Abstract: A charging machine of the kind comprising a structure adapted to extend transversely of a coke oven battery on the roof thereof for movement longitudinally of the battery to overlie any selected oven chamber and supporting a number of hoppers adapted to be filled with coking coal, each such hopper having means for connecting the base thereof with an aperture in the roof of an oven chamber for transfer of coking coal from the hopper to the oven chamber, wherein said means for connecting the base of each hopper with an aperture in the roof of an oven chamber comprises a downwardly directed telescopically extendible sleeve, characterized by the provision of an annular seal outwardly spaced from and surrounding the lower end of said sleeve and adapted to engage with the oven roof surrounding an aperture in an oven chamber on lowering of said sleeve, there being gas tight resilient means connecting said seal with said sleeve, and arranged to urge the seal downwardly into engagement with the roof of the oven chambe

Abstract: A device for facilitating the discharge of material from a hopper of the kind whose cross-sectional area in a horizontal plane reduces gradually over at least the lower part of the hopper towards the outlet thereof comprising a helical blade rigidly secured within the hopper, the blade being so dimensioned and arranged as to impart a circular component of motion to the material as it runs through the lower regions of the hopper towards the outlet thereof.