Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Ronald J. Marr · Larry E. Shultz ·
Assignee(s)	J. E. Baker Company ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Woodcock Washburn LLP ·
Primary Examiner	Jiping Lu ·
Application Number	US9873514
Filing date	06/05/2001
Issue date	01/06/2004
Prior Publication Data	US20010026912 - 10/04/2001
Predicted expiration date	02/08/2020
U.S. Classifications	122/103  · 122/119  · 122/118  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B2
International Classifications	432103 · 432105 · 432108 · 432110 · 432111 · 432118 · 432119 ·
Related U.S. Application Data	This Application is a continuation of U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 09/499,788 filed Feb. 8, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,878 (Bker-0004).

Patent Family

Abstract

A trefoil for a rotary kiln is provided that has at least three spoke-like refractory legs. Each one of the legs extends radially outwardly from a center of the trefoil; spans approximately from the kiln shell to the center of the kiln; is pre-formed outside of the kiln for installation as a single-leg unit; and has a mating surface that preferably is uniform and even, thereby lacking interlocking features. The mating surfaces of the legs abut one another at the kiln center to provide mutual support. An alignment member, such as a pair of longitudinal angles, are welded to the kiln shell to position the legs. A corresponding method of installing the trefoil is disclosed that includes positioning and shimming the first two legs at the 4 oclock position and 8 oclock position, and installing the third leg at the 12 oclock position.

Independent Claims | See all claims (7)

1. 1. A heat exchanger for use within a rotary kiln that includes a cylindrical steel shell with an internal refractory lining, said heat exchanger comprising a first, preformed configuration and a second, installed configuration, said heat exchanger, in the first, preformed configuration, comprising at least three loose, refractory legs, each one of the legs comprising: a foot, a mating end opposing the foot, and a body extending between the foot and the mating end, each one of the legs is continuous and between the foot and the mating surface, thereby forming a single-leg unit, and said heat exchanger, in the second, installed configuration that is formed within the kiln from the loose legs, having each one of the continuous, single-leg units assembled into a spoke-like configuration wherein each one of the legs extends substantially radially outwardly from a center thereof to proximate the shell, and metallic retainers coupling the mating ends of the leg to the shell.