WO1980001921A1

WO1980001921A1 - Coke oven fumes control system

Info

Publication number: WO1980001921A1
Application number: PCT/US1980/000238
Authority: WO
Inventors: P Nijhawan; J Duckworth
Original assignee: Envirotech Corp
Priority date: 1979-03-12
Filing date: 1980-02-29
Publication date: 1980-09-18
Also published as: AU537007B2; GB2056659A; GB2056659B; CA1157802A; AU5586480A; FR2451395A1; FR2451395B1; NL8020110A

Abstract

A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation is provided. It includes a suction means (56), a duct (50) and coupling means (54) therebetween. The duct (50) is closed by a flexible web (60). A car (64, 66) is moved to a selected position along the duct (50) to raise the web (60) communicating a first (80) and second (20) mobile hood with the interior of the duct (50). An inspection door (152) on the car (64, 66) provides access to its interior. The hood (80) is disposed over conveyor (44). First and second track means (62, 72) supports the hood (80) in a cantilever manner. The hood (20) withdraws contaminants evolved as coke is pushed from an oven (12) to the conveyor (44). It includes means (370) forming an air curtain and for directing air toward the coke oven door. Valve (128) selectively controls evacuation of the hood (20) through second duct (92). A striker means (420, 422) breaks pushed coke into sized lumps. To accomodate thermal expansion, each of plural sections (48) in the duct (50) has one free end engaging an adjacent duct section (48).

Description

COKE OVEN FUMES CONTROL SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pollution control, and primarily to a close-capture system for containing airborne contaminants such as those generated during a coke pushing operation in an oven of a coke oven battery.

2. State of the Art

Many industrial operations, such as coke pushing operations, generate large quantities of pollutant fumes and dusts. In a coke pushing operation, coke is pushed from a selected oven of a coke oven battery by a large ram through an oven door opening on one side (the so-called coke side) of the oven, through a coke guide and into a receptacle or conveyor, illustratively a so-called quench car or hot car. The hot, usually incandescent coke is transported in this receptacle or conveyor to a quench station, which may take the form of a quench tower or quench bath, in which the coke is drenched or submerged.

Several systems for capturing pollutants generated during transfer of the coke from the oven to the quench station are known. In some systems, such as those described in United States Patents 3,630,852 and 4,050,992, the entire coke side of the battery, or a substantial portion of it, is enclosed in a shed all the way down to the wharf upon which quenched coke is dumped. The entire shed is continuously or intermittently evacuated, illustratively through an overhead duct system which draws an enormous volume of pollutant-laden air from the interior of the shed. Of course, an equally enormous blower and large capacity filter system must be provided to accommodate the large volume of pollutant-laden air withdrawn from the shed interior.

The expense of such a system is evident. First, coke oven batteries typically are quite large. Thus, the shed itself must be quite large. Since there is no way of controlling the dispersal of pollutant dust and fumes within the interior of the shed, the ventilation system must be able to withdraw completely the entire volume of air within the shed over a predetermined, relatively brief span of time. Thus, in addition to the high cost of constructing the large shed on the coke side of the battery, a high-capacity ventilation system, typically including large inlet ducts, large blowers and high-capacity filter mechanisms (such as precipitators, scrubbers or bag houses) must be provided. In other alternative systems, such as that illustrated in United States Patent 4,029,551, a large Tiood carried by the coke guide-supporting car is connected through a flexible duct system of the general duct-and-car type illustrated in U.S. Patent 4,069,108, for continuous or intermittent evacuation. Of course, in a system of that type, the coke guide-supporting car must travel to the quench station with the quench car to insure that airborne pollutants released between the push and entry of the quench car into the quench station are captured. In a third type of system, illustrated in U.S. Patent 3,675,400 a separate car, riding upon the same rails as the quench car, supports, in cantilever fashion, a hood designed to overlie the entire length of the quench car when the separate car is close to the quench car, and progressively less of the quench car as the separate car moves away from the quench car. Of course, the separate car must also be flexibly connected to a continuous or intermittent evacuation system. Placement of the ventilation system-supporting car on the same tracks as the quench car is extremely inconvenient, since it does not permit the ventilation system-supporting car to pass the quench car.

In another prior art system, the coke guide is surmounted by a hood. A quench car hood is separately mounted for movement along a pair of vertically spaced tracks supported above, and adjacent, the quench car tracks. The coke guide hood is supported for movement along the coke side of the battery from an overhead track lying vertically above the coke guide locomotive tracks. A continuously ventilated duct-and-car arrangement, of the general type described in U.S. Patent 4,069,108, is disposed laterally along the coke side, with the coke guide locomotive tracks, the overhead coke guide hood supporting track, the quench car tracks, and the quench car hood-supporting tracks and framework located between the coke side of the battery and the duct-and-car arrangement. Separate ducts connect the coke guide hood and quench car hood to the car of the duct-and-car arrangement. The conduit connecting the quench car hood to the car of the duct-and-car arrangement includes a regenerative heat exchanger.

Typically, the quench car hoods of coke oven installations are fairly massive. Thus, it will be appreciated that, in order to support the quench car hood in such cantilever fashion, the wheels on the quench car hood, the vertically spaced tracks engaged by such wheels, and the framework supporting such tracks must be of fairly heavy and strong construction. Additionally, a separate framework, equally as sturdy as the one supporting the quench car hood, is provided to support the duct of the duct-and-car arrangement well above the level of the quench car tracks and out of interference with the unloading operation from the quench car onto the wharf. A system of this last-described type is offered jointly by Hartung, Kuhn & Co. Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Dusseldorf, and Firma Carl Still, Recklinghausen, both of West Germany.

