EP0062769B1 - Method of actuating an oscillating chute in a receptacle under pressure, device for carrying out such a method and shaft furnace charging installation with such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for actuating an oscillating chute suspended in a pressurized enclosure between two branches of a fork whose body crosses the side wall of said enclosure, the chute being able to pivot around its suspension axis between the two branches of the fork, while said fork can pivot about its longitudinal axis which is arranged orthogonally to said axis of suspension of the chute. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method in which the body of the chute suspension fork is housed and supported, in a bearing mounted in the side wall of this enclosure. The invention further relates to a loading installation of a shaft furnace equipped with such a device and implementing this method.

Two fundamentally different systems are currently known for mounting and actuating a chute for distributing the loading material in the head of a tank furnace, and more particularly of a blast furnace. The most common system is the one that has proven its worth today, in particular by gradually replacing the classic mouths called "with mobile bells". This is the rotating and pivoting chute. In this system, the chute is suspended at the base of a rotating ferrule, through which the loading material is poured, while a suitable device makes it possible to tilt the chute around its suspension, independently of the rotation with the ferrule. One of the characteristics characterizing this type of suspension and drive of the chute is that it can be open, that is to say semi-cylindrical since, taking into account the nature of the movement, it does not never tumbles and always has the same sliding surface at the load. Also due to the nature of the movement and the drive system, this chute is particularly suitable for describing circles or a spiral. The actions of the two controls are, moreover, relatively easy to coordinate in order to make such movements at the chute.

The second system is that of oscillating distribution chutes. These chutes are not suspended from a rotating element, but by a pair of perpendicular suspension axes between them and, therefore, often called "cardan suspension". The chute can pivot around each of these two axes which are for this purpose each connected to a control mechanism whose coordinated action generates the desired movement of the chute. The peculiarity which characterizes this system, as opposed to the previous system, is that the chute must be tubular, since in order to reach the entire unloading surface, it must tilt on itself and, therefore, its entire inner surface is exposed the sliding of the distribution material. Such a system is described in German patent application 2,104,116 and also in German patent application 2,825,718 which more particularly relates to a system for suspension and control of a chute of the kind described in the preamble.

Because of the nature of the movement of an oscillating chute and the known systems of its control, this is more suitable for a rectangular or serpentine movement, since it is difficult to coordinate the two pivoting commands of the chute, so as to describe a specific curve, such as a circle or a spiral.

Despite the fact that the oscillating chutes have certain non-negligible advantages compared to the rotary chutes, the oscillating chutes have remained at the planning stage and have not yet been implemented at present. Among the advantages, one can cite, among other things, the ease of dismantling the chute and its suspension and control system, for certain types of design, such as that described in the aforementioned German patent application 2 825 718. A another advantage is the fact that the entire inner surface of the chute is exposed to friction from the loading material and that the wear is therefore more uniform, but slower compared to rotary chutes where it is always the same part which is exposed to friction from the loading material.

If the oscillating chutes have not yet been adopted in practice until now, it may be because their competitors, the rotary chutes have acquired the confidence of their users and also benefit from a dozen years of experience and improvement. The fact remains that the known oscillating chutes suffer from a fairly serious handicap which is that, until now, there has not yet been proposed a simple and effective control system for moving the following chute concentric circles, or in a spiral, loading process currently considered to give the best results.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new method and device for controlling an oscillating chute of the kind described in the preamble, which is simpler and more reliable and which in particular makes it possible to move the distribution chute according to circles or according to a spiral, without resorting to complicated and expensive control devices and without sacrificing the advantages acquired.

To achieve this objective, the method according to the invention is characterized in that the movement which the chute must perform is imparted, by means of an appropriate drive mechanism, to an oscillating control member having the same degrees of freedom as the chute, but mounted outside the enclosure and in that, at by means of an appropriate transmission, the movement of the control member is reproduced on the chute.

It is in particular possible to actuate the control member and, consequently, also the chute, in order to move them both along conical surfaces with equal apex angles and the guidelines of which are circles.

The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method, in which the body of the chute suspension fork is housed and supported, in a bearing mounted in the side wall of the enclosure, characterized in that said control member is mounted on a pivot axis passing through the fork, outside the enclosure, parallel to the axis of suspension of the chute, in that at least the body of the fork is hollow and contains a mechanism transmission to transform a pivoting of the control member around its pivot axis into a corresponding pivoting of the chute around its suspension axis.

If the control member also pivots, in a plane different from that defined by its pivot axis, the latter is forced to tilt to follow this movement of the control member, which causes a corresponding tilting of the body of the vuspension fork around its longitudinal axis, as well as the suspension axis of the chute, that is to say that the latter performs exactly the same movement as the control member.

According to a first embodiment, the control member is designed in the form of an arm parallel to the axis of the chute and its drive mechanism comprises a slide curved in an arc of a circle whose angle is substantially equal to double the maximum angle of inclination of the chute with respect to the vertical, the radius of curvature of which corresponds to the length of the control member and which is mounted in such a way that its center of curvature is located on the pivot axis of the control member, a toothed sector slidably mounted on the slide, this sector having the same curvature as the slide and a length slightly greater than half of it, a rotary connection between one the ends of this sector and the control member, first means for rotating the slide and the toothed sector around an axis parallel to the central axis around which the chute must evolve and second means for sliding the sector toothed in the slide and change the inclination of the control member relative to the axis around which the slide rotates as a result of the action of said first means.

For this first embodiment, the suspension fork is hollow and the transmission mechanism may be constituted by a rod in the form of a bident capable of sliding in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the suspension fork and connected, for this purpose , at its outer end, by means of a lever to the pivot axis of the control member and by its two opposite ends, to two arms integral with the chute or its suspension axis, the length of the connecting rod being such that the longitudinal axis of the chute is parallel to said lever.

The transmission mechanism may also be constituted by a rotary transmission shaft provided at each of its ends with segmented bevel gears, undergoing the action of a bevel gear fixed on the pivot axis of the control member, l 'other transmitting the rotational movement on a toothed sector connected directly, or indirectly, to the axis of suspension of the chute.

According to a second embodiment, the control member comprises a toothed sector pivotable about an axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the fork and supported by two consoles capable of turning around an axis of rotation parallel to the central axis around which the chute must evolve and a rod whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chute and which is connected by a rotary connection to a base incorporated in a shaft whose axis constitutes said pivot axis of the control member, while the drive mechanism of the control member comprises first means for rotating said consoles around the axis and second means, independent of the first for changing the inclination of said rod relative to the axis of rotation.

For this second embodiment, the suspension fork is hollow and is designed in the form of a double fork comprising two branches inside for the suspension of the chute and two branches on the opposite side, the control member being mounted between these last two branches.

Both for the first embodiment and for the second, said slide or said consoles can be mounted at the end of a first rotary hollow control shaft, driven by a first motor, while a second rotary control shaft , arranged coaxially inside the first, and being able to rotate independently of the latter, comprises at one of its ends a pinion forming a rack with said toothed sector and the other end of which is driven by a second motor, independently of the first , but mounted on a chassis secured to the rotary hollow shaft driven by the first motor.

According to another embodiment, the slide or the consoles are part of a rotary cage, or of a rotary plate provided with an external toothed ring driven by a first motor to rotate the cage or plate, with the slide. and the toothed sector around an axis parallel to the central axis around which the chute must evolve, while a second motor independent of the first, acts via a reduction system on a pinion forming a rack with the toothed sector to change the inclination of the control member port to said axis of rotation.

The second motor can be mounted on said box or plate outside its axis of rotation and gravitate with it around this axis.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second motor is mounted on the axis of rotation of the cage or the plate and its carcass is fixed to the chassis of the device while a clutch device is provided to make the rotor of this motor integral with said cage or plate or to release it.

The invention also relates to a loading installation of a shaft furnace comprising a vertical supply channel mounted in the head of the furnace and connecting one or more external loading locks inside the furnace, an oscillating chute for distributing the loading material mounted immediately downstream of the channel and a device for suspending and controlling the oscillating chute of the kind described above.

The entire suspension and control device for the chute, including the drive mechanism for the control member and the bearing in which the suspension fork is housed, is mounted in a chassis detachably fixed on a side flange of the furnace head. This allows easy and quick disassembly of the entire control unit with the chute without the need to disassemble it inside the furnace head.

