Flexible Hinge Type Baffle Panel for Bottom Ash Hopper Water Seal Trough Protection

Abstract

A flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection is made up of several baffle plates arranged vertically and horizontally with each other, forming several baffle columns which are positioned next to each other to cover a water seal trough in a coal burning power plant from damage due to impact from clinker debris. In each of the baffle columns, a several hinge interfaces hingedly connects the baffle plates to each other in series, allowing the columns to be raised or folded into themselves to facilitate inspection and maintenance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection comprises:
 a plurality of baffle columns;   each of the plurality of baffle columns comprises a plurality of baffle plates and a plurality of hinge interfaces;   the plurality of baffle plates being serially connected to each other by the plurality of hinge interfaces; and   the plurality of baffle plates comprises a top baffle plate, a plurality of intermediate baffle plates, and a bottom baffle plate.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the top baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; and 
 the bottom baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates opposite the top baffle plate. 
 
     
     
         3 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a first intermediate plate and a last intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; 
 the first intermediate plate being hingedly connected to the top baffle plate by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces; and 
 the bottom baffle plate being hingedly connected to the last intermediate plate by another of the plurality of hinge interfaces. 
 
     
     
         4 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 3  comprises:
 an arbitrary intermediate plate and an adjacent intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; and 
 the arbitrary plate and the adjacent plate being hingedly connected to each other by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces. 
 
     
     
         5 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the top baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other; 
 the plurality of intermediate baffle plates for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other; and 
 the bottom baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other. 
 
     
     
         6 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an arbitrary plate and an adjacent plate from the plurality of baffle plates, wherein the adjacent plate is positioned serially adjacent to the arbitrary plate along one of the plurality of baffle columns; 
 each of the plurality of hinge interfaces comprises a first plurality of hinge knuckles, a second plurality of hinge knuckles, and a hinge rod; 
 the first plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the arbitrary plate; 
 the second plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the adjacent plate; 
 the first plurality of hinge knuckles, the second plurality of hinge knuckles, and the hinge rod being positioned concentrically with each other; 
 the second plurality of hinge knuckles being interspersed among the first plurality of hinge knuckles; and 
 the hinge rod traversing through the first plurality of hinge knuckles and the second plurality of cylindrical knuckles. 
 
     
     
         7 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the hinge rod traverses through at least two baffle columns from the plurality of baffle columns. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baffle plates is made of metal. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection comprises:
 a plurality of baffle columns;   each of the plurality of baffle columns comprises a plurality of baffle plates and a plurality of hinge interfaces;   the plurality of baffle plates being serially connected to each other by the plurality of hinge interfaces;   the plurality of baffle plates comprises a top baffle plate, a plurality of intermediate baffle plates, and a bottom baffle plate;   the top baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates;   the bottom baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates opposite the top baffle plate;   a first intermediate plate and a last intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates;   the first intermediate plate being hingedly connected to the top baffle plate by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces; and   the bottom baffle plate being hingedly connected to the last intermediate plate by another of the plurality of hinge interfaces.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 an arbitrary intermediate plate and an adjacent intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; and 
 the arbitrary plate and the adjacent plate being hingedly connected to each other by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces. 
 
     
     
         11 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 the top baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other; 
 the plurality of intermediate baffle plates for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other; and 
 the bottom baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other. 
 
     
     
         12 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 an arbitrary plate and an adjacent plate from the plurality of baffle plates, wherein the adjacent plate is positioned serially adjacent to the arbitrary plate along one of the plurality of baffle columns; 
 each of the plurality of hinge interfaces comprises a first plurality of hinge knuckles, a second plurality of hinge knuckles, and a hinge rod; 
 the first plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the arbitrary plate; 
 the second plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the adjacent plate; 
 the first plurality of hinge knuckles, the second plurality of hinge knuckles, and the hinge rod being positioned concentrically with each other; 
 the second plurality of hinge knuckles being interspersed among the first plurality of hinge knuckles; and 
 the hinge rod traversing through the first plurality of hinge knuckles and the second plurality of cylindrical knuckles. 
 
     
     
         13 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the hinge rod traverses through at least two baffle columns from the plurality of baffle columns. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of baffle plates is made of metal. 
     
     
         15 . A flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection comprises:
 a plurality of baffle columns;   each of the plurality of baffle columns comprises a plurality of baffle plates and a plurality of hinge interfaces;   the plurality of baffle plates being serially connected to each other by the plurality of hinge interfaces;   the plurality of baffle plates comprises a top baffle plate, a plurality of intermediate baffle plates, and a bottom baffle plate;   the top baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other;   the plurality of intermediate baffle plates for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other;   the bottom baffle plate for each of the plurality of baffle columns being aligned with each other;   an arbitrary plate and an adjacent plate from the plurality of baffle plates, wherein the adjacent plate is positioned serially adjacent to the arbitrary plate along one of the plurality of baffle columns;   each of the plurality of hinge interfaces comprises a first plurality of hinge knuckles, a second plurality of hinge knuckles, and a hinge rod;   the first plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the arbitrary plate;   the second plurality of hinge knuckles being positioned on the adjacent plate;   the first plurality of hinge knuckles, the second plurality of hinge knuckles, and the hinge rod being positioned concentrically with each other;   the second plurality of hinge knuckles being interspersed among the first plurality of hinge knuckles; and   the hinge rod traversing through the first plurality of hinge knuckles and the second plurality of cylindrical knuckles.   
     
     
         16 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 the top baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; and 
 the bottom baffle plate being positioned adjacent to the plurality of intermediate baffle plates opposite the top baffle plate. 
 
     
     
         17 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 a first intermediate plate and a last intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; 
 the first intermediate plate being hingedly connected to the top baffle plate by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces; and 
 the bottom baffle plate being hingedly connected to the last intermediate plate by another of the plurality of hinge interfaces. 
 
     
     
         18 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 17  comprises:
 an arbitrary intermediate plate and an adjacent intermediate plate from the plurality of intermediate baffle plates; and 
 the arbitrary plate and the adjacent plate being hingedly connected to each other by one of the plurality of hinge interfaces. 
 
     
     
         19 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the hinge rod traverses through at least two baffle columns from the plurality of baffle columns. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible hinge type baffle panel for bottom ash hopper water seal trough protection as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of baffle plates is made of metal.