Blast furnace charger
United States Patent 11 1 Leonidov et a1.  
 [451 Apr. 15, 1975 BLAST FURNACE CHARGER [76] Inventors: Nikolai Konstaninovich Leonidov, ulitsa 1812, Goda, 7, kv. 45; Lev Yakovlevich Levin, ulitsa Kremenchugskaya, 13, kv. 24; Petr Platonovich lpatov, Prospekt Mira, 103, kv. 90, all of Moscow; Nikolai Ivanovich Krasavtsev, bulvar Pushkina, 27, kv. l5, Donetsk; Evgeny Dmitrievich Shtepa, ulitsa Artema, 76, kv. 35, Donetsk; Jury Markovich Gerasimenko, ulitsa Postysheva, 25, kv. 1 1, Donetsk; Valery Stepanovich Degtyarev, ulitsa Artema, 119, kv. 19, Donetsk; Alexandr Fedorovich Ryhtsov, ulitsa Postysheva, 122, kv. 47, Donetsk; Anatoly Dmitrievich Tankin, ulitsa Stadionnaya, 5, kv. 76, Donetsk; Alexandr Efimovich Sukhorukov, ulitsa Prostornaya, 34, korpus l, kv. 74, Moscow; Mikhail Mikhailovich Kovylin, Prospekt Mira, 99, kv. 246, Moscow; Jury Lvovich Markovsky, Prospekt Mira, 101a, kv. 32, Moscow; Evgeny Makarovich Ryazanov, Prospekt Mira, 103, kv. 232, Moscow; Vyacheslav Alexeevich Altukhov, Novo-Ostankinskaya ulitsa, 18, kv. 54, Moscow; Valentin Alexeevich Kononov, ulitsa Bazhova, l, kv. 90, Moscow; Evgeny Ivanovich Yasakov, ulitsa Fotichevoi, 12, kv. 138, Moscow, all of U.S.S.R.  
 [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,671  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 266/27; 214/35 R [51] Int. Cl C21b 7/00 [58] Field of Search 214/35 R, 35 A, 36, 37; 266/27 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,302,805 2/1967 Tsutsumi 266/27 X 3,417,982 12/1968 Tsutsumi et a1. 1 266/27 3,476,374 11/1969 Colijn 266/27 3,482,714 12/1969 Oguri et a1 266/27 X 3,542,219 11/1970 Yoshioka 266/27 X 3,651,964 3/1972 Neibuer 266/27 X 3,706,387 12/1972 Tokarz 266/27 X Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman &amp; Stern [57] ABSTRACT The charger contains lock hoppers, with a taper hopper and a bell mounted in succession under the outlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, the bell being rigidly fixed to the taper hopper to form a gap for mixture passage.  
 The inner space of the tapered portion of the taper hopper is divided by vertical partitions into zones whose number is equal to the number of lock hoppers.  
 Each of the zones accomodates an arrangement for dividing the mixture into several flows distributed throughout the furnace section.  
 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEEAPR 1 SiSI&#39;S SHEET 1 BF 2 BLAST FURNACE CHARGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to metallurgy and more particularly, it relates to charging devices for blast furnaces.  
  A charging device for blast furnaces is known in the art, comprising lock hoppers that are locked by disktype valves both from above and below. a taper hopper and a revolving disk being arranged in succession beneath the outlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, the revolving disk forming together with the taper hopper a gap for mixture passage.  
  However, as the disk in the known construction is arranged as cantilever about the supports, the charging device fails to ensure the furnace dependability throughout its operating period.  
 Moreover, replacing the disk requires disassemblage of the whole charger.  
  There is also known a charging device comprising hoppers, with two taper hoppers provided in succession beneath the outlets of the former hoppers along the furnace axis, either of the taper hoppers accommodating a bell along the furnace axis. Each bell is coupled with SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a charger for blast furnaces. ensuring uniform distribution of the mixture throughout the furnace section.  
  Another object of the invention is to extend the service life for the charger.  
  These and other objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a charger for blast furnaces. comprising at least four lock hoppers. with a taper hop per and a bell arranged in succession beneath the outlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, the bell forming together with the taper hopper a gap for mixture passage. wherein, according to the invention, the inner space of the tapered portion of the taper hopper is divided by vertical partitions into zones whose number corresponds to the number of lock hoppers, each of the zones of the taper hopper having an arrangement for dividing the mixture into several flows throughout the furnace section, the arrangement being provided beneath the outlet of a respective lock hopper and the bell being rigidly connected to the taper hopper.  
  Such embodiment of the charger would ensure a uniform distribution of mixture throughout the furnace section.  
  In the proposed charger, the arrangement for dividing the mixture flow can be fashioned as a plate secured in the upper portion of the wall of the taper hopper with the possibility of rotation, in the place of its securing, about the horizontal axis transverse to the direction of the mixture flow.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the proposed invention is presented for better understanding thereof, references being had to the appended drawings, wherein:  
  FIG. I shows a longitudinal section of the charger of the invention;  
 FIG. 2 is a section view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1; and  
 . FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The charging device comprises a feed hopper 1 (FIG. 1) which is to be charged with mixture and a revolving hopper 2 mounted beneath the feed hopper and connected to a drive 3.  
  Four lock hoppers 4 are arranged under the revolving hopper 2 and symmetrical to the furnace axis which are to be locked from above by means of disk-type gas valves 5 and from below by means of discharge valves 6 and disk-type gas valves 7.  
  A taper hopper 8 and a bell 9 are mounted beneath the outlets of the lock hoppers 4 along the furnace axis, the bell being rigidly suspended on an axle 10 to the taper hopper 8. A gap 11 for mixture charge is provided between the bell 9 and the lower portion of the taper hopper 8.  
