Abstract: A loading device for a shaft furnace comprises a chute supported by a suspension rotor (28) in a fixed housing. The rotor (28) is fitted with a cooling circuit, supplied with liquid coolant via a rotating annular joint (44). The latter comprises a fixed ring (60) and a rotating ring (62), and is fitted in an annular leak collecting tank (46) formed by the suspension rotor (28). Fixed ring (60) is supported by the housing (12). Rotating ring (62) is supported entirely by fixed ring (60) via a bearing (64). Selective coupling means (65, 66) connect the rotating ring (62) to the suspension rotor (28) in such a way as to transmit a rotary moment of rotor (28) to rotating ring (62) selectively, while at the same time preventing other forces from rotor (28) being transmitted to rotating ring (62).

Abstract: A method of operating a multiple hearth furnace with a plurality of vertically aligned hearth floors includes feeding a first material onto the uppermost hearth floor and moving it over the hearth floor before it falls through a drop hole onto the next lower hearth floor. The first material is processed in this way from hearth floor to hearth floor to the lowermost hearth floor. A second material is fed onto one of the hearth floors to be mixed into the first material. This second material is moved separately from the first material in a separate annular zone of the hearth floor onto which it is fed before it is mixed into the first material, providing an efficient thermal preconditioning of the second material prior to mixing it with the first material without requiring any supplemental equipment.

Abstract: A loading device for a shaft furnace comprises a chute supported by a suspension rotor (28) in a fixed housing. The rotor (28) is fitted with a cooling circuit, supplied with liquid coolant via a rotating annular joint (44). The latter comprises a fixed ring (60) and a rotating ring (62), and is fitted in an annular leak collecting tank (46) formed by the suspension rotor (28). Fixed ring (60) is supported by the housing (12). Rotating ring (62) is supported entirely by fixed ring (60) via a bearing (64). Selective coupling means (65, 66) connect the rotating ring (62) to the suspension rotor (28) in such a way as to transmit a rotary moment of rotor (28) to rotating ring (62) selectively, while at the same time preventing other forces from rotor (28) being transmitted to rotating ring (62).

Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace includes an upright cylindrical furnace housing divided into a plurality of vertically aligned hearth chambers. A cleaning lance inlet port is sealingly connected to the cylindrical furnace housing and radially leads into one of the hearth chambers. A cleaning lance assembly is provided and includes an elongated mount arranged outside the furnace housing and the cleaning lance is slidably mounted on the elongated mount. The cleaning lance includes a cleaning nozzle and can be sealingly introduced through the lance inlet port along a radial trajectory into the hearth chamber by moving it along the elongated mount. The cleaning nozzle is arranged on the cleaning lance, so as to be capable of directing a jet of cleaning fluid onto a rabble arm that is positioned in a cleaning position in the vicinity of the radial trajectory when the cleaning lance is slidably moved along the elongate mount.

Abstract: A gas tight shut-off valve for a material charging or discharging lock includes a valve closing element that is movable relative to a valve a seat, between a first position which the valve closing element and the annular valve seat can be axially pressed together, and a second position in which the valve closing element is located laterally of the discharge opening in the valve seat. A soft sealing element is associated either with the annular valve seat or with the valve closing element. The valve further includes a heat protecting element which is movable between a first position in which it covers the soft sealing element when the valve closing element is in its second position, and a second position in which it uncovers the soft sealing element.

Abstract: A rabble arm for a furnace, as e.g. a multiple hearth furnace, comprises an elongated metallic support core (10), at least one rabble tooth having a rabble portion and a fixing portion and fixing means co-operating with the fixing portion for fixing the rabble tooth (14) to the elongated metallic support core. The fixing portion (48) includes a through hole through (50) which said elongated metallic support core axially passes; and the fixing means co-operates with the fixing portion (48) around the through hole for fixing said rabble tooth (14) to said elongated metallic support core (10).

Abstract: A method of operating multiple hearth furnace (10) with a plurality of vertically aligned hearth floors (361, 362, 363, 364, 365), comprises in particular following steps. A first material is fed onto the uppermost hearth floor and moved over this uppermost hearth floor (361) before it falls through a drop hole (40) onto the next lower hearth floor. This first material is processed in this way from hearth floor to hearth floor down to the lowermost hearth floor (366). A second material is fed onto one of the hearth floors to be mixed into the first material. This second material (64) is moved separately from the first material in a separate annular zone (68) of the hearth floor onto which it is fed before it is mixed into the first material. The method allows to provide an efficient thermal preconditioning of the second material prior to mixing it into the first material without requiring any supplementary equipment therefore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a melt iron in an electric arc furnace which comprises several electrodes, is fitted with a hearth and contains a heel, on top of which is disposed a non-foaming liquid slag. The inventive method comprises the following steps: the reduction of the metallic fillers to form pre-reduced metallic fillers comprising excess free carbon; the hot transfer of said pre-reduced metallic fillers inside an inert gas curtain into a heel contained in the electric arc furnace; the mixing of the heel through the injection of gas so as to prevent crust formation; the smelting of the pre-reduced metallic fillers in the electric arc furnace in order to produce the melt iron.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for distributing bilk material comprising: a tilting chute (32) suspended to a suspension rotor (18) driven in rotation by a motor (60); a tilt controlling rotor (28) and a tilting mechanism (36, 36′), which transforms a differential rotation of the two rotors (18, 28) into a tilting motion of the chute (32). A first braking mechanism (80) is associated with the tilt controlling rotor (28) and a first control device (102, 106) controls the variation of the angle of inclination of the chute 832) by controlled braking of the tilt controlling rotor (28).

