Abstract: A system for automatically or semi-automatically controlling the operation of a tuyere puncher comprises a distance measuring device which measures the distance of the puncher from a reference position, and a programmable device having a memory which may be used to store the position of each tuyere relative to such reference position, the capability of communicating with the distance measuring device to obtain the current puncher position, input capability to read signals from external devices, output capability to control indicating devices and the movement and punching operations of the puncher, and the calculating facility to determine the motion of the puncher to punch all possible punchable tuyeres.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring bath temperature of metallurgical furnaces through a tuyere is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a periscope adapted to be inserted into a tuyere, a fiber optic cable having one end connected to the periscope for receiving radiation entering the tuyere from the bath of a furnace, and a two wavelength pyrometer connected to the other end of the fiber optic cable for analysing the radiations transmitted through the fiber optic cable to provide an indication of the temperature of the bath.

Abstract: A silencer for use with a tuyere puncher is disclosed. The silencer comprises a chamber having a front face and a rear face provided with a central opening for passing of the punch bar operated by the puncher, a plurality of closure members located in the rear portion of the chamber and mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the chamber and including means for forcing the closure members against the periphery of the punch bar so as to form a seal between the closure members and the punch bar, and a seal secured to the front face of the chamber for engaging the tuyere to seal such a tuyere before penetration of the punch bar through the tuyere valve. The silencer is mounted on a mobile table which is supported by the puncher and operated in synchronism with the punch bar.

Abstract: A process for controlled slow cooling of non-ferrous smelting slags, such as copper slags, for the recovery of the non-ferrous metals contained therein by subsequent crushing, milling and flotation operations is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of pouring the molten slag into a ladle, allowing the slag to slowly cool and solidify in the ladle at least to the point where a shell is formed which is strong enough to withstand dumping from the ladle, dumping the slag from the ladle in a single piece, allowing the dumped slag to cool until its center is substantially solidified, and breaking the dumped slag in small pieces for further cooling, crushing, milling and flotation operations. Alternatively, the top of the slag in the ladle may be water cooled while the slag is allowed to slowly cool in the ladle until its center is substantially solidified. The slag is then dumped and subsequently broken in small pieces.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stopping the flow of metal from the taphole of a furnace. The method comprises the step of blowing air into the taphole with sufficient pressure to reverse the flow of the molten metal, and then reducing the pressure to a value sufficient to hold the metal in the furnace. The apparatus comprises a pipe adapted to be inserted into the taphole and of sufficient dimension to seal the taphole, and means for blowing air into the pipe initially at a predetermined pressure so as to reverse the flow of the molten metal in the taphole and then at a reduced pressure sufficient to hold the metal in the furnace.