The suspension fork of the chute can be arranged substantially horizontally or, according to an advantageous embodiment, in an inclined manner. The latter possibility further facilitates the dismantling operation of the chute. This inclined arrangement also has the advantage that the suspension fork can be more compact, in particular shorter.

According to another characteristic, it is possible to provide a hinge on the supply channel in order to be able to fold it on the side during the extraction movement of the chute, in order to be removed from the passage of the latter.

The suspension of the chute on one side only and its disassembly in block with the control system now offers the possibility of removing any other opening and flange in the head of the oven, and the carcass of the latter can therefore be completely closed and welded directly to the furnace shield.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the suspension fork of the chute is designed, at least in part, in the form of a sealed box inside which the transmission mechanism evolves reproducing the pivoting of the control member on the chute. Inside this box, a coolant circulation is established, which reduces the harmful influence of the high temperature inside the oven on the transmission mechanism. The invention therefore makes it possible to minimize the number of mobile mechanical elements exposed to the harmful conditions prevailing inside the furnace head. In fact, the only mobile element exposed is the distribution chute.

According to another particularity, a system is provided to adapt the pressure of the cooling fluid sent into the suspension fork of the chute to the pressure prevailing in the head of the oven. This relieves the seals made necessary by this circulation of the coolant in the suspension fork and reduces the risk of a possible leak.

• La figure 1 montre schématiquement une coupe verticale suivant un plan diamétral à travers la tête d'un four avec un premier mode de réalisation d'une installation chargement selon l'invention et
• La figure 1a illustre schématiquement le principe de fonctionnement ;
• La figure 2 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, avec la goulotte de distribution basculée dans une position opposée à celle de la figure 1 et
• La figure 2a, le principe de fonctionnement correspondant,
• La figure 3 montre une vue schématique en coupe suivant un plan perpendiculaire au plan de coupe des figures précédentes et passant par l'axe vertical du four,
• La figure 3a étant le principe de fonctionnement correspondant ;
• La figure 4 montre schématiquement une vue en coupe verticale à travers le mécanisme de commande et d'entraînement de la goulotte de distribution ; celle-ci occupant la position de la figure 3.
• La figure 5 et la figure 5a sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 1 et 1a et montrent un dispositif incliné avec un autre mécanisme d'entraînement.
• Les figures 6 et 6a correspondent aux figures 2 et 2a en ce qui concerne le mode de réalisation de la figure 5.
• La figure 7 montre une vue latérale de la fourche de suspension de la goulotte.
• La figure 8 montre une vue en plan de la fourche de suspension de la goulotte,
• Les figures 9 et 10 montrent respectivement une vue latérale et une vue en plan du mécanisme de transmission d'un mouvement de pivotement,
• La figure 11 montre schématiquement une vue correspondant à celle de la figure 1, avec un mécanisme de transmission rotatif,
• La figure 11 a illustrant le principe de fonctionnement,
• La figure 12 montre une vue schématique d'une variante simplifiée du dispositif proposé par la figure 11,
• La figure 13 montre schématiquement une coupe transversale à travers la suspension de la goulotte suivant le plan de coupe XIII-XIII de la figure 13a,
• La figure 13a représente une vue en coupe verticale suivant le plan XIII-XIII sur la figure 13,
• La figure 14 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 13, prise suivant le plan de coupe représenté par XIV-XIV sur la figure 14a,
• La figure 14a montre une coupe verticale suivant le plan XIV-XIV sur la figure 14,
• La figure 15 montre schématiquement une coupe horizontale suivant le plan XV-XV sur la figure 14,
• La figure 16 montre schématiquement le système de refroidissement de la fourche de suspension de la goulotte,
• La figure 17 montre schématiquement un système pour le démontage de la goulotte,
• Les figures 18 et 19 représentent des phases successives lors du démontage de la goulotte avec le système de la figure 17,
• La figure 20 montre schématiquement un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un système de démontage de la goulotte,
• La figure 21 montre schématiquement un mécanisme d'entraînement de l'organe de commande avec deux moteurs fixes,
• La figure 22 représente schématiquement une coupe suivant le plan XXII-XXII sur la figure 21,
• La figure 23 montre un mode de réalisation avantageux d'une liaison rotative entre l'organe de commande et son mécanisme d'entraînement,
• La figure 24 montre schématiquement une coupe suivant le plan présenté par la ligne brisée XXIV-XXIV sur la figure 23,
• La figure 25 montre schématiquement une vue suivant un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal de la fourche de suspension et montre un deuxième mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention pour actionner la goulotte,
• La figure 26 montre schématiquement une coupe suivant le plan XXVI-XXVI sur la figure 25,
• Les figures 27 et 28 montrent respectivement des vues en élévation et en plan de la fourche de suspension utilisée dans le mode de réalisation selon les figures 25 et 26.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description of several advantageous embodiments presented below, by way of illustration, and with reference to the drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically shows a vertical section along a diametrical plane through the head of an oven with a first embodiment of a loading installation according to the invention and
• Figure 1a schematically illustrates the principle of operation;
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the dispensing chute tilted in a position opposite to that of FIG. 1 and
• FIG. 2a, the corresponding operating principle,
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the cutting plane of the preceding figures and passing through the vertical axis of the oven,
• Figure 3a being the corresponding operating principle;
• FIG. 4 schematically shows a view in vertical section through the control and drive mechanism of the distribution chute; the latter occupying the position of FIG. 3.
• Figure 5 and Figure 5a are views similar to those of Figures 1 and 1a and show an inclined device with another drive mechanism.
• FIGS. 6 and 6a correspond to FIGS. 2 and 2a as regards the embodiment of FIG. 5.
• Figure 7 shows a side view of the suspension fork of the chute.
• FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the suspension fork of the chute,
• FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show a side view and a plan view of the mechanism for transmitting a pivoting movement,
• FIG. 11 schematically shows a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1, with a rotary transmission mechanism,
• FIG. 11 a illustrating the operating principle,
• FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a simplified variant of the device proposed by FIG. 11,
• FIG. 13 schematically shows a cross section through the suspension of the chute along the section plane XIII-XIII of FIG. 13a,
• FIG. 13a represents a view in vertical section along the plane XIII-XIII in FIG. 13,
• FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 13, taken along the section plane represented by XIV-XIV in FIG. 14a,
• FIG. 14a shows a vertical section along the plane XIV-XIV in FIG. 14,
• FIG. 15 schematically shows a horizontal section along the plane XV-XV in FIG. 14,
• FIG. 16 schematically shows the cooling system of the suspension fork of the chute,
• FIG. 17 schematically shows a system for dismantling the chute,
• FIGS. 18 and 19 represent successive phases during the dismantling of the chute with the system of FIG. 17,
• FIG. 20 schematically shows a second embodiment of a system for dismantling the chute,
• FIG. 21 schematically shows a drive mechanism for the control member with two fixed motors,
• FIG. 22 schematically represents a section along the plane XXII-XXII in FIG. 21,
• FIG. 23 shows an advantageous embodiment of a rotary link between the control member and its drive mechanism,
• FIG. 24 schematically shows a section along the plane presented by the broken line XXIV-XXIV in FIG. 23,
• FIG. 25 schematically shows a view along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suspension fork and shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention for actuating the chute,
• FIG. 26 schematically shows a section along the plane XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 25,
• FIGS. 27 and 28 respectively show elevation and plan views of the suspension fork used in the embodiment according to FIGS. 25 and 26.

It should be emphasized that the various embodiments will be described with reference to their application to a blast furnace. It should however be noted that the invention is equally applicable to loading systems of other types of ovens or enclosures and more particularly enclosures where conditions similar to those existing in a blast furnace prevail.

In the various figures, the same reference numbers will be used to designate the identical elements.

We will first describe a first embodiment of a loading device with simultaneous reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 7 to 10. In Figures 1 to 4, the reference 20 designates the head of a top pressure furnace, in which the loading material must be charged from an upper airlock not shown, through a vertical supply channel 22 disposed along the vertical axis 0 at the top of the blast furnace. The distribution of the loading material introduced through the channel 22 is carried out using an oscillating chute 24 whose shape is preferably frustoconical, as shown in the figures. This oscillating chute 24 is suspended between two branches 28, 30 of a fork 26 which is mounted in the side wall of the head 20 of the oven so as to be able to pivot around its longitudinal axis X. Independently of this possibility of pivoting of the fork 26 around the axis X, the oscillating chute 24 can pivot around its suspension axis Y (see FIG. 3) between the two branches 28 and 30.

