US1916261A

US1916261A - giese

Info

Publication number: US1916261A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1933-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1950-07-04

Description

July 4, 21933. A. F. GIESE, JR 1,915,261

TAPPING HOLE DRILLING APPARATUS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Qzzgzwj f. 626%, JA

July 4, 1933. A, 555, JR 1,916,261

TAPPING HOLE DRILLING APPARATUS FOR BLAST FURNACES A. F. GIESE, JR

July 4, 1933.

TAPPING HOLE DRILLING APPARATUS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mali nto the hole Patented July 4, 1933 JLUG J'ST ll. JR 932 GARY, INDIANA TAEPING- none. JRI'LLING- si rnnerusron BLAs'r runner-ens Application filed April 9, 1932. Serial No. 684,186.

nvention relates to an improved upand machine to be used for drilling an opening through a blast furnace tapping 5 hole for the discharge the nioltenmetal from the 121cc. v

In uieog stion of blast furnaces, the tapping e gged or filled with clayjafter i the clay being usually forced by means of a mud gun. Beo the next casting run, an opening must "nod through the belied and hardened clay for discharge of the molten metal, and such onening' usually slants do .vnwardlv to tom of the furnace in order hat all of the mo. n metal in the furnace maybe run A sulssher plate must therefore be laid Offer therunner trough to receive the impact of the discharging molten metal and 5 wa -(ls the b :3 to deflect it back into the runner trough.

' Heretofore, laborious, expensive, and dangerous means and procedureshave been used for opening up the tapping hole or placing the splasher plate in position, the procodures requiring the men to operate very close to the runner trough on d to the tano hole outlet. Furthermore, with the procedures heretofore resorted tot there was no assurence of accuracy in the directioning of the AL c r accurately lay the running through the topping hole clri'v filler, directicningof the drilling or us implements depending merely unon ment and accursicv of the operators. the importantobject of my invention J there ore to provide apparatus and mschin- {i ich can he s and accurately controlled' emote from the runner trough or the ning hole to Quickly and splashing plate in place accuracy drill the-clay filling to L enetrate any so skull the iii of the and to than with poWerand a opening through re tapping holeanc.

metal g echainisin are supported may be swung bv uiteble and locate the e ion or to remove h an tus in operatingposition relative to a furnuce of Whichpa-rt of the front Wall and the runner trough are SllOWIIlZ] cross section.

Figure 2 is an enlargecl side elevation, partly in section, on a vertical median plane Figure 8 is aside elevation of the supporting boom structure and Wit-lithe apparatus J I Figure 4 showsjthe application of a detachable bit-in the end of the drill;

Figure 5 shows the application of a pokbar in the drill spindle socket; and i Figure 6 is a diagram showing the remote control for the motors and other operating devices. w

I have shownpart of the front Wall of-a furnace F having the tapping holelO infront of which is the runner trough structure 11 for receiving the molten metal. On the floor 12, at one side oft-he runner trough, issecured a base 13 from which rises a post ll which receives a sleeve or hub 15 supported on the post at its lower end'by a suitable thrust bearing16 and supported and guided at its upper end by a guide bearing 17. Secured to the top and extending laterally from the-sleeve 15 is the boom 18, the boom being shown of rectangular cross section and built up of side channels 19 and top and bottom plates 20 and21; Extending upwardly through the boom from the post 14 and rigture indicated by 26 the outlet shaft of which carries a beveled pinion 27 Which engages the beveled gear 23, the gear 23forming-a track for the pinion 27 so that, when the-mm .tor 24 is running, the boom 18 will be swung in one direction or the other, depending upon the direction of rotatlon'of the motor. The switches or, other means (not shown) for controlling the circuit ofthe motor may beat some point remote from the furnace.

eon in section on plane Ill-III of Figure 2.

a ,After a casting run ofthe furnace, the clay in the tapping hole 10 is worn and carried away by the outflowing metal, and at the end of a casting run, the tapping hole is refilled with clay by means of a clay gun and, before another casting run can be made, an outlet opening must be drilled through the baked and hardened clay, such opening usually inclining downwardly toward the bottom of the furnace. After the opening has been formed. the molten metal will flow out through the opening and a suitable splash plate must be laidover the runner trough for receiving the molten metal stream and deflecting it back into the runner trough. I have shown a splash plate P which may be in the form of a rectangular metal frame having material, such as fire brick 28 se cured to its under side against which the molten metal impacts, the frame P being provided with an apertured lug or eye 29 by means of which the plate may be lifted and transported.

