Expansion constraint assembly and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020240710-A1
Application number	US-202016749428-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2020
Priority date	Jan 29, 2019
Publication date	Jul 30, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An expansion constraint assembly can be attached to the exterior of a kiln cylinder. The expansion constraint assembly may include an outer constraining structure, an inner circular structure, and support structures extending between the inner circular structure and the outer constraining structure. The support structures may extend at an offset angle away from a radial direction of the outer constraining structure. The expansion constraint assembly may also include additional rings disposed between the inner circular structure and the outer constraining structure. The expansion constraint assembly can constrain asymmetric expansion of the kiln cylinder, for example, by relieving uniform expansion as a rotational shift, while restraining asymmetric expansion via tensile and compressive stresses in inter-connecting members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rotary kiln system, comprising:
a rotator; a heating system; a kiln cylinder rotatable by the rotator, the kiln cylinder in communication with the heating system to provide heat into the kiln cylinder, the kiln cylinder comprising:
a central axis;
an exterior kiln cylinder surface;
a cross-sectional thickness urged toward variable expansion in a radial direction of the kiln cylinder and responsive to a variable thermal profile resulting from heat provided within the kiln cylinder by thermal actions or reactions of material being processed or from the heating system;
a collar axially aligned with the central axis and receiving at least one portion of the kiln cylinder; and
an expansion constraint assembly axially aligned with the central axis and disposed radially outward from the kiln cylinder, the expansion constraint assembly configured to limit the variable expansion of the cross-sectional thickness of the kiln cylinder, the expansion constraint assembly comprising:
an outer constraining structure; and
a plurality of support structures, each extending between an interior of the outer constraining structure and the exterior kiln cylinder surface, each arranged at an offset angle away from the radial direction of the outer constraining structure, and each anchored to the exterior kiln cylinder surface and the outer constraining structure.

2 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein the collar further comprises a plurality of leaves attached to the collar and engaged with the exterior kiln cylinder surface.

3 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein the kiln cylinder further comprises a first portion at a first end, a second portion at a second end, and a middle portion between the first portion and the second portion.

4 . The rotary kiln system of claim 3 , wherein the collar is a first collar in engagement with the first portion of the kiln cylinder; and
the rotary kiln system further comprises a second collar in engagement with a different portion of the kiln cylinder.

5 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein the central axis is at an angle so that a first end of the kiln cylinder is positioned vertically higher than a second end of the kiln cylinder.

6 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein the expansion constraint assembly further comprises a ring axially aligned with the kiln cylinder and anchored to the exterior kiln cylinder surface, wherein the plurality of support structures are engaged with the outer constraining structure and inner ring.

7 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein:
the expansion constraint assembly is a first expansion constraint assembly; and the kiln cylinder further comprises a second expansion constraint assembly extending around the kiln cylinder.

8 . The rotary kiln system of claim 1 , wherein the variable expansion of the kiln cylinder causes the offset angle of at least one of the plurality of support structures to increase.

9 . The rotary kiln system of claim 8 , wherein the increase of the offset angle of at least one of the plurality of support structures causes the outer constraining structure to rotate about the central axis of the kiln cylinder.

10 . An expansion constraining assembly for industrial processing equipment for processing metal or other material, the assembly comprising:
an outer constraining structure; an inner circular structure disposed radially inward from the outer constraining structure and within the expansion constraining assembly; and a plurality of support structures arranged at an offset angle away from a radial direction of the outer constraining structure, extending between the outer constraining structure and the inner circular structure, and attached to the outer constraining structure and the inner circular structure.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising at least one ring within the outer constraining structure and disposed between the outer constraining structure and the inner circular structure, wherein the plurality of support structures are attached via the at least one ring.

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one ring comprises a first ring and a second ring, wherein the first ring is attached to the inner circular structure and the second ring is attached to the outer constraining structure, and wherein the plurality of support structures are attached via the first ring and the second ring.

13 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the offset angle of at least one of the plurality of support structures is between 1 degrees and 89 degrees.

14 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein a cross section of at least one of plurality of support structures is at least 1 square-centimeter.

15 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of support structures comprises:
a base configured to attach to the inner circular structure; and a ligament attached to the base.

16 . An expansion constraining method for industrial processing equipment for processing metal or other material, the method comprising:
receiving an outer constraining structure and a plurality of support structures on an outer surface of an inner circular structure of the industrial processing equipment; and resisting non-uniform expansion of the inner circular structure by at least causing an increase in a tension or compression of at least one of the plurality of support structures or causing rotation of the outer constraining structure around a central axis of the inner circular structure.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising causing a change in an offset angle away from a radial direction of the outer constraining structure of at least one of the plurality of support structures due to resisting the non-uniform expansion of the inner circular structure.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein causing the change in the offset angle of the at least one of the plurality of support structures further causes the outer constraining structure to rotate.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of support structures experiences an increase in tension and at least one other of the plurality of support structures experiences an increase in compression.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-uniform expansion is caused by a temperature increase or decrease inside the inner circular structure.

Assignees

• Novelis Inc

Inventors

• Rauch Edwin L

Classifications

• Y02P10/20

  Recycling · CPC title

• F27D1/0003

  Linings or walls · CPC title

• F27B7/02 Primary

  of multiple-chamber or multiple-drum type · CPC title

• F27B7/22 Primary

  Rotary drums; Supports therefor · CPC title

• F27B2007/2293

  the furnace being suspended · CPC title