Support, suspension, drive, and position control system for rotary equipment

Abstract

A support, suspension, drive, traction and position control system comprised of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic components integrated with computer controls for the rotation and maintenance of the operation of various types of rotary equipment including kilns, calciners, dryers, grinding mills, ball mills, and dissolvers. Further provided are methods for the use of the support, suspension, drive, traction and position control system and hydraulic components disclosed herein integrated with computer controls to rotate and maintain the operation of various types of rotary equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support, suspension, drive, traction and position control system for operating rotary equipment, the system comprising:
 one or more sets of oppositely disposed roller units, wherein each roller unit comprises:
 two wheels; 
 a drive axle assembly, wherein the two wheels are operably coupled to the drive axle assembly; 
   a roller drive unit operably coupled to the drive axle assembly, wherein the roller drive unit comprises:
 a driven gear; 
 a pinion drive gear; 
 a gear box; and 
 a motor; 
   a hydraulic suspension and support system, wherein said hydraulic suspension and support system is operably coupled to said roller drive unit;   wherein said roller drive unit is capable of movement both vertically and horizontally;   wherein said hydraulic suspension and support system is capable of adjusts the position of said one or more oppositely disposed roller units vertically and horizontally;   and   a flat plate support system, wherein said flat plate support system comprises:
 an upper flat plate operably coupled to said hydraulic suspension and support system hydraulic piston; and 
 a lower flat plate, wherein said upper flat plate slides on said lower flat plate; and 
 a mechanical kingpin, wherein said kingpin mates said upper flat plate to a slot in said lower flat plate and provides guidance to said upper flat plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more position control modules.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic suspension and support system comprises:
 at least one piston housed within a hydraulic cylinder, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is operably coupled to a cylinder base;   wherein said cylinder base is operably linked to a bogie support structure; and   wherein said piston is operably coupled to said drive axle assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more position control modules is a motor speed and traction controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more position control modules further comprises a hydraulic pressure controller. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a vertical control sensor, wherein said one or more position control modules is in communication with said vertical control sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a horizontal control sensor, wherein said one or more position control modules is in communication with said horizontal control sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a power consumption sensor, wherein said motor speed and traction controller is in communication with said power consumption sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a hand controller, wherein said hand controller is in communication with said hydraulic pressure controller. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said hydraulic pressure controller is capable of skewing the drive axle assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said motor speed and traction controller is capable of adjusting the speed of the rotation of the wheels.