Demolition machine for delining a furnace

The masonary or refractory material employed in the lining of blast furnaces has to be demolished, torn out, reconditioned, or replaced periodically, due to wear and deterioration of such material and the subject invention involves improved equipment or apparatus with respect to removing or delining this material. More particularly, the equipment includes a lower rotatable oblong carriage supporting a mounting adjacent one extremity of the carriage which carries an articulated structure provided with a reciprocable tool for disintegrating the liner material, an upper support for the carriage, cable means extending from the support for connection with means for suspending the equipment in the furnace, and power operated cables extending from the support for connection with means on the wall of the furnace whereby the equipment can be controlled and stabilized by an operator on the carriage to locate the equipment on a vertical axis of the furnace or in any one of an infinite number of radial and/or circumferential positions with respect thereto so as to facilitate locating the tool for efficient operation against the refractory liner in the furnace. The cable means and cables are extensible and extend only from the support so that they will not interfere with the rotation of the carriage and/or operation of the articulated structure and tool.

BACKGROUND 
Quite a number of different machines have heretofore been employed for the 
purpose of delining the masonry or refractory inner wall of a blast 
furnace and the subject invention is considered to constitute improvements 
over the equipment or machines disclosed in various patents, such as for 
example, J. Armstrong U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,120 dated Apr. 1, 1969 which, 
among other things, discloses a platform which is held in the center of a 
furnace throughout the entire tear-down operation; D. R. Stauffer, U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,446,292 dated May 27, 1969, which shows a rig or platform held 
by outriggers engaging a furnace wall and tool structure carried and 
supported below the platform; and L. Skendrovic, U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,888 
dated Feb. 27, 1968 which is similar to the aforesaid Stauffer Patent in 
that a tool structure is mounted below a support substantially on a 
vertical axis and carries complicated radially movable outriggers which 
abut the wall of a furnace and appear to continually maintain the machine 
centered on such axis. 
In addition to the above, some machines used in the past require periodic 
adjustment of cables from the top of the furnace by a crew of men to lower 
the machine to many positions in the furnace as the liner therein is 
removed, as distinguished from the subject invention which, among other 
things, allows an operator on the machine to control such procedure, 
thereby materially affording a reduction in manpower. 
The improvements constituting the subject invention or inventions will 
readily become apparent after the following OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION are 
considered as hereinafter set forth. 
OBJECTIVES 
One of the important objects of the invention is to provide apparatus which 
is capable of delining furnaces of variable sizes or cross-dimensions 
without the need of utilizing several machines for such purpose. 
A significant objective is to provide a machine embodying, among other 
things, an upper support or platform, and a lower carriage or cage in 
which the power therefor is preferably in the form of a small deisel motor 
which is self-contained in the carriage, as distinguished from those 
machines which require a multiplicity of power and/or feed lines which 
connect the machines to a source of power or supply lines located 
exteriorly and remote from the furnace. Such lines are expensive, require 
maintenance, cause entanglements and annoyance, and are not as safe or 
reliable as a substantially self-contained structure. In this regard, some 
of those machines require a water line to cool the hydraulic system and 
such a line, subject to freezing in winter and leakage into the lower 
refractory material causing possible damage thereto, is not needed. More 
specifically, the machine or equipment embodying the subject invention 
does not need a heavy duty electric cable extending to the top and into a 
furnace from a power source which may be located an appreciable distance 
from the furnace. The electrical equipment used on some of the machines 
used by others is also subject to wet and extremely dusty conditions 
during teardown and its life span is relatively short, thereby requiring 
periodic attention, repair and labor costs. The machine of the subject 
invention is self-contained except for a primary hoisting mechanism and 
air to operate an air operated tool or hammer. 
A very important object of the invention is to provide a machine with 
improved means whereby the machine can be adjusted to variable operative 
positions and stabilized within the confines of a furnace without 
utilizing complicated outriggers of the character disclosed, for example, 
in the above mentioned Patent of Lawrence Skendrovic. Such outriggers have 
to be extended appreciable radial distances to engage the wall of a 
furnace and are subject to great stress and breakdown. More explicitly, 
the improved means comprises providing the support, above referred to, 
with winch operated cables which are detachably connectible with the 
cylindrical wall of a furnace through the cooler holes therein to position 
the support or machine on center or outwardly therefrom. This improved 
means is relatively light in weight, strong, durable, compact and is easy 
to replace or repair. 