The supporting and carrier structure A for the splasher plate comprises the rect ngular frame part or head 30 which receives the end of the rectangular boom 18, side walls 31 and 32 depending from the head and being connected at their front ends by a cross wall 33 and inwardly of said walls by an intermediate cross wall 34. Between the walls 83 and 34, the horizontal wall 35 extends between the side walls 31 and 32 and forms a support for a suitable motor for controlling a hook structure 36 for carrying the splasher plate P. Any suitable type of 1notor may be used, I have shown a motor operable by fluid pressure and comprising a cylinder 37 within which a piston 38 is movable and connected with a piston rod .39 which extends through the opposite end walls of the cylinder,

pipes

40 and 41 being connected with the opposite ends of the cylinder for the application of fluid under pressure to the desired side of the piston. The cylinder is secured on the cross wall 35 in any suitable. manner. 7

The shank of the hook structure shown has the forwardly extending end 42 terminating in the upward extension 43, the end forming a hook for engaging in the aperture 29 of the eye 29 on thesplasher plate P. At its upper end. the hook shank is expanded to form a rectangular passage 44 for receiving arectangularblock 45 from whose opposite sides extend

trunnion pins

46 and 47, respectively, these pins journaling in ears or walls 49 and 40 depending from the bottom of the frame A below the front wall 33 thereof. The hook end 42 extends forwardly at right angles with the trunnion axis so that, when the hook structure is swung with the trunnion block, the hook end may enter or be withdrawn from the eye aperture 29.

Secured in the trunnion block is a cross pin 51 whose ends engage thelongitudinal slots and 53 in the side walls of the expanded end of the hook structure so that the hook structure may shift longitudinally on the trunnion block as well as swing with the block.

Extending from the front end of the piston rodjli) is a cable 54 which is guided around a pulley or sheave 55 mounted on the frame structure A and which extends downwardly from the sheave and is connected with the upper end of the hook structure as by means of an eye screw 56. Extending from the rear end of the piston rod is a cable 57 which passes around a sheave 58, then downwardly and around a sheave 59, and has its other end connected with the hook structure at the lower end thereof, as by means of an eye screw 60. With this arrangement, when the piston 38 travels forwardly in the cylinder, the hook r structure moves downwardly, and at the same time the resulting pull on the cable 57 causes the hook to swing rearwardly. lVhen the piston 38 moves rearwardly, the cable 54 is tensed and the cable 57 slackened. and as the hook is pulled upwardly it is swung by gravitv back to the vertical position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the boom 18 has been swung to carry the supporting structure A in the position for a drilling operation and the splasher plate P has been '1 carried into proper position over the runner trough and above the tapping hole outlet. After a drilling operation, the boom is swung to carry the drilling apparatus and the supporting structure A away from the furnace but leaving the splasher plate P in position for the casting run. Referring to Figure 2, the full lines show the hook structure in position just after the splasher plate has been lowered into position over the runner trough. When the piston 38 continues forward travel. in the cylinder, the hook structure will be lowered to carry its end 43 below the upper wall of the aperture 29 and the hook structure will then be swung back to the dotted line positionaway from the lugs 29 and the boom 18 may now be swung to carry the supporl; ing structure A away from the front of the furnace and the runner trough. lVhen the splasher plate is to be removed from the runner trough. the boom is swung to set the supporting structure A in front of the furnace. and. by proper adjustment of the air flow in the cylinder. the piston 38 is caused to travel rearwardly, the hookl then first swinging back to carry its hook end into the aperture 29 and then the hook is raised and lifts up the splasher plate, and then when the boom is swung back, the splasher plate is carried with the supporting structure A to be deposited on the floor 12 until its use is again required.

To hold the supporting structure A rigid and in proper alignment during setting or removal of the splasher plate, suitable locking ind means may be provided As shown, brackets Gland 62 are secured to the furnace and support a vertical wall 63 across their outer end inst which the front wall"33ofthe supporting structure A] abuts, and a locking hook 6% is providedfor straddling the

walls

33 and 63 to thereby hold the supporting structure A and the boom in service position while thesplasher plate isbeing set for service or being reengaged by the hook structure preparatory torem val, the locking hook G lbeing controllable fronr a remote point by means of a suitableicable The means for controlling the fluid flow to the cylinder 37 may also be located at some remote point.