Abstract: A gas-tight shut-off valve (14) for a material charging or discharging lock (10) comprises a valve closing element (26) that is movable relative to a valve seat (22), between a first position, in which the valve closing element (26) and the annular valve seat (22) can be axially pressed together, and a second position, in which the valve closing element (26) is located laterally of the discharge opening (24) in the valve seat (22). A soft sealing means (28) is associated either with the annular valve seat (22) or with the valve closing element (26). The valve (14) further comprises a heat protecting element (30), which is movable between a first position, in which it covers the soft sealing means (28) when the valve closing element (26) is in its second position, and a second position, in which it uncovers the soft sealing means (28).

Abstract: The preliminary cleaning stage for a dust extraction installation for blast furnace gas is comprised of a large-sized cyclone which comprises a vertical pressurized tank. A gas furnace gas line arriving from the blast furnace is connected to an axial delivery device situated at the upper end of the pressurized tank. The delivery device is configured such that it introduces the blast furnace gas into the pressurized tank in an axial direction. A swirl device with guide vanes is positioned below the axial delivery device and causes the blast furnace gas which is axially introduced into the pressurized tank to swirl about the axis of the pressurized tank.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for dispensing bulk materials through a rotary chute with variable angle of inclination comprising an underslung rotor mounted in a supporting frame so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The chute is suspended from the rotor so as to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis of suspension. A mechanism for pivoting the chute comprises a hydraulic motor mounted on the underslung rotor. A hydraulic connecting device comprises a sleeve fixed in rotation and a rotary sleeve driven in rotation by the rotor. The sleeves co-operate to connect the hydraulic motor to a control hydraulic circuit fixed in rotation. A duct feeding the chute passes through the two sleeves. The device can advantageously equip a shaft furnace.

Abstract: A method for feeding fines or granules into a light-arc furnace. A hollow electrode provided with a feeding channel is utilized, and is preferably a hollow Söderberg electrode. A conveyor introduces the fines or granules into the feeding channel so as to maintain in the feeding channel a hollow material in which a lower end is smelted in a molten metal bath.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hoisting drive comprising several linear motors, as well as to a linear slide track with a carriage. All primary parts and all secondary parts of the linear motors are mounted on the carriage. The hoisting drive comprises a closed housing which is cooled by a coolant and into which the linear slide track is integrated together with the linear motors. Those primary parts and secondary parts which are not mounted on the carriage are mounted on the housing. A cylindrical hoisting rod is introduced into the housing in a sealed manner and mechanically joined to the carriage. This hoisting drive is especially suitable for use in the iron and steel industry as replacement for large cylinders.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for dispensing bulk materials comprising a vertical rotor (22) wherein is suspended a chute (14) so as to pivot about a substantially horizontal pin (26). A guiding device (68i, 70i) interlocked in rotation with the rotor (22), is connected between the rotor (22) and a first ring (66), so that the latter can axially slide along the rotor (22). Connecting rods (73, 73′) transform a vertical sliding of the first ring (66) causing the chute (14) to pivot. A roller ring (76) connects the first ring (66) to a second ring (74), whereto are connected control means, for example a lever actuated by a hydraulic actuator (80), capable of varying the vertical position of the two rings (66, 74) and the chute (14) inclination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous casting device comprising a support structure (16, 116), a swing lever (24, 124) which is pivotally mounted in the support structure (16, 166) around a first pivotal axis a drive mechanism (34, 134) which is connected to said swing lever (24, 124) and a continuous casting shell (14, 114) which can be impinged upon a cooling medium. A bearing (38, 138) to support the continuous cast shell (14, 114) is pivotally mounted on the swing lever (24, 124) around a second pivotal axis, whereby at least one connection for the cooling medium is integrated into the pivoting bearing (38, 138).

Abstract: A taphole boring machine serving two tapholes includes a support structure, a mount and a suspension device of which the mount is secured on the supporting structure and the suspension device has a tilting device for the mount with the suspension device further including a mechanism within a frame, a first drive and two connection points with a mechanism designed in such a way that a positively guided translation of two connection points in relation to the frame can be produced by a drive pulse of the first drive so that a connecting line through the two connection points remains parallel with itself during such movement.

Abstract: A device for direct observation of the charging process inside a shaft furnace during its operation, in particular a blast furnace, with a measuring lance, which is arranged above the charge column in the shaft furnace in such a way that it is exposed to the charge material falling from a charging device during the charging process, and sensor means which detect the position of the falling charge material in relation to the measuring lance.

Abstract: A device for rotating a work element is disclosed. The device has a support structure, an arm mounted in the support structure in such a way that it can rotate, a rotation drive for rotating the arm around a rotation pin, the rotation drive being located between the arm and the support structure, and a lifting drive. The support structure represents the frame and the arm represents a driven member of a gear. The lifting drive closes the gear between the support structure and the arm. A coupling device is connected in series with the lifting drive in such a way that the lifting drive can be uncoupled from the gear. The coupling device may have a rotating arm and a locking device, for example. The device can be used as a compact rotating device for carrying a blast furnace gun.

Abstract: A device for swiveling a working unit between a rest position and a work position is disclosed. The unit has an arm and a support structure, one end of the arm being arranged in the support structure in such a way that it can swivel. A swivel arm with an actuating drive is positioned with one end arranged in the support structure in such a way that it can swivel. The other end of the swivel arm has an articulated connection with a lift drive, the second end of the lift drive has an articulated connection with the arm. The swiveling axis of the swivel arm is positioned at a set distance from the swiveling axis of the arm so that the lever arm can be raised. This allows the lift drive to transmit its power to the arm in a working position. This eccentric position of the swivel arm also allows the actuating drive of the swivel arm to switch largely without power when the arm is in the working position. The swiveling device is adapted for use for tap hole plugging machines.