A particular objective is to provide the support or platform with safety 
suspension cables which can be readily adjusted by an operator located in 
the carriage, as distinguished from being adjusted at the top of a furnace 
by a crew of men to make periodic adjustments as the machine is lowered 
for delining purposes, and thereby materially reduces the factor of 
manpower. 
Also, an object is to provide a machine which is powerful, efficient and 
very maneuverable and versatile because it is capable of performing 
substantially all work related to the teardown of an inner refractory wall 
of a blast furnace, including the breakup of refractory material about the 
salamander in the lower hearth and/or bosh regions of a furnace, with a 
minimum of vertical adjustments. 
A particularly significant object is to provide a structure, equipment or 
apparatus in which the support and carriage thereof, alluded to above, are 
substantially rectangular or oblong in character and the carriage is 
provided with operating means including a backhoe which is mounted at or 
on one corner of the carriage, thereby enabling it to operate within very 
close limits or quarters, such as in the upper area or top of a furnace, 
and since the furnace progressively increases in diameter for an 
appreciable distance downwardly, the boom and related components thereof 
and operating tool can be readily swung out or extended to an extremely 
long reaching radius from the vertical center line of the furnace, as 
compared to other machines, such as, for example, the one disclosed in the 
above mentioned Skendrovic Patent where the working radius is less since 
its boom is substantially coincidental with the vertical axis of the 
machine. 
Otherwise expressed, the location of the backhoe at or adjacent to one 
corner of the carriage offers a setup which enables it to be moved closer 
to the inner refractory wall of a furnace and also allows the operator to 
manipulate the hoe in a substantially straight down or depending position 
in order to facilitate breaking up of material about the salamander in the 
hearth and bosh areas as alluded to above. 
A specific object is to provide the carriage with an extendible or 
reciprocal shelf, under the control of the operator, which when extended 
may serve as a rest for the backhoe to facilitate maintenance or repair 
thereof. 
A significant objective is to provide a machine for the purpose which is 
provided with self-contained power means and cable means which is operable 
thereby and controllable by an operator on the machine whereby the machine 
can be readily adjusted and held in any one of an infinite number of 
radial and/or circumferential stable positions in a furance to facilitate 
locating the tool on the backhoe in closer proximity to its refractory 
wall for demolition. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a unique means for 
rotatably connecting the support and carriage, including a well or tube 
through which an operator can readily pass therethrough from the support 
to the carriage and viceversa. 
Other attributes of the invention reside in providing structure which is: 
relatively compact to facilitate its transport without a permit and its 
entry into and from a furnace, durable, and the components thereof are 
located to promote efficiency, balance, operation, and facilitate 
maintenance, repair or replacement thereof. 
Additional objectives and advantages of the invention or inventions 
embodied in the subject application will become apparent after the 
description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the 
drawings annexed thereto. 
DRAWINGS 
In the drawings: 
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the equipment embodying the subject 
invention; 
FIG. 2 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 1; 
FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a blast furnace depicting the structure of 
FIG. 1 disposed within the confines of this furnace; 
FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4--4 of a 
support of the structure shown in FIG. 1; 
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing one mode of 
attaching one of four safety cables from the support to the top of the 
furnace; 
FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 6--6 of FIG. 1; 
FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 7--7 through the 
carriage of the structure of FIG. 1; 
FIG. 8 is a section showing one mode of attaching cables to the sides of 
the furnace; and 
FIG. 9 is a diagram of the hydraulic system and controls therefor.

