Abstract: Superheated steam is continuously made to flow through the housing of a device which conveys coal from a bunker to the charging holes of coke ovens. While no charging takes place, the steam is vented from the housing and condensed. When charging does take place, the steam enters the coke oven with the coal, is then discharged from the coke oven, and thereupon condensed. The pressure of the steam in the housing may be greater than ambient atmospheric pressure and/or the pressure of the coking gas in the oven, to reliably prevent the entry of the air and/or the gas into the housing and thus to avoid the formation of dangerous gas mixtures therein.