I will now describe the drilling apparatus and its support and control. This apparatus is suspended from the boom 18, thesupport comprising a plate 66 having a web 67extending downwardly therefrom between the side walls 31 and 32 of the supporting frameworkrl forthe splash plate P. The plate 66 is secured by means of bolts 68 extending upwardly through. the boom 18, preferably out side of the websof the channels 19. As will be explained more in detail later, it may be desirable to adjust the drilling mechanism vertically, and dependin upon the'adjustment desired, one or more spacer plates 69 may be inserted between the plate or body 66 and the boom, thebolts 68 being of suilicient length to permit such insert. The bolts may also extend through the head of the 7 frame structure A to hold it in place on th'e boom, and, when thejnuts 70 onthe bolts are turned up tight, the frame structure A and the sup port body will be rigidly secured to the Formed in the web 67' is a slot 71 forming a guidewayfora trolley-or truck= structure 72, the frame of this structure comprising side walls '73 and 7 l engaging the opposite sides of the web 67 along the slot 71. Shafts or axles supported-by theside walls 73 and 74 journal rollers 76 for which the web wall forminga lower side of the slot 71 forms a rail, there llers beingshown as flanged at their ends for. engaging in recesses-71 in the web the rollers thus assisting in preventing transverse displacement of the truck-structure on the webfl f a j The web 67 alongthe upperside of the slot 71 has teeth 7 7 for engagement. by a gear pinion 78. Onthe. truck structure 72 ashelf 79 is provided on'one sidewhichsupports an f electric driving: motor 80 andzia reduction gearing structure indicatedby SL one end of the reduction gearing traini being connected with the shaft of the driving motorand the other of theitrain "supporting the drive pinion 78so thaty'whenthe i'HOt-QTlS run, t 1e truck structure 72 will travel on the web .67 under guidance of the'roll rs 76in the guideway .71. The lower, end of the web 67 'with the guide l channel therein is? inclined down- "wardly, the angle of inclination being sub truck structure 72 to be bodily shiftedwith thetruclr. The drill operating and controlling mechanism is supported in a frame structure 82, and secured to opposite sides of this frame structure are hanger, plates 83 and 8% 1y to receive between them the segmental shaped lower end 87 of the truck structure 72. A pivot bolt 88 extends through the

wall sections

85 and 86 and through the truck end 87 for rotational adjustment of the drill mechanism supporting frame 82, a lock bolt 89 extending through the slots 90 in the

walls

85 and 86 serving to lock the frame 82 rigidly to the truck in adjusted position. To readily accomplish rotational adjustment of the frame 82, the segmental gear rack 91 is mounted on the wall section 85 concentric with the pivot'bolt 88, a screw or worm gear 92 meshing with the gear rack and having itsshaft journaled in ribs93 on the truck structure, the end 94 of the shaft being p0- lygonal for reception of a crank for turning the worm gear fo rotational or angular adjustment of the frame 82. It is evident that a motor could be mounted on the truck to' supply the necessary power for turning the worm gear. For guiding andindicating the angularadjustment of the frame 82, measurement markings 95 may be applied on the segmental gear and indicating means, such as an arrow 96, applied on the truck.

The frame 82 has front and rear end walls" 97 and 98,respectively, and an intermediate 7 transverse wall 99. Extending betweenand journaled in the walls 97 and-99 is a drivingcylinder 100 through whose bore extends the drill spindle 101, the drive cylinder having splines102 projecting into the bore for engagement in the channels 103 in the drill spindle so that the spindle must rotate with the drive cylinder but may shift axially relative to the cylinder. 7

