Abstract: An injector insert pipe is arranged in the gas channel of a nozzle for injecting oxygen-containing gas into a pig iron production unit, wherein an interspace which surrounds the pipe is present over the entire pipe length between the wall of the gas channel and the pipe outer wall. The pipe extends at least as far as the nozzle end face which contains the mouth of the gas channel. The pipe space is connected to an oxygen-containing gas feed line, and the interspace is connected to a protective gas supply line. In a process, oxygen-containing gas is fed into the pipe space, which after it has flowed through the pipe, enters the production unit at an entry velocity, and the interspace is simultaneously flowed through by a gas which exits into the production unit at an exit velocity, wherein the entry velocity is greater than the exit velocity.

Abstract: A smelting apparatus includes a vessel and a solids injection lance extending through an opening in the wall of a vessel barrel into the interior space of the vessel. The lance includes a central core tube through which to pass solid particulate material into the vessel and an annular cooling jacket surrounding the central core tube throughout a substantial part of its length. The lance has a mounting structure including a tubular part extended about the cooling jacket and about twice the diameter of the cooling jacket. The tubular part fits within a tubular lance mounting bracket welded to the shell of the vessel barrel to extend outwardly from the vessel. The lance is held within the mounting bracket by clamping bolts acting between flanges on the tubular part and the tubular bracket.

Abstract: A direct smelting plant for producing molten metal from metalliferous feed material includes a pretreatment unit for pretreating metalliferous feed material and producing pretreated feed material, a direct smelting vessel for smelting pretreated metalliferous feed material to molten metal and a hot feed material transfer apparatus for transferring pretreated metalliferous feed material from the pretreatment unit to a solids delivery device of the direct smelting vessel. The transfer apparatus includes a hot feed material storage device, a hot feed material transfer line, device for unblocking the hot feed material transfer line and a pressurising device. The hot feed material transfer apparatus includes a device for returning pretreated metalliferous feed material to the pretreatment unit.

Abstract: A pressure controlling apparatus controls a pressure in a container capable of storing a molten metal and supplying the molten metal to an outside using a pressure difference and includes: a supplying portion for supplying a compressed gas to be supplied to the container; a flow passage for supplying the compressed gas from the supplying portion to the container; a first switching valve, being inserted into the passage, capable of manually switching a first mode that enables the passage of the gas between the supplying portion side and the container side and a second mode that enables the passage of the gas between the container side and the outside; an exhausting portion for exhausting a gas from the container; and a second switching valve for switching a pressure applying mode for applying a pressure to the container and an exhausting mode for exhausting the gas from the container.

Abstract: Method intended to unblock enriched air blow or reaction gases nozzles in reactors or fusion converters for mining industry pyrometallurgy CHARACTERIZED by the injection of discrete air impacts with time intervals regulated to high pressure and rate through the enriched air blow or reaction gases nozzles; thus, the air impacts penetrate into the melting bath of such reactors or converters, producing the breaking of blocking accretions that dug the flow of such a enriched air or gas through the nozzle and forming, because the cooling provoked by the penetration of them, a directed accretion with material of the melting bath which is solidified by the cooling effect, allowing that the production of directed accretion be a natural lengthening of the tube of nozzle from the inner wall of these reactors or converters, and by this way to allow that the O2-enriched air blowing through the nozzle enters deeper in the melting bath, to a distance where breaking waves of this flow are generated far of the wall that has

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (8) which is used to inject a treatment gas into a molten metal contained in a tank (1) and which is designed to be fixed in one of the walls of said tank. The inventive device comprises at least one injection nozzle (18) which is equipped with an end hole (19). Said device is characterised in that it comprises a mobile means (14) which can be manoeuvred from outside of the injection device and which is used to unblock the aforementioned end hole of the nozzle.

Abstract: A system for monitoring coal flow through a coal delivery tube in a blast furnace fuel injection system is disclosed, which system automatically actuates a purge cycle for clearing accumulations of coal from a coal lance when a temperature drop indicative of an imminent blockage is detected. A method of controlling the purge system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a refractory pouring tube including a contact face (15) capable of bearing against a contact face (11) of another refractory component (9), the said pouring tube being arranged to be displaced. The said pouring tube is characterised by the fact that its contact face (15) incorporates a cleaning groove (26, 27) delineated notably by a wall presenting an edge capable of exerting a scraping action, as the said pouring tube is displaced, at least partially on the determinate part of the contact face of the other refractory component. The cleaning groove makes it possible to preserve the integrity of the contact surface of the other refractory component and, consequently, the joint surface formed between the two components.

