Groiss, Karl;

Rotary kiln with planetary cooler

A rotary kiln plant is disclosed having a rotary kiln and a cooler system having a plurality of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion about the rotary kiln. Each cooler tube has an inlet end portion which communicates with the rotary kiln for reception of the material to be cooled and a rearward end portion having an outlet end for exiting the cooled material. First support means is positioned adjacent the inlet end portion of the cooler tube and second support means is positioned adjacent the outlet end portion of the cooler tube so as to retain the axis of the cooler tube substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the kiln. The second support means includes an annular member disposed about the cooler tube, with first mounting means including at least two generally parallel flange members secured to the annular member, each flange member defining a bore which extends generally perpendicular to the axis of the tube, and second mounting means including two generally parallel flange members secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith, with means positioned between the cooler tube and the rotary kiln for pivotally connecting the mounting means so as to provide pivotal movement between the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube and the rotary kiln.

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I claim:

1. A rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system mounted for rotation therewith, said cooler system including at least one cooler tube having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion including an inlet end portion communicating with the rotary kiln for reception of material to be cooled, said rearward portion including an outlet end portion for exiting the cooled material, means to support each cooler tube in planetary fashion about said rotary kiln including first support means positioned adjacent said inlet end portion of said cooler tube and second support means positioned adjacent said outlet end portion of said cooler tube so as to retain the longitudinal axis of the cooler tube substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary kiln, at least said second support means comprising:

(a) an annular member disposed about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least a first pair of generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining at least one bore extending generally transverse to the axis of said cooler tube and disposed generally between said cooler tube and the rotary kiln;

(c) second mounting means having at least a second pair of generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith, each flange of said second pair being disposed adjacent to an associated flange of said first pair of flanges and defining at least one bore spaced from the bores defined by said first pair of flanges;

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln pivotally connecting said first and second mounting means for rotation of the cooler tube about the axes of the bores defined by said first and second pairs of flanges, said pivot means including:

i. a first generally elongated member connected to at least one pair of adjacent associated flanges by means of pivot members journaled in a bore of each flange, said first elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube; and

ii. a second generally elongated member connected to at least one other pair of adjacent associated flanges by means of pivot members journaled in a bore of each flange, said second generally elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube and positioned for relative rotation within said generally cylindrical section of said first elongated member so as to permit relative axial movement between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln while permitting rotational movement of at least portions of said cooler tube about an axis extending generally radially of said rotary kiln.

2. The rotary kiln according to claim 1 wherein said first mounting means further comprises a spherical bearing in each of at least one pair of said generally parallel flanges so as to permit said cooler tube relative movement in relation to the longitudinal axis of said rotary kiln, at least about an axis generally parallel and adjacent to the longitudinal axis of said two generally elongated engaged members.

3. The rotary kiln according to claim 2 wherein said second generally elongated member of said pivotal connecting means comprises a generally cylindrical shoulder portion positioned adjacent said generally cylindrical section of said first generally elongated member.

4. The rotary kiln according to claim 3 wherein said pivotal connecting means further comprises at least one annular spacer member to be mounted between said first substantially cylindrical body and said shoulder portion of said second substantially cylindrical body.

5. The rotary kiln according to claim 4 wherein the inner diameter of said spacer member approximates the diameter of the bore that extends through said first generally elongated member.

6. The rotary kiln according to claim 4 wherein said spacer members are secured to said second generally elongated member by mechanical means.

7. The rotary kiln according to claim 2 wherein said parallel flanges of said second mounting means are spaced apart a distance greater than are a pair of parallel flanges of said first mounting means.

8. The rotary kiln according to claim 2 wherein each of said flanges of both the first and second mounting means comprise a spherical bearing.

9. The rotary kiln according to claim 1 wherein said two generally parallel flanges of said second mounting means are welded to peripheral portions of said rotary kiln.

10. The rotary kiln according to claim 1 wherein said first support means comprises:

(a) a bracket secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln;

(b) a yoke disposed about said cooler tube attached to said bracket; and

(c) mechanical means to secure said yoke to said bracket.