Yet another type of system is illustrated by British Patent specification 1,310,980. In systems of this type, a collapsible hood expanded and contracted by a fluid motor is provided around the coke guide to collect dusts and fumes generated during the push. A duct-and-car arrangement is used to evacuate the collapsible hood. In this embodiment, the car is inside the duct, and the duct is supported above the coke guide locomotive on a suitable support frame. An apparent weakness of the systems of this type is that no separate hood mechanism is provided for close capture of contaminants released from hot coke in the quench car after the push. Therefore, to insure capture of such contaminants, the coke guide locomotive must always accompany the quench car. Further, the coke guide hood must be sufficiently long to cover the entire length of the quench car. In very many situations, such requirements for adequate ventilation make installations of this type prohibitively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation includes suction means, a duct and means for coupling the suction means to the duct for evacuation thereby. The duct is of a type including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, means, such as a grate, for supporting the web against collapse into the duct under such evacuation, and a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct. Means are provided for guiding the car along the duct. The car includes means cooperating with the guide means to support and guide the car along the duct, and a door for providing access to the interior of the car for entry into the duct for inspection.

Alternatively, a second car may be provided for movement along the duct, the second car including means for raising the web to couple the interior of the second car to the interior of the duct, and a door for providing access to the interior of the second car for entry into the duct for inspection.

Further according to the invention, means are provided for moving the car along the duct to a selected position. The moving means includes a motor, a drive wheel, means for engaging the drive wheel, means for attaching the drive wheel engaging means to the car, means for mounting the drive wheel, and means for coupling the motor to the drive wheel. The motor is actuable selectively to drive the drive wheel to move the drive wheel engaging means, and thus the car, along the duct. Further according to the invention, a mobile first hood, and means for coupling the first hood to the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood in overlying relation to a selected portion of a conveyor for incandescent coke are provided. This apparatus permits withdrawal into the first hood means of contaminants evolved as the incandescent coke is conveyed, for example, to a quenching station. The system further includes a mobile second hood mounted on the coke guide through which the incandescent coke is pushed from the oven. The mobile second hood is provided to withdraw contaminants evolved as the coke is pushed from the oven to the conveyor. The second hood includes blower means, means for forming an air curtain and for directing the air curtain to contain and prevent the escape of contaminants evolved during the push, and means for connecting the air curtain-forming means to the blower means. The blower means includes means defining a suction inlet within the second hood and filter means disposed between the inlet and the air curtain-forming means. This arrangement permits filtering of the evolved contaminants from the air stream provided by the blower means, such that the filtered air stream can be used to form the air curtain.

Additionally, according to the invention, a second duct can be provided for coupling the second hood to the car. In this manner, contaminants in the interior of the second hood are evacuated cooperatively through the blower inlet and the first duct.

According to the invention, for a coke guide means having two opposed side walls, a bar or plate is provided which extends between, and is attached to, the two side walls at the height at which the coke is exhausted from the guide means. The coke strikes the bar or plate and is broken into suitably sized lumps.

Further according to the invention, the coke guide means includes a surrounding coke guide hood, and means for projecting and retracting the coke guide hood respectively toward and away from the walls of a selected coke oven. Alternatively, or additionally, the projecting and retracting means can be provided to project and retract the second hood means respectively toward and away from the mobile first hood. Further according to the invention, the duct includes a plurality of duct sections each having at least one free end, and means for supporting each duct section. The free end of each duct section engages an adjacent duct section to couple all of the duct sections to the suction means, thereby permitting thermally induced variations in the length of each duct section. The duct is provided with first track means. First wheel means on the car engage the first track means. Second track means extend along the duct parallel to the first track means. The car is provided with second track-engaging wheel means for engaging the second track and assisting to support the hood means in cantilever manner from the car over the conveyor.

Additionally, means are provided for maintaining a predetermined tension on the web or belt notwithstanding the thermally induced variations in the length of the duct. The illustrative belt tension maintaining means includes means for coupling the flexible web adjacent one of its ends to the duct, and means adjacent the other end of the flexible web on the duct permitting relative movement between said other end of the web and the duct. Such relative movement compensates for differences between the thermally induced variations in length of the duct and web. The illustrative means for permitting relative movement between said other end of the web and the duct includes roller means over which the web is trained adjacent the other end, and means for yieldably urging said other end of the web away from said one end of the web. The yieldable urging means includes, for example, a weight, and means for attaching the weight to the web adjacent said other end of the web.

Further according to the invention, valve means, such as dampers, are provided for selectively controlling evacuation of the second hood means. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve means is mounted in a third duct provided in the first hood means. In the illustrated embodiment, proportioning guides are provided in the car, and are provided with selectively actuable dampers. These independent dampers permit valving of suction selectively either only through the second hood means, or through both the second hood means and first hood means.

Further, the first hood means, the quench car hood, is divided into a plurality of sectors, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. Division of the quench car hood into sectors and independent valving or damping of each sector, or group of sectors, permits establishment of suction selectively in various areas of the quench car hood. In many instances this is highly desirable, since at times the quench car hood may overlie only a portion of the quench car, or only a portion of the quench car may contain out-gassing coke over which suction must be established.

Further according to the invention, a system of multiple cars is provided on the first duct, illustratively one car for each twenty feet of length of the first hood means. A primary advantage of a multiple car system is that the weight of the first hood means can be supported cooperatively, and the load of the first hood means distributed over several cars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partly fragmentary perspective view of a typical coke oven battery installation, with the close-capture contaminant control system of the instant invention installed;

Fig. 2 is a partly fragmentary end elevational view of the installation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of Figs. 1-2, taken generally along section lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the system taken generally along section lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a detail of the system, taken generally along section lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, but illustrating an alternative to structures illustrated in Fig. 4;

Figs . 6-10 illustrate a number of drive arrangements for systems of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-2;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along section lines 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the installation, taken generally along section lines 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the installation, taken generally along section lines 14-14 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along section lines 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a partly fragmentary end elevational view of a detail of the installation, taken generally along section lines 16-16 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a detail taken along section lines 17-17 of Fig. 11; Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a detail taken generally along sectional lines 18-18 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a detail of the illustration of Figs. 1-2;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of the detail of Fig. 19, taken generally along section lines 20-20 of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view of the detail illustrated in Figs. 19-20, taken generally along section lines 21-21 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view of the detail of Figs. 19-20, taken generally along section lines 22-22 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view of the detail of Fig. 19, taken generally along section lines 23-23 of Fig. 19; Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an illustrative web- or belt-tensioning mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary top plan view of the belt-tensioning mechanism of Fig. 24, taken generally along section lines 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2, in operation;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2; Fig. 28 is a fragmentary top plan view of an alternative detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2;

