Abstract: A method of treating, in a vertical grate furnace, raw materials in an iron reduction process is disclosed. The raw materials are fed onto a grate-containing section which is separated from at least one other section of the grate furnace. Subsequently, the grate-containing section is attached to the other section or sections by moving the other section or sections upwardly or downwardly so as to achieve and maintain gastight conditions between the grate-containing section and the other section(s). The raw materials then undergo preliminary heat treatment in the grate furnace. Finally, the grate is tilted to discharge the treated materials from the grate furnace through an outlet provided on the side wall of the furnace.

Abstract: A device for treating textiles, such as laundry, for example cleaning and drying, mainly comprising a closed housing 1 having openings 5, 6 being pneumatically closable for inserting and taking out respectively the laundry, a shaft 2 driven by 4 and rotatably journalled in said housing 1 and a drum supported by the shaft 2 and to be rotated for receiving the laundry, said drum consisting of at least two sections 7 axially displaceable through a roller or slide element 11 along a wing-like carrier 10 fastened to said shaft 2. In the carrier 10 tensioning means are provided for in order to tension said sections 7 during washing and centrifuging.

Abstract: Energy efficient arc furnace suitable for continuous melting of ungraded scrap iron as found in the trade, and four or more meters in length. Its inner part includes a storage zone (4) located laterally of and above the hearth (1), and arranged so that a considerable volume of scrap iron can be stored there. A pusher (11) is arranged at the bottom of the side storage zone for the purpose of pushing the base of the pile (10) of scrap iron stored in the said zone towards the hearth. The upper portion of the storage zone is equipped with an opening (8) of the trap or door for feeding in cold scrap iron (13, 131), and the storage zone is connected to a conduit (6) for exhausting fumes so that these pass through it.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a shaft furnace for burning and sintering materials in lump form includes a distribution column and a plurality of distribution flaps which are mounted for pivotal movement adjacent a lower cone edge of the cone and are movable by a link arrangement between different positions to form different truncated columns which are coaxial with the distribution cone and have different diameters. To control the flow and charging of material, each of the distribution flaps preferably have a deflector plate which is secured to the flap and the spaced arrangement adjacent its end.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for feeding heat carrying solids into a solids heater. A feed conduit is provided which may be removably attached to a solids heater shell. The mounted feed conduit includes an outlet portion disposed within a heating chamber which is defined by the heater shell. A jacket tube is sealed around the feed conduit to provide cooling against high temperatures. Further, inlets and outlets are provided for introducing and removing cooling medium from the cooling zone defined by the space between the jacket tube and feed conduit. The feed conduits are removably attached to the heater shell by way of mounting tubes located in the heater shell roof. For inclined heater shell roofs, the length of the mounting tubes are varied to provide common elevational mounting of a single uniform removable feed conduit.

Abstract: The apparatus serves to continuously charge coarse-grained and fine-grained solid fuels by means of a rotary distributor onto a fixed bed of fuel. The fixed bed is disposed within a reactor for gasifying the fuels. Gasifying agents comprising oxygen, steam and/or carbon dioxide are passed through the fixed bed from below. Residual matter left after the gasification is withdrawn under the fixed bed as solid ash or liquid slag. Fine-grained fuel having a mean particle size up to 5 mm are placed onto the fixed bed as helical layers separately form more coarsely grained fuel having a mean particle size above 5 mm. The more coarsely grained fuel is deposited directly on fine-grained fuel which has just been deposited.The gasifier comprises a rotary distributor that includes at least one passage for the fine-grained fuel and at least one passage for the more coarsely grained fuel. The inlet of the passage for fine-grained fuel is disposed near the center of the rotary distributor.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging granular catalyst, e.g., cylindrically shaped catalyst, into a multiplicity of elongated reactor tubes is described. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a plurality of contiguously arranged storage hoppers arranged in a bundle and disposed above a substantially horizontal vibratory feeder tray having a plurality of V-shaped open troughs equal in number to the number of storage hoppers. Each trough has a discharge opening at its forward end for delivering the catalyst to a discharge spout affixed to the bottom of the feeder tray and communicating with the discharge opening in the trough. Flexible elongated tubular conduits are attached to each discharge spout and rigid nozzle means attached to the end of each flexible tubular conduit. The nozzle is adapted for insertion into the top of the reactor tube. Electrical vibrating means are mechanically connected to the feeder tray.In operation, a predetermined quantity of catalyst is charged to each of the storage hoppers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding pulverant raw material to an arc furnace having a plurality of arcing locations defined by vertical electrodes. A vertical feed tube gravitationally conveys the raw material to a central location inside the furnace which is above the arcing locations. A rotatable deflector is located at the bottom of the feed tube and is rotated in step-wise fashion to direct raw material from the feed tube to each of the arcing locations. A fixed deflector is located at each arcing location to confine the raw material fed into the furnace predominantly to the arcing locations. By locating most of the raw material at the arcing locations, the feeding mechanism of the present invention improves the stability of the arc and the melting efficiency of the furnace.