Projecting forwardly from the wall 99 abovethedrive cylinder is a shelf 104 on whichis mounted an electric driving motor, 105 whose shaft is coupled to one end of a train or reduction gearing (not shown) within a casing 106 mounted on the shelf, the out goingshaft 107 from the transmission gear- 5 ingbeing ournaled in the wall 97. Between the wall 97 and the reduction gearing train a spur gear 108 1S secured to thes'haft 1.07 andineshes with a spur gear 109 secured to one end of ,the drive cylinder whereby, when I the motor 105isoperating, thefdrive cylinder 75 whose upper ends 85 and 86 are offset inwardmeshes with a gear 111 on the front end of a countershaft 112 which is journaled in webs 113 and 114- between the bottom and sidewalls of the frame 82. Between the webs the counter shaft carries a gear 115 which meshes with a gear 116 secured to the inner end of a screw shaft 117 which at its front end is journaled in the

webs

113 and 114. The screw shaft extends rearwardly through the frame 82, its rear end being journaled in the rear vall 98 of the frame 82 and a thrust bearing 118 being interposed between the wall. 98 and a collar or flange 119 on the screw shaft. The screw shaft has threaded engagement with a block 120, which block or cross head is shifted as the screw shaft is turned and is guided by lower and upper guideways 121 and 122 formed in the frame 82. The cross head extends above the upper guideway 122 and journals the end 101 of the drill spindle 101, flanges or collars 123 preventing longitudinal movement of the spindle relative to the cross head. The gearing train between the driving cylinder 100 and the screw shaft and the threading of the screw shaft are dimensioned so that the axial shift or feed of the drill spindle will be in proper accord With the turning of the spindle and of the drill 121 connected with the spindle,the front end of the spindle having the socket 125 in which the drill end may be securely seated.

An automatic brake structure 128 of any suitable construction may be associated with the motor 105 to brake and stop the motor as soon as current supply is withdrawn therefrom. A similar brake structure 129 may be provided for the motor 80 which controls the movement of the truck structure 72.

Describing now the operation, the apparatus not being in use, the boom 18 is swung around to support the apparatus away from the runner trough, the truck 7 2 being toward the outer can of its guideway so that the drilling apparatus will be clear of the floor. T o. relieve the supporting structure A from unnecessary strain, the splash plate P should be lowered to rest on the floor. The runner trough and tapping hole are now unobstructed for the application of a mud gun or other apparatus for filling the tapping hole with clay.

lVhen the drilling apparatus is to be used preparatory to another casting run, air is first admitted into the cylinder 37 for operation of the hook structure to engage with and elevate the splasher plate P above the floor. The motor 24 is then started to cause swing of the boom 18 to align the supporting frame structure 7 A above the runner trough and with its front wall 33 in abutment with the locking wall 63 on the furnace, the hook 6 1 being then dropped to securely lock the frame structure A in 'posi 65 tion. The air flow throughthe cylinder 37 is then controlled for shift of the piston 38 for downward movement of the hook 36 to deposit the splasher plate across the runner trough and to then swing the hook rearwardly to disengage from the plate.

By turning the worm gear 92, after first loosening the locking bolt 89, adjustment is made of the drill apparatus frame 82 for the proper angle of the drill and the lock bolt 89 is then tightened. The motor is now operated to shift the trolley structure 72 down vardly in the guideway 71 to bring the point of the drill to the clay in the tapping hole and then when current is withdrawn from the motor 80, the electric brake 129 will lock the motor and consequently the truck structure 72 against movement. The motor 105 is now started for turning of the dril spindle and drill and for forward feed thereof. The drill is preferably of the conveyor type so that it will carry the drillings out of the hole thereby avoiding the necessity of periodically removing the drill and blowing or otherwise cleaning out the drilling. The drill may be provided with a special detachable bit 200 (Fig. 1) for drilling through any skull which may have formed at the end of the clay plug in the furnace.

If, after the drill spindle has been shifted forwardly the full distance, the hole has not been completed, the spindle is withdrawn and the truck structure 7 2 is shifted farther down and then the drill is again started to finish the hole. After completion of the hole, the drill is withdrawn and the truck shifted rearwardly to raise the drill apparatus frame and drill end above the floor, and then, after releasing of the locking hook 64:, the motor 24 is operated to cause the boom 18 to swing the entire apparatus back to one side and away from the runner trough, the splasher plate however remaining in position to receive the metal discharged from the furnace through the drilled hole and. to dc fleet the metal back into the runner trough.