11. The rotary kiln according to claim 1 wherein said first support means comprises:

(a) an annular member disposed about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least two generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining a bore extending generally perpendicular to the axis of said cooler tube;

(c) second mounting means having two generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith; and

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln for pivotally connecting said mounting means so as to provide pivotal movement between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln in axial and radial directions.

12. The rotary kiln according to claim 1 wherein inner surface portions of said annular member define a generally convex surface in relation to said cooler tube to permit movement of the annular member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube.

13. A rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system mounted for rotation therewith, said cooler system including at least one cooler tube having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion including an inlet end portion communicating with the rotary kiln for reception of material to be cooled, said rearward portion including an outlet end portion for exiting the cooled material, means to support each cooler tube in planetary fashion about said rotary kiln including first support means positioned adjacent said inlet end portion of said cooler tube and second support means positioned adjacent said outlet end portion of said cooler tube so as to retain the longitudinal axis of the cooler tube substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary kiln, at least said second support means comprising:

(a) an annular member which comprises two ring plates positioned about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least a first pair of generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining at least one bore extending generally transverse to the axis of said cooler tube and disposed generally between said cooler tube and the rotary kiln;

(c) second mounting means having at least a second pair of generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith, each flange of said second pair being disposed adjacent to an associated flange of said first pair of flanges and defining at least one bore extending in generally parallel spaced relation relative to the bore of said associated flange;

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln pivotally connecting said first and second mounting means for rotation of the cooler tube about the axes of the bores defined by said first and second pairs of flanges, said pivot means including:

i. a first generally elongated member connected to at least one pair of adjacent associated flanges by means of pivot members journaled in a bore of each flange, said first elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube; and

ii. a second generally elongated member connected to at least one other pair of adjacent associated flanges by means of pivotal members journaled in a bore of each flange, said second generally elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube and positioned for relative rotation within said generally cylindrical section of said first elongated member so as to permit relative axial movement between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln while permitting rotational movement of at least portions of said cooler tube about an axis extending generally radial of said rotary kiln.

14. The rotary kiln according to claim 13 wherein said first mounting means further comprises a spherical bearing in each of at least one pair of said generally parallel flanges so as to permit said cooler tube relative movement in relation to the longitudinal axis of said rotary kiln, at least about an axis generally parallel and adjacent to the longitudinal axis of said two generally elongated engaged members.

15. The rotary kiln according to claim 14 wherein said parallel flanges of said second mounting means are spaced apart a distance greater than are a pair of parallel flanges of said first mounting means.

16. The rotary kiln according to claim 15 wherein said first generally elongated member further comprises at least a first slip ring positioned within the bore extending therethrough to facilitate rotation of said second elongated member when said second member is slidably engaged in said first member.

17. The rotary kiln according to claim 16 wherein said second generally elongated member of said pivotal connecting means comprises a generally cylindrical shoulder portion positioned adjacent said generally cylindrical section of said first generally elongated member.

18. The rotary kiln according to claim 17 wherein said pivotal connecting means further comprises at least one annular spacer member to be mounted between said first substantially cylindrical body and said shoulder portion of said second substantially cylindrical body.

19. The rotary kiln according to claim 18 wherein the inner diameter of said spacer member approximates the diameter of the bore that extends through said first generally elongated member.

20. The rotary kiln according to claim 19 wherein said spacer members are secured to said second generally elongated member by mechanical means.

21. The rotary kiln according to claim 20 wherein a second slip ring is fitted to said second generally elongated member.

22. The rotary kiln according to claim 21 wherein said pivotal connecting means further comprises a first spur connecting one of said generally cylindrical pivotal members of said first elongated member to one of said parallel flanges of said first mounting means and a second spur connecting one of said generally cylindrical pivotal members of said second elongated member to a second flange of said first mounting means parallel to said first flange.

23. The rotary kiln according to claim 22 wherein each of said flanges of both the first and second mounting means comprises a spherical bearing.

24. A rotary kiln according to claim 23 wherein said two generally parallel flanges of said second mounting means are welded to peripheral portions of said rotary kiln.