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: An apparatus for distributing materials into a blast furnace using no bell. The apparatus has a material distributing hopper disposed for a rocking motion around the central axis of said furnace. The rocking motion of the material distributing hopper is caused by an axial movement and rotation of a single drive shaft disposed outside the furnace.

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: Method and apparatus are provided for distributing a downwardly flowing stream of water-containing glass batch agglomerates in such fashion that the stream is diverted so as to form a bed of substantially uniform height on an agglomerate-supporting bottom wall of an enclosed chamber. There is contemplated the use of plural members for this purpose, including a first member, preferably in the shape of a tubular-like, right frusto-conical member and disposed internally thereof a second member, preferably in the form of a right, frusto-pyramidal member.

Abstract: A solid fuel distribution system for uniformly distributing fuel throughout a furnace comprising a novel dual-reciprocating spout assembly that is adapted to provide a substantially constant supply of fuel to a plurality of supply chutes. The spout assembly comprises a pair of reciprocating spouts mounted on a horizontal axis and actuated to swing back and forth in opposed fashion so that each supply chute is fed with a relatively constant supply of fuel.

Abstract: This invention relates to continuous charging apparatus and in particular provides a gravity feed chute (8,9) for the particulate feedstock secured to the furnace roof (1) and which communicates with the internal furnace area. In order to prevent the furnace gases passing into the atmosphere through this chute a number of pipes (10,11) are provided which extend into the chute for injecting steam or other gases therein, so as to contain the furnace gases.

Abstract: A hollow, high-temperature alloy pipe with motive means to move air there through is employed as a support structure for supporting the feed pipe in a conventional coke-calcining apparatus. The support pipe is horseshoe shaped, and the feed pipe is received in the seat of the horseshoe.

Abstract: A container for loose material, in particular for hot coal, during the operation of a coke oven battery including a novel deflecting means for directing particulate matter located in the gas emanating from the loose material back into the container to reduce the flow of particulate matter out of the container to minimize air pollution. The deflecting means is in the shape of an umbrella-shaped guide plate which is adjustable relative to the container to control an annular outlet opening for the gas. In the annular opening are located settling plates to further minimize the flow of particulate matter out of the container.

Abstract: Material-handling apparatus is illustrated in a tire-recapping plant where tires of various sizes are automatically fed to a cluster of recapping machines by a feed conveyor in proper sequence for loading each machine with a tire of the proper type and size. The tire is automatically centered for engagement by the gripping arms of a transfer apparatus which transfers the tire from the feed conveyor to the proper recapping machine. At the completion of the recapping operation in each machine, the recapped tire is picked up by the transfer mechanism and is deposited on the discharge conveyor, and the transfer mechanism then automatically reloads the machine with a tire of the proper size and type which is centered on the feed conveyor. The machine is controlled automatically to eliminate manual handling of the tires in the immediate vicinity of the recapping machine.