The fork 26 is mounted in leaktight manner in a wall 36 separating a casing 32 for controlling and driving the interior of the head 20 of the furnace, this casing 32 being mounted, in a removable manner, on a flange 38 of the carcass 34 of the head 20 of the blast furnace, this carcass 34 being welded directly to the shield of the furnace.

In order to be able to pivot around the longitudinal axis X, the fork 26 is housed, by its body 44, in a bearing 40. This bearing 40 will preferably be a pair of tapered roller bearings. The tightness of the suspension of the fork 26, that is to say the tightness between the interior of the blast furnace and the interior of the casing 32 is ensured by a conventional cable gland 42.

Instead of assigning all of the sealing load to the cable gland 42, it is possible to make the casing 32 watertight vis-à-vis the outside by means known per se and easy to install and put the inside of the casing 32 under a pressure substantially equal to that prevailing inside the oven. This design eliminates the differential pressures on either side of the wall 36 and otherwise allows the removal of the cable gland 42, at least its simplification.

Inside the housing 32 is a control member 46 mounted on a shaft 48 passing through the fork 26 and able to rotate about its axis Y ', the shaft 48 preferably being arranged so that its axis of rotation Y' is parallel to the axis Y of suspension of the chute 24. This control member 46 therefore has the same degree of freedom as the chute 24, in particular the possibility of pivoting around the axis Y 'and the possibility of being able to pivot with the fork 26 around the longitudinal axis X of the latter. The basic idea of the present invention therefore consists in animating the control member 46 with the movement that it is desired to have performed by the chute 24. Consequently, a transmission mechanism is required to reproduce the pivoting of the member control 46 around the axis Y 'on the chute 24 so that the latter pivots, in a similar manner, around its axis Y, the transmission of the pivoting in a perpendicular direction, in this case around the axis X , being provided by the fork 26 itself.

Figures 9 and 10 schematically illustrate a first embodiment of such a transmission mechanism mounted inside the fork 26. According to this first embodiment, there is provided a rod 50 in the form of bident, it is that is to say comprising a sensitive evolving rod 56 ment in the body 44 of the fork 26, as well as two branches 52 and 54 located respectively in the branches 28 and 30 of the fork 26. The ends of the two branches 52 and 54 are connected by means described in more detail by the following the chute 24 or its pivot axis. The end of the rod 56 is connected by a lever 58 to the shaft 48. For reasons of solidity, it is preferable to provide a double lever 58 between the ends of which the end of the rod 56 is articulated, or else to provide a simple lever 58 and to design the end of the rod 56 in the form of a fork articulated on the lever 58.

Since the transmission rod 50 is made in a single cast part or in welded sheet metal, the fork 26 must be removable in order to be able to mount the transmission mechanism comprising the rod 50 and the lever 58. For this purpose, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the body 44 of the fork 26 is detachably connected at 60 to the two lateral branches 28 and 30. Figures 7 and 8 also show that the outer sides of the two branches 28 and 30 have openings 62 and 64, relatively large, in order to be able to mount mechanisms ensuring the connection between the ends of the branches 52 and 54 and the axis of suspension of the chute 24. At the opposite end of the fork 26 is a similar opening 66 allowing the mounting of the shaft 48 and the lever 58.

We will now describe in more detail the operation of the proposed system. Assuming first that the control member 46 pivots about the axis Y 'of the shaft 48, the lever 58 performs a corresponding pivoting and transmits a kind of pendulum movement to the transmission rod 50 which rotates the chute 24 around its axis Y of suspension at an angle corresponding exactly to that of the pivoting of the control member 46 about the axis Y '. Consequently, if the member 46 pivots from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the chute 24 also pivots between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively, the connecting rod 50 oscillating during this time two extreme positions, this movement being symbolized by the two arrows in FIG. 9.

These two extreme positions are also illustrated by FIGS. 1a and 2a, in which the transmission mechanism is shown diagrammatically by a parallelogram, symbolizing the parallelism between the chute 24 and the control member 46.

If the control member 46 is pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the previous pivot plane, which is the plane of Figures 1 and 2, that is to say that the angle between the longitudinal axis of the member 46 and the vertical is kept constant and that this member 46 pivots in a plane perpendicular to the plane of FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say a plane defined by the axis Y 'and the longitudinal axis of the member control 46, the fork 26 pivots about its longitudinal axis X, that is to say that the chute 24 is tilted in the plane of FIG. 3 and the angle that the axis of the chute 24 makes, on the Figure 3, with the vertical varies according to the amplitude of pivoting of the control member 46. This pivoting is illustrated by the arrow A in Figure 3a.

It can be seen that the chute 24 follows exactly the movement of the control member 46, this as well during the pivoting around the axis Y as during the pivoting around the axis X. Consequently, by combining these two pivotings, the chute 24 always remains parallel to the control member 46 and performs the same pivoting movement as the latter. More particularly, if the end of the control member 46 is moved in a circle, that is to say that it evolves on a conical surface whose apex is located on the axis Y ', the chute 24 performs the same movement around the vertical axis 0 of the oven and its lower end also describes a circle. This movement is illustrated schematically by arrows in Figures 1a and 2a.

In other words, the suspension and control system of the chute proposed by the invention allows a discharge of the loading material in concentric circles, or even in a spiral, that is to say the two loading modes considered. currently as giving the best results. It suffices for this to provide a suitable drive mechanism for moving the end of the control member 46 in concentric circles or in a spiral.

Figures 1, 2 and 4 schematically illustrate a first embodiment of a drive mechanism for imparting to the control member 46 the movement which it is desired to have performed by the chute 24. This control mechanism essentially comprises a drive unit 68 mounted on the outside, preferably removably, on the casing 32. Two coaxial control shafts 70, 72 penetrate from the drive unit 68 through bearings and possibly seals inside the casing 32. One of these control shafts, in this case the external control shaft 70, carries inside the casing 32 a slide 74 curved in an arc of a circle whose angle corresponds substantially to twice the maximum angle of inclination of the chute with respect to the vertical axis O. This slide 74 is arranged in such a way that its radius of curvature is equal to the length of the control member 46 and that the longitudinal axis of the two control shafts 70 and 72 pass pa r the center of curvature of the slide 74, this center of curvature having to be situated on the axis Y ′ of pivoting of the control member 46.

A toothed sector 76 having the same curvature as the slide 74 and a length slightly greater than half thereof is slidably mounted on the lower concave face of the slide 74. A rotary connection 78 is provided between the end of the control member 46 and one of the two ends of this toothed sector 76. This rotary connection 78 can be produced simply by means of a roller ment provided on the toothed sector or on the control member 46 and a pin provided on the other of these elements and engaged in this bearing. The toothed sector 76 forms a rack with a pinion 80 fixed to the end of the internal control shaft 72 which coaxially crosses the external shaft 70.

The drive unit 68 is designed to independently operate the two control shafts 70, 72. A first worm screw 82 actuated by a motor not shown drives via a reduction system composed of a worm wheel end 84 and pinions 86, 88, the external control shaft 70. On this control shaft 70 is fixed a second drive group comprising a second motor, not shown, driving via a worm 90 and a worm wheel 92 the internal control shaft 72. Since this second group rotates in block with the control shaft 70, its motor must be supplied by means of friction contacts well known per se and not shown in the figure.

Assuming that only the motor actuating the worm 82 turns, we see that the assembly formed by the two control shafts 70, 72, as well as the worm wheel 92 and the worm 90, and the motor which drives it rotate at the speed dictated by the first motor. It follows that the slide 74 and the sector 76 also rotate around the longitudinal axis 0 'of the control shafts and that the control member 46, because of the rotary link 78 is driven and evolves on a conical surface. Assuming that the position of Figure 1 is the starting point, Figure 2 illustrates the position of the controller 46 after a 180 ° rotation. We also see in Figure 2 that the chute has undergone a corresponding movement. If only the second motor is actuated, the slide 74 remains stationary, while the pinion 80 slides the sector 76 in the slide 74. This causes a change in inclination of the control member 46 and, by way of consequently, a change in the inclination of the chute 24 relative to the vertical axis O.