25. The rotary kiln according to claim 13 wherein said first support means comprises:

(a) a bracket secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln;

(b) a yoke disposed about said cooler tube attached to said bracket; and

(c) mechanical means to secure said yoke to said bracket.

26. The rotary kiln according to claim 13 wherein said first support means comprises:

(a) an annular member disposed about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least two generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining a bore extending generally perpendicular to the axis of said cooler tube;

(c) second mounting means having two generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith; and

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln for pivotally connecting said mounting means so as to provide pivotal movement between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln in axial and radial directions.

27. A rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system mounted for rotation therewith, said cooler system including at least one cooler tube having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion including an inlet end portion communicating with the rotary kiln for reception of material to be cooled, said rearward portion including an outlet end portion for exiting the cooled material, means to support each cooler tube in planetary fashion about said rotary kiln including first support means positioned adjacent said inlet end portion of said cooler tube and second support means positioned adjacent said outlet end portion of said cooler tube so as to retain the longitudinal axis of the cooler tube substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary kiln, at least said second support means comprising:

(a) an annular member disposed about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least a first pair of generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining at least one bore extending generally transverse to the axis of said cooler tube and disposed generally between said cooler tube and the rotary kiln;

(c) second mounting means having at least a second pair of generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith, each flange of said second pair of flanges disposed adjacent to an associated flange of said first pair of flanges and defining at least one bore spaced from the bores defined by said first pair of flanges and extending generally parallel thereto;

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln pivotally connecting said first and second mounting means for rotation of the cooler tube about the axes of the bores defined by said first and said second pair of flanges, said pivot means including:

i. a first generally elongated member connected to at least one pair of adjacent flanges by means of pivot members journaled in a bore of each flange, said first elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube; and

ii. a second generally elongated member connected to at least one other pair of adjacent associated flanges by means of pivot members journaled in a bore of each flange, said second generally elongated member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube and positioned for relative rotation within said generally cylindrical section of said first elongated member so as to permit relative axial movement between said cooler tube and the rotary kiln while permitting universal rotational movement of at least portions of said cooler tube about an axis extending generally radially of the rotary kiln.

28. A rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system mounted for rotation therewith, said cooler system including at least one cooler tube having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion including an inlet end portion communicating with the rotary kiln for reception of material to be cooled, said rearward portion including an outlet end portion for exiting the cooled material, means to support each cooler tube in planetary fashion about said rotary kiln including first support means postioned adjacent said inlet end portion of said cooler tube and second support means postioned adjacent said outlet end portion of said cooler tube so as to retain the longitudinal axis of the cooler tube substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary kiln, at least said second support means comprising:

(a) an annular member disposed about said cooler tube;

(b) first mounting means having at least two generally parallel flanges mounted to said annular member, each flange defining a bore extending generally perpendicular to the axis of said cooler tube, said first mounting means having a spherical bearing positioned within a bore of each flange of at least one pair of said generally parallel flanges so as to permit movement of said cooler tube relative to the longitudinal axis of said rotary kiln;

(c) second mounting means having two generally parallel flanges secured to peripheral portions of the rotary kiln for rotation therewith;

(d) means positioned between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln for pivotally connecting said mounting means so as to provide pivotal movement between said cooler tube and said rotary kiln in axial and radial directions, said pivotal connecting means comprising:

i. a first generally elongated member connected to at least a first pair of adjacent flanges including one flange secured to said annular member and one flange secured to peripheral portions of said kiln, said first member defining a bore therethrough and having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube, said first elongated member having one end portion having two generally cylindrical pivot members journaled in adjacent flanges; and

ii. a second generally elongated member connected to at least a second pair of adjacent flanges, said second member having a generally cylindrical section extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cooler tube and slidably engaged within said first elongated member, said second elongated member having an end portion having two generally cylindrical members journaled one in each of said other adjacent pair of flanges thereby facilitating axial movement of said cooler tube relative to said rotary kiln, while permitting universal rotational movement of at least portions of said cooler tube about an axis extending generally radially of the rotary kiln.