Paul Wurth S.a.

Jean Gidt

Emile Lonardi

Guy Thillen

Patrick Hutmacher

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. According to the invention, the top part of the sealing valve housing has a tripartite stellate configuration in horizontal section with a central portion, in which the inlets are arranged adjacently in triangular relationship about the central axis, and with a first, a second and a third extension portion, each sealing valve being adapted such that its flap opens outwardly with respect to the central axis by pivoting into a parking position located in the first, second or third extension portion respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Hollenfels, Luxembourg

Jean Gidt