means in which to store and from which to recall the orientation;
• and
• means for automatically moving said supports to the orientation.

Apparatus for reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door jamb and coke oven door during removal of the door from the jamb and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb comprising:

• a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door during removal from and reinstallation onto the jamb;
• means for determining the side-to-side leaning orientation of the door;
• memory means in which to store and from which to recall the orientation;
• and
• means for automatically moving said supports to the orientation.

Apparatus for reducing damage inflicted upon a coke oven door jamb and a coke oven door during removal of the door from the jamb and reinstallation of the door onto the jamb comprising:

• a coke oven door extractor having a pair of door engaging supports for engaging and supporting a door during removal from and reinstallation onto the jamb;
• means for determining the vertical orientation of the door;
• memory means in which to store and from which to recall the orientation;
• and
• means for automatically moving said supports to the orientation.