Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing molten iron includes a reduction furnace having a charging device that is capable of preventing segregation. The reduction furnace for reducing an iron-containing material used for manufacturing molten iron may include a charging hole where the iron-containing material is charged, a first guide plate sloped toward a first direction in the reduction furnace to guide the iron-containing material to the inside of the reduction furnace, and a second guide plate fixed and sloped toward a second direction intersecting the first direction in the reduction furnace to guide the iron-containing material dropped and guided by the first guide plate. A dropping direction of the iron-containing material dropped and guided by the first guide plate is changed when the iron-containing material is guided by the second guide plate.

Abstract: A three hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the furnace by rotating a distribution member about the furnace central axis and a first, a second and a third hopper arranged in parallel above the rotary distribution device and offset from the central axis. A sealing valve housing is arranged between the hoppers and the distribution device. It has a top part with a first, a second and a third inlet respectively communicating with the first, the second and the third hopper. A first, a second and a third sealing valve are provided in the top part. Each sealing valve includes a flap which is pivotable between a closed sealing position and an open parking position. The sealing valve housing also has a funnel shaped bottom part with an outlet communicating with the distribution device.

Abstract: An installation is provided for supplying materials into a metallurgical unit by the alloying steel for synchronizing the process of melting the supplied materials and reducing the alloying elements. The installation includes a distributor gear made as a funnel and a swivel launder with a drive, and intermediate hoppers interconnected with a pipe-chute. The installation is provided with a housing having a lid and means for fastening to structures of a plant. The funnel is mounted in the lid, the swivel launder is mounted under the lid and the intermediate hoppers are positioned radially in the housing to form a cavity by hopper surfaces facing a longitudinal axis of the installation, said cavity being separated from the interior of the hoppers, which are coupled to the pipe chute by discharge openings formed therein and shutters mounted to move relative to a longitudinal axis of a hopper.

Abstract: A refining apparatus for scrap silicon using an electron beam which is suitable for recycling of scrap silicon which is formed during the manufacture of silicon products such as silicon wafers includes a vacuum chamber, a crucible installed within the vacuum chamber, a hearth which is installed next to the crucible within the vacuum chamber and which receives granular scrap silicon and which melts granular silicon by irradiation with an electron beam and which supplies molten silicon to the crucible, and a raw material supply apparatus which is installed within the vacuum chamber and which stores a prescribed amount of granular scrap silicon and supplies the stored granular scrap silicon via a chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a throat closing device for shaft furnaces, especially blast furnaces having a material feeding hopper (1), to which a temporarily rotating rotary hopper (2) which is sealed with regard to the stationary parts (3) is connected. The inventive throat closing device is produced such that it has a less complex construction and is easier to install, and can be easily serviced due to the provision of a sealing unit (5) comprised of an adjusting flange (7) which is arranged above the rotary hopper (2), is complementary to the hopper flange (6) thereof, can be lifted and lowered, and which comprises seals (8, 9) located on the flange underside. Said sealing unit is configured in a spanning wall (12) which comprises a compensating element (13) and which connects the adjusting flange (7) to the stationary part (3) of the rotary hopper (2).

Abstract: A top closing device for shaft furnaces, particularly blast furnaces, including an inlet hopper with inlet pipe, a rotating, vertically non-adjustable chute carrier with rotary drive, a pivotable chute in the furnace interior with external drive means, and sealing members between the rotating and stationary components. The rotating chute carrier is mounted with a gear ring attached to a flange in a ball bearing slewing rim arranged on a catch basket. The rotary movement of the rotating chute carrier is effected outside of the furnace space by an electric motor drive with pinion. The catch basket is arranged on the furnace support ring of the gas seal hood. The pivoting or tilting movement of the chute relative to the furnace axis within the rotating chute carrier is effected by a hydraulic or electromechanical drive outside of the furnace space. An annular sealing member for sealing relative to the rotating chute carrier is mounted on the furnace support ring next to the flange of the catch basket.

