Abstract: A closing unit for an injection moulding machine has a movable closing die and a fixed matching die, as well as several hydraulic cylinders mounted on the fixed matching die to generate the closing force. The closing die has a drawbar for each hydraulic cylinder. The piston of each hydraulic cylinder is mechanically linked to a rotary locking bushing. The drawbars extend through hydraulic cylinders and locking bushings. A servo-drive allows the locking bushings to swivel up to a first and second angular position. First locking elements located along a section of the drawbars cooperate with second locking elements in the locking bushings so that in the first angular position the drawbars may be axially pushed through the hydraulic cylinders and the locking bushings, and in the second angular position the closing force may be transmitted from the hydraulic cylinders to the closing die.

Abstract: A closing unit for an injection moulding machine has a movable closing die and a fixed matching die designed as clamping dies for an injection mould, as well as several hydraulic cylinders mounted on the fixed matching die to apply a closing force. A servo-drive allows the drawbars to swivel around their longitudinal axes up to a first and second angular position. A first locking device arranged on the drawbars along a first section A of the drawbars co-operates with second locking device arranged on the movable closing die. In the first angular position of the drawbars, the locking devices allow the movable closing die to move axially with respect to the drawbars, and in a second angular position of the drawbars they transmit the required closing force.

Abstract: A hydraulic closing unit has a ring-shaped hydraulic cylinder that generates a closing force, a locking bushing, an assisted drive for swivelling the locking bushing from a first angular position to a second angular position, and a pressure bar that extends through the hydraulic cylinder and the locking bushing in the axial direction. Outer teeth on the pressure bar and inner teeth in the locking bushing allow the pressure bar to be axially pushed through the locking bushing in the first angular position of the locking bushing, and an axial force to be transmitted in the second angular position of the locking bushing. The hydraulic cylinder is designed as a double action, ring-shaped compression cylinder. The piston of the hydraulic cylinder is secured against rotation and screwed by a rotary thread into the rotary locking bushing.

Abstract: A device for the distribution of materials in bulk comprises a chute (10) suspended from a first rotor (18) so as to be driven in rotation and to be capable of pivoting about a pivoting axis (33). A pivoting ring (38) is connected to the chute (10) so as to be capable of pivoting about an axis (36) perpendicular to the horizontal pivoting axis (33) of the chute (10). A guide means, preferably comprising a large diameter suspension bearing (52), is supported by a second rotor (40). It defines for the pivoting ring (38), in a reference frame attached to the second rotor (40), an inclined plane of rotation which makes an angle .alpha. with a horizontal reference plane. The pivoting ring (33) creates, during a relative rotation in this inclined plane of rotation, a pivoting of the chute (10) about the pivoting axis (33).

Abstract: A machine is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace for applying the piercing rod method. The machine comprises a mounting (20), a drive means (42, 44), a clamp (34) for coupling the drive means to the rod (26) during its extraction. It is characterised by a push-member (34) transmitting the said thrust force to the rear end of the rod (26) during the insertion of the rod (26) into the taphole clay and by intermediate guides (55i) surrounding the rod (26) at several places during the insertion of the rod (26) into the taphole clay. The said guides (55i) being successively placed in a position in which they do not hinder the advance of the said push-member (34, 78) on the mounting (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for blowing preheated air into a shaft furnace, comprising several separate tubular elements, wherein an outer shielding made of steel and an inner lining made of cast refractory concrete are connected in pairs by a ball joint and a compensator. The ball joint includes a convex pivot which is integral with a first tubular element and which can pivot in a concave dish integral with a second tubular element. At least the convex pivot of the ball joint comprises a profiled refractory brick anchored in the inner refractory lining made of cast refractory concrete.

Abstract: A machine and method is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace. The machine comprises a mounting, with a support installed on the mounting so as to support a rod at the front of the mounting, a rear support which can move on the mounting and is provided with means for being coupled to the rear end of the rod and a clamp mounted in a sliding manner on the mounting and designed to grip the rod at any place between the front support and the rear support. A powerful rotary motor installed at the rear of the mounting drives an endless chain installed axially in the mounting. A clamp attached to the endless chain moves during the insertion of the rod into the taphole clay by reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor in a to-and-fro motion between a position (B) at the front of the mounting and a position (A) which is located at a distance L from the position (B).

Abstract: A machine is provided for piercing a taphole for a shaft furnace for applying the piercing rod method. The machine comprises a mounting, with a support for supporting the rod at the front of the mounting, a sliding support for supporting the rod at the rear of the mounting and a clamp, mounted in a sliding manner on the mounting and designed for gripping the rod at any place between the front support and the rear support. A travel multiplier is connected between a jack and the clamp so that the clamp may be moved. Means for controlling the jack make it possible to move the clamp in a to-and-fro motion between a position (B) at the front of the mounting and a position (A) which is located at a distance L from the position (B).

Abstract: An installation is proposed for charging a shaft furnace comprising a rotating and pivoting distribution chute. The chute is supported in a removable manner by two lateral side plates of a "U"-shaped stirrup piece. When a first ring securely fastened to a dome performs a relative movement with respect to a second ring, the dome, via an arm causes the stirrup piece to pivot about its horizontal axis which transmits this pivoting to the chute. The end of the arm pivots, to this end, in a runner block sliding in a groove of the dome.

