Technical sector of the invention.-
[0001] The present invention refers to a fixation device for refractory supporting blocks
for tunnel kiln cars, of the type which are assembled together forming the upper part
of the kiln cars. Specifically, the device of the invention is used with advantage
to fix together the supporting blocks with a "bridge" or " PI letter" shape.
Background of the invention.-
[0002] Usually, in the ceramic industry, the parts being produced are supported and transported
on kiln cars that move along the production plant, and on those cars they accede and
are submitted to the several process operations. Usually, an assembly of supporting
blocks, made of refractory blocks, is placed in the upper part of the kiln car, this
assembly of supporting blocks supporting the pieces to be produced, set in one or
more layers.
[0003] Supporting blocks in a prismatic shape, with a "PI letter" shaped section shape formed
by 2 side piers and a bridge part joining them, are well known. Those blocks are usually
solid or containing holes for an easier air circulation and, therefore, producing
a better heat transmission from the ceramic pieces in contact with the refractory
supporting blocks assembly.
[0004] It is also well known the use of flat smooth refractory slabs, supported by piers.
This kind of assembly is not very stable, because the component parts are only supported
on each other, but never fixed together so that they could work as a complete block.
As a consequence, it is quite usual that this kind of structure gets disassembled,
at least partially, as a consequence of the loading and unloading of the ceramic pieces,
or of the thermal expansion and shrinkage of the refractory supporting blocks.
[0005] Fixation devices based on adhesives is not a good solution for refractory blocks,
because such adhesives do not allow for the differential expansion of the two materials
to be fixed.
[0006] This problem is solved by the object of the present invention.
Explanation of the invention.-
[0007] The refractory supporting blocks fixation device of the present invention is essentially
characterized by the fact of being composed of several fixation parts, adapted to
fit into corresponding complementary holes or notches made in corresponding contiguous
blocks, in such a way that the assembled contiguous blocks are prevented from doing
movement and/or turn relatively big yet allowing the differential thermal expansions
of the assembled material.
[0008] According to another characteristic of the invention, the above mentioned fixation
parts are made of hollow tubes, or of bars or pegs, preferably with a cross section
similar to the section of the holes or notches made in the fixed refractory blocks,
so that the fixation parts, when introduced in the holes or notches, fit with a small
gap in between.
Brief description of the drawings.-
[0009] The attached drawings illustrate, for a better understanding and as an example, a
non-restrictive particular example of one of the possible execution shapes of the
fixation device of the present invention:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a refractory supporting block, where a hole has been
made.
Fig. 2 shows an example of a fixation part, in a big scale isometric view.
Fig. 3 shows an isometric view of a refractory supporting block, where a hole has
been made in one of its faces, containing a fixing part, partially introduced in the
hole.
Fig 4 shows an isometric view of two refractory supporting blocks, with more than
one hole made per block, in order to make them able to receive more than one fixation
parts per pair of blocks; and
Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an assembly of two refractory supporting blocks, fixed
together according to the object of the present invention, showing the blocks superimposed
on their piers, on which one or more holes have been made, and being fixed together
by at least one fixing part.
Detailed description of the drawings.-
[0010] In these drawings, it is possible to see that, according to the object of the present
invention, the fixation device for contiguous refractory supporting blocks 2, 2' consists
of several fixation parts 3, adapted to fit into corresponding holes or notches 4.
In the execution shape represented in the drawings, the fixation parts 3 are cylindrical
tubular and they fit into circumferential holes 4, but they could also fit into hollow
cylindrical holes. The fixation parts 3 could also be bars or pegs, in this case necessarily
fitting into corresponding hollow cylindrical holes. The refractory supporting blocks
2, 2', in the represented case, are of the kind of blocks made of a prismatic shaped
refractory piece, with a "PI letter" like section shape formed by 2 side piers 6 and
a bridge part 7 joining them, with several holes 5 parallel to its generating direction.
The fixation part 3 fits into the holes 4 made in the piers 6 of the refractory supporting
blocks 2, 2'.
[0011] This technical solution for the fixation of refractory supporting blocks 2, 2' can,
of course, be used for the fixation of blocks and pieces of different sizes and shapes,
as blocks and fixation parts of quadrangular or polygonal transverse section shape,
and still being included within object of the present invention.
1. Fixation device (1) for ceramic refractory supporting blocks (2), for tunnel kiln
cars, of the type of the ones that are assembled together forming the upper part of
the kiln car, characterized by comprising several fixation parts (3) adapted to fit into complementary holes or
notches (4), made in corresponding contiguous blocks, in such a way that the assembled
contiguous blocks are prevented from doing movement and/or turn relatively big yet
allowing the differential thermal expansions of the assembled material.
2. Fixation device (1) for ceramic refractory supporting blocks (2), according to claim
1, characterized by the fact that said fixation parts (3) are made of hollow tubes, with such a cross
section that they can be introduced in the corresponding holes or notches (4) without
any gap or with a small gap.
3. Fixation device (1) for ceramic refractory supporting blocks (2), according to claim
1, characterized by the fact that said fixation parts (3) are made of bars or of pegs, with such a cross
section that they can be introduced in the corresponding holes or notches (4) without
any gap or with a small gap.