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: The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

Abstract: A shaft furnace plugging apparatus is presented which occupies very little space and sweeps out a relatively low and comparatively flat continuous trajectory between an inoperative position and an operative position. The plugging apparatus includes a clay gun pivotably mounted on a first end of a jib, the jib being rotatable about a support column. The apparatus also includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders, the first hydraulic cylinder being pivotably attached between a second end of the jib and an intermediate pivotable frame and the second hydraulic cylinder which is operative between the intermediate pivotable frame and a fixed support frame.

Abstract: A lance guiding and changing apparatus is presented for immersion lances which enables the lances to be changed or replaced at a rapid rate, the lances being held particularly firmly and rigidly during the plural injection processes. The immersion lance guiding and changing apparatus comprises, in part, lance storage means, lance transfer means, and lance changing means. The lance changing means includes a vertical mount which is capable of rotating about its vertical axis via a suitable drive means. At least two lance carriages are suspended on the mount, and the carriages are vertically transportable along the mount. The lance storage means, preferably comprised of a turret-type container capable of holding a plurality of lances, supplies or receives new and used lances respectively. The lance transfer means transfers the new or used lances between the storage means and the rotatable mount.

Abstract: The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

Abstract: The delivery of charge material to the hearth of a pressurized blast furnace under the influence of gravity is accomplished without the necessity of changing the direction of material flow at a point exterior of the furnace. The rate of flow of the charge material, which moves in a vertical stream, is controlled by a metering device including a pair of overlapping register elements which define a variable size aperture which remains generally symmetrical with respect to the stream axis.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for a shaft furnace is presented wherein the feeding mechanism is mounted axially on the furnace and employs a vertically adjustable frustoconical dosing element for vertical flow of charging material to a distributing spout.

Abstract: Multi-path rotatable fluid couplings are formed from modular elements so as to have one, two or three axes about which relative rotation of supply and discharge conduits may occur. These modular elements may be employed in an articulated delivery system for multiple fluids wherein, for example, six pivot axes are provided through a combination of two or more couplings with interconnecting rigid conduits.

Abstract: The movements of an oscillatory member, for example the charge distribution spout of a furnace charging system, are caused to follow the movements of a remotely located control device which may be in the form of an elongated arm. The spout and arm are rotatable about respective pairs of orthogonal axes and any angular deviations between the orientation of the control device arm and spout axis are sensed. Control signals commensurate with the angular deviations are delivered to fluidic actuators which reposition the spout.

Abstract: A horizontally movable sampling probe, for insertion into and retraction from a blast furnace, is supported in an aperture in the furnace wall. The support mechanism for the probe includes a fluid cooled guide block attached to the furnace shell and having a support portion extending toward the furnace interior at least part way through the refractory furnace wall lining.

Abstract: A drill rod, left in place in the plug of a taphole of a shaft furnace, is withdrawn by apparatus including a conventional percussive type taphole drill which is movable along a support bar. The support bar is provided, at the end which most closely approaches the furnace, with a guide and support head which engages and supports the drill rod as it is being withdrawn subsequent to loosening from the plugging material in the taphole.

Abstract: Plural gas samples are simultaneously collected and the temperature at each sampling point accurately measured by means of a probe which may be inserted into the furnace charge. The probe is constructed so as to facilitate assembly and repair while insuring against relative motion of the various components thereof as a result of imposed vibrations and thermally induced expansion.

Abstract: Control over the direction and inclination of a charge distribution chute within a blast furnace is accomplished with a compact and reliable drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a rigid control rod for varying chute inclination angle and a gear drive which translates angular position commands in the form of rotation about a vertical axis to reciprocation of the control rod. The control rod and its gear drive rotate with the chute while simultaneously varying the inclination angle.

Abstract: A valve for opening and closing a fluid conduit of the type having a generally wide cross-section, the conduit having a transverse slit therein to allow for movement of a shut-off member into and out of registration therewith. The shut-off member has a spherical shape and cooperates with an apertured member which defines a surface of the same sphere. Both the shut-off member and the apertured member may be arcuately displaced, about a common axis, to establish either a closed or opened conduit with leakage from the conduit in either the opened or closed position being prevented by peripheral portions of the shut-off member and apertured member.

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 profile of material deposited on the hearth of a pressurized furnace is controlled by means of a charging installation including a lower charging bell which has, suspended therefrom, a variable geometry distributor which may be controlled to select the point of deposition of material delivered to the furnace. The charging bell cooperates with an intermediate storage hopper, positioned within a hermetically sealable casing, whereby the hopper may be alternately filled with material and emptied by permitting the material to fall onto the distributor via an annular opening defined when the bell is lowered.

Abstract: A furnace charging device with a fixed feed channel is positioned in the center of the furnace head. A distribution spout is pivotably supported under the fixed feed channel and has a control rod attached to the spout. A driving means is provided so that the control rod which consist of two telescopic elements may be lengthened or shortened and at the same time may be rotated along with the spout as one assembly around the vertical axis of the furnace.

Abstract: The manipulation of components of a fluid transmission system, particularly portions of a conduit through which heated gas is delivered to a blast furnace is facilitated by the use of a self-propelled vehicle having mounted thereon a component support mechanism. The vehicle and component support mechanism cooperate to define a pair of displaced vertical pivotal axes whereby the component support mechanism can be readily maneuvered into engagement with the conduit portion to be manipulated. The apparatus is further characterized by a lifting arm assembly which enables the component support mechanism to be raised and lowered without changing the orientation of a supported conduit portion.The present invention relates to a device for handling the various components of an installation for the injection of pre-heated air into a shaft furnace. The invention likewise relates to a multi-purpose self-propelling carriage equipped with a device of this kind.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for introducing and distributing a charge within a shaft furnace, the shaft furnace charging apparatus comprising an elongated charge distribution chute, the angle of which being adjustable in relation to the vertical axis of the furnace to allow for distribution of charge to desired areas within the furnace. The charge distribution chute includes a first end for accepting the charge and a second end for distributing the charge within the furnace. The first end of the chute is suspended from a supporting fork which is rotatable about its axis to provide for pivoting of the chute about a first axis when the support fork is rotated. The chute is suspended from the support fork to provide for pivoting of the chute about a second axis which is preferably perpendicular to the first axis. The direction of the chute within the furnace may be adjusted to provide for distribution of the charge to the desired area of the furnace.

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.