After removal of, the drilling apparatus by the boom structure, the drill is withdrawn from the spindle and a poking bar 201 (Fig. 5) is substituted "so that, should any object become lodged in the tapping hole, the apparatus can be again swung into position over the runner trough and the poking bar inserted into the tapping hole to remove the obstruction. The truck 72 may be moved back and forth to move the poking bar back and forth until the obstruction is cleaned out of the tapping hole and the drill spindle may also berotated at the same time, if necessary. After clearing of the hole the apparatus is then swung back away from the runner'trougln'and after a casting run, the mud gun is applied to replug the tapping hole. At the end of a casting run, the splasherv plate is reengaged by the hook 36 and swung back with theother apparatus clear of therunner trough so that the operation of the mud gun will be unobstructed.

All these various operations maybe controlled by one man at some safe point sulficiently remote from the furnace front and therunner troughand the hot metal. The various switches for controlling electrical circuits and valves for controlling the pressure vfluid circuit may be conveniently mounted on an operating board 202' from which the operator may readily observe the functioning of the apparatus. Referring to Fig. 6, switches 203, 204 and 205 are diagrammatically illustrated for control ing the current flow from. a supply circuit 206 to the motors 24, 80and 105, respectively, and a" suitable valve 207 is provided for adjusting the flow of fluid under-pressure from a source 208 to the cylinder 37 to control the operation of the hook 86. All hazards are thus eliminated and the greatest degree of safety is assured. I

. When a furnace is new, its bottom-is high, and in this case the angle of drilling is less, but as the furnace bottom floor rapidly wears down from abrasion of the iron flowing out of the furnace and from general wear, the angle of drilling must be changed to a steeper one in order to get the hole down lower in the furnace to the molten metal at the bottom of the furnace. The frame 67 for supporting the truckwhich carries'the drilling apparatus is therefore adjustable vertically independently of the supporting frame work A.- If a lesser angle is desired for the drill, the nuts on the bolts 68 are loosened so that the supporting'body 66 may be adjusted downwardly and then the gap is filled up by one or more spacer plates and the nuts retightcned. After lowering of the frame 67, the screw or worm gear 92 is operated for setting'the frame 82 for the desired angle of.

the drill.

At some plants wide splasher plates are used and these plates might interfere with the drill. Under such conditions the splasher plate may be held suspended at a sufficient height above'the'runner trough :so that it would not interfere with the drill and then,

"as soon as the hole has been made and the drill'has beenremoved, the splasher plate may be quickly lowered into position. The

space 44 and the slots 52 and 53 in the hook I claim as my invention: 1. In drilling apparatus for drilling tappingholes for blast furnaces, the combination of a movable supporting structure, a carframe, a drill and driving means therefor supported by said carrier, power means for swinging said boom for alignment of said drill relative to a hole to be drilled and power means for shifting said carrier on said guide frame for adjustment of said drill.

3. In tapping hole drilling apparatus,the combinationof a supporting structure providing a guideway, a truckshiftable on said guideway, a drill structure carried by said truck, means whereby said drill structure is adjustable on said truck for adjustment in a vertical plane of a structure, and'means for shifting said truck on said guideway for bodily shift of the drill structure toward and from a hole to be drilled.

4. Intapping holedrilling apparatus, the combination of a supporting structure, a guide frame supported by said structure, a carrier truck shiftable on said guide frame, a drill structure carried by said truck and supporting a drill and driving means therefor, means for vertically adjusting said guide frame on said guide structure for-vertical adjustment of said drill structure, and means for angularly adjusting said carrier truck.

5. In tapping hole drilling apparatus, the combination of a supporting boom, a drill structure suspended from said boom and comprising a drill and driving means there for, and power means for swinging said boom for alignment of'said drill structure relative to a hole to be tapped.

6. In tapping hole drilling apparatus, the oombinationof a supporting boom, a guide frame suspended fron sn id boom, atruck shift-able on saidguideway, a drill structure carried bysaid truck and incorporatingadrill and driving means therefor, power means for swinging saidboom for alignment of said drill structure relative to a hole to be tapped, andpowermeans for shifting said truck on said guideway foradvancem'ent or retraction of'said drill structure relative to a tapping hole.

tapping {hole drilling apparatus, the

said drill frame on drill on said drill combination of a movable support therefor, a carriage shiftable on said support, drill structure supported by said carriage and incorporating a drill and driving means therefor, power means controllable from a remote point for moving said supporting structure to position the drill structure in front of a tapping hole, and driving means for said carriage controllable from a remote point for shifting said carriage for positioning of said drill structure to drilling position.