For the chute 24 to describe concentric circles, it is therefore sufficient to activate the first motor to rotate the slide 74 and, after each complete revolution thereof, to activate the second motor to change the inclination of the 'control member 46 and that of the chute 24.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the entire suspension and control device, as well as the distribution chute can be dismantled as a unit simply by loosening the flanges 38 and removing the whole assembly through the opening lateral in the carcass 34. It suffices to place the chute 24 in the position according to FIG. 2 and to clear or remove the channel 22. After that, the chute is tilted in the position according to FIG. 1 from where it can be easily removed without removing it from its suspension. This will be explained in more detail later.

We will now describe a second embodiment with reference to Figures 5 and 6. This second embodiment uses the same suspension elements as the embodiment of the previous figures, that is to say the fork 26 and its mechanism of internal transmission for which the same reference numbers were used. However, the arrangement is different, insofar as the fork, instead of being arranged horizontally as in Figures 1 to 4, is inclined relative to the horizontal axis. Its pivot axis X is also inclined, as is its support bearing 98 and the fixing flange 96 by which the control casing 94 is fixed to the carcass 100 of the head 20 of the furnace. It is obvious that this oblique arrangement further facilitates the operation of disengaging the chute 24, since the latter, in the position according to FIG. 5, is arranged practically in the extension of the axis of the opening by which it is released.

Although the arrangement of the elements is slightly different compared to Figure 1, the operation is always the same. In fact, as shown in FIG. 5a, the parallelism between the axis of the chute 24 and the control member 46 is preserved and these two elements always rotate around a vertical axis. What changes compared to the layout of the previous embodiment is that the lever 58 is no longer parallel to the control member 46. Similarly, the connection between the end of the transmission mechanism 50 and the axis Y of the suspension of the chute, connection to be parallel to the lever 58, is no longer disposed in a diametrical plane of the chute 24. It results from this different arrangement of the lever 58 and the point of attack of the mechanism transmission 50 on the chute 24 a reduction in the total length of the suspension fork 26.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a drive mechanism has been shown for printing on the control member 46 the movement which it is desired to cause to be effected by the chute 24. It should however be noted that the drive mechanism used in Figures 5 and 6 is not related to the inclined arrangement of the fork 26 and that one could just as easily use the drive mechanism of Figures 5 and 6 with the realization of Figures 1 and 2 and vice versa.

As in the previous embodiment, the control member 46 is connected by means of a rotary link 102 to a toothed sector 104 sliding on a slide 103, the latter as well as the toothed sector 104 having a curvature and an arrangement analogous to the previous embodiment. The slide 103 is integral with a rotary cage 106 supported by means of a bearing 108 in the chassis of the casing 94. This rotary cage 106 is provided with an external toothed ring 110 forming a gear with a pinion 112 driven by a first motor electric 114. It therefore turns the assembly formed by the rotary cage 106, the slide 103 and the sector 104, as well as the control member 46 around the vertical axis 0 ', that is to say that the chute 24 evolves on a surface conical at constant angle- of inclination around the axis O.

To change this angle of inclination of the chute, that is to say the inclination of the control member 46 relative to the axis 0 ′, a second motor 116 is provided, fixed on the cage 106 and gravitating with it around the 0 'axis. This second motor 116 is connected via a worm gear system 118 to a pinion 120 forming a rack with the toothed sector 104. The supply of the motor 116 is also carried out by means of friction contacts not shown. on the face.

Figures 11 and 11a show a third embodiment which differs essentially from the previous ones by the design of the suspension system of the chute and the drive mechanism thereof. This mechanism also includes a suspension fork, represented as a whole by the reference 126 and comprising a substantially cylindrical body 128 housed and supported in the bearing 40 of the wall separating the interior of the oven from the control housing 32. This fork 126 comprises also two branches for suspending the chute 24, only the branch 130 being visible.

The movement transmission mechanism generated by the control member 46 consists essentially of a rotary transmission shaft 132 housed in a pair of bearings 134, 136 inside the body 128 of the fork 126. The tilting of the control shaft 48 is transmitted, as for the other embodiments, by pivoting of the fork 126 inside the bearing 40. On the other hand, the pivoting of the shaft 48 around its axis is transformed using a pair 138 of pinions or conical toothed sectors in a rotation of the shaft 132 around the axis X, while this rotation of the shaft 132 is again transformed using a pair 140 of pinions or conical toothed sectors in pivoting of a shaft 142 mounted parallel to the shaft 48 in the body 128 of the fork at the opposite end from that of the shaft 48. These successive transformations of the pivoting of the shaft 48 emerge more clearly of FIG. 11a illustrating, from a top view, u n diagram of the operating principle.

The pivoting of this shaft 142 is transformed by means of a parallelogram system comprising two arms 144, 146 and two connecting rods 148 and 150 (see also FIG. 11a) in pivoting of the trough 24 around its axis of suspension Y.

The mechanism of Figure 11 therefore also ensures perfect parallelism between the axis of the chute 24 and the axis of the control member 46. It is therefore possible to provide a drive mechanism similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, or else that of FIG. 6 for driving the control member 46 and ensuring the distribution of the loading material in concentric circles or in a spiral. FIG. 11 shows, by way of illustration, a system similar to that of FIG. 1 and which, therefore, will no longer be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 illustrates a simplified variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 11. The chute 24 is supported by a fork 156 also comprising a cylindrical body 158 housed in the bearing 40. This fork also comprises two branches between which the chute is suspended , only the branch 160 being visible.

The pivoting of the control shaft 48 is also transformed by a pair of conical toothed sectors 164 into a rotation of a shaft 162 passing coaxially through the body 158 and supported by bearings and seals. This shaft 162 carries at the end opposite to that of the shaft 48 a conical toothed sector 166 cooperating with another conical toothed sector 168 fixed directly on one of the suspension pivots of the chute.

The rotation of the shaft 48 around its longitudinal axis is therefore also transformed into pivoting of the chute around the Y axis, the pivoting around a direction perpendicular to the latter being ensured by the oscillations of the fork 156 around its longitudinal axis X.

While in all of the previous embodiments, the fork is designed as a closed box, completely surrounding the transmission mechanism, in the embodiment according to FIG. 12, only the body 158 of the fork 156 is closed, while the two toothed sectors 166 and 168 evolve in the atmosphere prevailing above the loading surface. It should also be noted that the tilting of the chute 24 around the axis Y is generated only on one of the two suspension sides.

As already mentioned above, the suspension fork of the chute is, except for the embodiment according to Figure 12, designed as a sealed box and the mechanism for transmitting the pivoting movement around the axis It evolves completely inside this box. It was therefore necessary to use tricks to suspend the chute and communicate the movement of the transmission mechanism evolving inside this box. The particular design of this suspension will be explained below with reference to Figures 13 to 16.

As can be seen in Figures 13 and 14, the chute 24 is carried by its upper part in an annular cradle 180, the inner surface of which perfectly matches the frustoconical outline of the chute 24. The chute can, in addition, as the show the figures, include an upper rim 184 resting on a corresponding seat of the cradle 180. To complete the fixing the chute 24 in the cradle 180 and preventing, for example that it cannot, during disassembly, fall out of the cradle 180, a retaining ring 182 can be provided housed in a peripheral groove of the chute 24 and bordering the lower part of the cradle 180. To release the chute 24 from its cradle 180, it is therefore sufficient to simply cut off the ring 182.

The cradle 180 is secured to an arm 186 in the shape of an “inverted L”, the lower end of which is provided with an opening in which is engaged a pivot 188 of the branch 54 of the transmission rod 50 (see FIGS. 7 to 10 ) located inside the suspension fork 26. The arm 186 also has a bore through which it is engaged on a pin 190, around which it can rotate freely while being carried by the latter. This pin 190 is part of the suspension fork and is, according to an advantageous embodiment, provided on the inner face of a cover 192 welded or screwed on the opening 62 which was already discussed with reference to Figures 7 and 8 This cover 192 moreover comprises an auxiliary cover 194 provided so as to allow access to the joint between the pivot 188 and the arm 186, in particular for mounting and dismounting a retaining ring on the pivot 188 .

