Abstract: To distribute charging material evenly in an enclosure such as a furnace or reactor to ensure its best operation, a charging material distribution inside the enclosure 30 of the furnace is used. It has a movable charging device 4 in the form of a spout through which the charging material is fed into the enclosure. The distribution device is small in size and light in weight. It has a moveable charging device 4 in the form of a spout which is suspended on a gimbal suspension 2 on a fixed charging device, which is in the form of a chute 3 inside the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is a bulk loader apparatus for providing bulk material through an open roof of an electric arc furnace. The bulk loader apparatus is a base, a swing arm pivotally connected to the base, a swing cradle pivotally connected to an upper region of the swing arm, and a hopper positionable in the swing cradle. In operation, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the base and connected to the swing arm moves the swing arm from a standby position where a full hopper is positioned in the swing cradle to a charging position where the contents of the hopper are emptied into the electric arc furnace. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wire and pulley assembly is also included to reduce the distance the swing arm must be rotated to empty the bulk material from the hopper. In another embodiment of the present invention, the swing arm is mounted on a turret which rotates the swing arm between the standby position and one or more charging positions.

Abstract: A handling device for the distribution spout of a shaft furnace is presented. The handling device comprises a front axle and a rear axle with each axle being mounted on movable rollers. The axles are positioned on two rails which are opposite an access aperture in the head of the furnace. The rails are suspended underneath a working platform positioned around the furnace head with a tilting frame mounted on the front axle. A supporting cradle for the spout is freely suspended at the front end of the frame and subjected to the action of a counterweight and a supporting cable. The rear end of the frame is articulated to the front ends of two arms mounted on the rear axle. Finally, a jack is pivotably mounted between the ends of levers, the levers being affixed to the rear axle and to the rear end of the frame respectively.

Abstract: A rotary kiln is charged with pneumatic tires by a lock chamber which carries two gates adapted to be opened in alternation. To ensure a desirable charging operation, the lock chamber provides a runway downwardly inclined towards the kiln inlet and having a length which is at least twice the tire diameter. The gate at the receiving end of the lock chamber is provided with a tire holder for holding each tire in a position for rolling on the runway. The tire holder comprises a gripping device having two gripping jaws operable to move in mutually opposite directions and engageable with the side wall of a pneumatic tire. The gripping jaws are mounted to be adjustable in a direction parallel to the runway and transversely to the direction of travel of the tire on the runway.

Abstract: The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

Abstract: A fireplace loading tool for loading logs or coal into a stove or fireplace including a pair of parallel, laterally spaced arm members and a lever arm downwardly depending from the arm members adjacent their effective longitudinal midpoint for pivoting the arm members to obtain a mechanical advantage in the loading of juel into a fireplace. The arms are preferably in the form of tines adapted to hold a log longitudinally placed thereon. Several floor supports are provided for use on fireplaces having varying characteristics. A coal tray with slide plate may be moveably mounted on the tines for the placement of coal into a fireplace.

Abstract: The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a conveying apparatus especially to be used for charging a shaft furnace. The apparatus comprises a transferring device consisting of at least one carriage accommodating at least two skips with open tops. At the upper part of the skip there is, or can be attached a lifting handle. The skips are lifted to the emptying position by a lifting device including locking bars and a locking device. The locking bars are situated in relation to the pouring lip of the skip, on the opposite side of the transverse vertical plane bisecting the center of gravity, in order to tilt the skip around the locking bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering solid fuel into a fireplace safely and easily includes a fuel supporting rack which may be pivoted between a horizontal fuel supporting position to a downwardly angled unloading position by means of a control lever having its operating end positioned a substantial distance from the fireplace.

Abstract: A horizontally extendable trolley 22 comprising a trolley frame 51 and wheels 52 for supporting trolley frame 51, and a horizontally elongated trailer frame 54 slidably mounted on frame 51, said trailer frame 54 having a first end extending beyond an end of frame 51, and auxiliary wheels 56 for supporting said first end. Trolley 22 includes: means for horizontally extending trailer frame 54 outwardly from the trolley frame 51 and retracting trailer frame 54 inwardly toward trolley frame 51; hoisting means mounted on trolley frame 51; auxiliary hoisting means mounted on trailer frame 54; and means for driving wheels 52. Crane 10 for use with trolley 22 and methods for the use of cranes employing trolley 22 in steel making operations are disclosed.

Abstract: A metal melting furnace is provided having an enclosing roof that has a refractory brim portion affixed to and carried by the side walls, and has a refractory crown portion that is adapted to be removably positioned to close-off and open a central charging opening defined and encompassed by the brim portion. The crown portion by-passes electrodes in its "down" position and is to be raised and lowered and swung into and out of a clearing position with respect to the charging opening. Exhaust fume from a side-positioned smoke hole of the furnace is directed either into and positively drawn through a side-positioned-preheating scrap container or through an exhaust chest for subsequent environmental treatment before discharge into the atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention provides a housing containing a rotatable coal bucket that is sealed at its ends in the housing with a reciprocal plunger that is sealed in the bucket at one end and has an opposite cone-shaped end that wedges up against a closed end of the bucket, and a method for feeding dry, variable size coal from an ambient atmosphere at low pressure into a high temperature, high pressure reactor between the seals for producing fuel gas substantially without losing any high pressure gas from the reactor or excessively wearing the seals.