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative detail of the installation of Figs. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1-2, a coke oven battery 10 consists of several coke ovens 12 in parallel. Each oven 12 is provided at its coke side end 14 with a door 16, and at its push side end (not shown) with a ram for pushing coke through the oven from the ram side to the coke side 14 to empty the oven. The oven 12 is emptied through its door opening 18 and a coke guide 20 into a waiting quench car 22. The coke guide 20 is movable along a master gallery 24 on railroad-type rails 26 to align it with a selected oven 12 to be emptied. Similarly, the quench car 22 is movable along the coke side 14 of the oven battery 10 to receive the coke pushed through the guide 20. The quench car 22 is movable on railroad-type rails 28 which extend along the coke side and to a quenching station 30, illustratively, a quenching tower. The means for moving the coke guide 20 to a selected oven 12 is a door machine locomotive 32 movable on rails 26. This machine 32 incorporates the function of supporting and moving the coke guide with the function of removing the door 16 from the selected oven 12 and replacing the door after a push is completed. The quench car 22 is moved by a locomotive 34 mounted on the rails 28.

An unloading wharf 36 is provided adjacent the rails 28 to permit quenched coke from station 30 to be unloaded through a door 40 on quench car 22 and gravityfed to a continuous coke conveyor belt 42. Coke conveyor belt 42 transfers the finished coke to a storage area. The door 40 is perforated to permit the water used to quench the coke in car 22 to drain from the car 22.

Quench car 22 also includes extended side walls 44 which increase the vertical height of the quench car 22 up to the vertical height of the top of the locomotive 34.

The ventilation, or pollution evacuation, system for the pushing operation includes a longitudinally spaced series of support posts or pillars 46 anchored in the wharf 36 adjacent rails 28. Each pillar 46 supports a longitudinally extending section 48 of a first duct 50. Each section 48 includes its own supporting framework 52 which cooperates with a respective pillar 46 to make each section 48 generally self-supporting. As discussed in detail below, each section 48 is coupled in sliding, substantially air-tight sealing engagement with its adjacent duct sections 48. This sectional arrangement permits relatively unimpaired thermal variations in the length of each section 48 without adversely affecting the total length of the duct 50. Transition and connector duct sections 54 at one end of the first duct 50 couple the interior of duct 50 through suction means 56 to an assembly, such as a bag house, fume scrubber or separator 58. Dust and fumes from the hot coke are separated at station 58 and clean air is exhausted to atmosphere. The duct 50 is generally rectangular in transverse section, and includes three rigid walls 51 supported in the framework 52, and an upper wall section which is closed by a flexible web or belt 60. The vertically upper edges of the vertically extending wall of duct 50 are provided with rails or tracks 62 supporting substantially identical, belt-lifting first and second cars 64, 66 for movement along duct 50. The operation of the cars 64, 66 on duct 50 is generally as described in U.S. Patents 2,923,227, 3,478,668, 3,481,265, 3,698,137, 3,705,545, 3,788,208, and 4,086,847, as well as the above-identified British patent specification 1,310,980, and U.S. Patents 4,029,551, 4,069,108.

As discussed in detail below, vertically extending supports 70 are attached to the framework 52 so as to avoid interference with movement of the cars 64, 66 along tracks 62. Each car 64, 66 includes a pair of upper wheels 72. Supports 70 support a track 74 which is engaged by wheels 72 of each car. Supports 70 also support a pent roof 76 which protects wheels 72, tracks 74 and the web or belt 60 from weather.

The contaminant capture system includes a mobile hood 80, described in detail below, supported from cars 64, 66 for movement along duct 50 in overlying relation with a selected portion of quench car 22. As best illustrated in Figs. 3-5, a support means 140 is provided in the duct 50 directly beneath the web 60. The illustrative web support means 140 can be a grate 142 (Fig. 3), or transversely extending slats 144 (Figs . 4-5) , or other suitable means . Occasionally , it is necessary or desirable to enter the interior of duct 50 for inspection purposes, for maintenance, or the like. To accomplish this, the support means 140 can include a section 146 attached by a hinge 148 to the surrounding support means 140 portion (see Figs. 4 and 5). Alternatively, the web support means 140 can include adjacent support means sections separated to define an access space 150, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Car 66 (Fig. 4) includes access doors 152. Movement of cars 64, 66 into position such that car 66 lifts the web 60 from the section 146 or access space 150, followed by opening of the doors 152, permits inspection and/or repair personnel to enter the duct 50 directly.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a separate and independently movable inspection car 154 has access doors 152 and interior rollers to lift the web 60 from the support means 140. The inspection car 154 can be stored at the end of the duct 50 when not in use .

Turning now to Figs. 6-10, several arrangements for driving cars 64, 66, as well as inspection car 154, along the duct 50 are illustrated. In Fig. 6, electrical connections are made to the car 64 from overhead buses 170. An electric motor 172 is mounted on a bracket 174 at the end of the car 64. A small sprocket 176 is mounted on the motor 172 output shaft. A sprocket 178 is mounted on the axle 180 upon which the track 62 engaging wheels 182 are mounted. The sprocket 178 is mounted between the bearings 184 by which the axle 180 is rotatably attached to the car 64 body. One of wheels 182 is cut to provide pinion gearlike teeth 186. One of the tracks 62 is provided with longitudinally extending rack-like teeth 188. Actuation of motor 172 may be by any suitable means, such as, for example, switching of power to buses 170. Contact is maintained between buses 170 and the motor 172 through spring-urged contact brushes 190 mounted on top of the car 64. Sprockets 176, 178 are coupled by a roller chain

192. The direction of motion of the car 64, and therefore, the hood 80, along duct 50 can be reversed, for example, by reversing the polarity of the potential across buses 170. In Fig. 7, the sprocket 178 is replaced by a roller chain 194 which extends the entire length of travel of the car 64 along duct 50. The electric motor 172 is positioned so that sprocket 176 projects beyond the side wall of car 64 to engage the roller chain 194. Rotation of motor 172 in a first direction pulls the car 64 along duct 50 in one direction. Reversal of motor 172, such as by reversal of the polarity of the voltage on buses 170 pulls car 64 along duct 50 in the opposite direction. In this manner, cars 64 and 66, and hood 80 (see Figs. 1-2) can be positioned along the coke side 14 of battery 10 as desired.