  In the taper hopper 8, there are vertical partitions I2 dividing the inner space of the hopper 8 into four zones 13 (FIG. 2), each of the zones accommodating a plate I4 (FIGS. 1 and 2).  
  The plate 14 is hinged in the upper portion of the wall of the taper hopper 8 and accommodated directly beneath the outlet of a respective lock hopper 4. Each of the plates 14 is connected to a drive 15 (FIG. 2) for rotation, at a place where it is secured, about the horizontal axis transverse to the flow of the mixing escaping from the respective lock hopper 4.  
  The plate 14 can be made either flat or convex upwards.  
 The partitions 12 are fashioned as vertical arc-curved plates whose vertical edges are secured rigidly to the inner wall of the taper hopper 8. The zones 13 formed by the partitions l2 and the respective wall of the taper hopper 8 (FIG. 2) are shaped as segments in their cross-section.  
  A ring 16 is provided between the lock hoppers 4 (FIG. 1) and the taper hopper 8.  
  When repairing one of the valves 5, 6, or 7 of the lock hoppers 4, a partition (not shown in the figure) is mounted to replace the ring 16 and to isolate a respective lock hopper 4 from the melting chamber of the blast furnace.  
  The blast furnace charger operates in the manner as follows:  
  With the valves 5 being opened and the valves 6 and 7 being closed, mixture is charged from the feed hopper I via the revolving hopper 2 into the lock hoppers 4. It should be noted that a mixture of one and the same type is charged into the opposite lock hoppers. After charging is completed, the valves 5 are closed and the gas pressure in the lock hoppers 4 is equalizing that which exists in the furnace. Once the gas pressure is.  
 equalized, the valves 7 open first in two opposite lock hoppers 4, to be followed by the opening of the valves Both mixture flows escaping from the opposite pairs of the lock hoppers 4 and coming against the partitions l2 and the plates 14, are combined into a single one with an equal supply of materials at any arbitrary point of the clear opening of the cylindrical portion of the taper hopper 8.  
  From the taper; hopper 8, the mixture materials are fed, via the gap 11, onto the fixed bell 9, distributing therefrom, as flow. uniformly throughout the blast furnace section.  
  The discharge of the mixture from one pair of the opposite lock hoppers 4 is followed by the similar discharge from the other pair&#39;of hoppers.  
  Materials making up the mixture to&#39;be charged into the furnace are collected in turns, i.e., those lock hoppers 4 that previously picked up coke now will collect sinter. whereas those that collected sinter now will pick up coke. The mixture can be collected into all the four lock hoppers 4 in succession after their emptying, or it can be picked up into two empited lock hoppers 4, while the other two discharge their mixture into the furnace.  
  Different components of one mixture feed can be charged into the furnace from lock hoppers 4 eitherat equal intervals (i.e., to one andthe same mixture level) or following each other. or in the combination ofa separate (at equal intervals) or joint (following each other) charging systems, which permits to regulate their radial distribution in the furnace the way it is done by means of a standard-type charger.  
 Elimination of a channel or one-sided run of the furliv fill  
 As stated previously. the concentrated charging &#34;is achieved by charging the mixture through one respective lock hopper 4 or through two respective adjoining lock hoppers.&#34; The eight directions of charging vyould include four directions dueto operation of individual lock hoppers (4&#34;, 4. 4&#34;&#34; arid 4&#34;&#34;) The uniform circumferential distribution of the mixture materials in each feed will ensure the uniformity of the physical and chemical properties of the mixture column in the furnace in all of its vertical sections along the furnace periphery. In its turn, this will help ensure a better distribution of the gas flow in the furnace. with the resultant decrease in the specific coke rate.  
  Thus, the provision of the proposed charging device will help attain higher technical and economic indices of furnace operation.  
  Moreover, the charger according to the invention is considerably less in height than theknown analogous devices.  
  The absence of movable bells&#39;in the proposed charger with the simultaneous proper protection of its parts against attrition by mixturethrough plates lining. hardalloy surfacing, etc. permits to ensure its dependability and service life throughout the entire operating period of the furnace. Replacement of the valves 5, 6, and 7 of the charger does not require the discontinuance of the furnace operation for a lengthy period due to the provision of the proposed charger, and. in its turn, this makes unnecessary the stoppage of the furnace for capital repair. Pig iron loss is thus reduced.  
  The operating dependability and service life of the charger do not depend on the size of the bell 9. For transportation conveniency. the latter can be made split to consist of two &#39;or more parts; this makes the proposed charger fit for any furnace whatever size the di ameter of its top might be.  
 We claim: 7  
 l. A charger for charging a blast furnace with a mixture comprising: at least four lock hoppers; a taper hopper being disposed beneath the outlets of said lock hoppers along the furnace axis; vertical partitions dividing the inner space of the tapered portion of said taper hopper into zones the number of which corresponds to the number of said lock hoppers, each of said zones being disposed under a respective lock hopper; means for dividing a charging mixture from said lock hoppers into several flows distributed throughout the furnace section, said dividing means provided beneath the outlets of said lock hoppers in each of the zones of the taper hopper; and a bell mounted under said taper hopper along the furnace axis and rigidly fixed to it to form with said taper hopper a gap for mixture passage.  
  2. The blast furnace charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for dividing the mixture flow comprises a plate secured in the upper part of the wall of said taper hopper&#39;with the possibility of rotation in the place of its securing about the horizontal axis transverse to the direction of the mixture flow.