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 push-pull apparatus includes a machine base, and a coupling unit having a retractable main frame disposed on top of the machine base and longitudinally movable in forward and rearward directions relative to the machine base, and a coupler mounted on a front end of the main frame and adapted to be extended into a ring retainer on a wall member to engage a tubular body that is fitted into the ring retainer. An extension unit is mounted on the machine base and is connected to the coupling unit. The extension unit is operable so as to move the coupling unit relative to the machine base. An impact unit is provided on the coupling unit. A drive unit is mounted on the coupling unit and is operable so as to move the impact unit along the coupling unit in order to enable the impact unit to impact a selected one of the front and rear ends of the main frame and generate at the coupler one of a pushing force for assembling the tubular body and a pulling force for disassembling the tubular body.

Abstract: A filter for use in a coupling disposed between first and second tubes which convey lime from a movable carrier to a processing pot in a steel mill. The filter has a plurality of openings sized and positioned to allow passage of lime and exclude contaminants of a size larger than the size of the perimeter of selected openings reduces erosion by the lime.

Abstract: A smelt spout cleaner apparatus includes a cleaning head insertable into a smelt spout and movable in a substantially linear path along the smelt spout for thoroughly cleaning the spout. The cleaning head is mounted on one end of a substantially horizontal beam, the opposite end of which is supported in cantilever fashion to a support base which is selectably movable. The support base includes means for longitudinally translating the beam and causing the cleaning head to move in a linear path along the length of the smelt spout.

Abstract: A blast furnace tuyere sensor system comprising a conditioning circuit including a D.C. power supply, a potentiometer for base loading circuit voltage, and a photosensitive resistor sensor which outputs an analog voltage signal proportional to the intensity of the light falling on the sensor, and method and means to measure the output voltage signal and to actuate alarms when the measured voltage signal deviates in a predetermined manner or amount from the base load voltage indicative of a plugged tuyere, a bright tuyere or a defective sensor.

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 peepsight for a blast furnace tuyere sensor system comprises a housing in which is mounted a colored glass viewing window and one end of a fiber optic cable directed toward a tuyere so that an operator can view the interior of the furnace and the cable can receive light energy emitted at the tuyere for transmittal of such light energy to an optical sensor.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus for enabling exchange of an immersion nozzle seated in a tundish and used for casting of a molten metal from a molten metal container to be carried out very easily and quickly, which apparatus comprises rails (4) laid so as to approximate closely to a molten metal casting outlet nozzle (2) of a molten metal container (1), a self-propelling truck (5) adapted to travel on the rails (4), retainer parts (7) mounted on the truck (5) and adapted to retain an immersion nozzle (3) at the leading terminal thereof, and a movable arm (6) provided with a cleaning device (18) for cleaning the lower terminal surface of the outlet nozzle (2) after removal of a used immersion nozzle.

Abstract: A tubular water-cooled jacket for furnaces is disclosed which includes a tubular member having a plurality of axial apertures and a plurality of transverse apertures. Each transverse aperture is formed therein so as to bring at least two of the axial apertures into open comunication with each other. The plurality of axial apertures and the plurality of transverse apertures corporate with one another to define a plurality of fluid passageways for cooling water isolated from one another. Each of the fluid passageways may be defined by at least two of the axial apertures and at least one of the transverse apertures connected to the at least two axial apertures. The tubular member may include a plurality of segments arranged side-by-side in a circumferential direction thereof and joined together.

Abstract: A controller for a damper in a chemical recovery furnace relieves physical engagement between the damper mechanism and an operating handle therefor when such handle is being repositioned. The damper is repositioned to prevent interference with an adjacent port cleaner.

Abstract: An anti-drift mechanism for a downwardly oriented port rodder for cleaning a port opening of a recovery boiler. The anti-drift mechanism prevents a cutter of the rodder from accidentally drifting from a retracted holding position into the port upon the loss of holding power to the actuator. Two embodiments are disclosed. The first is a frictional engagement with the port rodder while the second involves the use of a valve in conjuction with the actuator to trap fluid pressure and maintain the rodder in the holding position.

