Hinged bottom cover for unheading a coke drum

• US 20020175065A1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foster Wheeler USA Corporation (John Wood Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Foster Wheeler USA Corporation (John Wood Group PLC)
• Inventors: Malsbury, Allen S., Myszka, Ronald T., Slingerland, Scott P., Chen, Mark Y.
• Granted Patent: US 6,989,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 202/245
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers

Abstract

An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum. A support structure supports at least the coke drum. A vertical actuator has a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to the support structure, and is arranged to move the bottom cover vertically in a removal operation of the bottom cover. A rotating actuator has a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to the support structure, and is arranged to rotate the bottom cover in a removal operation. A frame assembly having opposing ends is provided, a pivoting end being attached to the bottom cover and a sliding end being slidably mounted. The frame assembly, the vertical actuator and the rotating actuator cooperate to remove the bottom cover in a removal operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum, the apparatus comprising:

a support structure that supports at least the coke drum;

a vertical actuator having a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to said support structure, wherein said vertical actuator is arranged to move the bottom cover vertically in a removal operation of the bottom cover;

a rotating actuator having a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to said support structure and arranged to rotate the bottom cover in a removal operation; and

a frame assembly having opposing ends, a pivoting end being attached to the bottom cover and a sliding end being slidably mounted such that said frame assembly, said vertical actuator and said rotating actuator cooperate to remove the bottom cover in a removal operation.

2. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said vertical actuator is attached to the bottom cover and the support structure by way of pivot joints that allow pivoting about at least two orthogonal axes.

3. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 2, wherein said rotating actuator is attached to said support structure by way of a pivot joint that is adapted to allow pivoting about only one axis.

4. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, further comprising a floor actuator attached to the sliding end of said frame assembly, said floor actuator and said frame assembly cooperating in order to remove the bottom cover only vertically.

5. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, further comprising a floor actuator configured to move the sliding end of said frame assembly during a removal operation.

6. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said vertical actuator and said floor actuator are hydraulic cylinders.

7. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said frame assembly is directly attached to the bottom cover.

8. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said frame assembly is indirectly attached to the bottom cover.

9. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting plate fixed to the bottom cover, wherein the pivoting end of said frame assembly is pivotally attached to said connecting plate.

10. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 9, wherein said rotating actuator is pivotally attached to said connecting plate.

11. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, further comprising a floor attachment assembly configured to slidably mount the sliding end of said frame assembly.

12. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, further comprising a floor attachment assembly, said floor attachment assembly comprising:

an anchor attached to the floor and having a sidewall, the sidewall having an aperture;

a slide block slidably disposed within the aperture of the sidewall; and

a pin interconnecting said anchor and the sliding end of said frame assembly, such that said slide block and said anchor slidably secure said frame assembly to the floor.

13. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said frame assembly and said rotating actuator cooperate to simultaneously lift and rotate the bottom cover during a removal operation.

14. An apparatus for removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 1, wherein said rotating actuator and said frame assembly are pivotally attached to the bottom cover at the same location, such that as said rotating actuator supplies a force to said frame assembly, said frame assembly rotates in an arc and the bottom cover is simultaneously rotated and lifted during a removal operation.

16. A method of removing a bottom cover on a coke drum according to claim 15, further comprising actuating the rotating actuator such that the frame assembly rotates at the sliding end of the frame assembly and the bottom cover is simultaneously rotated and lifted.

15. A method of removing a bottom cover on a coke drum, the method comprising the steps of:

supporting at least the coke drum using a structure;

providing a vertical actuator having a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to the support structure, wherein the vertical actuator is arranged to move the bottom cover vertically in a removal operation;

providing a rotating actuator having a cover end attached to the bottom cover and a support end attached to the support structure;

providing a frame assembly having opposing ends so that a pivoting end is attached to the bottom cover and a sliding end is slidably mounted; and

actuating the vertical actuator and sliding the sliding end of the frame assembly to move the bottom cover only vertically.