Hatch Ltd.

Bhp Billiton Canada Inc.

David Henry Rudge

Maciej Urban Jastrzebski

John Andrew Ferguson Shaw

Volodymyr Ponomar

Robert J Veenstra

Martin Murray

Maurizio Darini

Dustin Alexander Vickress

Ian Archibald Cameron

Andriy Ponomar

Song Leng

Peter Ian Macpherson

Michael Aaron Jeske

Yu Hin Wu

William Wang

Ryan Jolivet

Matthew MacLeod

A system and method for loading railcars of a train wherein the railcars are provided with upper lids having latches for securing the lids in a closed position. The system comprises at least one sensing system for determining the position of the latches and the lids in order for one or more robot arms to perform operations such as unlatching, latching, lid opening and lid closing. At least one velocity sensor measures individual railcar velocity rather than overall train speed to enable engagement of the one or more robotic arms, as adjacent railcars may move at differing velocities due to slack in the connections between them.

System and method for in-motion railcar loading

An abrasion-resistant material for the working face of a metallurgical furnace cooling element such as a stave cooler or a tuyere cooler having a body comprised of a first metal. The abrasion-resistant material comprises a macro-composite material including abrasion-resistant particles which are arranged in a substantially repeating, engineered configuration infiltrated with a matrix of a second metal, the particles having a hardness greater than that of the second metal. A cooling element for a metallurgical furnace has a body comprised of the first metal, the body having a facing layer comprising the abrasion-resistant material. A method comprises: positioning the engineered configuration of abrasion-resistant particles in a mold cavity, the engineered configuration located in an area of the mold cavity to define the facing layer; and introducing molten metal into the cavity, the molten metal comprising the first metal of the cooling element body.

Wear resistant composite material, its application in cooling elements for a metallurgical furnace, and method of manufacturing same

Supplementary cooling elements in addition to a primary cooling element of a furnace. The supplementary cooling elements, with two or more components, may be inserted from the outside of the furnace into holes that pass through and the primary cooling element such that the cooling elements protrude beyond the inner surface of the primary cooling element. An inner one of the components of the supplementary cooling element may be received by an outer one of the components in a manner that forces the outer component into a thermally conductive pressure connection with the primary cooling element.

Furnace cooling system with thermally conductive joints between cooling elements

An apparatus for the removal and replacement of a lid on a metallurgical transport vessel such as a ladle or a torpedo car. The apparatus comprises a frame, means for supporting the frame such that the vessel may be moved into position thereunder, a linkage including at least one lifting member pivotally connected to the frame, and at least one actuator connected to the linkage. The actuator is operable to move the lifting member such that when the vessel is moved to a designated position below the apparatus, the lifting member can be moved by the actuator and linkage from a first position providing clearance above the vessel, through a curved path to an intermediate position where it engages the lid, providing a vertical lifting force and a horizontal hinge releasing force to the lid, and to a second position where the lid is raised to a sufficient height to clear the vessel. The lifting member may subsequently be moved back by means of the actuator and linkage through a reverse curved path to the first position, and thereby lower the lid back on to the vessel.

Apparatus for removal and replacement of a hinged lid on a metallurgical transport vessel

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, Canada

David Henry Rudge