Abstract: A pulverized combustible material or ore is transported from a storage container, at atmospheric pressure, to the interior of a pressurized shaft furnace via three intermediate receptacles. The material is weighed in the first receptacle, pneumatically transported to the second receptacle, the second receptacle pressurized and the material transmitted under pressure to the third receptacle which is maintained at a pressure which is higher than the furnace pressure.

Abstract: This invention presents a rotary support for continuous casting ladles, which comprises a vertical column, a drive mechanism for pivoting this column about its vertical axis, a cross arm structure carried by this column and having at least one of its ends in the form of a horizontal fork, each of the two branches of which comprises means for carrying between them a casting ladle, means for raising and lowering the ladle independently of the cross arm, means for weighing the ladle, and means for stabilizing the ladle without influencing the measurement of the weight, the means for carrying the ladle and the means for raising and lowering it being composed, in each of the branches of the fork, of a ladle carrier carriage sliding vertically between a pair of rails under the action of at least one hydraulic jack.

Abstract: A system for treating, normally refining, a metallurgical melt has a melt-containing vessel having below the level of the melt an at least gas-pervious wall portion. A finely divided treatment solids is suspended in a treatment gas and this suspension is introduced through the pervious wall portion into the melt and reacting the melt with the gas and solids. The wall portion has openings oriented so that the gases and particles can pass into the vessel through them, but the molten metal therein cannot enter them. A plurality of such gas-and particle-pervious inserts are provided in the base of the crucible. They can be individually controlled relative to respective sensors provided above the melt. Thus exothermically reacting gases and/or particles are fed in under cold spots, or endothermically reacting gases and/or particles are fed in under hot spots.

Abstract: A melt is contained in a vessel having below the level of the melt an at least gas-pervious wall portion. First the slag is removed, normally by pouring it off, from the melt. Then a finely divided treatment solids suspended in a gas is introduced through the wall portion into the melt. The melt reacts thoroughly with these solids. Immediately deslagging the melt substantially reduces its ability to pick up nitrogen or hydrogen. This can be enhanced by the further step, prior to introduction of the suspension, of adding pure lime to the melt to form a protective layer thereon. The vehicle gas for the powder of course is inert, normally argon. The vessel can also be sealed up with a tight cover after addition of pure lime to it and before introduction of the suspension. Otherwise in the subsequent desulfurizing nitrogen and hydrogen will enter into the metal matrix, especially if there is an appropriate slag present.

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: An isolation and flow control valve in a furnace charging installation, installed in a discharge conduit of a storage hopper which may be alternately at ambient pressure for loading and furnace pressure for discharging, is characterized by a valve member which is caused to move serially in two directions during opening and closing. The movement is produced by an actuator mechanism including a pivot arm and a cam system and results in movement axially with respect to the conduit for seating and unseating and generally transverse to the conduit axis for controlling material flow through the conduit.

Abstract: A non-contacting surface contour measurement device includes movable member which can selectively be actuated to form a hermetic enclosure about a transmit and/or receive antenna. The measurement device, when employed in a blast furnace, need be exposed to the furnace environment only during measuring modes which constitute a small portion of the furnace operating cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an installation for the treatment and handling of metallurgical slag which includes means for the disintegration of a flow of pyroplastic slag by mechanical impacts and cooling means for the cooling of the particles of slag formed by the disintegration. The installation comprises at least one perforated endless band positioned in the path of fall of the particles of slag projected by the disintegration means and cooled by the said cooling means. The installation also comprises an insulating enclosure positioned immediately above the perforated band and which contains the disintegration and cooling means, and means for trapping the ascending gaseous and/or solid by-products.

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: 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 plate therethrough. The shut-off plate has a spherical shape and defines a center about which the shut-off plate may be arcuately displaced to close the conduit when the plate is positioned within the conduit and to open the conduit when the plate is positioned external to the conduit.

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: The pressurization and depressurization of a container, and specifically a feed hopper for materials to be delivered to the interior of a blast furnace, is accomplished with the aid of pressure equalization devices which each include a valve and a wear and sound reducing mechanism immediately downstream of the valve. The wear and sound reduction mechanism subdivides the stream of gas, which may contain entrained particulate matter, into a plurality of jets which are caused to follow a zig-zag trajectory.

Abstract: Cooling of the wall of a shaft furnace is achieved through the use of a plurality of individual cooling elements, through which a coolant may be circulated, which cooperate to form a lining immediately inwardly of the furnace metal shell. The cooling elements are supported on the shell, rather than being secured thereto, and may be replaced by removal through openings in the shell which are normally hermetically sealed by covers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment of metallurgical slag, the process comprising mechanical disintegration of a current of pyroplastic slag formed by initial cooling of a current of melting slag by means of water. This cooling comprises a first cooling phase taking place in the course of the flow of a continuous current of slag through an inclined channel into which a variable quantity of water is injected by pressure through the base, and a second cooling phase taking place during the largely free fall of the flow of slag onto a disintegration device. The initial slag cooling phase is accelerated or decelerated in accordance with the properties of the slag, and the intensity and/or duration of the mechanical disintegration is modified in accordance with the physical and granulometric properties of the slag required.A further aspect of the invention provides an installation for the performance of the process as set forth above.

Abstract: A process for treating bituminous schists including the steps of crushing the bituminous schist, feeding said schist to the top of a retort, pyrolyzing the crushed schist in said retort as it is moved downwardly therein through a combustion zone into which air is introduced, removing volatiles from the upper part of the retort, and removing spent schist from the bottom of the retort, said process being characterized by maintaining the combustion zone at a predetermined level in the retort by feeding the schist in a gradual and even manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding bituminous schist to a series of retorts each equipped with a rotary distribution spout and a central feed channel, the retorts radiating from a central schist distributing tower. At least one hopper communicates with a central feed channel communicating with the retort, and is laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the retort. Conveyor belts are provided for conveying schists from the central distributing tower to the hopper or the hoppers of each retort.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the three-dimensional surface profile of the charge or burden in a furnace. A pair of infra-red radiation measuring instruments receives infra-red rays from temperature-characterized points on the surface and generates temperature-position signals for the points. Signals generated by a first instrument are paired with the signals generated by the second instrument that correspond to identical temperature-characterized points. The position in space of each temperature-characterized point is determined from the known relative positions of the instruments and the two position components of the paired signals.

Abstract: A charge metering system for a shaft furnace is disclosed. The furnace charging apparatus includes means for continuously measuring the charge material in a supply hopper and a metering valve for controlling the material flow rate from the supply hopper. In order to permit accurate charge weight measurement the supply hopper is isolated from dimensional displacements which may be induced in the furnace and associated equipment during operation by means of an articulated suspension system comprising a three hinged arch construction.

Abstract: Apparatus including a channel defining member and a movable flow control device cooperating therewith for exercising variable control over the rate of delivery of charge material from a hopper to a furnace is disclosed. The channel defining member approximates an oval shape and the flow control device is a concave shaped member which rotates from a full open to a full closed position along the major axis of the oval and with respect to the discharge end of the channel defining member.

Abstract: A method for the controlled delivery of ore charges to a shaft furnace is disclosed. The method employs apparatus including a plurality of sensors on which an intermediate charge storage hopper is supported whereby continuous measurement of charge weight is permitted. The apparatus also includes means for establishing hermetic coupling of the storage hopper to the furnace whereby compensation for temperature and pressure induced positional displacements and biasing of the sensors is permitted.