Patent ID: 8820250

Claim:
A moving distribution furnace chute for use with a furnace, the chute comprising: a tube for distribution of material, the tube having a longitudinal axis, an open inlet end and an open outlet end downstream of the open inlet end, wherein the tube further comprises a plurality of vanes mounted on an inner surface of the tube, the vanes having a length extending in a direction having a component along the axis and a breadth extending in a direction having a component radially inwards towards the axis, wherein the open inlet end has a larger diameter than the open outlet end, and wherein the tube comprises three segments having different degrees of taper with respect to the longitudinal axis, the three segments comprising, in order along the longitudinal axis: a first segment, a second segment downstream of the first segment and having a greater degree of taper than the first segment, and a third segment downstream of the second segment having a greater degree of taper than the second segment.