Referring to Fig. 8, the track 62 and the associated wheels 182 are avoided. Rather, one of the belt directing rollers 200 is provided with an annular groove 202. A sprocket 204 is positioned in the groove so that the teeth of the sprocket 204 lie well below the belt-contacting surface 206 of the roller 200. A roller chain 208 is trained about the sprocket 176 of an electric motor 172 and about the sprocket 204 in groove 202. Chain 208 passes through a slot 210 in the side wall of car 64. Actuation of the motor 172 in a first direction drives the belt roller 200 to pull the car 64, and the hood 80 along web 60. Of course, in this embodiment, sufficient friction must exist between the belt contacting surface 206 and the web 60 to overcome the inertia of hood 80 and associated components. The car 64 is guided along the web 60 by the guide strips 212 positioned on both sides of the duct 50 at the vertically upper extents of the duct 50 side walls 51. It will be appreciated that the region of the car 64 interior between the vertical run 106 of web 60 and the car 64 sidewall 214 in which slot 210 is provided is isolated from the evacuated volume of car 64 by the vertical run 106 itself .

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9, the electric motor 172 is mounted adjacent one end of the duct 50 on a mounting bracket 220. A drive wheel sprocket 222 is mounted on the motor 172 shaft. An idler wheel sprocket 224 is mounted adjacent the other end of the duct 50. Sprockets 222, 224 are thus mounted beyond the limits of travel of car 64 along duct 50 to avoid interference with the travel of car 64 along duct 50. A length 226 of roller chain is attached at one of its ends to sidewall 214 of car 64, and at its other end, at 228, to the sidewall 230 of car 66. Small roller guides 232 are mounted on the sidewalls 234 of cars 64, 66 to assist in supporting the weight of roller chain 226 between sprockets 222, 224.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10, motor 250 driven winches 252 are coupled to attachment points.254, 256 of cars 64, 66, respectively, through flexible elements, such as ropes or cables 258. Motors 250 are synchronously driven, one to pay out cable 258 from its respective winch 252, and one to take up cable 248 on its respective winch 252. This moves cars 64, 66 along rails 62 on the duct 50 to position hood 80 as desired. Of course, the winches 252 could be motor 250 driven in opposite directions, with clutches which disengage them from their respective winches 252 when cable 258 is being paid out. In such an embodiment, it would not be necessary to drive the motors 250 synchronously. Rather only one motor 250 would need to be driven at any particular time.

Returning briefly to Fig. 3, it will seem that there are two different types of rollers provided within each car 64, 66. The first rollers, 200, are provided primarily for directing the web or belt 60 through the car. That is, rollers 200 lift and lower the web 60 from and to the web support means 140. As was illustrated in Fig. 8, rollers 200 may permit the elimination of the separate carriage wheels 182. Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the vertically lower rollers 200 and carriage wheels 182 can be mounted on the same axle. It is possible to construct the axle, the carriage wheels 182 and the rollers 200 in one piece if the effective diameters of the rollers 200 and carriage wheels 182 are the same.

The second type of roller, 450, in each of cars 64, 66 is provided above and below the horizontal run 108 of the web 60 within each car 64, 66. Rollers 450 are rotatably mounted upon spring 452 urged, pivotally mounted arms 454 from the sidewalls of cars 64, 66.

Rollers 450 serve to guide and stabilize the web 60, and to maintain tension on the web .

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the contaminant capture system includes a first, mobile hood 80. Hood 80 is divided by a central, vertical partition 82. Hood 80 is further divided by two partitions 84, 86, which extend along the length of the hood, into six sectors 88.

As described in detail below, the coke guide 20 is surmounted, and substantially enclosed, by a second mobile hood 90 (Fig. 29). Hood 90 is coupled to a second duct 92 which terminates at a flange 94 adjacent hood 80. Hood 80 is provided with a mating flange 96 (Figs. 11-12). A third duct 98 is provided internally of hood 80. Hood 80 is supported from the cars 64, 66. Hood 80 is evacuated into the duct 50 through openings 100 in cars 64, 66. As best illustrated in Fig. 16, each car 64, 66 includes an internal rectangular elbow duct section 102 with internal proportioning guides or vanes 104. The duct section 102 lies between the vertically extending runs 106 and beneath the horizontally extending run 108 of belt 60 within each car 64, 66 (see Fig. 18).

The partitions 84, 86 angle upwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 14. Near the cars 64, 66 partitions 84, 86 extend generally horizontally to mate with the exposed edges of the proportioning guides 104 in the internal elbow duct sections 102 of cars 64, 66. Flexible flaps 110 insure tight sealing engagement between the partition 84, 86 edges and the proportioning guides 104 in cars 64, 66. The hood 80 is illustratively attached to the cars 64, 66 by bolts through the car 64, 66 side walls and mating flanges 112 on the hood 80 (Figs. 12, 14).

It is highly desirable under certain circumstances to be able to valve air flow from various sectors 88 as required during the various coke oven operations. To this end, butterfly valve dampers are provided for controlling flow from the various sectors 88 into cars 64, 66. Referring particularly to Figs. 11-13, a damper 116 controlled by a handle 118 permits selective control of the flow into the lowermost sector 88 which is evacuated through the car 64. As best illustrated in Fig. 13, the upper and middle sectors 88 which empty into car 64 are not damper-controlled in this embodiment. However, it should be appreciated that dampers can be added as desired to control flow in these sectors. With reference to Figs. 11, 14 and 15, the lowermost sector 88 which is evacuated through car 66, is controlled by a damper 120 which is selectively actuable by a handle 122. The middle sector 88 which is evacuated through car 66 is controlled by a damper 124 which is selectively actuable by a handle 126. The upper sector 88 of the hood which is evacuated through car 66 is not damper controlled in the illustrated embodiment. However, it should be appreciated that a damper can be provided for such control.