It is obvious that a similar and symmetrical device is provided on the other side of the chute to ensure the maintenance and the connection between the cradle 180 and the branches 28 and 52 of the suspension fork, and of the transmission rod. It can therefore be seen that the cradle 180 and, consequently, the chute 24, are carried by the two journals 190 of the suspension fork, while the movement of the transmission rod 50 is transformed by the arms 186 into pivoting of the chute 24 around the pins 190, that is to say the Y axis.

To allow disassembly of the cradle 180 and the suspension fork 26, there is provided a removable attachment between the cradle 180 and each of the two arms 186, this removable attachment being symbolized by the screw 196. For this purpose, the cradle 180 comprises on each side a flange on which is applied a corresponding flange of an arm 186 for tightening by means of the screw 196. To ensure the necessary rigidity and avoid rotation between these two flanges, these are each provided a crown of radial grooves 198 which penetrate each other (see Figures 13a and 14a). These streaks prevent any accidental rotation of the arm 186 relative to the cradle 180 or vice versa and therefore ensure that the movement of the transmission rod 50 is well transformed into pivoting of the chute 24 around the Y axis, rather that friction between the arms 186 and the cradle 180 due to a lack of tightening of the screws 196.

It should be noted that these screws 196 are only accessible after the release of the chute 24 from its cradle 180. This is of course an advantage insofar as this constitutes a guarantee of the durability of the fixing.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it takes advantage of the fact that the suspension fork is produced in the form of a closed box and of the production of the suspension according to FIGS. 13 and 14 to cool and possibly lubricate the suspension of the chute through the suspension fork. To this end, the connection between the suspension fork and the cradle 180 is sealed by means of a sealing ring 200, or by other suitable means suitable for this purpose, and surrounding the arms 186 at their level. passage through the inner wall of the branches 28 and 30 of the suspension fork 26.

For cooling and possibly lubrication purposes, a gas or liquid may be used. As an example, one could cite a mixture of water and an additive having lubricating, anti-corrosive and possibly anti-bacterial properties. Such liquids or additives are well known in hydraulic water techniques and are commonly used as hydraulic liquids.

The admission of this fluid can be achieved, as shown in particular in Figure 1, through a sleeve 202 secured to the body 44 of the suspension fork 26, and rotatably supported in the rear wall of the control unit 32. The embodiment may include a rotary connector 208 connected to one or, preferably, two pipes 204, 206 for admitting the fluid in question. This fluid then circulates through two pipes 210, 212 which exit from the sleeve 202, which run along the outer walls of the fork 26 and which penetrate inside the oven passing between the walls of the suspension fork and the bearing 40, so as to be able to follow the pivoting movement of the fork 26 around the axis X. These pipes 210, 212 penetrate respectively into the two branches 28 and 30 of the suspension fork 26, this through a bore 214, coaxial with relative to the Y axis in each of the journals 190.

The circulation will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 16. As can be seen in these figures, the cradle 180 comprises, for cooling, two interior semi-spherical channels 220, 222, separated from each other by a partition 224 at level of each suspension. Each of the channels 220 and 222 is connected to the bore 214 of the corresponding pin through an internal pipe passing through the striated flanges 198 and a part of the corresponding arm 186. FIG. 13 shows the internal pipe 216 connecting the channel 220 to the pipe 212 through its corresponding journal 190. The channel 222 is connected in the same way, on the opposite side, to the pipe 210.

Each of the channels 220 and 222 in the cradle 180 comprises an outlet pipe 218 (see FIG. 14) connecting the channel concerned inside each of the branches 28 and 30. From there, the fluid fills the entire interior space of the suspension fork and leaves it through the man chon 202 and an outlet pipe 223. It should be noted that the two interior pipes 216, 218 are placed side by side as shown in FIGS. 13a, 14a and 15, their spacing corresponding to the partition 224 between the channels 220 and 222 .

The circulation of the fluid is shown diagrammatically in the figures by the arrows and is clearly apparent from FIG. 16. This cooling of the cradle 180 of the chute and of the suspension fork 26 considerably reduces the influence of the high temperature on the mobile members and is a certain guarantee of a longer duration of these. Since, moreover, the moving parts are completely immersed in this fluid, they effectively undergo the lubricating action. In order for this fluid to effectively exercise its cooling action, it is necessary to renew or cool it if it is used in a closed circuit. Figure 16 shows an embodiment with a closed circuit. The outlet pipe 223 directs the cooling fluid through a coil 228 immersed in the coolant of a heat exchanger 226. Circulation is ensured by two pumps 230, 232 collecting the fluid at the outlet of the exchanger 226 and l 'expelling respectively into the intake pipes 204, 206 through filters 234 and 236 known per se. It would be possible to provide only one pump, but to ensure uniform distribution in the two pipes 210 and 212, it is preferable to use two.

According to another feature of the invention, the pressure of the cooling fluid is adjusted to adapt it to the pressure prevailing inside the furnace. This eliminates differential pressures on either side of the seal and greatly reduces the risk of leakage. For this purpose, there is provided a pressure equalization device 238 intended to increase or decrease the pressure of the cooling fluid as a function of pressure fluctuations inside the oven. This function can be fulfilled by a device known per se comprising a diaphragm 240 one of the sides of which is exposed to the pressure prevailing inside the oven, for example through a filter 242 and the other side of which is in contact with the coolant.

Line 244 designates a line connecting the cooling circuit to a supply of cooling fluid to ensure that the circuit is always filled.

As already mentioned previously, the present invention allows an extremely easy disassembly and reassembly of the chute and more particularly when the inclined configuration according to FIG. 5 has been adopted. A simple system will now be described with reference to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 to make this replacement. For this purpose, there is provided a carriage 250 circulating on a pair of rails 252 and provided with a lifting arm 256 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 254. This lifting arm 256 is designed to be made integral with the casing 94 and to be able support the assembly formed by the casing 94, the chute 24 and the drive mechanism after release of the attachment to the flange 96.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the vertical supply channel is divided into two independent parts, namely an upper part 22a in the form of a funnel intended to remain in place and a removable cylindrical lower part 22b. The latter is held in place, that is to say in the extension of the upper part 22a by means of several (at least three) props 260 arranged at regular intervals around the channel 22 in the carcass 100 of the head 20 of the oven. These props simply hold the lower part 22b by penetration into a circular groove 258 provided, for this purpose, around this lower part 22b of the channel. A locking system, not shown, is provided to maintain these props in the depressed position according to FIG. 17 to ensure the maintenance of the channel 22.

The lower part 22b of the channel further comprises an external lateral hook 262 intended to cooperate, by penetration, with a lug 264 provided on the upper edge of the chute 24 and, by wedging, with a notch formed below the lug 264 by a suitable piece 226 welded to the chute 24.

We will now describe the disassembly operation of the chute 24 with reference successively to Figures 17, 18 and 19. The first operation consists of securing the lifting arm 256 of the carriage 250 with the wall of the housing 94. After that we can unscrew the fixing at the level of the flange 96. The assembly formed by the chute 24, the casing 94 and its contents therefore rests on the carriage 250.

Then the arm 256 is slightly raised to make the lug 264 penetrate into an opening provided for this purpose in the hook 262 (see FIG. 18). As a result, each of the props 260 is released and extracted until the lower part 22b of the supply channel is released. This part is now only supported by the hook 262. Consequently, the carriage 250 can be moved back to bring the chute 24 and the part 22b of the supply channel towards the release opening (see figure 19). The combined action of the recoil of the carriage and the lifting by the arm 256 allows the complete release of the chute 24, capped with the part 22b through the outlet opening. It should be noted that during this disengagement operation, the part 22b remains hooked in a stable position, given that its hook 262 is wedged behind the part 266. The reassembly obviously includes the same operations, in reverse order.

In FIG. 20, which shows a second embodiment of a system for dismantling and reassembling the chute 24, the vertical supply channel 22 is also divided into two parts 22c and 22d. In this second embodiment, the lower part 22d, which is also independent of the upper part 22c, is suspended from a pivoting arm 270 passing through the carcass 100 of the head of the furnace. Outside, this pivoting arm 270 can be actuated by a suitable means, such as a motor, a jack or even a crank, in order to pivot the lower part 22d from the central position to the release position illustrated in FIG. 20. In this position , the chute 24 can be disengaged in the same manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19, using a similar carriage 250, without the chute striking the vertical supply channel 22.

