Abstract: A machine is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace for applying the piercing rod method. The machine comprises a mounting (20), a drive means (42, 44), a clamp (34) for coupling the drive means to the rod (26) during its extraction. It is characterised by a push-member (34) transmitting the said thrust force to the rear end of the rod (26) during the insertion of the rod (26) into the taphole clay and by intermediate guides (55i) surrounding the rod (26) at several places during the insertion of the rod (26) into the taphole clay. The said guides (55i) being successively placed in a position in which they do not hinder the advance of the said push-member (34, 78) on the mounting (20).

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 machine and method is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace. The machine comprises a mounting, with a support installed on the mounting so as to support a rod at the front of the mounting, a rear support which can move on the mounting and is provided with means for being coupled to the rear end of the rod and a clamp mounted in a sliding manner on the mounting and designed to grip the rod at any place between the front support and the rear support. A powerful rotary motor installed at the rear of the mounting drives an endless chain installed axially in the mounting. A clamp attached to the endless chain moves during the insertion of the rod into the taphole clay by reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor in a to-and-fro motion between a position (B) at the front of the mounting and a position (A) which is located at a distance L from the position (B).

Abstract: A machine for boring a tap hole of a shaft furnace is presented for use in conjunction with a lost-rod process. In this process, a metal rod is driven into a botting mass, before it has completely hardened, and is removed later for opening a tap hole. Driving-in of the rod is performed with the aid of a to-and-fro movement of a clamp which can move over a mount through action of a first jack. Removal is performed with the aid of a continuous reverse movement of the clamp through the action of the first jack and of a powerful drive means, for example a second jack, driving the first jack towards the rear of the mount.

Abstract: A machine is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace for applying the piercing rod method. The machine comprises a mounting, with a support for supporting the rod at the front of the mounting, a sliding support for supporting the rod at the rear of the mounting and a clamp, mounted in a sliding manner on the mounting and designed for gripping the rod at any place between the front support and the rear support. A travel multiplier is connected between a jack and the clamp so that the clamp may be moved. Means for controlling the jack make it possible to move the clamp in a to-and-fro motion between a position (B) at the front of the mounting and a position (A) which is located at a distance L from the position (B).

Abstract: A method is provided for botting a tap hole of a shaft furnace using a botting gun fitted with a first hydraulic actuating cylinder holding the botting gun in bearing contact against the wall of the furnace, while a second actuating cylinder actuates a piston which injects the botting mass into the tap hole. In order to limit the contact pressures between the tip of the botting gun and the wall of the furnace, the supply pressure P.sub.1 of the first actuating cylinder is modulated as a function of the supply pressure P.sub.2 of the second actuating cylinder.

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 includes a chuck designed to be secured to a working tool and which has a front cavity for receiving an end of a drilling rod and a gripping device for fastening the end of the rod in this cavity. The gripping device is actuated by pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, sliding in a cylindrical chamber closed at the rear by a plug. In order to avoid rapid wear of this plug, a spring is arranged between the said plug and the adjacent face of the piston, the spring being strong enough to keep the piston away from the plug.

Abstract: A machine for opening tapholes has a conical guide and support head which is slidably mounted on a mount and which includes at least one hook equipped with two mutally opposite catching slots. The catching slots allow the hook to occupy two catching positions. In the first catching position, the head is secured to a sliding frame displacable by use of a sliding carriage. In the second catching position, the head is secured to the front end of the mount.

Abstract: A device which allows for the easy mounting of a gripper for coupling a piercing rod to a working tool mounted on a sliding carriage of a piercing machine, and in which the gripper has a female thread designed to be screwed onto a threaded end piece of the working tool is presented. The device essentially comprises a supporting cage which is fixed to the carriage and which ensures the vertical and lateral support of the gripper and allows it to slide longitudinally.

Abstract: A suspension and anchoring device for a rail mounted plugging and drilling machine for use in conjunction with metallurgical furnaces is presented. The suspension and anchoring device comprises a cradle mounted on rails which is movable by means of a parallelogram shaped guide bar system actuated by an operating cylinder which shifts the plugging and drilling device between a work position and a travel position.

Abstract: An apparatus for plugging the taphole of a shaft furnace is presented which comprises a fixed support frame having a main pivoting joint and a jib device. The jib consists of a rotary support joint. The other end of the rotary support arm having one end which is pivotably mounted on the main pivot joint. The other end of the rotary support arm is pivotably mounted via an auxiliary pivot to a clay gun. A hydraulic jack having a piston and cylinder arrangement is mounted on journals in the fixed support frame. The piston rod portion of the hydraulic jack actuates the support arm wherein the arm and the clay gun attached thereto pivot from a retracted position into an operative position or vice versa. An important feature of the present invention is that the support arm has a bend therein such that the inside of the bend is disposed about the journals of the jack when the clay gun occupies its retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding and positioning the tool of a machine for plugging or drilling blast furnace tapholes, the apparatus comprising an inclined main pivot, a support arm which is rotatably mounted at one end on the inclined main pivot and having a tool pivotally fitted by an auxiliary pivot to the free end of the support arm, a guide rod mounted to the working tool and mounted to a fixed point in the vicinity of the main pivot, and a driving mechanism serving to pivot the tool and the support arm about the main pivot from a retracted position to an operational position, the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary pivot being oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main pivot to provide for a low profile trajectory of the working tool.

Abstract: A mechanism for guiding and positioning a workpiece of a machine for drilling or plugging a tap hole of a shaft furnace, the mechanism comprising a main pivot, a support arm which is rotatably mounted at one end on the main pivot, an intermediate arm having one end thereof pivotally fitted by an auxiliary pivot to the free end of the support arm, the auxiliary pivot being inclined with respect to the main pivot, a workpiece holding bar rotatably and adjustably mounted to the other end of the intermediate arm, said workpiece holding bar capable of having a workpiece mounted thereon, a guide rod pivotally mounted at one end to the intermediate arm and pivotally mounted at the other end to a fixed point in the vicinity of the main pivot, and a drive mechanism serving to pivot the workpiece and the support arm about the main pivot from a retracted position to an operational position, the workpiece being in angular adjustment with respect to the tap hole, the adjustment being performed by rotating the workpiece ho

Abstract: A compact apparatus for drilling and plugging a tap hole of a shaft furnace, the furnace including a tap channel through which molten metal may flow, the tap channel extending from the tap hole in a direction generally radially with respect to the axis of the furnace. The apparatus for drilling and plugging the tap hole includes a drilling device and a plugging device, each device mounted on the end of an arm, the arm pivotably mounted about an axis inclined from the vertical to allow movement of the devices in an inclined plane between a position of retraction and a position of operation. The arm of the drill device and the arm of the plugging device are positioned on one side of the tap channel and are installed on the tap floor. The axes of the drill and plugging devices are tilted with respect to each other and with respect to the vertical to allow the device nearest to the furnace to pass over the device farthest from the furnace when both devices are in the retracted position.

Abstract: The efficiency of operation of a taphole plugging clay gun for a blast furnace is enhanced by facilitating the cleaning of the sealant receiving chamber thereof behind the ejector piston which moves therein. Cleaning is facilitated by providing a protective casing which defines an annular chamber into which sealant leaking past or falling behind the ejector piston is forced; the annular chamber being provided with cleaning ports in the side wall.