DESCRIPTION 
Referring first to FIG. 3 of the drawing there is depicted a blast furnace 
generally designated 1, an overhead beam 2, a hoisting mechanism 3 movable 
on the beam and a machine or structure generally designated 4, embodying 
the subject invention, which comprises, among other things, an upper 
support or platform generally designated 5, and a lower carriage or cage 
generally designated 6, which are operatively connected for relative 
rotation. Means are provided for suspending the structure 4 within the 
confines of the furnace, and this includes what may be termed a primary 
cable 7, which is connected to the mechanism 3 and four secondary cables 
7', (two are shown in FIG. 3) which are connected to the support 5 and to 
the primary cable by a pulley 8, the arrangement being such that the 
mechanism 3 can be operated on the beam by an individual located 
exteriorly of the furnace to correctly position the structure 4 with 
respect to an upper opening 10 in the furnace and control the lowering or 
raising thereof to any desired operative elevation, particularly within 
the confines of the furnace so that an air operated tool or hammer 11 
mounted on a backhoe generally designated 12 connected to the carriage 6 
can be located in any one of an infinite number of positions to perform 
its intended purpose. The support is also provided with four cables 9, the 
purpose of which will be described later. 
In order to obtain a better understanding of the disclosure, a brief 
description of the furnace 1 is considered to be appropriate. Furnaces of 
the character shown are generally cylindrical and of variable 
cross-dimensions and comprise an outer shell or casing of steel having an 
upper elongated portion or stack 3 which tapers upwardly, an intermediate 
shorter portion or bosh area 14 which tapers downwardly, and a bottom 
cylindrical portion or hearth area 15. A mantel 16 surrounds the furnace 
at the junction between the portions 13 and 14 and an outer portion of 
this mantel is engaged by circumferentially spaced legs 17 which are 
anchored to a foundation 18 for supporting the furnace in the elevated or 
vertical portion shown. The furnace also includes an inner wall or liner 
of masonary or refractory material 19 and the portion thereof within the 
confines of the portion 13 is relatively thick and supported on an inner 
or inwardly extending portion of the mantel 16, and the portion of the 
wall 19 within the confines of the intermediate portion of bosh area 14 of 
the casing may have a thickness somewhat less than that within the stack 
portion 13. The upper and intermediate portion 13 and 14 of the casing are 
provided with water cooled units 20 projecting inwardly whereby to cool 
the furnace and facilitate support for the refractory material. The lower 
cylindrical portion or hearth area 15 is partially surrounded with a water 
cooled jacket 21 (details not shown) and a thick mass of material 22 
comprised of blocks or bricks of carbon or refractory material is disposed 
in the bottom of the portion 15 and supported on the foundation 18 between 
the legs 17. The means for supplying and circulating water to the cooler 
units and jacket are not shown. 
The furnace is provided with a metal frustoconical cap 23 at the opening 10 
and a funnel or hopper 24 which has an upper edge supported on an upper 
rim of the cap to facilitate entry of material into the furnace. The 
structure 4 is of a size to pass through the funnel 24 but if so desired 
this funnel may be removed. 
The height of such furnaces vary. For example, the height from the mantel 
16 to the top of the furnace may range in the neighborhood of between 50' 
and 70', and the range from the mantel to the bottom may be within 40' to 
50'. The diameter of the furnace at the mantel may be within a range of 
38' to 50'; the diameter of the jacket in the neighborhood of 35' and the 
thickness of the inner wall may vary within a range of 38" to 54". These 
dimensions are not critical and have no bearing on the subject invention 
other than to show their relativity with respect to problems confronting 
the operation of the structure 4 in demolishing or tearing down the inner 
wall 19. 
SUPPORT 
The structural characteristics of the support or platform 5 constituting a 
component of the structure 4 and its relationship to the carriage 6 
therebelow will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 
4, and 6. 
The support may be designed and constructed in various ways but is 
preferably made rectangular or oblong, as alluded to above, and includes, 
among other things, a pair of side I-beams 25 and 26 and a pair of end 
I-beams 27 and 28 to form a frame. The corners of the support are provided 
with upstanding apertured lugs 29 and the four cables 7' fastened to the 
pulley 8 have devices 30 fastened thereto which are attached to the lugs 
to provide a part of the primary suspension means from the hoisting 
mechanism 3 carried by the beam 2. 
