Patent ID: 7909556

Claim:
A charging device for a shaft furnace comprising: a distribution chute for distributing bulk material on a charging surface of said shaft furnace; a drive mechanism capable of rotating said distribution chute about an essentially vertical axis and pivoting said distribution chute about an essentially horizontal axis so as to allow distribution of bulk material on said charging surface; said distribution chute having a trough-shaped main part with an open impact section and an outlet section, said trough-shaped main part providing a sliding channel between said open impact section and said outlet section, wherein said distribution chute comprises a funnel portion arranged downstream of said open impact section, said funnel portion being defined by at least one circumferentially closed region of said sliding channel, wherein said circumferentially closed region of said sliding channel tapers in a direction of flow towards a downstream extent of said trough-shaped main part such that an outlet of said funnel portion is arranged substantially at said downstream extent of said trough-shaped main part.