Circular traveling grate machine

Abstract

A circular traveling grate machine includes rotatable, inner and outer, rail mounted, side frame members forming the sidewalls of an annular hearth region therebetween. A plurality of individually tiltable pallets are positioned in the hearth region and are movable with the side frames along a circular pallet trackway which is positioned within the inner and outer rails of the side frames. A stationary hood is mounted above the hearth region carrying sealing flanges at its lateral edges which extend downwardly in a pair of liquid troughs carried by the rotatable side frames. A stationary windbox is situated below the pallets and is also sealed off by way of lower liquid seals coacting with the side frames. The pallets carry a pair of rotatable hanger brackets at the leading ends thereof which are latched to the undersides of the inner and outer side frames. The trailing ends of the pallets are supported by a pair of wheels which travel on rails in respective tunnel-like passages, isolated on either side of the hearth region by mechanical seals. The upper and lower liquid seals provide a process zone which is hermetically sealed around its perimeter from the atmosphere. Additional mechanical seals in the area of the discharge zone isolate the lower liquid seals and prevent undue turbulence therein due to pressure changes in the transitional area from the process zone to the discharge zone.