Abstract: A method is provided for botting a tap hole of a shaft furnace using a botting gun fitted with a first hydraulic actuating cylinder holding the botting gun in bearing contact against the wall of the furnace, while a second actuating cylinder actuates a piston which injects the botting mass into the tap hole. In order to limit the contact pressures between the tip of the botting gun and the wall of the furnace, the supply pressure P.sub.1 of the first actuating cylinder is modulated as a function of the supply pressure P.sub.2 of the second actuating cylinder.

Abstract: A device is presented for injecting preheated air into a shaft furnace and comprises of a plurality of tubular elements provided with a refractory lining, which are connected to each other by a ball-and-socket articulation and an expansion joint. The ball-and-socket articulations comprise a convex ball portion formed in the refractory material of the adjacent segment. They comprise a protective shell made of refractory steel which extends around the convex part up to the base of the ball portion. The radius of curvature of each ball-and-socket articulation is in the range of magnitude of half the diameter of the tubular elements.

Abstract: The device comprises a gripper with retractable claws which can engage through the tymp and control means which pass through the gripper and can be controlled from outside in order to spread or retract the claws radially with respect to the axis of the tymp. The gripper and its control means are carried by a yoke designed to be fitted onto the outer edge of the tuyere arch and to be associated with a conventional pneumatic explosive-actuated tool which can be fitted to the outside of the yoke, either onto extensions of the claws or onto the control means, in order to exert by its rotation and its bearing on the yoke a tractive force on the claws of the gripper.

Abstract: A method for opening the taphole of a shaft furnace by withdrawing a rod, held in the hardened sealing compound of the taphole, includes engaging a coupling device onto the end of the rod, gripping the rod using a clamp longitudinally displaceable by a hydraulic jack, pulling out the rod by a length corresponding to the stroke of the jack and repeating this operation until the rod is completely withdrawn from the taphole.

Abstract: The probe comprises a probe arm provided with a series of orifices for simultaneously taking gas samples and measuring the heat at different locations of the charging surface and penetrating through an opening in the furnace. This opening is surrounded by a support hoop integrally connected to the wall of the furnace and provided with two diametrically opposite outer journals on which are articulated two parallel arms supporting between them the probe arm. This arm can move about the center of the said hoop under the action of at least one actuator mounted between the said hoop and the outer end of the probe arm, the arm comprising a circular sliding surface moving, sealingly, over the inner surface of the said hoop.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a hydraulic ram mounted on a movable support designed to be placed in line with the axis of the tuyere or tymp so as to bear on the furnace wall and to act on a gripper composed of two telescopic members respectively displaceable relative to one another in the axial direction of the tuyere or of the tymp in order to ensure the support of the latter, said gripper being axially displaceable through the action of said ram. The hydraulic ram is a double piston ram comprising a traction piston acting on a pulled member of the gripper and a thrust piston acting on a propelled member of the gripper, and is consequently suitable for all forms of tuyeres and tymps.

Abstract: The device comprises an oblique portion connected by a gooseneck, a nozzle, atuyere and a ball-and-socket joint to the wall of the furnace, in which the oblique portion comprises a tapered tube flange-mounted by its upper part onto an upper connection piece forming part of a bustle pipe and the lower part of which dips axially into a lower connection piece integral with the gooseneck, a bellows expansion joint and tension rods ensuring the mechanical connection between the tapered tube and the lower connection piece. The lower connection piece and the tapered tube can move mutually in the axial direction and have means for limiting their radial mobility.

Abstract: The probe comprises a support in the form of a sheath, a series of internal pipes, retained by spacers and connecting orifices distributed along the sheath to a device for measuring and for receiving the gas samples outside the furnace, and thermocouples arranged at the level of the said orifices. In order to enable the pipes to be replaced without disassembly of the probe, the said orifices are situated in steps provided in the sheath, while the internal pipes, for taking gas samples and heat measurements are all individual, straight and exchangeable elements housed in straight support and protection channels, each traversing the sheath from the outside as far as the respective step.

Abstract: The device comprises a housing with a circular passage orifice, a pivoting closing element in the form of a spherical dome and a circular gasket surrounding the said orifice and mounted on an annular support axially displacable towards the closing element under the action of a pneumatic fluid, the said annular support possessing for this purpose a passive annular surface exposed to the pressure in the said housing, the active surface of the support being larger than its passive surface.

Abstract: A device for shutting off pipelines for the transport of bulk product is disclosed. The device comprises a housing with a circular passage orifice, a closing element mounted pivotably in the housing, and an annular gasket surrounding the said orifice and capable of interacting with the peripheral part of the closing element. The gasket is mounted on a fixed support, and the closing element is displaceable along an axis perpendicular relative to its pivot axis. The device is particularly adapted for pipelines for transport of coal dust.

Abstract: A machine for opening tapholes has a conical guide and support head which is slidably mounted on a mount and which includes at least one hook equipped with two mutally opposite catching slots. The catching slots allow the hook to occupy two catching positions. In the first catching position, the head is secured to a sliding frame displacable by use of a sliding carriage. In the second catching position, the head is secured to the front end of the mount.