US 12,270,607 B2
Sealing system for a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material
Jeffrey M. Pancher, Coal Township, PA (US); Neil R. Dock, Selinsgrove, PA (US); Brian Morgan, Watsontown, PA (US); David Koerber, Lancaster, PA (US); and Andrew Wisner, Gainesville, GA (US)
Assigned to Metso USA Inc., Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by Metso Outotec USA Inc., Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/207,772.
Application 18/207,772 is a division of application No. 16/885,511, filed on May 28, 2020, granted, now 11,709,019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332834 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F27D 3/12 (2006.01); B65G 17/16 (2006.01); F27D 3/00 (2006.01); F27D 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC F27D 3/123 (2013.01) [B65G 17/16 (2013.01); F27D 3/00 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0267 (2013.01); F27D 2003/0034 (2013.01); F27D 2003/0059 (2013.01); F27D 2019/0081 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for retrofitting one or more drop bars of a sealing system for a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material,
wherein the machine comprises a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace along a traveling direction, wherein a series of the plurality of pallet cars located within the stationary furnace together define, at lateral sides of the plurality of pallet cars, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace along the traveling direction, wherein the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface of the plurality of pallet cars define a gap therebetween, and
wherein the sealing system includes the one or more drop bars that are configured to be distributed after each other along the traveling direction, and wherein each drop bar of the one or more drop bars is slidably connected to the support structure such that the one or more drop bars are displaceable in a substantially vertical direction, such that the one or more drop bars are configured to be forced, by gravity, to be in engagement with the common engagement surface,
the method comprising:
dismantling at least one drop bar of the one or more drop bars from the machine;
attaching a brush, or a brush holder which carries the brush, to the at least one drop bar; and
mounting said at least one drop bar back on the machine,
wherein the brush or brush holder is attached to the drop bar such that the brush is configured to be in engagement with the common engagement surface such that the brush mounted to the one or more drop bars covers the gap over at least parts of the gap length when in use on the machine.