FURNACE ROLLER AND ROLLER FURNACE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a furnace roller and to a roller furnace having such a furnace roller. The furnace roller has a hollow-cylindrical roller body with an interior space. A stopper is arranged in each end-side length portion of the roller body. The stopper is composed of a geopolymer, such as an alkali-activated aluminosilicate.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A furnace roller, comprising: a roller body, wherein the roller body comprises an interior space and end-side length portions; and a stopper in each of the end-side length portions, wherein the stopper comprises a geopolymer.

13. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the geopolymer is an alkali-activated aluminosilicate.

14. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises an inner diameter and the stopper comprises a length, and a ratio of the inner diameter to the length ranges from 4:1 to 2:1.

15. The furnace roller according to claim 14, wherein the ratio of the inner diameter of the roller body to the length of the stopper ranges from 3.25:1 to 2.25:1.

16. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the stopper is offset from an end face of the roller body.

17. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the stopper is permeable to a gas.

18. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises a ceramic material.

19. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises an outer coating.

20. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises a first material, the stopper comprises a second material, and the first material and the second material able to be classified in a same category of waste.

21. A roller furnace, comprising: a furnace chamber; side walls, wherein the side walls delimit the furnace chamber; and a furnace roller comprising a roller body and a stopper, wherein the roller body comprises an interior space and end-side length portions, and the stopper is in each of the end-side length portions, and each of the end-side length portions are configured to be guided by the side walls.

22. The roller furnace according to claim 21, wherein the stopper is at a transition of the furnace chamber to a sidewall of the side walls.

23. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises a hollow cylinder.

24. The furnace roller according to claim 12, wherein the roller body comprises a sheath.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present disclosure is described to an extent below with reference to drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a furnace module of a roller furnace according to the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a furnace roller according to the present disclosure, and

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the side wall of a roller furnace in the region where a furnace roller is guided through towards the outside according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a furnace module of a roller furnace 1 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of a side wall 2 of the roller furnace 1 in the region where a furnace roller 3 is guided through towards the outside.

[0040] The roller furnace 1 is typically composed of multiple furnace modules which are connected in a row in succession and has a run-in zone (not illustrated here) and a furnace chamber 4 which, in cross section, is delimited on all sides by furnace walls, and a run-out zone (likewise not illustrated here) where the heated products, for example metal sheets, exit the roller furnace 1 after the heat treatment. The heating is effected via a heating system 5 and burners 6. The products to be heated are transported on a roller bed 7 formed by furnace rollers 3. The furnace rollers 3 extend over the furnace chamber width and are guided through the side walls 2 of the furnace chamber 4 towards the outside. Here, on the left and right of the furnace chamber 4, the furnace rollers 3 pass through an insulating and load-bearing portion 10 of the side walls 2 in each case by way of an end-side length portion 8, 9. On the outside, the furnace rollers 3 are held in a bearing arrangement 11 and are able to be driven by means of a drive system 12 which is not described in any more detail.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a furnace roller 3 in longitudinal cross section.

[0042] The furnace roller 3 has a roller body 13 composed of a ceramic material with an interior space 14. The interior space 14 is delimited on both sides by a respective stopper 15, 16. The tube body 13 is able to have an outer coating or a sheath on its outer circumference.

[0043] The interior space 14 extends over the central length portion 17 of a furnace roller 3. The stoppers 15, 16 are arranged in each case in an end-side length portion 8, 9 of the roller body 13 and fill the inner diameter D.sub.i of the roller body 13.

[0044] The stoppers 15, 16 are composed of a geopolymer composed of an alkali-activated aluminosilicate. For the production, a raw material mixture is formed, of a solid having aluminosilicates and an activator component which is added in the form of an aqueous solution or a suspension.

[0045] Mixing and homogenizing of the mixture or of the composition produces a settable, doughy or slurry-like, castable substance and initiates polycondensation of the alkali metal-aluminosilicate units.

[0046] The geopolymer is initially a castable fiber-free composition brought to cast at the corresponding position of a stopper 15, 16 within the tube body 13, and hardens there. The hardened stopper 15, 16 is permeable to gas. In this way, pressure compensation between the interior space 14, which is delimited by the stoppers 15, 16, of the tube body 13 and the external environment is able to be performed.

[0047] Each stopper 15, 16 is arranged at a distance as to the left or to the right of the end face 18 of the roller body 13. The external end portions 19, 20 of the roller body 13 are hollow. The air located therein forms an insulating layer. The end portions 19, 20 have coupling components 21 for transferring the drive energy to the rotation of the furnace rollers 3.

[0048] The stoppers 15, 16 are arranged inside the tube body 13 in the length portion 8 or 9 which extends through the side walls 2.

[0049] The furnace roller 3 passes through the side wall 2 in each case by way of the end-side length portion 8, 9 inside which the stopper 15, 16 is located. Accordingly, the stopper 15, 16 is arranged at the transition of the furnace chamber 4 to the side wall 2 of the roller furnace 1.

[0050] A stopper 15, 16 has a length L.sub.S and a roller body 13 has an inner diameter D.sub.i, wherein the ratio of the inner diameter D.sub.i to the length L.sub.S of the stopper 15, 16 is between 4:1 and 2:1. The ratio of the inner diameter D.sub.i to the length L.sub.S of the stopper 15, 16 is between 3.25:1 and 2.25:1. In the case of an inner diameter D.sub.i of the tube body 13 of 65 mm, the stopper 15, 16 has a corresponding caliber with an outer diameter of 65 mm and has a length L.sub.S of 20.0 mm to 25.0 mm.

[0051] The furnace roller 3 according to the present disclosure is distinguished by better insulation properties and a longer service life. The thermal shock resistance is increased. Overall, a roller furnace 1 equipped with furnace rollers 3 according to the present disclosure is improved in terms of operation and energy and is distinguished by high plant availability with reduced operating costs.

[0052] The foregoing description of some embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The specifically described embodiments explain the principles and practical applications to enable one ordinarily skilled in the art to utilize various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.