The support is also provided with means for promoting its safety in the 
operation of the structure and this means preferably includes four 
manually operable reels 31, 32, 33 and 34 located in the interior of the 
support at its four corners. The pair of reels 31 and 32 are mounted on an 
interior shelf 35 at one end of the support and the pair 33 and 34 are 
mounted on a shelf 36 at the other end of the support. It should be 
observed that the cable from the reel 31 extends through a clamping device 
37 generally designated, out through an opening provided therefor in side 
beam 26 and against a roller 38 and that the cable from the adjacent reel 
32 similarly extends through the device 37 and out through an opening in 
the opposite side beam 25 for engagement with a roller. The cables on the 
other pair of reels 33 and 34 extend through a clamping device generally 
designated 39 corresponding to the device 37 and out through openings in 
the side beams and against rollers 38 in a manner substantially 
corresponding to the cables on the reels 31 and 32. As shown in FIG. 5, 
the outer ends of these safety cables are respectively provided with eyes 
40 connected to clevices 41 which are adapted for detachable connection to 
fittings 42, the latter of which are detachably connected by bolts 43 to 
an annular ring 44 surrounding the cap 23. The bolts, which are 
circumferentially spaced, extend through base portions of the fittings 42 
and ring 44 and clamp an outwardly extending radial flange 45 of the 
funnel 24 therebetween. 
The clamping devices 37 and 39 for the safety cables 9, above referred to, 
may be designed and constructed in various ways, but each device 
preferably comprises a pair of fixed plates 37' provided with a 
multiplicity of pairs of holes through which U-bolts 46 extend for firmly 
clamping any portions of the cables at a plurality of locations to the 
plates so that the length of those portions of all of the cables extending 
between the reels and their ends connected to the top of the furnace can 
be correlated with the primary and secondary cables 7 and 7' whereby to 
provide, if so desired, additional or supplemental suspension supporting 
means for the structure 4 and particularly promote safety and assist in 
stabilizing its central position in the furnace. The foregoing arrangement 
facilitates independent adjustment of the cables 9 with respect to one 
another and the primary suspension system. Otherwise expressed, a primary 
suspension means is provided and a secondary one as a safety factor in the 
event the primary means should fail. 
As set forth above one of the important objects of the subject invention is 
to provide equipment, a machine or structure with means whereby an 
operator seated in the structure can readily control movement of the 
structure to anyone of an infinite number of stabilized positions about 
the vertical, longitudinal or central axis of the furnace whereby the 
backhoe and tool carried thereby can be readily and efficiently operated 
to demolish the liner. The means for achieving this objective will now be 
described. 
The support 5 is suitably braced and, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, includes a 
pair of intermediate transverse parallel cross-beams 47 and 48, and a pair 
of longitudinally extending parallel members 49 and 50 joining these 
beams. A pair of upstanding plates 51 and 52 join the end beam 27 and 
cross-beam 47 and support a winch or reel 53. The side beam 25 and beam 49 
are similarly provided with upstanding plates 54 which carry a winch 55 
and the other side beam 26 and member 50 have plates 56 which support a 
winch 57 and plates 58 are provided on the other end beam 28 and other 
cross-beam 48 for supporting a winch 59. The winches are operable 
independently of one another and it should be noted that the winches 53 
and 59 are disposed generally diagonally and that the winches 55 and 57 
are located substantially intermediate the length of side beams 25 and 26 
of the support, the purpose of which is to correctly distribute the weight 
load for purposes of balance and stabilization. The four winches carry 
cables or cable means 60 which have ends provided with means, such as 
clevices 61 for detachable connection with the sides of the furnace. More 
particularly in this respect, and as illustrated in FIG. 8, there is shown 
in dotted lines one of the cooler units 20 extending into the furnace. 
These units are replaceable and each is attached to means such as a 
fitting 62 anchored to the outer wall of the furnace and after the furnace 
is shut down for demolishing at least a portion of the liner, certain of 
the units, particularly those equally or approximately circumferentially 
spaced apart 90.degree., may be removed, in which event, the devices 61 on 
the cables 60 can be extended outwardly through the openings, formally 
closed by the cooler units, and then firmly detachably secured to the 
fittings 62 as desired, such as by passing bolts or pins 63 through the 
devices and apertures provided therefor in the fittings. This particular 
setup for attaching the winch cables 60 to the furnace may obviously be 
modified. For example, the cables can be, preferably above the hearth 
secured to any external area, of the furnace by any means suitable for the 
purpose and it is desirable that connections of the cables to the furnace 
be spaced apart sufficiently, such as substantially 90.degree., to 
facilitate movement of the structure to any location within 360.degree. as 
well as promote stability at the location or station selected for 
demolishing the liner. 
