Abstract: A simple and compact device for wet granulation of liquid slag, comprising a granulating basin with a water injection device and a decanting basin that is separate from the granulating basin. A distribution channel for the granulate-water mixture extends above the decanting basin and is provided with outflow means along the entire length and on the lower side thereof for the granulate-water mixture. A vertical inflow shaft that is open towards the bottom is arranged underneath the distribution channel. The outflow means for the granulate-water mixture discharges into said inflow shaft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for continuous smelting of solid metal products in a reactor comprising a smelting zone and a metallurgical processing zone, which consists in continuously heating the solid metal products in the smelting zone, gradually transferring said smelted products into the metallurgical process zone, refining the smelted products in the metallurgical process zone in an oxidising slag medium, separating the metallurgical process zone slag from the smelting zone slag, transforming the oxidising slag in the metallurgical process zone into a reducing slag, desulphurizing the smelted products in the metallurgical processing zone in a reducing slag medium and casting the smelted metal.

Abstract: A universal chuck is presented which has the ability to either transmit a tensile or pulling force to the end of a piercing rod or transmit a rotational moment or force to a drill bit on a piercing machine for piercing a tap hole of a shaft furnace. The universal chuck of this invention comprises a rotary body mounted on the drive spindle of a working member slidably mounted on a piercing machine. A suitable support structure integral with the working member forms a guide cage around the rotary body. Structure for transmitting the tensile or pulling force to the end of a piercing rod and a rotational moment or force to a drill bit along with structure for adequately controlling operating and cooling fluids to a drill bit are arranged about a front cavity in the rotary body.

Abstract: A method for opening the taphole of a shaft furnace by withdrawing a rod, held in the hardened sealing compound of the taphole, includes engaging a coupling device onto the end of the rod, gripping the rod using a clamp longitudinally displaceable by a hydraulic jack, pulling out the rod by a length corresponding to the stroke of the jack and repeating this operation until the rod is completely withdrawn from the taphole.

Abstract: The device comprises a housing with a circular passage orifice, a pivoting closing element in the form of a spherical dome and a circular gasket surrounding the said orifice and mounted on an annular support axially displacable towards the closing element under the action of a pneumatic fluid, the said annular support possessing for this purpose a passive annular surface exposed to the pressure in the said housing, the active surface of the support being larger than its passive surface.

Abstract: A taphole drilling device for shaft furnaces is presented which is controlled by hydraulic fluid means. The taphole drilling device is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a drilling process wherein the opening and closing of the taphole comprises the positioning and extraction of a drill rod which is left inside the taphole between successive tappings. One embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a bar, a uni-directional percussion instrument which slides along the bar under the action of a motor, a device for coupling the drill rod to the percussion instrument and a means provided at the front end of the bar for guiding and supporting the drill rod. It will be appreciated that the motor used to drive the percussion instrument is preferably a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the charging profile on the charging surface of a shaft furnace is presented. The apparatus consists of a plurality of level probes, each probe including a weight which is suspended vertically above the charging surface on the first end of a cable which projects from a supporting arm. The second end of each of these cables, in turn, is connected outside the furnace to respective winding drums, each drum being controlled by a driving device which raises or lowers the probe connected to the drum. This invention also consists of a monitoring device for measuring the unwinding of the cable from the drum and the descent of the probe onto the charging surface as well as a method of replacing an individual probe and its cable from outside the shaft furnace.

Abstract: Material to be deposited on the hearth of a shaft furnace serially passes through a pair of temporary storage containers positioned above the furnace. The uppermost storage container is in the form of a bin open to the ambient atmosphere while the lower storage container is provided with valves at either end whereby it may be hermetically sealed and subsequently brought to furnace pressure. The lower storage container is loaded while at ambient pressure, by releasing furnace charge material previously delivered to the upper storage container into the lower container and subsequently by delivering material directly to the lower container from a conveyor system through the lower container. The upper container is refilled with material while the lower container is at furnace pressure and is discharging its contents into the furnace.

Abstract: The refractory lining of a shaft furnace is cooled by means of a cooling box, which extends into the lining through the furnace shell, having a pair of separately fed coolant flow paths formed therein. A first coolant circuit extends along the side walls of the cooling box and through the nose portion thereof while the second coolant circuit has a first portion which extends along the side walls adjacent the first circuit and a second portion which is disposed toward the center of the cooling box with respect to both the first cooling circuit and the first portion of the second cooling circuit.