Charging apparatus for shaft furnaces

Abstract

Apparatus for charging material into a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace. The apparatus includes gas lock means for introducing charge material into the furnace while the furnace is under gas pressure, and distributor means below the gas lock means that causes charge material to be deposited and distributed in the upper portion or throat of the furnace either toward the outer periphery of the cross section in the furnace bounded by the interior surface of the furnace wall or toward the center of such cross section, or in both places, to provide an upper surface or stockline of charge material that is essentially level or of any other desired shape within substantial limits. One form of distributor means disclosed comprises a vertically movable distributor bell with an upwardly and inwardly converging top surface that is positioned with the lower edge of such surface positioned either above or below the bottom edge of an opening, larger than the bell diameter, in a distributor hopper with upwardly outwardly diverging sides, so that the material charged into the hopper through the gas lock means can by cooperation of the bell and hopper be deflected either toward the outer periphery or toward the center of the cross section within the furnace or toward any intermediate location, by disclosed positioning or movement of the bell. Disclosed apparatus also includes means for sensing the level of the stock line at a plurality of locations around the outer periphery of the stockline near the furnace wall, and also at a central location; and means for reversing movement of the bell in case of jamming by an obstruction. Processes carried out by such forms of apparatus are also disclosed.