Patent ID: 8123453
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: C21B,F27B,F27D

Abstract:
1. Charging device for a shaft furnace comprising: at least one charging hopper having a discharge orifice, said discharge orifice being positioned off-centre with respect to the central axis of the shaft furnace; a material distribution device arranged below said hopper, said material distribution device comprising a feed channel coaxial with the central axis of the furnace and a rotatable, pivotable chute arranged below said feed channel for distributing a charge in the shaft furnace; a connecting box in the form of a funnel with inclined inner walls, said connecting box being arranged between said material distribution device and said hopper and comprising a central lower outlet communicating with said feed channel and at least one upper inlet positioned off-centre with respect to the central axis of the furnace and communicating with said discharge orifice; at least one spreader plate situated inside said connecting box upstream of said distribution device and on the trajectory of material discharged from said discharge orifice; wherein said spreader plate has a generally horizontal operating position, in which it constitutes an obstacle transverse to said trajectory, for dispersing a flow of material from said discharge orifice in separate flows to both sides of said feed channel on to opposite parts of said inclined inner walls such that a collision between said separate flows in the region of said lower outlet creates a recombined flow that is essentially coaxial with said central axis.