The winches 53, 55, 57 and 59 are respectively hydraulically controlled by 
four double action valves 64, 65, 66, and 67 having control levers as 
shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 for independently controlling the operation of four 
reversible motors 64', 65', 66' and 67' for rotating of the winches 
clockwise or counter-clockwise so that, for example, the pair of 
diagonally disposed winches 53 and 59 can be operated to cause the cables 
to swing the structure 4 generally in an arc in a diametrical plane toward 
or away from opposite sides of the furnace and the pair of winches 55 and 
57 on the opposite sides of the support 5 can be operated to swing the 
structure generally in a diametrical plane substantially transverse to 
said first mentioned plance. Also, if so desired the winches 53 and 57 can 
be operated in conjunction with winches 55 and 60 to swing the structure 
in variable planes between or bisecting those just referred to. It should 
be noted that the aforementioned motors, as disclosed in the hydraulic 
circuitry in FIG. 9, also carry the legend HYD-M and the pump 165 HYD - P. 
Since the winches are independently reversibly operable through the agency 
of the motors the structure 4 can be moved to any position desired to 
place the backhoe 12 and/or tool 11 carried thereby closer to the liner or 
refractory wall 19 for tear down. 
It should be observed that the location of the winches and cables 61 
thereon are predetermined so that they are readily accessible, and 
operable without material interference from the primary cable 7 and safety 
cables 7' and reels therefor. In any event, it is to be distinctly 
understood that this organization of winches and cables or cable means 
extending therefrom for connecting the support and/or structure to the 
wall of a furnace for disposition about its vertical axis is considered to 
constitute a meritorious advance in the art. 
The support 5 as depicted in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, is further provided with a 
relatively large vertical center cylinder annular member or tubular 
formation 65" having an upper laterally extending or radial flange 66" 
which is welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the cross beams 
47 and 48 and a cylindrical tubular member 67" is fixedly secured in a 
concentric spaced relation substantially within the confines of the 
cylinder 65" by circumferentially spaced radially extending braces 68. A 
heavy plate 69 is secured between the cylinder 65" and member 67" and to 
the underside of the braces 68 and a ring gear 70 is fixedly secured to 
the underside of the plate 69 and to a lower portion of the cylinder 65". 
The cylinder 65" is also provided with a relatively thick annular radial 
flange 71, below the flange 66", for cooperation with hooks or fixed means 
72, top rollers or bearings 72', side rollers or bearings 73 and bottom 
rollers or bearings 74 mounted on the carriage or cage 6 in a manner which 
will be described subsequently. 
In order to facilitate access from the support into and out of the carriage 
by an operator, the structure 6 is provided with a centrally disposed 
cylinder or tube 75 which is fixedly secured to radial braces 94 to 
constitute a manhole or well. This tube is concentrically disposed in the 
member 67" and is provided with an annular radial flange 76 disposed in 
overlying spaced relation to the upper end of member 67" for safety 
purposes and with a lower relatively narrow depending continuation 77 
which extends into the carriage and is provided with steps 78 whereby to 
facilitate entry into the carriage from the support so that an operator 
may readily obtain access to the equipment mounted on the carriage and/or 
on the support, including the controls therefor or find his seat 79. 
CARRIAGE 
The structure of the carriage 6 and its operative relationship with the 
support 5 will now be described. The carriage may be designed and 
constructed in various ways but as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1, 6 
and 7, it is preferably made rectangular or oblong, similar to the support 
5, and comprises, among other things, a framework having four hollow 
corner posts 80, 81, 82 and 83, a pair of upper parallel side rails 84 and 
85 and a pair of upper parallel end members 86 and 87 secured to the upper 
ends of the posts; a pair of lower side rails 88 and 89 and a pair of 
lower end members 90 and 91 and a sectionalized lower bottom or floor 92. 
These side rails and end members and floor are preferably of channel 
shape. The corner posts at the ends of the frame are preferably 
re-inforced by cross braces 93 as shown in FIG. 1; the upper part of the 
frame by four diagonal braces 94, a pair of side braces 95 and a pair of 
end braces 96, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6; and by a pillar 97 as shown in 
FIGS. 6 and 7. 
