Abstract: Apparatus for charging a shaft furnace for burning carbonaceous mineral material in at least two furnace shafts comprises a common feed container, which is connected to each furnace shaft by a separate charging duct. In order to provide a simple structure and to reduce the overall height, the feed container is designed to constitute a lock chamber, which is provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the inlet port of the feed container and with a plurality of shut-off valves for controlling respective outlet ports connected to the charging ducts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a feed mixture, made of several batch components, at one stage in order to feed it into a smelting furnace. The preparation of the batch may include the preheating and drying of the material, the removal of crystal waters and evaporable substances as well as the conduction of the batch into the smelting furnace. According to the invention, a hot inert gas is conducted through a downwards settling batch so that the gas is mixed into the batch as well as possible, but even partial fluidization is prevented. The apparatus of the invention comprises a pretreatment silo (6) which is uniform at the upper part but is divided into several sub-silos (7) at the lower part. At the lower part of the sub-silos there are connected ducts (8) wherealong the batch flows into the smelting furnace (9) located below the pretreatment silo (6).

Abstract: There is provided a handling system for IC devices having a guide stage comprising a bank portion in which both sides of a IC device to be tested are held at a position other than a portion where terminals of the IC device project and a vacuum suction pore which suctorially sticks to the underside of the IC device at the midpoint of the bank portion.There is also provided a handling system for IC devices wherein multiple bank portions are provided on the stage, one half of which is used for carrying IC devices and the remaining half of which is used for discharging IC devices.

Abstract: In a rotary apparatus for the production of layered glass batch pellets there is provided a dryer for final drying of the pellets prior to their being fed to a melting furnace.

Abstract: An industrial furnace, for instance a heating and/or reducing furnace, arranged to treat material in powder or in small pieces and having a chamber with refractory walls to which energy is supplied by electric means and/or by combustion and into which the material to be treated is charged. The material is moved forward from an inlet orifice to a discharge orifice by a member provided with teeth which are preferably hollow and are cooled by water, air or vapor circulation.

Abstract: A system for generating a dry coal weight signal is provided, wherein the moisture content of a coal feed to a solid fuel burner is determined, and the dry coal weight calculated on that basis. Moisture content is determined by measuring density of the coal being fed and/or the torque required to drive a head pulley about which the belt feeding the coal is led at a constant velocity. The dry coal weight signal can be communicated to the drive means, whereby the belt speed is accelerated or decelerated to maintain a constant supply of coal, on a dry weight basis, to the boiler. Also disclosed is a control system employing the dry coal weight signal for a plurality of control functions.

Abstract: A loose fitting movable cover plate (36), suitable for the severe service encountered in a fluidized bed combustor (10), restricts the flow of solids into the combustor drain lines (30) during shutdown of the bed. This cover makes it possible to empty spent solids from the bed drain lines which would otherwise plug the piping between the drain and the downstream metering device. This enables use of multiple drain lines each with a separate metering device for the control of solids flow rate.

Abstract: A cooking retort for soup or the like in which the individual cans are stored in storage rack clusters arranged around a generally horizontal axis. The retort employs a power cylinder to tilt the retort and thus the storage racks to enable inclination of the racks to facilitate the loading and tilting of the racks to facilitate unloading. In addition, a hexagonal pattern of can rack clusters is provided to enhance cooking capacity of cans.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing ash formed within, and accumulated at the lower portion of, a fluidized bed coal gasification reactor vessel. A supplemental fluidizing gas, at a temperature substantially less than the average fluidized bed combustion operating temperature, is injected into the vessel and upwardly through the ash so as to form a discrete thermal interface region between the fluidized bed and the ash. The elevation of the interface region, which rises with ash accumulation, is monitored by a thermocouple and interrelated with a motor controlled outlet valve. When the interface rises above the temperature indicator, the valve opens to allow removal of some of the ash, and the valve is closed, or positioned at a minimum setting, when the interface drops to an elevation below that of the thermocouple.

Abstract: Apparatus for laying filament reinforced tape in a form, cutting same to a predetermined pattern and molding same in a preferred form.

Abstract: A container for loose material, in particular for hot coal, during the operation of a coke oven battery including a novel deflecting means for directing particulate matter located in the gas emanating from the loose material back into the container to reduce the flow of particulate matter out of the container to minimize air pollution. The deflecting means is in the shape of an umbrella-shaped guide plate which is adjustable relative to the container to control an annular outlet opening for the gas. In the annular opening are located settling plates to further minimize the flow of particulate matter out of the container.

Abstract: A batch material feeder for an electrically heated open-top refractory furnace, particularly a circular furnace, wherein the feeder includes a trough holding batch material and mounted over the furnace top, there being a rotatable agitator within the trough for moving batch material over discharge openings in the trough bottom, so as to deposit the batch material over the top of the molten mass in a manner that provides for a thin uniform layer of batch while assuring proper control of the thickness of the deposited layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wear compensating seal arrangement for use in a rotary piston feeder utilized for feeding pulverized coal into a gasifier operating at relatively high pressures and elevated temperatures. The rotary piston feeder has a circular casing with a coal loading opening therein diametrically opposed from a coal discharge and contains a rotatable disoidal rotor having a cylinder in which a reciprocatable piston is disposed. The reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder is provided by a stationary conjugate cam whereby pulverized coal from a coal hopper at atmospheric pressure can be introduced into the cylinder and then discharged therefrom into the high pressure gasifier while maintaining minimal losses of producer gas and the expenditure of minimal energy which would detract from the efficiency of the gasification.

Abstract: A batch material feeder for an electrically heated opentop refractory furnace, particularly a circular furnace, wherein the feeder includes a trough holding batch material and mounted over the furnace top, there being a rotatable agitator within the trough for moving batch material over discharge openings in the trough bottom, so as to deposit the batch material over the top of the molten mass in a manner that provides for a thin uniform layer of batch while assuring proper control of the thickness of the deposited layer.