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace with a lower bell comprises lower means of blockage allowing an upper hopper to be isolated in a sealed manner from a lower hopper and allowing the retention of the charging material. In their open position, these lower means of blockage are positioned so that they unblock a free central passage for the flux of material. This flux is established in the form of a compact and focused flux. Means for moving the lower bell are positioned so as not to disturb the focusing of this flux. Positioned above the lower bell is a deflecting surface, which causes the focused flux to diverge with axial symmetry. Inter alia, a better symmetry in the filling of the lower hopper is obtained.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charging device with rotating chute comprises a supporting structure (22) overhanging the shaft furnace (10), a mounting flange (18) fixed rigidly to the shaft furnace (10), a batch hopper (26, 28) supported by the supporting structure (22), a drive housing (30) for the chute (32) which is connected in a sealed manner at one end to the batch hopper (26, 28) and at the other end to the mounting flange (18), and at least one large diameter roller ring (40) mounted in the housing (30) in order to support the chute (32) with the ring (40). In order to increase the working life of the roller ring (40), at least one deformable linking element (70) is incorporated in the chain of rigid elements connecting the mounting flange (18) to the roller ring (40), in such a way that a rigid transmission of deformations of the mounting flange (18) to the roller ring (40) is largely prevented.

Abstract: A charging device is provided for feeding an enclosure with a predetermined flow rate of a solid material. The device comprises a materials hopper, a pipe for feeding the enclosure, and a member for retaining and for regulating the flow rate of material. The member for retaining and for regulating the flow rate of material comprises a bell for closing off a discharge opening, and a central metering body which is oblong and distinctly more slender than the bell. The bell and the central metering body can be moved relative to one another so that the distance which separates the two of them can be freely adjusted.

Abstract: A charging arrangement for shaft furnaces, in particular blast furnaces, comprising a container which is arranged above the shaft furnace and which is subdivided by a separating wall into a lower distributor chamber and an upper lock chamber to which the charging material can be fed from above through a filling hopper. Outside its middle and distributed around its periphery the separating wall includes at least two individually closable bottom openings through which the charging material can be passed from the lock chamber into the distributor chamber. The charging material is fed to the shaft furnace through distributor pipes which connect the distributor chamber to the shaft furnace.

Abstract: In a throat stopper for shaft furnaces, in particular blast furnaces with two hoppers of which an upper hopper is rotatable through a drive device, the upper hopper is designed, by a stationary hood equipped with charging flap valves, as a sluice chamber to be closed pressureproof. For sealing the stationary hood relative to the rotatable upper hopper, there is disposed, at the hood, a peripheral flexible inflatable bellows. The bellows can be pressed against the wall of the upper hopper pneumatically or hydraulically. While material is being charged in the upper hopper, one of the charging valves is open and the bellows is pressureless. During, or shortly after, the charging, the uppr hopper is rotated. For filling the lower hopper, the valves of the upper hopper are closed, bellows is inflated, and the upper sluice chamber is pressurized.

Abstract: In a throat stopper for shaft furnaces, in particular blast furnaces with two hoppers of which an upper hopper is rotatable through a drive device, the upper hopper is designed, by means of a stationary hood equipped with charging flap valves, as a sluice chamber to be closed pressureproof. For sealing the stationary hood relative to the rotatable upper hopper, there is disposed, at the hood, a peripheral flexible inflatable bellows. The bellows can be pressed against the wall of the upper hopper pneumatically or hydraulically. While material is being charged in the upper hopper, one of the charging valves is open and the bellows is pressureless. During, or shortly thereafter, the charging, the upper hopper is rotated. For during the lower hopper, the valves of the upper hopper are closed, bellows is inflated, and the upper hopper is hopper are closed, bellows is inflated, and the upper sluice chamber is pressurized.

Abstract: The loading installation comprises a device for introducing and distributing charge material into a shaft furnace, this device being surmounted in ascending order, and in alignment with the central axis of the furnace, by a compensator, a valve housing, a lock chamber having a weighing system and a stand-by hopper. The lock chamber and the valve housing are suspended by means of several balances on a circular or polygonal horizontal supporting beam with the stand-by hopper resting on this beam. In turn, the supporting beam is carried by several vertical pillars with the pillars being carried by the head of the furnace.

Abstract: The device for closing the charging opening of an autoclave (1) has a cover (2) which can be lowered into the interior of the autoclave by means of a drive means supported at the outer side of the autoclave (1). The charging opening overlaps with its annular rim (7) the sealing surface (17) of the cover (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing charge material to a shaft furnace is presented which effectively reduces the segregation of the particles in a storage housing positioned above the shaft furnace. In the present invention, the storage hopper and the distribution device are movable about the vertical axis of the shaft furnace and are mounted inside a sealed chamber. Above the chamber are arranged at least two locks which are each provided with upper and lower sealing flaps. Preferably, the storage hopper and the bottom of each of the locks are in the configuration of tapered funnels, the conical wall of which forms an angle of less than or equal to about 30.degree. with respect to the vertical axis of the furnace. The storage hopper is preferably supported by support and guide rollers which move on a circular rail integral with the wall of the sealed chamber and is subjected to the action of a drive mechanism for rotation about the vertical axis of the furnace.

