Leveling device with an adjustable width

A device for leveling the coal filled in the retort of a coke oven, comprising a leveler bar (2) connected with a leveler drive (1) and drivable into and out of the retort (4) through a leveling opening (3) and performing a leveling movement back and forth in the retort (4) whereby the leveler bar (2) has a rake blade (5) at its front end, the span width of which is adjustable by an operating device (6) arranged in the leveler bar (2), characterized in that the rake blade (5) is comprised of two wings (7, 7′) swivel-mounted on the front end of the leveler bar (2) and resting against the leveler bar (2) in the form of a plow as the latter is being driven in and out through the leveling opening (3), and being unfoldable in the retort (4) by a setting movement of the operating device (6);

• and that the inside surfaces (13) of the rake blade (5) are arranged at an acute angle in relation to the outside surface (12) of the rake blade (5), whereby each apex of the angle is located at the outer end of the rake blade (5), and whereby the angle is selected in such a manner that coal is pushed by the extended rake blade (5) toward the lateral oven walls as the leveler bar (2) is being driven backwards.