Typically, the weight of the hood 80 is substantial. Prior art means for supporting such weight have included a separate framework adjacent the hood, with the framework supporting rails, and wheels on the hood movably engaging the rails. Such a system is the previously described Hartung, Kuhn-Carl Still system. A cantilever-support system illustrated herein, includes the wheels 72 rotatably mounted on cars 64, 66 and engaging the rail 74 mounted (70) from the duct 50 support pillars 46. This system supports the hood 80 by a simpler construction than systems of the above-described types. The upward extensions 44 on the side walls of the quench car 22 permit the quench car locomotive 34 to pass freely beneath the hood 80 on its way to and from the quench tower 30.

Referring back to Figs. 11-13, second valve means for selectively controlling evacuation of the second hood 90 through duct 98 includes a damper 128 controllable by a handle 130. As will be appreciated, the single damper 128 permits valving of the air flow through duct 98 from the hood 90. With the illustrated damper arrangement, flow from hood 90 cannot be completely stopped. However, it must be appreciated that an additional damper can be added to the duct 98 above internal partition 132 to halt the flow through the third duct 98 entirely, to suit the needs of a particular application.

The selectively actuable damper system illustrated permits a high degree of flexibility in the control of the extent of evacuation from beneath hoods 80, 90.

The illustrated multiple-car system helps to distribute the load represented by the weight of hood 80.

Illustratively, a car, such as car 64, 66 may be provided for each 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters) of length of hood 80.

Turning now to Figs. 19-23, the manner by which each section 48 is supported and coupled in sliding engagement to an adjacent section 48 of the duct 50 will be explained. Fig. 19 is a detail of one such junction. As illustrated, each pillar 46 provides a horizontally extending support 270 upon which the adjacent ends of adjacent duct sections 48 rest. With particular reference to Fig. 20, the three rigid side walls 51 of duct 50 are provided at their junctions with rectangular transverse-section members 272. Members 272 extend longitudinally of each section 48. Together with the members 274 which extend diagonally across the walls 51, and members 276 which extend vertically across the walls 51, members 272 form the self-supporting framework 52 for duct 50. Rails or tracks 62 are provided by track sections 278 mounted on the tops of the vertically upper horizontally members 272. A support means 140, such as _a grate, extends across each duct section 48 between the vertially upper members 272 to support the flexible web 60. An additional horizontally extending, rectangular transverse section member 280 is attached, as by welding, to the pillar 46 side of the upper horizontal member 272 adjacent each pillar 46.

The illustrative pillars 46 and horizontal supports 270 are I-beams which provide attachment flanges 282, 284, respectively, adjacent the duct sections 48. It should be appreciated that T-beams, or other suitably shaped beams providing attachment flanges such as flanges 282, 284 could also be used.

A sliding attachment shoe 290 is mounted by bolts 292 and nuts 294 from flange 282. The passageways 296 in shoe 290 through which bolts 292 pass are elongated and slot-like in the longitudinal direction of the duct 50 for one of the adjacent duct sections 48. This is illustrated in Fig. 21. In the adjacent duct sectionsupporting shoe 297, the passageways 298 receiving the bolts 292 are circular. This arrangement permits sliding movement of the shoe 290 provided with the slot-like passageways 296 relative to the flange 282. Such sliding movement accommodates thermal variations in the length of each duct section 48. Resistance to such sliding movement by shoe 290 is minimized by placement of a pad of antifriction material between the shoe and flange 282. One such material is FLUOROGOLD^® TEFLON^® material with a glass aggregate filler. This material is available from FLUOROCARBON COMPANY, 337 Change Bridge Road, Pine Brook, New Jersey, 07058. This material typically is bonded to a ten gauge carbon steel backing plate. As best illustrated in Figs. 20 and 22, a similar arrangement is provided for two attachment shoes 300 within which the vertically lower horizontally extending frame members 272 are cradled. Attachment shoes 300 are attached by bolts 292 and nuts 294 to the attachment flange 284 of horizontal support 270. As best seen in Fig. 22, the passageways 302 receiving bolts 292 to attach one of the adjacent duct sections 48 to flange 284 are elongated and slot-like in the longitudinal direction of the duct 50. The attachment shoes 301 for the other adjacent duct section 48 are provided with circular transverse section passageways 304. It should be appreciated that, while in the illustrated embodiment, only one of the adjacent duct sections 48 is permitted to move longitudinally through the connection technique of the shoes 290, 300, under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to permit both adjacent duct sections 48 so to move.

In order to maintain a substantially air-tight sealing engagement between adjacent duct sections 48, the configuration of Fig. 23 is employed. In Fig. 23, a joint sleeve 306 having outside dimensions equal to the inside transverse dimensions of the duct 50, is attached, as by welding at 308, to one of the adjacent duct sections 48. The sleeve 306 is freely slidable in the other adjacent duct section 48. The sleeve 306 is sufficiently long in the longitudinal direction of the duct 50 to prevent the adjacent duct sections 48 from becoming disengaged in the "worst case" of duct section 48 thermal contraction.

Generally, the variety of materials available for the construction of the duct sections 48 and for the flexible web or belt 60 permits choosing of materials which have fairly closely matched coefficients of thermal expansion. This permits the web 60 to expand fairly uniformly in length with the duct 50. This, of course, prevents damage, either to the web 60 or to the duct 50 which might otherwise result from too great a difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the duct 50 materials and the flexible web 60. However, under certain circumstances, it is not possible or practical to match very closely the changes in length due to thermal expansion of the duct 50 materials and the web 60. Under these circumstances, some means must be provided to accommodate different rates of thermal expansion, especially over the length of a very long duct 50. One such means for accommodating these varying rates of thermal expansion is illustrated in Figs. 24-25. A supporting framework 310 is mounted adjacent one end wall 312 of the duct 50. The web 60 extends out over the end wall 312, is looped about a roller 314 and is clamped about the roller 314 by a belt clamp 316.