The unique means employed for rotatably connecting the carriage to the 
support will now be described. The diagonal braces 94, above referred to, 
are respectively provided with circumferentially spaced lugs 98 which 
carry the top rollers or bearings 72' for engaging an upper surface of the 
annular flange 71 on the cylinder 65" of the support and the side and end 
braces 95 and 96 are provided with upstanding fittings 99 which carry the 
side rollers or bearings 73 which engage a marginal edge portion of the 
flange and the hooks, abutments or inwardly extending ears 72 which 
overlie the flange. The carriage is also provided with an annular grooved 
ring 101 secured on the top of the braces 94, 95 and 96 and the bottom 
rollers 74 which are carried by lower ends of the fittings 99 ride in the 
groove or track. The rollers and hooks are circumferentially spaced for 
cooperation with the flange 76 to afford a relatively annular stable 
rotatable assembly or means for connecting the support and carriage and 
which enables the carriage to rotate within and in excess of a range of 
360.degree. relative to the support, such excess being limited by the 
disposition of conduits for the hydraulic fluid. This factor is important 
as it permits an operator to readily locate the operating tool 11 in a 
greater rotational range for operation against the liner 19. It should be 
observed that the bottom rollers 74 serve the dual purpose of spacing the 
support and carriage a sufficient distance apart whereby to appreciably 
reduce friction to obtain a smooth and efficient rotatable connection. It 
should also be noted that the well or tube member 75 extends through this 
rotatable connection and so that an operator may freely pass or travel 
therethrough, as alluded to above. Attention is directed to the fact that 
in the event the rotatable assembly or connection between the support and 
carriage should inadvertently fail, the flange 71 on the well 75 fixed on 
the carriage will engage the cylinder member 67" fixed on the support. 
This factor of safety is desirable in such equipment. 
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the carriage is also provided with a vertical 
drive shaft means having a pinion gear 102 at its upper end for engaging 
the annular gear 70 on the support 5 to effect rotation of the carriage 
relative to the support. More specifically in this regard, the shaft means 
has an upper section 103 journalled in a bearing 104 which carries the 
pinion 102 and a lower section 105 which is connected to the upper section 
by a coupling 106 and to a worm gear reduction box 107. A shaft from this 
box carries a large sprocket 108 and a hydraulic motor 109 has a shaft 
carrying a smaller sprocket 110, and a chain belt 111 operatively connects 
these two sprockets. Vertical shields or members 112 and 112' protect the 
operating mechanism, including the shaft, gear box, motor, and the 
sprockets and chain. 
A small diesel motor 113, having a rating preferably of 188 cubic inches is 
mounted on the carriage and constitutes the power means for operating a 
pump and the hydraulic system for effecting relative rotation between the 
support and carriage and other components. Any diesel having a rating of 
between 150 and 200 cubic inches may be utilized. A double walled 
structure forms a tank 114 for hydraulic fluid and a tank 115 for fuel for 
operating the diesel. An exhaust 116 is provided for the diesel motor. 
The seat 79 for an operator is disposed between the tank structure and the 
backhoe 12 at one extremity of the carriage and the diesel 113 and an 
extensible member or platform 117 constituting a rest or support for the 
hoe 12 is disposed at the opposite extremity of the carriage, with the 
motor 109 for driving the pinion shaft being located between the diesel 
and platform, all for the purpose of promoting balance, stabilization and 
access to the various components for maintenance, replacement or repair 
and particularly facilitate access and repair to the hoe when it is placed 
on the platform alongside the carriage as depicted in FIG. 2. 
The platform 117 comprises a reciprocal plate mounted in parallel guides 
118 above the floor 92 and is operable by a cylinder 119' tied in with the 
hydraulic system and under the control of the operator so that the plate 
may be extended from the full line retracted position to an extended 
dotted line position as shown in FIG. 7. 
The backhoe 12 and its structural relationship to the carriage will now be 
described. It is to be understood that the use of the term "backhoe" is 
one employed in the trade, notwithstanding the fact that it may not be 
considered to be entirely appropriate. Perhaps a more accurate term would 
be an elongated "articulated assembly". In any event, the structure of the 
hoe or articulated assembly 12 comprises a multitude of components which 
are conventional. 