Abstract: A system for automatically or semi-automatically controlling the operation of a tuyere puncher comprises a distance measuring device which measures the distance of the puncher from a reference position, and a programmable device having a memory which may be used to store the position of each tuyere relative to such reference position, the capability of communicating with the distance measuring device to obtain the current puncher position, input capability to read signals from external devices, output capability to control indicating devices and the movement and punching operations of the puncher, and the calculating facility to determine the motion of the puncher to punch all possible punchable tuyeres.

Abstract: Removable apparatus for regulating air flow through an air port in a chemical recovery furnace. A plenum having an adjustable damper is mounted inside a wind box associated with the furnace adjacent to an air port and supplies and regulates the flow of air from the wind box to the furnace through the air port. A metal cleaning head having a cage-like configuration is pivotally mounted in a retracted, at-rest position inside the plenum above and adjacent to the air port so as not to interfere with movement of the adjustable damper.

Abstract: Removable apparatus for cleaning obstructions such as oxidized or encrusted smelt from a smelt spout of a chemical recovery furnace. A metal cleaning head having a rod-like shape depends, at rest, from a housing attached exteriorly of the furnace above the smelt spout. Periodically, an actuating mechanism in the housing moves the cleaning head downward and inward into the smelt spout to dislodge any obstructions that may have accumulated therein, and subsequently retracts the cleaning head to the at-rest position. Channel scraping members attached to the cleaning head are hinged to retract upon insertion of the cleaning head into the smelt spout an extend into the smelt spout channel to urge obstructions out of the channel when the cleaning head is retracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring bath temperature of metallurgical furnaces through a tuyere is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a periscope adapted to be inserted into a tuyere, a fiber optic cable having one end connected to the periscope for receiving radiation entering the tuyere from the bath of a furnace, and a two wavelength pyrometer connected to the other end of the fiber optic cable for analysing the radiations transmitted through the fiber optic cable to provide an indication of the temperature of the bath.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning air ports in a chemical recovery furnace includes a face plate removably received in a frame secured to the outer wall of the wind box associated with the furnace. The face plate pivotally carries a plurality of tubes which sealingly receive rods adapted to slide in the tubes toward and away from the air ports on the interior furnace or firebox wall. An actuating cylinder moves the rods toward the air port openings, while a reciprocating mechanism rotates the aforementioned tubes causing cleaning tips on the rod ends to enter the air port openings and clean char buildup along the edges thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for punching the tuyeres of a converter with a mechanical puncher mounted upon a carriage running on rails. Light intercepting plates encoded by light transmission holes are disposed opposite each tuyere. Light is shone towards the light intercepting plates and detected on the opposite side thereof by photoelectric elements the outputs of which are coupled to a digital processor which controls the speed and position of the carriage. The mechanical puncher has two cylinders each of which drives two punching rods to successively punch the tuyeres. If it is impossible to punch a tuyere with the mechanical puncher were moving in one direction, the position of the puncher is shifted by one tuyere to start the punching again in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A holder for an oxygen lance characterized by at least one actuating device comprising an operating lever which is connected to a shut off valve.

Abstract: A tuyere sealing means and silencer having a bell-shaped nozzle. A plurality of cutouts are included in the nozzle and receive radially movable ramp-type valve elements which are adapted to engage with a seal with the plurality of a punch rod. The valve elements are moved radially outwardly of the nozzle against the force of spring means when the punch rod is inserted through the tuyere sealing means.

Abstract: A silencer for use with a tuyere puncher is disclosed. The silencer comprises a chamber having a front face and a rear face provided with a central opening for passing of the punch bar operated by the puncher, a plurality of closure members located in the rear portion of the chamber and mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the chamber and including means for forcing the closure members against the periphery of the punch bar so as to form a seal between the closure members and the punch bar, and a seal secured to the front face of the chamber for engaging the tuyere to seal such a tuyere before penetration of the punch bar through the tuyere valve. The silencer is mounted on a mobile table which is supported by the puncher and operated in synchronism with the punch bar.