Coke oven door with multi-latch sealing system

A coke oven door for placement against the door jamb of a coke oven to seal the oven, the door comprising:

• a door body;
• a plurality of pivotable toggle mechanisms, each toggle mechanism having an extended length when pivoted in one direction and having a shortened length when pivoted in the other direction, inner ends of the toggle mechanisms being coupled to the door body at spaced positions along the length of the door body;
• an elongated biasing device coupled to an outer end of each toggle mechanism proximate a longitudinal center of the elongated biasing device and configured for engaging a portion of the door jamb, the biasing device pressing against the door jamb portion when the toggle mechanism is pivoted to an extended length and independently forcing the respective toggle mechanism against the door body to force the door body against a sealing surface of the door jamb and thereby latch the door body against the door jamb;
• whereby the door body is forced against the jamb sealing surface by a plurality of independent latching forces at positions along its length for more effective sealing of the oven.

A coke oven comprising:

• an oven chamber having an opening;
• a door jamb positioned proximate said oven chamber opening, the jamb having a sealing surface;
• a coke oven door for placement against the door jamb sealing surface to seal the oven, the door comprising:
• a door body;
• a plurality of toggle mechanisms, each toggle mechanism being pivotable and having an extended length when pivoted in one direction and having a shortened length when pivoted in the other direction, inner ends of the toggle mechanisms being coupled to the door body at spaced positions along the length of the door body;
• a flexible latch tension bar coupled to an outer end of each toggle mechanism proximate a longitudinal center of the tension bar and configured for engaging a latch connected to the door jamb, the latch tension bar flexing against the latch when the toggle mechanism is pivoted to an extended length for independently biasing the toggle mechanism against the door body to latch the body against the door jamb sealing surface;
• whereby the door body is forced against the jamb sealing surface by a plurality of independent latching forces at positions along its length for more effective sealing of the oven.

A method of sealing a coke oven comprising:

• positioning a door body against a door jamb of the oven, the door body including a plurality of extensible toggle mechanisms which are pivotable between an extended length and a shortened length, inner ends of the toggle mechanisms being coupled to the door body at spaced positions along the length of the door body and outer ends coupled to respective flexible latch tension bars proximate longitudinal centers of the tension bars;
• coupling the latch tension bars to respective latches connected to the door jamb;
• pivoting the toggle mechanisms to an extended length for flexing the latch tension bars against the latches such that latch tension bars provide independent latching forces against the toggle mechanisms and the door body to latch the door body against the door jamb;
• whereby the door body is forced against the door jamb by a plurality of independent latching forces at positions along its length for more effective sealing of the oven.

A coke oven door for placement against the door jamb of a coke oven to seal the oven, the door comprising:

• a door body comprising a plurality of segments, each of the body segments operable for flexing, at flex positions along the door body, with respect to adjacent body segments to allow the door body to flex along its length;
• a plurality of pivotable toggle mechanisms, each toggle mechanism having an extended length when pivoted in one direction and having a shortened length when pivoted in the other direction, inner ends of the toggle mechanisms being coupled to the door body at flex positions on the door body;
• a biasing device coupled to an outer end of each toggle mechanism and configured for engaging a portion of the door jamb, the biasing device pressing against the door jamb portion when the toggle mechanism is pivoted to an extended length and independently forcing the respective toggle mechanism against the door body to force the door body against a sealing surface of the door jamb and thereby latch the door body against the door jamb;
• whereby the door body is forced against the jamb sealing surface by a plurality of independent latching forces at positions along its length for more effective sealing of the oven.

A coke oven door for placement against the door jamb of a coke oven to seal the oven, the door comprising:

• a door body;
• a plurality of toggle mechanisms, each toggle mechanism being pivotable and having an extended length when pivoted over center in one direction and having a shortened length when pivoted in the other direction, inner ends of the toggle mechanisms being coupled to the door body at spaced positions along the length of the door body;
• a flexible latch tension bar coupled to an outer end of each toggle mechanism and configured for engaging a latch connected to the door jamb, the latch tension bar flexing against the latch when the toggle mechanism is pivoted to an extended length for independently biasing the toggle mechanism against the door body to latch the body against the door jamb;
• a mechanical stop structure on at least one of said toggle mechanisms, the stop structure operable for maintaining the toggle mechanism in said extended length when the mechanism is pivoted over center;
• whereby the door body is forced against the jamb by a plurality of independent latching forces at positions along its length for more effective sealing of the oven.