Clamp 316 is adjustable along the length of the web 60 to accommodate stretching of the web 60 over long periods of time, such as may be due to tension on the web, etc. Excess web 60 material can be stored in coils 318 in a box-like receptacle 320 provided by framework 310. The axle 322 of roller 314 rests upon blocks 324. Pulleys 326 are mounted on the ends of an axle 328 supported in bearings 330 from the end of framework 310. Cables 332 are attached by yokes 334 to the ends of axle 322. The cables 332 extend over the pulleys 326. The other ends of cable 322 are attached to eyes 336 provided on a weight 338. Weight 338 dangles from the framework 310 to maintain tension on the web 60. Chains 340 are also provided between the eyes 336 and eyes 342 mounted on framework 310. Chains 340 prevent the weight 338 from dropping from the duct 50 in the event of breakage of cables 332.

As discussed above, the contaminant capture system includes a first, mobile hood 80. As shown in Figs. 26-30, the coke guide 20 is surmounted by a second mobile hood 90. Hood 90 is coupled to a second duct 92 which terminates at a flange 94 adjacent hood 80. Hood 80 is provided with a mating flange 96. A third connecting duct 98 is provided internally of hood 80. Hood 80 is supported from the cars 64, 66. Hood 80 is evacuated into the duct 50 through openings in cars 64, 66. Hood 90 is evacuated through ducts 92, 98 and car 64 into duct 50.

Fig. 26, a fragmentary end elevation of the battery 10 from the coke side 14, shows in greater detail adjacent ovens 12, a selected one of which (12') is being emptied. For this purpose, the door 16 of oven 12' has been removed by the door machine 32, exposing the door opening 18 of oven 12'. The door machine locomotive 32 has been moved on rails 26 to place the coke guide 20 directly in front of the opening 18.

Here it should be noted that the guide 20 can be of a type which can be projected, or otherwise moved perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of rails 26. Alternatively, guide 20 can be the type which, when positioned along rails 26 by the locomotive 32, does not project toward the door opening 18 of the selected oven 12' between the oven battery 10 buckstays, or vertical supports, 350 which bracket each door opening 18. This latter type of guide 20 is generally referred to as a "stationary" guide, although it must be understood that all guides are moved longitudinally along the coke side 14 into alignment with the various ovens 12.

Fig. 26 illustrates a mass 352 of incandescent coke being pushed from the door opening 18 through the guide 20 toward the waiting quench car 22 (Figs. 1-2). The evolved dusts and fumes captured under the hood 90 are evacuated through the duct 92, past flanges 94, 96, through the duct 98 internally of hood 80, and through the interior of car 64 into the main duct 50.

In an alternative arrangement, illustrated in Fig. 27, the hood 90 overlies the guide 20, and a duct 92 (not shown) still couples the hood 90 through the duct 98 in hood 80 to the car 64. However, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 27, an air curtain-generator hood 360 has been added. Hood 360 overlies the hood 90. Hood 360 is provided with a blower 362 having an intake port 364 through which fresh air is drawn into the hood 360. The illustrated coke guide 20 is of a "slatted" type having side walls 366 provided with openings 368. This is a common type of guide 20. To prevent the escape of contaminant dusts and fumes evolved during the push through the openings 368, hood 360 is provided with two downwardly directed elongated, slot-shaped air curtain generating nozzles 370. Nozzles 370 direct air provided by blower 362 at high velocity through the interior of hood 360 downwardly across the side walls 366 of guide 20. This continuous air curtain prevents the escape of such contaminant dusts and fumes through openings 368.

The illustrated guide 20 is of a "stationary" type, meaning that it does not project between the buckstays

350 into contact with the oven 12 sidewall adjacent door opening 18 during the push. Consequently, it is desirable to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, contaminant fumes and dusts from escaping from the space between the coke side end 14 of oven 12 and the adjacent surfaces 372 of hood 360. Thus, surfaces 372 are also provided with air curtain-generating nozzles 370 which direct clean air at high velocity and under pressure from blower 362 toward the coke side end 14 of oven 12 around the upper extent of door opening 18. The air curtain thus formed, along with the suction provided by hood 90 through duct 92, duct 98, car 64 and duct 50, minimizes the escaping contaminant dusts and fumes from between the oven and the air curtain generator hood 360.

The alternative system illustrated in Fig. 28 can be used in at least two different modes of operation. The guide 20 is surmounted by an auxiliary ventilation hood 374. Space is provided under hood 374 for the hood 90 and duct 92 of the prior embodiments. However, it must be understood that ventilation hood 374 can be used either with or without the accompanying structure 90, 92, 94. Ventilation hood 374 includes intake ports 376 in surfaces 372 adjacent the coke side end 14 of oven 12. An internal shroud space 378 is established between hood 90 and the outer walls of hood 374. When no hood 90 is used, the entire interior of hood 374 is exposed directly to the hot coke moving through the guide 20. Hood 374 is provided with blower 362. A filtration apparatus 380, such as a stack of disposable filter elements, is positioned in the intake port 364 of blower 362. Blower 362 is provided with an exhaust port 382 controlled by a damper 384 and an exhaust port 386 controlled by a damper 388. Dampers 384, 388 are simultaneously controllable such that when one of them is fully opened, the other is fully closed.

When the system of Fig. 28 is used in conjunction with the hood 90, exhaust port 382 is coupled through a conduit 390, and the wall of hood 90 to the interior of the hood. In this embodiment, the hood 90 includes an internal baffle 392 above the level of the coke mass moving through the guide 20. The baffle 392 directs air from port 382 toward duct 92 for entry into the duct 50 through duct 98 in car 64. See Fig. 2. In the described mode, blower 362 thus acts as an auxiliary ventilation system to the suction means 56 (Fig. 1).

