Abstract: A system and method for installing and removing a porous plug relative to a port of metallurgic ladle includes an extendable boom rotatable about vertical axis and pivotable up and down at a first end of the boom. A mast is coupled to a second end of the boom and rotatable about multiple axes relative to the boom to position or maintain the mast in a given orientation, such as in alignment with the port of the ladle in response to rotatable or pivotable movement of the boom. The mast includes a slider mast that is translatable along the length of the mast to insert the plug or retract the plug. The mast may also include jaw grippers to secure the plug and may be configured to rotate the plug relative to the mast. The system may automatically control the position and orientation of the boom, mast, and slider mast.

Abstract: A system and method for installing and removing a porous plug relative to a port of metallurgic ladle includes an extendable boom rotatable about vertical axis and pivotable up and down at a first end of the boom. A mast is coupled to a second end of the boom and rotatable about multiple axes relative to the boom to position or maintain the mast in a given orientation, such as in alignment with the port of the ladle in response to rotatable or pivotable movement of the boom. The mast includes a slider mast that is translatable along the length of the mast to insert the plug or retract the plug. The mast may also include jaw grippers to secure the plug and may be configured to rotate the plug relative to the mast. The system may automatically control the position and orientation of the boom, mast, and slider mast.

Abstract: A screening element 10 for screening particulate materials such as mineral ores of all types, shapes are a densities, as well as difficult to screen cloggy, and slabby materials. The screening element 10 has a screening surface 12 formed by a plurality of elongate zig-zagged shaped ribs 14. The ribs 14 are resiliently deformable and extend within the periphery of the element 10 in a chevron pattern across the element 10. The ribs 14 are spaced from each other to define between them rows of square screening apertures 22. The screening apertures 22 have sides 22.1 which are orlentated transversely at 90° to an axis 10.1 of the screening element 10; and sides 22.2 which are substantially aligned with the axis 10.1. The element 10 is divided into two rectangularly shaped portions 16, 18 by a centrally disposed straight rib 20. The ribs 14 extend, in the portion 16, at an angle A of approximately 315° to the axis 10.1; and in the portion 18, at an angle B of approximately 45° to the axis 10.1.