Abstract: The patent describes an oscillating device for a continuous casting mould with a supporting structure (10), an oscillating lever (12), which has a forked first lever arm (30) and a second opposing lever arm (32), this oscillating lever (12) being mounted in the supporting structure by means of first swivel joints (26′, 26″) so as to be vibratable about an axis (28), and a stroke generator (14), which is connected to the second lever arm (32) of the oscillating lever (12). The oscillating device according to the invention comprises a supporting cage (18) for suspension of a continuous casting mould (20), this supporting cage (18) being connected via second swivel joints (40′, 40″) to the forked first lever arm (30) of the oscillating lever (12).

Abstract: A continuous casting die has a casting channel (10) formed by molding plates (12) and a self-carrying frame construction with lateral openings into which the molding plates (12) can be slidingly inserted perpendicularly to the casting channel. The frame construction preferably has a top frame (14) with a passage (16) which is slightly larger than the cross-section of the casting channel (10) at the entrance of the casting die, a bottom frame (18) with a passage (20) which is slightly larger than the cross-section of the casting channel (10) at the exit of the casting die, and corner sections (22) which link the top frame (14) to the bottom frame (18). The lateral passages are delimited at their sides by the two corner sections, above by the top frame (14) and below by the bottom frame (18).

Abstract: A device for sealing a lance (12) in an opening in a container under pressure, in particular a shaft furnace, is described. The device comprises a first casing (46) with an end wall on the shaft furnace side and on the environment side, which are each provided axially with an opening for a lance (12), and a sealing element (14), which is arranged in the first casing (46). The sealing element (14) comprises at least one packing (50) and at least one axially movable annular piston (52), which are arranged coaxially with an axis (24) of the device, the packing (50) being arranged between the piston (52) and one of the end walls of the first casing (46) in the actuating direction of the piston (52). The packing (50) is pressed axially against one of the end walls of the casing (46) by actuation of the piston (52), the packing (50) extending radially and being laid around the lance (12) to form a seal.

Abstract: A gastight isolation valve for solid materials is presented. The body of the valve has a lower edge which, defines, in the leaktight closed position, an air seal. The air seal is surrounded by a projecting element of the closure member which comprises, on the outer side, an outer peripheral flank having a first gradient. A peripheral sealing surface extends the outer peripheral flank. The sealing surface interacts with a sealing seat of the valve body to provide gastightness.

Abstract: A distributing chute for installation in a furnace, particularly suitable for use in a bell-less charging system of a blast furnace, comprises heat-resistant ceramic tiles on its underside. These ceramic tiles are inserted between, and secured by, hollow sections which are attached to the chute body and through which a cooling medium is passed. The ceramic tiles preferably include lateral grooves; the hollow sections being fitted in the lateral grooves for securing the ceramic tiles.

Abstract: A distributor chute for bulk material, in particular for use in a bell-less blast furnace top charging device, has several inclined transverse plates in the region of its impact zone. The transverse plates create retaining pockets between their inner faces and the surface of the distributor chute. Two adjacent transverse plates limit between the outer face of the first transverse plate and the inner face or the second transverse plate a retaining chamber. If the inclination of the chute is reduced, the bulk material moves from the retaining pocket to the retaining chamber.

Abstract: A device is presented which equips an opening made in a pressurized container, in particular a blast furnace, for the axial insertion of a lance. This device comprises an axial sealing member, a casing, a first fixed seat, a second axially movable seat and a closure element. The closure element is fitted with a separation spring which produces an axial clearance with respect to the first seat. Closure springs apply the second seat onto the closure element and the closure element onto the first seat. Active opening members, for examples jacks, act against the closure springs. In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a spacer element which is identical to the closure element except that it is provided with a through opening for the lance.

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: A device is presented for inserting, from a support structure a lance axially through a side opening in a pressurized container, in particular a blast furnace. This device comprises a support bench on which a support carriage can slide. A front elastic support for the lance is mounted so as to follow the level variations of the side opening. When the lance is inserted into the container, the front elastic support yields and the lance bears on an internal support.

Abstract: A device for distributing powdery materials comprises a suspension sleeve which extends a rotary cage axially upwards through a plate. A running ring is fixed using a first collar to a suspension sleeve and using a second collar to an annular flange supported by the support structure above the horizontal plate. A ring forms part of the supply channel and is coaxial with the suspension sleeve. Leaktightness is ensured by a first leaktight seal between the suspension sleeve and this ring, and by a second leaktight seal between the suspension sleeve and the horizontal plate.

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: A suspension system is presented for a distribution chute of a device for uniformly spreading powdery materials over a circular surface. The distribution chute is suspended in a pivoting manner from a cage in such a way that the angle of tilt of the chute in relation to the vertical axis is adjustable. This cage is suspended from a peripheral annular ring having a vertical axis. The ring is vertically supported and laterally guided by wheels circumferentially spaced apart by an angle of 120.degree.. These wheels are mounted via bearings on a frame supporting the cage. An endless chain engages in a peripheral annular sprocket integrally connected to the cage in order to transmit to the latter a rotary motion about its vertical axis. A variant embodiment is presented with six smooth wheels, three of which have horizontal axes and three of which have vertical axes.

Abstract: A device is proposed for cooling the distribution chute of an installation for charging a shaft furnace. This installation comprises a feed channel, a rotary collar and a rotary cage, a fixed outer housing, a distribution chute mounted in a pivoting manner in the rotary cage, a driving means so as to cause the collar and the cage to turn, as one about the vertical axis of the channel and two drive casings acting on suspension shafts of the chute so as to pivot about a horizontal axis. An annular tank for feeding with cooling fluid is secured to the upper edge of the rotary collar. The distribution chute comprises a circuit for cooling the lower surface of its body and is connected directly, through channels passing axially through the suspension shafts of the chute and rotary connectors to the annular tank.

Abstract: Provided below the funnel-shaped outlet opening of a receptacle filled with wet slag sand is an outlet funnel which is closed to begin with and forms a conical annular gap around the receptacle. This gap fills with slag sand, as a result of which dewatering occurs according to the principle of the siphon effect.

Abstract: A furnace probe is introduced transversely into a furnace through a support block and a sealing packing. In order to reduce the influence of distortions on the packing and support elements, a carriage is slidably mounted along a frame and is provided with at least one stirrup mounted thereon so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis at right angles to the direction of a device for gripping the probe and driving it in the probe insertion direction when the carriage is moved in the direction of the furnace.

Abstract: A lance guiding and changing apparatus is presented for immersion lances which enables the lances to be changed or replaced at a rapid rate, the lances being held particularly firmly and rigidly during the plural injection processes. The immersion lance guiding and changing apparatus comprises, in part, lance storage means, lance transfer means, and lance changing means. The lance changing means includes a vertical mount which is capable of rotating about its vertical axis via a suitable drive means. At least two lance carriages are suspended on the mount, and the carriages are vertically transportable along the mount. The lance storage means, preferably comprised of a turret-type container capable of holding a plurality of lances, supplies or receives new and used lances respectively. The lance transfer means transfers the new or used lances between the storage means and the rotatable mount.