In the alternative mode of operation of the apparatus of Fig. 28, hood 90 is deleted. Thus, all dusts and fumes evolved from the mass of coke moving through guide 20 are drawn through the filter stack 380 to remove the dusts and fumes from the flowing air stream. In this mode, damper 388 is opened and damper 384 is closed. The filtered air is exhausted directly from the blower 362 through port 386 to atmosphere.

In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 29, the coke guide 20 is surrounded and closed by the overlying hood 90, which is connected through duct 92 to flange 94 for evacuation through the main exhaust duct 50 (Figs. 1-2), stationary side wall 394, and movable side wall portions 396, 398. Side wall portions 396, 398 project generally transversely to the direction of motion of the door locomotive 32 on rails 26 along the coke side 14 of the battery 10. Side walls 396 are contoured at their outer edges 400 to fit closely the side wall contours of the hood 80 (see Fig. 2). This contour 400 helps minimize the escaping contaminants from a pushing operation. The movable side wall portions 398, and a connecting top portion 402, form basically an extension of the hood 90. This extension is projectable between the buckstays 350 of a particular oven 12, and into closely spaced, surrounding relation with the door opening 18 of the oven 12 to prevent contaminant dusts and fumes from escaping from between the hood 90 and coke side end 14 of the oven 12. The projection of side wall portions 396, 398 is achieved through the use of pneumatic or hydraulic piston-and-cylinder arrangements 404 mounted on the stationary side wall 394. The mounting mechanism for each piston-and-cylinder arrangement 404 includes an arm 406 attached at 408 to movable side wall portions 396 near the contoured edges 400 thereof, and slidably reciprocably mounted at 410 from the stationary side, walls 394 by means of an elongated slot aperture in the arm 406 and a pin mounted on the side wall 394 and projecting through the aperture. The piston rod 412 of each piston-and-cylinder arrangement 404 extends through a bearing block 414 on the supporting framework and is attached by means of a connecting link 416 to the movable side wall portion 398.

The projection and retraction of the movable side wall portions 396, 398 by actuation of the double-acting piston-and-cylinder arrangement 404 is thus "self-centering." That is, side wall portions 396, 398 are provided with sufficient travel that they abut positively the hood 80 contours and the oven 12 coke side contours. Of course, as previously mentioned, the coke guide 20 itself may be "stationary" or may, in fact, project with side wall portions 396, 398 toward the coke side end 14 and the quench car 22 (see Figs. 1-2)

In the embodiment of Fig. 30, the air curtain generator hood 360 is mounted over the hood 90, duct 92 and flange 94. The air curtain generator hood 360 in the embodiment of Fig. 30 is provided with nozzles 370 which direct air downwardly across the openings 368 in coke guide 20 side walls 366 to prevent contaminant dusts and fumes from escaping through these openings 368. Additional nozzles 370 are provided for vertically the full height of door openings 18. These nozzles 370 direct a surrounding and enclosing curtain of air toward the perimeter of door 18 to prevent dusts and fumes from escaping between the adj acent surface 372 of hood 360 and the coke side 14 of oven 12 between buckstays 350. A further full length set of air curtain generator nozzles 370 is provided along each of the contoured edges 400 of hood 360 to direct a surrounding and enclosing air curtain toward the hood 80 to prevent contaminant fumes and dusts from escaping between the contoured surfaces of hood 80 and the contoured edges 400 during the push. As best illustrated in Fig. 29, the breaker mechanism which conventionally is supported from the coke guide, and extends out between the coke guide and quench car, can be provided on the movable side wall portion 396 of the close-capture hood. Typically, the breaker mechanism consists of a plate or bar suspended in the path of the incandescent coke as the coke is pushed through the guide. This breaker mechanism insures the break-up of the coke into smaller lumps. The illustrative breaker mechanism in Fig. 29 consists of both a plate 420 and a bar 422 attached to the side walls of movable side wall portion 396. Both the plate 420 and bar 422 are disposed in the path of the hot coke as it emerges from the oven 12, such that the hot coke strikes plate 420 and bar 422 and is broken up prior to falling into the quench car 22 (Figs. 1-2).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a contaminant control system including suction means, a duct, means for coupling the suction means to the duct for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, the duct further including means for supporting the web against collapse into the duct under such evacuation, and a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, means for guiding the car along the duct, and means for connecting the interior of the car to an area containing contaminants to be evacuated, the car including means cooperating with the guide means to support and guide the car along the duct, and a door for providing access to the interior of the car for entry into the duct for inspection.

2. In a contaminant control system including suction means, a duct, means for coupling the suction means to the duct for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, the duct further including means for supporting the web against collapse into the duct under such evacuation, a first car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the first car to the interior of the duct, means for guiding the first car along the duct, and means for connecting the interior of the first car to an area containing contaminants to be evacuated, a second car disposed for movement along the duct, and means for guiding the second car along the duct, the second car including means for raising the web to couple the interior of the second car to the interior of the duct, and a door in the second car for providing access to the interior of the second car for entry into the duct for inspection.

3. A contaminant control system including suction means, a duct, means for coupling the duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, the car including means for supporting and guiding the car along the duct, and means for moving the car along the duct to a selected position including a motor, means for coupling the motor to the means for supporting and guiding the car along the duct to drive the car, the motor being actuable selectively to position the car along the duct.

4. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with guide means movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide means and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a first duct extending along the battery and coupled to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the first duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement on the first duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the first duct, mobile first hood means, means for coupling the first hood means to the interior of the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood means in overlying relation to a selected portion of the conveyor means to draw into the first hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is transported on said conveyor means, mobile second hood means mounted on the guide means to draw into the second hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, and a second duct for coupling the second hood means to the first hood means and thus to the first duct.