More particularly, and as best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9 a 
relatively heavy cast mounting forming a housing 119 which is mounted on a 
base 120 above the floor 92 and firmly anchored by bolts 121 or otherwise 
to the pillar 97 and the adjacent corner post 80 of the carriage. This 
housing has a lower area in which a pair of master cylinders 122, as shown 
in FIGS. 6 and 9, are disposed and piston rods 123 which are connected to 
an upstanding mounting 124 of the hoe 12 and an upper area in which double 
action hydraulic valving is disposed and an opening through which conduits 
extend from the valving to the various hydraulically operated components. 
It should be noted that the mountings 119 and 124 are located at one 
planar side of the carriage adjacent to one corner or post 80 and that the 
platform 117 is also located at this side and adjacent to the post 82. All 
of the details of this particular structure are not shown since they are 
considered to be of a conventional character. The housing 119 is also 
provided with six manually operable upstanding levers or members 125, 126, 
127, 128, 129 and 130 located in front of the operators seat 79 for 
conveniently selectively controlling the hydraulic operable components and 
with suitable gauges or means for indicating the condition of the 
components, certain of which will be described subsequently. The cylinders 
122 serve to control pivotation of the hoe. The housing is also provided 
with upper and lower outwardly extending apertured lugs 131 and 132. The 
upstanding mounting 124 has upper and lower apertured bifurcations 133 and 
134 which respectively receive the upper and lower lugs and pivots which 
extend through the apertures in the bifurcations and lugs to pivotally 
connect the mounting to the housing 119. The upper end of the mounting is 
also provided with an apertured offset 135 and its lower extremity is in 
the form of a channel 136. The hoe 12, as noted above, is articulated and 
includes a boom 137, the inner end of which is disposed in and connected 
to the channel 136 by a pivot 138 and a generally elongated structure 
commonly referred to and generally designated as a dipper 139 is connected 
by a pivot 140 to the outer end of the boom. This dipper includes an inner 
enlarged generally channel extremity 141 and an outer extended extremity 
142. A boom cylinder 143 has an inner end pivotally connected to the 
offset 135 on the mounting 124 and its rod 144 is pivotally connected at 
145 to the boom at a location spaced inwardly from the pivotal connection 
between the dipper and boom. A cylinder 146 has an inner end pivotally 
connected at 147 to the boom at a location between the pivotal connections 
138 and 145 and its rod 148 is pivotally connected at 149 to an inner 
offset 150 on the dipper. The boom cylinder 143 is operable to raise and 
lower the boom and the cylinder 146 serves to pivot the dipper relative to 
the boom. A channel member 151 is connected intermediate its ends by a 
pivot 152 to the outer end of the dipper 139. A cylinder 153 is connected 
by a pivot 154 to the dipper at a location under and adjacent the junction 
between the extremities of the dipper and its rod 155 is pivotally 
connected at 156 to the inner ends of a pair of links 157 and 158. One end 
of the link 157 is pivotally connected at 159 to the outer end of the 
dipper above the pivot 152 and one end of the link 158 is pivotally 
connected at 160 to the rear portion of the channel 151. The cylinder 153 
and its rod serve to pivot the channel 151 and tool structure carried 
thereby, as a unit, relative to the dipper. 
The channel 151 has a base wall 161 and a downturned apertured portion 162. 
A cylinder 163 is secured to the underside of this base wall and to the 
portion 162 and compressed air through a conduit 164 from a supply tank 
(not shown) serves to reciprocate the tool 11 in response to the actuation 
of a control lever by the operation on the carriage. 
Attention is directed to the important fact that due to the improved 
principles of design and construction embodied in the support and carriage 
and particularly the disposition and operation of the backhoe 
substantially any conventional blast furnace now in use can be delined by 
adjusting or lowering the complete structure to a minimum number of 
suspended positions, such as for example, 2, 3 or 4, in a furnace and in 
this respect note the extended reach of the tool on the backhoe whereby 
the material about the salamander can be demolished as exemplified in FIG. 
3. It should also be manifest that the location of the means for 
supporting the tool is predetermined so that when the machine or structure 
is suspended substantially on the vertical axis of the furnace that the 
radial distance from this axis to such location is in the neighborhood of 
5 feet. 
