Patent ID: 7678176

Claim:
An apparatus for charging hot direct reduced iron or the like from hot transport vessels into a melter or finisher, comprising: a charging stand configured to simultaneously receive and support a plurality of hot transport vessels; a feed device coupled to the charging stand, the feed device operable for simultaneously sealingly engaging the plurality of hot transport vessels and transporting contents thereof from the plurality of hot transport vessels to a melter or finisher at a predetermined feed rate; and a control system comprising a programmable logic controller and a plurality of load cells operable for selectively varying the predetermined feed rate; wherein the control system is operable for selectively varying the predetermined feed rate responsive to the weight of one or more of the hot transport vessels and the contents thereof as measured by the plurality of load cells; and wherein the control system is operable for directing the replacement of one or more of the plurality of hot transport vessels when the one or more of the plurality of hot transport vessels is substantially empty as measured by the plurality of load cells such that the apparatus is operated to charge hot direct reduced iron substantially continuously over a predetermined period of time.