Abstract: A method and a device is provided for continuously supplying from above piece-shaped, i.e. lumps of, material to a shaft through which a high-temperature gas is conducted from below upwardly to a centrally disposed upper gas outlet. The piece-shaped material at the upper end is fed into the shaft at the top via evenly distributed and closed feed tubes or via an annular feed gap adjacent the periphery of the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for charging particulate material of varying sizes into a shaft furnace, such as an oil shale retort or blast furnace, in which a highly uniform distribution of particle sizes of charge material and a desired height and level of stockline are obtained. The apparatus comprises a non-rotatable distribution hopper having a dividing means beneath choked feed means to substantially equally divide the material into a plurality of port means. The apparatus also includes partially movable distributor means and spreader means having surfaces of different inclinations to thoroughly mix the variously sized particles. Also disclosed is apparatus for providing gas lock means to prevent loss of gas pressure from the furnace, sensing the stockline level in the furnace, weighing the material in a hopper, temporarily storing certain amounts of charge material, and controlling the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Static bed type iron oxide reducing apparatus comprises reduction furnaces and cooling chambers respectively associated with the furnaces. Iron oxides are charged into the furnaces and reducing gas is applied to the raw materials to carry out a reducing reaction. After the iron oxides in the furnace have been metallized to a sufficient level, they are transferred to the cooling chamber to be cooled therein.

Abstract: Material to be deposited on the hearth of a shaft furnace serially passes through a pair of temporary storage containers positioned above the furnace. The uppermost storage container is in the form of a bin open to the ambient atmosphere while the lower storage container is provided with valves at either end whereby it may be hermetically sealed and subsequently brought to furnace pressure. The lower storage container is loaded while at ambient pressure, by releasing furnace charge material previously delivered to the upper storage container into the lower container and subsequently by delivering material directly to the lower container from a conveyor system through the lower container. The upper container is refilled with material while the lower container is at furnace pressure and is discharging its contents into the furnace.

Abstract: A suspension of a powdery substance and a reaction gas is formed by allowing the powdery substance to fall as an annular flow into a reaction space, feeding the reaction gas downwardly to encircle the annular flow of powdery substance, the kinetic energy of the annular flow of descending powdery substance being utilized towards its gradual spreading to the sides with the aid of a sliding surface disposed within the reaction space, so that the flow of powdery substance which has been spread to be laterally directed will meet the reaction gas flow substantially at right angles in the reaction space.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging material into a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace. The apparatus includes gas lock means for introducing charge material into the furnace while the furnace is under gas pressure, and distributor means below the gas lock means that causes charge material to be deposited and distributed in the upper portion or throat of the furnace either toward the outer periphery of the cross section in the furnace bounded by the interior surface of the furnace wall or toward the center of such cross section, or in both places, to provide an upper surface or stockline or charge material that is essentially level or of any other desired shape within substantial limits.

Abstract: Disclosed is charging means for a shaft furnace such as an oil shale retort or blast furnace comprising a stationary outer distributor member having a donwardly converging inner wall and a movable member having upwardly converging upper wall, which latter member is adapted to move in an upright path between positions below and above the bottom of the distributor. A plurality of port means are fixed in the top wall of the furnace above the distributor members, each port means having a gas sealing valve and a material holding gate. Above the port means is a distribution hopper having a number of downwardly extending legs each connected to one of the port means, and adapted to distribute to each of the port means charge material that is supplied to the top of the distribution hopper through a material holding gate and a gas seal. The distribution hopper is supported by load cells which measure the weight of the charge material delivered to the distribution hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging material into a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace. The apparatus includes gas lock means for introducing charge material into the furnace while the furnace is under gas pressure, and distributor means below the gas lock means that causes charge material to be deposited and distributed in the upper portion or throat of the furnace either toward the outer periphery of the cross section in the furnace bounded by the interior surface of the furnace wall or toward the center of such cross section, or in both places, to provide an upper surface or stockline of charge material that is essentially level or of any other desired shape within substantial limits.

Abstract: A device for charging materials into a blast furnace is disclosed in which a gear box which supports rotatably a ring gear has a pair of shafts swingably supported by a casing joined to the top of the furnace in such a way that the gear box may be caused to swing about the pair of shafts when the latter are driven. Furthermore, a chute is disposed within the gear box in such a way that it may be caused to swing in the directions at right angles to those of the swinging of the gear box by the rotation of the ring gear which in turn is driven by a drive shaft.