Pressure controller for a coke box

Abstract

A pressure controller for a coke box has a fan assembly and a valve assembly selectively coupling the fan assembly to the coke box. A barometer senses a pressure level in the coke box. A control element controls a speed of the fan assembly to maintain the pressure level in the coke box below a desired pressure level.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pressure controller for a coke box, the pressure controller comprising: 
 a fan assembly;    a valve assembly selectively coupling the fan assembly to the coke box;    a barometer for sensing a pressure in the coke box; and    a control element for controlling a speed of the fan assembly to maintain a pressure in the coke box below a desired pressure level.    
     
     
         2 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the control element transmits a signal from the barometer that is determined by comparing the pressure in the coke box to the desired pressure level.  
     
     
         3 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the control element has a microprocessor electronically coupled with the barometer and has a transmitter for sending a signal used to control the speed of the fan assembly.  
     
     
         4 . A pressure controller according to    claim 3   , wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal sent by the transmitter.  
     
     
         5 . A pressure controller according to    claim 3   , wherein the fan assembly has a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter.  
     
     
         6 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the valve assembly comprises: 
 a valve chamber in communication with the coke box;    a seal plate housed within the valve chamber;    a spring arranged to bias the seal plate to a closed position preventing a change of pressure from the coke box through the valve assembly; and    wherein the seal plate can be moved to an open position whereby the fan assembly can be operated to affect a pressure change in the coke box through the valve assembly.    
     
     
         7 . A pressure controller according to    claim 6   , wherein the fan assembly has a valve opening surface adapted to move the seal plate to the open position when the fan assembly and the valve assembly are mated to one another.  
     
     
         8 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the valve assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position by a portion of the fan assembly when the valve assembly and the fan assembly are coupled to one another.  
     
     
         9 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the fan assembly has a fan housing, a fan in the fan housing, a fan motor, and a discharge conduit, wherein the motor drives the fan within the housing providing communication between the discharge conduit and the valve assembly through the fan housing.  
     
     
         10 . A pressure controller according to    claim 1   , wherein the fan assembly can be controlled to generate a negative pressure in the coke box to capture any contaminates generated when a coke charge is pushed into the coke box.  
     
     
         11 . A pressure controlled coke box comprising: 
 a coke box having an interior;    a fan assembly;    a valve assembly selectively coupling the fan assembly with the coke box interior;    a barometer for sensing a pressure in the coke box; and    a control element for controlling a speed of the fan assembly to maintain the pressure in the coke box below a desired level.    
     
     
         12 . A pressure controlled coke box according to    claim 11   , wherein the control element transmits a signal from the barometer, the signal determined by comparing the pressure in the coke box to the desired level.  
     
     
         13 . A pressure controlled coke box according to    claim 11   , wherein the control element has a microprocessor electronically coupled with the barometer and has a transmitter for sending a signal used to control the speed of the fan assembly.  
     
     
         14 . A pressure controlled coke box according to    claim 13   , wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal sent by the transmitter.  
     
     
         15 . A pressure controlled coke box according to    claim 11   , wherein the valve assembly has a seal plate housed within a valve chamber and a spring arranged to bias the seal plate to a closed position preventing a change of pressure from the coke box through the valve assembly, and wherein the fan assembly has a valve opening device adapted to move the seal plate to an open position when the fan assembly and the valve assembly are coupled to one another permitting a pressure change in the coke box through the valve assembly.  
     
     
         16 . A method of preventing pressure build up in a coke box and gas flow back into a coke oven when pushing a coke charge into an interior of the coke box, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a valve assembly on a wall of the coke box selectively communicating with the coke box interior;    selectively coupling a fan assembly with the valve assembly for selective communication with the coke box interior;    mounting a barometer for sensing a pressure within the coke box interior; and    controlling a speed of the fan assembly to maintain the pressure within the coke box interior below a desired level.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to    claim 16   , wherein the fan assembly is provided on a coke box carrier, the step of selectively coupling occurs when the coke box is properly positioned relative to the carrier, and the step of selectively coupling further includes automatically moving a portion of the valve assembly from a closed position to an open position by contact with a portion of the fan assembly upon coupling the fan assembly with the valve assembly.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to    claim 16   , wherein the step of controlling further comprises the steps of: 
 comparing the pressure in the coke box interior with the desired pressure level at a microprocessor;    transmitting a radio frequency signal from a transmitter to a receiver as a function of the comparison; and    performing the step of controlling as a function of the comparison.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to    claim 16   , wherein the fan assembly moves gas and particulate matter in the gas from the coke box and through a filter medium before passing the gas to atmosphere.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to    claim 19   , wherein the fan assembly is positioned downstream of the filter medium.