Figures 21 and 22 show an advantageous variant of the mechanism according to Figure 5 for actuating the control member 46. In this embodiment, there is also provided a rotary cage 280 supported in the chassis of the casing 94 and able to rotate freely by relative to the latter by means of bearings 282. A double slide 274 in an arc of a circle, the curvature of which is also located on the axis Y ′ of rotation of the control member 46 is integral with the lower part of this cage rotary 280. Between the two branches of this double slide 274 slides, as for the previous embodiments, a toothed sector 276 whose connection with the control member 46 is ensured by a rotary link 278 transforming the rotation, around the 'axis O' of the toothed sector 276 in pivoting of the control member 46 about this same axis. The rotation of the cage 280 around the axis 0 'derives from an endless screw 284 driven by a motor not shown and transmitting the movement to the cage 280 via a reduction system comprising a screw wheel endless 286 and a pinion 288.

The toothed sector 276 comprises, as shown in FIG. 22, two rows of gears forming a rack with two pinions 290, 292 carried by a rotary transverse shaft inside the cage 280. Between these two pinions 290 and 292 is a worm wheel 294, carried by the same shaft, and capable of being driven by means of a worm 296, a pair of reduction gears 298 and a shaft 300 passing through the next cage axis 0 '. This shaft 300 is integral with the rotor 302 of a motor 301, the stator and the housing of which are represented by the references 304 and 306 respectively. The characteristic of this motor 301 is that its housing 306 is fixed to the chassis of the casing 94 and, therefore, fixed, and that it is arranged so that its rotor 302 and its stator 304 are concentric with respect to the axis 0 '. Means are also provided for making the rotor 302 and the shaft 300 integral in rotation with the cage 280 and for releasing it therefrom. In the figure, diagrammatically indicated, by way of illustration, an electromagnetic brake consisting of a disc 308 secured to the shaft 300 and several pads 310 which can be applied, electrodynamically against the disc 308 to secure the latter ci, in rotation of the cage 280.

Assuming that we want to rotate the chute at constant inclination around the vertical axis of the oven, that is to say that the control member 46 is caused to perform a corresponding precession movement around the axis 0 'and at constant inclination, the cage 280 is rotated by means of the worm 284, the motor 301 remaining out of service. In this case, the electrodynamic brake ensuring the connection between the rotating cage 280 and the shaft 300 must be closed, so that the assembly formed by the slide 274, the toothed sector 276, the cage 280, the pinions that the latter contains, as well as the shaft 300 and the rotor 302 of the motor 301 rotates as a block around the axis O 'at the speed dictated by the worm 284 driven by its motor. This angular speed around the axis 0 ′ will be, for example, eight revolutions per minute, if the same speed is used as that of the rotary chutes currently used.

Assuming that it is a question of changing the angle of inclination of the chute with respect to the vertical, without it rotating, that is to say of changing the inclination of the control member 46, the cage 280 must remain stationary and the motor which actuates it remains out of service. The electromagnetic clutch between the cage 280 and the rotor 302 of the motor 301 is open and the latter is made independent of the cage 280. By actuating this motor, the shaft 300 will pivot, by means of the various pinions , the toothed sector 276 and the control member 46.

It is of course also possible to change the inclination of the chute during its rotation about the vertical axis to make it describe a kind of spiral. In this case, the two motors will be momentarily actuated at the same time, and for this, the electromagnetic clutch between the shaft 300 and the cage 280 must be open.

It should however be noted that, when the two motors rotate simultaneously, the action of the motor 301 may be very slightly different depending on the direction of rotation of the other motor, or depending on whether it is to raise or lower the chute. In fact, when, as a result of the action of the first motor, the cage 280 rotates, the rotor 302 rotates at the same speed, that is to say approximately eight revolutions per minute. Consequently, these eight turns are added to, or deducted from the number of turns printed on the rotor 302 by the action of the stator 304. In other words, depending on the direction of rotation, there is a difference of sixteen turns per minute. Knowing however that, when the motor 301 is activated, it rotates at around one thousand five hundred revolutions per minute, this theoretical difference corresponds approximately to one percent, which, from a practical point of view, can be considered as zero.

The reference 312 represents a device for simulating and reproducing the tilting movement of the chute, which is based on the detection of the actual number of revolutions of the rotor 302 of the motor 300. This simulation system can, for example, be constituted by a game miniaturized differential and planetary gears, the movement of which is transmitted in a device 314 for monitoring and controlling, automatic or not, the movement of the distribution chute 24. This device 314 can, of course, also inform the operator permanently about the exact inclination of the chute.

The advantage of the drive device in FIGS. 21 and 22 compared to the similar device in FIG. 5 is that the motor 301 is mounted around the axis 0 'and can be fixed. It is therefore not necessary to have rubbing contacts to ensure its supply, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 5, where the motor 116 is eccentric relative to the axis 0 'and performs a gyratory movement around that -this.

Figures 23 and 24 illustrate a simple and effective embodiment of the connection between the drive mechanisms and the control member and applicable to the various embodiments described above. A slide 320, corresponding to the slides 74, 103, or 274, has an inverted "U" profile, in the hollow of which the sector 324 slides. This slide 320 in fact forms only a guide rail for this toothed sector 324.

The stirrup-shaped control member 322 comprises a frustoconical rod 326 engaged through a pair of bearings 328 and 330 housed in a bore provided for this purpose in the toothed sector 324. This pair of bearings 328, 330 therefore allows a pivoting about the axis 338 between the rod 326 and the sector 324 during the rotation of the latter around the axis 0 '.

It should be noted that any other connection element between the control member 322 and the toothed sector 324 is superfluous, the two bearings 328 and 330 being able to be automatically held in place by the conical shape of the rod 326 and the bore 336.

The reference 332 designates the pinion cooperating with the toothed sector 324 to slide the latter in the slide 320. This pinion is provided at the bottom of the slide 320 between the two guide flanks of the latter and is carried by a shaft 334 driven by a worm wheel 340.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 25 and 26 an embodiment of a drive mechanism of the chute, slightly different design compared to those described above. The basic principle nevertheless remains the same, that is to say that a control member, represented by the reference 350, prints a precession movement around an axis 0 ′ analogous to the movement which the chute must perform. in the oven around the vertical axis of the oven parallel to the 0 'axis.

The control member 350 is constituted by a toothed sector 352 which can pivot about an axis of rotation 360 supported by two consoles 362, 364 secured to a rotary plate 366. The control member 350 further comprises a rod 354 whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chute and which can pivot in a base 358 by means of a rotary link provided by one or more bearings 356. The bearing or bearings 356 in fact correspond to bearings 328 and 330 described in relation to FIGS. 23 and 24 and exercise the same function, that is to say allow relative pivoting between the base 358 and the rod 354.

The control mechanism illustrated in Figures 25 and 26 implies the presence of a chute suspension fork designed as a double fork represented by the reference 370 in Figures 27 and 28. This double fork 370 has a pair of branches 372, 374 for the suspension of the oscillating chute shown schematically by the reference 376 and a pair of branches 378, 380 between which is mounted the base 358 undergoing the precession movement imposed by the control member 350.

The base 358 is part of a shaft 382 corresponding, for example, to the shaft 48 of FIG. 1, and arranged along the axis Y ′ parallel to the suspension axis Y of the chute (see also FIG. 28) . This shaft 382 of which only a part has been shown in FIG. 25 crosses each of the two rear branches 378 and 380 of the fork 370. The bearings 384 allow the rotation of the shaft 382 around the axis Y ', while the sealing means, not shown, allow the circulation of a cooling liquid inside the fork 370, as explained previously with reference to the fork 26. The pivoting movement of this shaft 382 around the axis Y 'is transformed by means of a lever 386 in translational movement of a transmission mechanism 388 in the form of a double fork evolving inside the fork 370. This movement of the transmission mechanism 388 is transmitted to the chute as in the previous embodiments and causes the latter to pivot about the Y axis.