5. A contaminant capture system including suction means, a first duct, means coupling the first duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the first duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the first duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the first duct, mobile first hood means for capturing contaminants generated in a first area, means for coupling the first hood means to the interior of the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood means adjacent the first area to draw into the first hood means contaminants generated in the first area, mobile second hood means for capturing contaminants generated in a second area, a second duct for coupling the second hood means to the first hood means and thus to the first duct, the interior of the car including proportioning guide means dividing the interior of the car into a plurality of duct portions, said means for coupling the first hood means to the interior of the car including a first duct portion of said plurality of duct portions, the plurality of duct portions further including a second duct portion coupled to the second duct.

6. A contaminant capture system including suction means, a duct, means coupling the duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a first car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the first car to the interior of the duct, mobile hood means for evacuating contaminants from an area, means for coupling the hood means to the interior of the first car and for moving the first car to dispose the hood means adjacent said area to draw into the hood means contaminants generated in said area, and a second car disposed adjacent the first car for movement along the duct to raise the web and couple the interior of the second car to the interior of the duct, means for coupling the hood means to the second car and for moving the second car contemporaneously with the first car as the hood means moves to capture contaminants in said area, the second car cooperating with the first to capture contaminants generated in said area.

7. A contaminant capture system including suction means, a duct, means for coupling the duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, the duct including a plurality of duct sections, and means for supporting each duct section, each duct section having at least one free end, said free end of each duct section engaging a next adjacent duct section to couple all of said duct sections to said suction means and to permit thermally induced variations in the length of each said duct section.

8. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with guide means movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide means and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a duct extending along the battery, means for coupling the duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement on the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, hood means movable with said car into a position over said conveyor means to capture contaminants evolved from coke on said conveyor means, the duct including a plurality of duct sections, and means for supporting each duct section, each duct section having at least one free end, said free end of each duct section engaging a next adjacent duct section to couple all of said duct sections to said suction means and to permit thermally induced variations in the length of each said duct section.

9. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including mobile hood means mounted on the coke guide to draw into the mobile hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, the mobile hood means including blower means, means for forming an air curtain and for directing the air curtain to contain contaminants evolved during the push, and means for connecting the air curtain-forming means to the blower means.

10. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a duct extending along the battery, and coupled to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, mobile first hood means, means for coupling the first hood means to the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood means in overlying relation to a selected portion of the conveyor means to draw into the first hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is transported on said conveyor means, and mobile second hood means mounted on the coke guide to draw into the second hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, the first hood means defining a coke guide door opening for alignment with the coke guide to permit coke to pass through the first hood means to the conveyor, and the second hood means including blower means, means for forming an air curtain and for directing the air curtain toward the coke guide door opening edges to contain said evolved contaminants, and means for coupling the air curtain-forming means to the blower means.

11. For a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with guide means movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide means, the guide means having two opposed side walls and striker means extending between the side walls at the height at which the coke is exhausted from the guide means, the coke striking the striker means to divide the coke.

12. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with guide means movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide means and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a first duct extending along the battery along the coke side, and coupled to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the first duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the first duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the first duct, mobile first hood means, means for coupling the first hood means to the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood means in overlying relation to a selected portion of the conveyor means to draw into the first hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is transported on said conveyor means, and mobile second hood means mounted on the guide means to . draw into the second hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, a second duct for connecting the second hood means to the car, and means in the second hood means for evacuating it to assist in drawing contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven past the guide means.

13. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including mobile hood means mounted on the coke guide, suction means mounted on the mobile hood means and in communication with the interior of the mobile hood means to draw into the mobile hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, and means for filtering said contaminants, said filter means being disposed in communication with said suction means and mounted on the mobile hood means.

14. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a duct extending along the battery, and coupled to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the car to the interior of the duct, mobile first hood means, means for coupling the first hood means to the car and for moving the car to dispose the first hood means in overlying relation to a selected portion of the conveyor means to draw into the first hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is transported on said conveyor means, and mobile second hood means mounted on the coke guide to draw into the second hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, and means for projecting and retracting the coke guide respectively toward and away from the walls of said selected oven to guide coke from the door opening of said selected oven to the conveyor means, the first hood means defining a coke guide door opening for alignment with the coke guide to permit coke to pass through the first hood means to the conveyor, and the second hood means including blower means, means for forming an air curtain and for directing the air curtain toward the coke guide door opening edges to contain said evolved contaminants, and means for coupling the air curtain- forming means to the blower means .

15. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, mobile hood means mounted on the coke guide, means for coupling the mobile hood means to the suction means to draw into the mobile hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means, and means for projecting and retracting the mobile hood means respectively toward and away from said selected oven.

16. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with a coke guide movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, and mobile hood means mounted on the coke guide, the suction means being mounted on the mobile hood means in communication with the interior of the mobile hood means to draw into the mobile hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is pushed from said selected oven to the conveyor means.

17. A contaminant capture system including suction means, a duct, means coupling the duct to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, a first car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the first car to the interior of the duct, first means for supporting and guiding the first car along the duct, mobile hood means, means for coupling the hood means to the first car and for moving the first car to dispose the hood means in overlying relation to a selected area to draw into the hood means contaminants evolved in said selected area, second track means extending along the duct and second track-engaging means mounted on the first car, engagement of the second track and second track-engaging means permitting movement of the first car along the second track means, and the second track means assisting to support the hood means.

18. A contaminant capture system for a coke oven pushing operation for a coke oven battery having a coke side provided with guide means movable along the battery for guiding coke from a selected oven of the battery during the push and a conveyor means movable along the battery to receive the coke pushed through the guide means and convey it to a quenching station, the system including suction means, a duct extending along the battery, and coupled to the suction means for evacuation thereby, the duct including a wall portion closed by a flexible web, and first track means extending therealong , a first car disposed for movement along the duct to raise the web to couple the interior of the first car to the interior of the duct, the first car including first track-engaging means to support and guide the first car along the duct mobile hood means, means for coupling the hood means to the first car and for moving the first car to dispose the hood means in overlying relation to a selected portion of the conveyor means to draw into the hood means contaminants evolved as hot coke is transported on the conveyor means, second track means extending along the duct and second track-engaging means mounted on the first car, engagement of the second track and second track-engaging means permitting movement of the first car along the second track means, and the second track means assisting to support the hood means.