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM 
The hydraulic system diagrammed in FIG. 9 will now be described. The system 
is primarily comprised of standard or conventional components and includes 
the diesel motor 113 which operates a pump 165 for causing hydraulic fluid 
to flow through a line 166 to a double action valve 167 having a lever 
168. The line 166 is also connected to six double action valves 169, 170, 
171, 172, 173 and 174 which are respectively subject to the control of the 
levers 125, 126, 127, 128, 129 and 130. A pair of lines 175 connect the 
valve 169 to the motor 109; a pair of lines 176 connect the valve 170 to 
the cylinder 119; a pair of lines 177 connect the valve 171 to the 
cylinder 153; a pair of lines 178 and 179 connect the valve 172 to one of 
the master cylinders 122 and a pair of branch lines 180 which respectively 
connect lines 178 and 179 to the other master cylinder 122; a pair of 
lines 181 connect the valve 173 to the cylinder 143; and a pair of lines 
182 connect the valve 174 to the cylinder 146. It should be observed that 
the lines 166 serves to control the operation of the four motors which 
effect reversible rotation of winches. All of the levers 125 through 130 
and the other levers disclosed herein are preferably so constructed that 
when they are moved forwardly the valves will control the flow of the 
fluid to the cylinders to effect a forward motion to the rods and rearward 
movement will effect retraction of the rods. 
More specifically, the above organization is preferably such that the lever 
125 can be manipulated to control the operation of the motor 109 for 
effecting relative rotational movement between the support 5 and the 
carriage 6; the lever 126 to operate the cylinder 119 to effect 
reciprocation of the platform 117 for the hoe 12; the lever 127 to control 
the valve 171 to effect operation of the cylinder 153 to impart motion to 
the tool assembly; the lever 128 to control the operation of the valve 172 
to control the master cylinders 122 to impart pivotal motion to the hoe 
12; the lever 129 to control the valve 173 to operate the cylinder 143 to 
effect pivoting of the boom relative to its mounting 124; and the lever 
130 for controlling valve 174 to control the cylinder 146 for effecting 
pivotation of the dipper 139 relative to the boom 137. The valve 167 is 
connected to the line 166 and a pair of lines 183 connect this valve to 
the valves 64, 65, 66 and 67, the latter of which are respectively 
connected to the motors 64', 65', 66', and 67', by pairs of lines 184, 
185, 186 and 187. The valves 64, 65, 66 and 67 are respectively provided 
with hand operable levers 188, 189, 190 and 191, and the operation of 
these levers respectively control the operation of the valves to impart 
reversible rotation to the motors 64', 65', 66', and 67' which in turn 
respectively operate the winches 53, 55, 57 and 59 to shorten or lengthen 
the cable means 60 whereby the structure 4 can be readily swung or moved 
to any operative position desired for delining the masonary or inner 
refractory wall 19 of the furnace. It should be noted that the motors for 
operating the winches are subject to the primary control lever 168 so that 
if, for example, the levers related to these motors are all moved 
forwardly and the lever 169 is also moved forwardly the motors will be 
caused to function or operate simultaneously. 
SUMMARY 
Summarizing the foregoing it should be manifest that the machine embodying 
the subject invention or inventions comprises the important improvement 
whereby the machine can be readily swung outwardly from a suspended 
substantially center position in a furnace to any one of an infinite 
number of closer stable positions to its inner masonry wall whereby to 
facilitate operation of a tool thereagainst. 
It will also be apparent that the improvement includes a self-contained 
power means on the machine which is subject to the control of an operator 
thereon for effecting the adjustment or movement of the machine away from 
its normal center position. 
Further, the safety cable means can be manually adjusted by the operator 
after the primary suspension means has been adjusted by other individuals 
outside the furnace. 
Also, the location of the backhoe at one corner of the machine is 
considered to be an important feature of the invention, as alluded to 
above. 
It will be further apparent that the invention offers advantages with 
respect to its transport, compactness, efficiency of operation, durability 
and ready access to substantially all of the components whereby to 
facilitate their maintenance, repair or replacement. 
Having thus described our invention or inventions, it is obvious that 
various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the 
spirit of the invention and, therefore, we do not wish to be understood as 
limiting ourselves to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and 
combinations of the parts herein shown and described.