To facilitate disassembly, it is preferable to separate the base 358 from the shaft 382, which is shown in the figure by a screw 390 axially passing through the shaft 382 and ensuring its attachment to the base 358. The contact between the base 358 and the shaft 382 is advantageously produced by flanges each comprising a ring of radial grooves as described above with reference to FIGS. 13a and 14a.

The design of the branch 380 of the fork 370 and its connection with the base 358 is similar to the design of the branch 378 and will not be described in detail.

The rotation of the control member 350 about the axis It is caused by the rotation of the rotary plate 366 connected to a fixed frame 368 by means of a bearing 392. The rotary plate 366 is provided with a peripheral toothed crown 394 cooperating with a pinion 396, in turn driven by a first motor, not shown, by means of a worm 398 and a worm wheel 400.

The sector 352 is a rack with a pinion 402 mounted on a shaft 404 between the two brackets 362 and 364. This shaft 404 is driven by a worm wheel 406 whose worm 408 receives the movement of a pinion 410 capable of turning around its own axis and of gravitating with the plate 366 around the axis 0 '.

The pinion 410 is attacked by a pinion 420 fixed on the output shaft 418 of a motor 412 whose stator and rotor are designated respectively by 416 and 414. The motor 412 is, like the motor 300 of FIGS. 21 and 22, mounted so that the axis of its rotor corresponds to the axis O ', that is to say that the carcass of the motor 412 can be secured to the chassis 368.

The mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26 comprises a clutch, symbolized by the reference 422, similar to the clutch represented by the references 308 and 310 in FIGS. 21 and 22, in order to make the rotor412 integral in rotation with the rotary plate 366 or release it. To this end, the shaft 418 carrying the rotor 414 is movable in the axial direction and is permanently subjected to the action of a spring 424 tending to cause the rotor 414 to occupy the position illustrated in the figures, position corresponding to the Clutch 422 closes, making rotor 414 integral with plate 366. When stator 416 is energized, rotor 414 is attracted, electromagnetically, against the action of spring 424. As a result of this attraction , the rotor 414 goes up against the stator 416, which brings up the pinion 420 and open the clutch 422 to release the rotor 414 from the rotary plate 366.

The references 426 and 428 respectively designate a device for simulating and reproducing the movement of the chute, and a device for automatic monitoring and control similar to the corresponding device represented by the references 312 and 314 in FIGS. 21 and 22.

The operation of the drive mechanism according to FIGS. 25 and 26 is similar to that of FIGS. 21 and 22. To rotate the chute around the central axis 0 at fixed and constant inclination, it is sufficient to actuate the first motor driving the rotary plate 366, to disconnect the motor 412, which closes the clutch 422 and makes the motor 414 of this motor integral with the plate 366. Assuming that the toothed sector 352 occupies the position shown in FIG. 25, the rotation of the plate 366 causes a conical precession movement of the rod 354 around the axis O 'and, as a result of the rotary connection of this rod 354 with the base 358 and the two arms 378 and 380 of the fork, on the one hand , and the mechanism 388 for translating the movement inside the fork, the chute performs a movement corresponding exactly to that of the rod 354 with the same inclination relative to the vertical axis of the oven as the axis of the rod 354 with respect to axis 0 '.

The change in inclination of the rod 354 relative to the axis 0 'and the corresponding change in the inclination of the chute are made by actuating the motor 412. This has the effect of attracting the rotor 414 towards the stator 416 , release the clutch 422 and, by rotating the rotor 414, rotate the pinion 402 constituting the rack with the toothed sector 352.

As in the previous embodiment, the speed of rotation of the motor 412 is different according to its own direction of rotation and according to the direction of rotation of the other motor, since the effect of the latter affects the speed angular of the rotor 414. Here too, this is a theoretical difference corresponding approximately only to one percent of the total speed of the motor, which, from a practical point of view, can be considered as zero.

It is of course possible to combine the various embodiments described above. Thus, for example, it is possible to use a control member similar to member 350 with its particular connection with the suspension fork of the chute, in each of the embodiments described above, in particular that of FIG. 5 with the inclined suspension fork. It is also possible to swap between them the different motor systems that have just been presented for actuating the control member. In this context, it should be noted that despite the fact that several motor systems have been presented for actuating the control member, not all the possibilities of variants have been exploited. It is, for example possible, to use for each of the embodiments a motor system similar to that proposed in French patent application FR-A-2 433 722 or in French patent FR-C-2 189 516.

Claims (37)

1. Process for actuating an oscillating spout suspended in an enclosure under pressure, between two branches of a fork of which the body traverses the side wall of the said enclosure, the spout being capable of pivoting about its suspension axis between the two branches of the fork, while the said fork can pivot about its longitudinal axis of the spout, characterized in that the movement to be effected by the spout is imparted by a suitable driving machanism to an oscillating control device having the same degrees of freedom as the spout but mounted outside the enclosure and wherein the movement of the control device is reproduced, by means of a suitable transmission system, on the spout.

2. Process in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control device is caused to perform a conical precession movement about an axis parallel to the central axis about which the spout itself is required to move.

3. Process in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that after each revolution of the control device about the said axis the angle of inclination of the control device in relation to the said axis is altered.

4. Apparatus for the performance of the process according to any one of claims 1-3, in which the body of the suspension fork (26, 370) of the spout (26, 370) is accomodated and supported in a bearing (40) mounted in the side wall (34) of the enclosure (20), characterized in that said control device (46, 322, 350) is mounted on a pivot axis (Y') traversing the fork (26, 370), outside the enclosure, parallel to the suspension axis (Y) of the spout (24, 376) and in that at least the body of the fork (26,n 370) is hollow and contains a transmission mechanism serving to convert a pivoting movement of the control device (46, 322, 350) about its pivoting axis into a corresponding pivoting movement of the spout (24, 376) around its suspension axis.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the control device takes the form of an arm (46, 322) parallel to the axis of the spout, while its driving mechanism comprises a guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) curved in accordance with an arc of a circle, of which the angle is substantially equal to twice the maximum angle of inclination of the spout (24) in relation to the vertical axis and of which the radius of curvature corresponds to the length of the control device (46, 322) and which is mounted in such a way that its centre of curvature is situated on the pivoting axis (Y') of the control device (46, 322), in that a toothed sector (76, 104, 276, 324) is slidably mounted on the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320), and having the same curvature as the said guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) and being slightly more than half as long as the latter, a rotary connection (78, 102, 278, 328, 330) between one end of the said sector (76, 104, 276, 324) and the control device (46, 322), first means for rotating the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) and the toothed sector (76, 104, 276, 324) about an axis (O') parallel to the central axis (O) about which the spout (24) is required to move, and second means for causing the toothed sector (76, 104, 276, 324) to slide in the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) and alter the angle of inclination of the control device (46, 322) in relation to the axis (0') about which the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) turns as a result of the action of the said first means.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the said guide bar (320) comprises a U-shaped channel serving to guide the toothed sector (324) and wherein the latter comprises a boring (336) into which a rod (326) of the control device (322) penetrates and in that a pair of bearings (328, 330) are provided between the frustum-shaped rod (326) of the control device (322) and the inner wall of the boring (336) to enable a relative pivoting movement to take place between the control device (322) and the boring (336), around the axis of this latter.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the control device (350) comprises a toothed sector (352) pivotable about an axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis (X) of the fork (370) and supported by two brackets (362, 364) capable of turning about a rotation axis (0') parallel to the central axis (0) about which the spout (24) is required to move, and a rod (354) of which the- longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spout (24) and which is connected by a rotary connection system (356) to a base (358) incorporated in a shaft (382) of which the axis (Y') intersects the said pivoting axis of the control device (350), while the driving mechanism of the control device (352) comprises first means for causing the said brackets (362, 364) to turn about the axis (0') and second means independent of the first and serving to alter the angle of inclination of the said rod (354) in relation to the rotation axis (O').

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the transmission mechanism consists of a connecting rod (50) in the form of a two-pronged fork capable of sliding in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the suspension fork (26) and connected for this purpose to its outer end, via a lever (58), to the pivoting shaft of the control device (46, 322), and by its two opposite ends to two arms integral with the spout (24) or with its suspension shaft, the length of the connecting rod (50) being such that the longitudinal axis of the spout (24) is parallel to the said lever (58).

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the suspension fork takes the form of a double fork (370) equipped at one of its ends with two branches (372, 374) for the suspension of the spout (376) and at the opposite end with two branches (380, 382) between which is provided the base (358) comprising a rotary connection with the control device (350) and forming part of the shaft (382) traversing the two branches (380, 382) of the fork (370), parallel to the suspension axis (Y) of the spout (376).

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the transmission mechanism consists of a connecting rod taking the form of a double fork (388) provided at one of its ends with two branches respectively connected by a lever (386) to the said shaft (382) comprising the base (358) of the control device (350) and at the other end with two branches respectively connected by two arms to the suspension axis (y) of the spout (376), the length of the connecting rod being such that the longitudinal axis of the spout (376) is parallel to the rod (354) of the control device (350) capable of pivoting in the said base (358).

11. Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the transmission mechanism consists of a rotary transmission shaft (132, 162) provided at each of its ends with segmented conical pinions subjected to the action of a conical gear wheel affixed to the pivot axis (48) of the control device (46), while the other one transmits the rotation movement to a toothed sector connected to the spout suspension axis (4).

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the said toothed sector is connected to the spout suspension shaft via two deformable parallelograms (144, 146, 158, 150).

13. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the spout (24) is borne by an annular craddle (180) in which it rests as a result of its frustum-shaped and/or an upper rim (184).

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that the arms (186) actuated by the transmission mechanism, situated inside the fork (26), have an L-shaped profile, one of the branches of which is articulated to one of the branches of the transmission rod (54) and of which the other branch is integral with the suspension craddle (180) of the spout (24) and which is also provided with a boring supported by and capable of pivoting about a journal (190) inside each of the two suspension branches of the fork (26).

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the connection between the suspension craddle (180) of the spout (24) and each of the arms (186) is removable and is provided by means of side plates applied to each other and each having a circle of radial ridges (198) penetrating each other, the tightening effect being obtained by means of a screw (196).

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the said screw (196) engages the interior of a craddle (180) and is only accessible after the removal of the spout (24).

17. Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 5 or 7, characterized in that the said guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) or the said brackets (362, 364) are mounted at the end of a first hollow rotary control shaft (70) driven by a first motor and in that a second rotary shaft (72) positioned coaxially inside the first (70) is mounted in such a manner that it can turn independently of the latter, and is provided at each of its ends with a pinion (80) forming a rack with the said toothed sector (76), and of which the other end is driven by a second motor, independent of the first but mounted on a frame integral with the hollow rotary shaft (70) driven by the first motor.

18. Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 5 or 7, characterized in that the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) or brackets (362, 364) form part of a rotary cage (106, 280) or rotary plate (366), provided with an external toothed rim (110, 394) driven by a first motor (114) in order to cause the cage (106, 280) or plate (366) to rotate with the guide bar (74, 103, 274, 320) and the toothed sector (104, 276, 324) about an axis (0') parallel to the central axis (O) about which the spout (24) is required to turn, while the second motor (116, 301, 412), independent of the first, acts via a reduction system on the pinions (120, 292, 402) forming a rack with the toothed sector (104, 276, 324), in order to modify the angle of inclination of the control device (46, 350) in relation to the said rotation axis (O').

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that the second motor (116) is mounted on the said cage (106, 280) or plate (366) outside its rotation axis (0') and moves with the cage (106, 280) or plate (366) about the said rotation axis (O'), this second motor being fed by means of electric friction contacts.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that the second motor (301, 412) is mounted on the rotation axis (0') of the cage (106, 280) or plate (366), that its carcass (306) is affixed to the fixed frame of the apparatus and that a clutch device is provided in order to render the rotor (302, 414) of this motor (301, 412) integral with the said cage (106, 280) or plate (366) and to release it therefrom.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20, characterized in that said clutch device consists of a plate (308) affixed to the output shaft of a motor (301) and of shoes (310) affixed to the cage (280) or plate (366) and displaceable by electromagnetic means against the said disc (308) in order to render the latter integral with the cage (280) or plate (366), these shoes (310) being actuated when the motor (301) is subjected to voltage, in order to be applied against the disc (308) when the motor (301) is being fed with current and removed from the disc (308) when the motor (301) is not supplied with current.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20, characterized in that the clutch device (422) is provided between a pinion (420) integral with the output shaft (418) of the motor (412) forming part of the reduction system between this motor (412) and the pinion (402) forming a rack with the toothed sector (352), and the cage (280) or plate (366), in that the output shaft (418) and the rotor (414) of the motor (412) are movable in the axial direction of the motor (412) and are permanently subject to the action of the spring (424) tending to ensure the contact of the clutch system between the said pinion (420) and the cage (280) or plate (366), this contact being broken by the attraction of the rotor (414) into the stator (416) as a result of the voltage applied to the latter and in opposition to the action of the spring (424).

23. Charging installation for a shaft furnace, characterized by a vertical feed channel (22) mounted in the head of the furnace (20) and connecting one or more external charging chambers to the interior in the furnace, an oscillating spout (24) serving for the distribution of a charging material and mounted immediately downstream from the channel (22), and a device in accordance with any one of claims 4-22 for the performance of the process according to any one of claims 1-3.

24. Installation in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the entire suspension and control device for the spout (24), including the driving mechanism for the control device (46, 322, 350) and the bearing system (40) in which the suspension fork (26, 370) is accomodated, is mounted in a frame removably affixed to a lateral flange (38, 94) of the carcass (34, 100) of the furnace head (20).

25. Installation in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the said carcass (34, 100) of the furnace head (20) is welded to a metal wall forming the plating of the furnace.

26. Installation in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the frame containing the control device and part of its driving mechanisms designed as an enclosure (32, 94) subjected to pressure which is controlled in such a way as to be approximately equal to that prevailing inside the furnace.

27. Installation in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the spout suspension fork (26, 370) is positioned horizontally.

28. Installation in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the spout suspension fork (26, 370) is inclined at an angle, the part inside the furnace (20) being situated lower down than the external part connected to the control device (46, 322, 350).

29. Installation in accordance with claim 24, wherein the frame removably affixed to a lateral flange (38, 96) of the carcass (34, 100) of the furnace head (20) is associated with an elevator carriage (250) movable over a pair of rails (252) and comprising an elevator arm (256) serving to raise the combination formed by the frame, the driving mechanism, the spout suspension fork and the spout itself and to release the said combination via the aperture surrounded by the said flange (38, 96).

30. Installation in accordance with claim 29, characterized in that the vertical feed cnannel (22) consists of two independent parts (22c, 22d) and wherein the lower part (22d) is supported by a pivot shaft (270) traversing the carcass (100) of the furnace head (20) and capable of being actuated from the outside in order to release the lower part (22d) of the outlet passage of the spout (24) when the latter is being dismantled.

31. Installation in accordance with claim 29, characterized in that the vertical feed channel (22) consists of two parts (22a, 22b) independent of each other and wherein the lower part (22b) is provided with a circular groove (258) penetrated transversally via the carcass (100) of the furnace head (20) by a number of stays (260) serving to secure or release this lower part (22b) and in that the latter comprises means enabling it to be engaged by the spout (24) and released at the same time as the latter.

32. Installation in accordance with claim 31, characterized in that said means consist of a hook (262) provided on the outer wall of the said lower part (22b) of the feed channel (22) and having an orifice interacting by penetration with a lug (264) provided on the spout (24).

33. Installation in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 32, characterized in that the spout suspension fork (26, 370) takes the form of a hermetic box and wherein means are provided for ensuring forced circulation of a cooling fluid inside the said box.

34. Installation in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the cooling fluid is conveyed through two pipes (210, 212) as far as each of the spout suspension journals (190) and is conveyed through each journal on both sides and through channels (216) in channels (220, 222) provided in the craddle (180) of the spout (24) in order to emerge through channels (218) in the journal on the opposite side and return to the outlet via the body of the fork (26, 370).

35. Installation in accordance with either of claims 33 or 34, characterized in that the cooling fluid consists of water and of a lubricating additive.

36. Installation in accordance with any one of claims 33 to 35, characterized by a device (240) serving to keep the pressure of the cooling fluid equal to the pressure prevailing inside the furnace.

37. Installation in accordance with any one of claims 33 to 36, characterized in that the fluid is caused to enter via a rotating connection (208) of which the rotation axis corresponds to the axis (X) of the fork (26, 370).

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