8. In tapping hole drilling apparatus, the combination of a movable support therefor, a carriage shiftable on said support, a drill structure supported by said carriage and incorporating a drill and driving means therefor, power means controllable from a remote point for moving said supporting structure to position the drill structure in front of a tapping hole, driving means for said carriage controllable from a remote point for shifting said carriage for positioning of said drill structure to drilling position, and means for adjusting the angularity of said drill.

9. I11 tapping hole drilling apparatus, the combination of a boom, a drill frame suspended from said boom, a rotatable and axially shiftable drill on said frame, driving means on said frame for controlling the rotational and axial movement of said drill, means for vertically adjusting said frame relative to said boom, and means for angularly adjusting said frame relative to said boom for the desired angular setting of said drill.

10. In combination, a blast furnace splash plate having an apertured lug thereon, a supporting structure, a hook structure, means supporting said hook structure on said supporting frame for longitudinal and rotational movement, a taut cable connected with the ends of said hook structure, guides for said cable, and means for shifting said cable. said cable when shifted in one direction first causing longitudinal movement of said hook and then swinging movement to free its end from the splash plate lug, and shift of said cable in the opposite direction causing first swing of said hook into engagement with said lug and then longitudinal movement of the hook to raise and support said plate.

11. The combination with a blast furnace splasher plate having'an apertured lug, of a movable supporting structure, a hook member, means supporting said hook member on said supporting frame for longitudinal movement and swinging movement, a taut cable connecting with the ends of said hook member, guides for said cable, and means for shifting said cable, shift of said cable in one direction causing swing of said hook member out of said apertured lug, and shift of said cable in the other direction causing first swing of said hook member into engagement with said aperturedlug and then longitudinal upward movement of the hookmember for raising and suspending said plate, and means for moving said supporting frame for transporting the suspended plate.

12. The combination with a blast furnace having a tapping hole, a splasher plate for application in front of and above said tapping hole, said plate having a suspension lug thereon, a boom structure carrying a hook for engagement with said lug for supporting said plate, means for swinging said boom structure to carry said plate into position for service or for carrying said plate away from the furnace, and power driven means on saidboom structure for operating said hook for suspension of said plate or for release therefrom.

18. The combination with a blast furnace having a tapping hole, a splasher plate for application in front of and above said tapping hole, said plate having a suspension lug thereon, a boom structure carrying a hook for engagement with said lug for supporting said plate, means for swinging said boom structure to carry said plate into position for service or for carrying said plate away from the furnace, and power driven means on said boom structure for operating said hook for suspension of said plate or for release therefrom, and locking means for locking said boom structure to the furnace wall during operation of said hook to position said plate for service or for raising said plate preparatory to transportation away from said furnace.

1 f. In tapping hole drilling apparatus for blast furnaces, the combination of a supporting structure, an arm on said supporting structure, a splasher plate transporting hook on said arm, power means 011 said arm for raising and lowering said hook, a drill structure suspended from said supporting structure, power means for moving said supporting structure for carrying said drill structure and a supported splasher plate to or away from a tapping hole, and means for vertically adjusting 'said drilling structure.

15. In tapping hole drilling apparatus for blast furnaces, the combination of a boom, an arm on said boom, a hook supported by said arm for transportation of a splash plate. drivingmeans on said arm for raising and lowering said hook, a guide frame supported by said boom, a truck shiftable on said guide frame, a drill structure carried by said truck and incorporating a drill and driving means therefor, means for vertically adjusting said guide frame relative to said boom, means for effecting angular adjustment of said drill frame relative to. said truck, and power means for swinging said boom for the transportation of a splasher plate and said drill structure to and from service position.

16. The combination with the splasher plate for a blast furnace of a carrier structure therefor, hoisting mechanism on said carrier' structure, and means controlled by the operation of said hoisting mechanism for automatically connecting itself with the splasher plate or for disconnecting itself therefrom.

17. The combination with a splasher plate for a blast furnace, of a supporting boom, hoisting mechanism on said boom including a vertically movable hook, power mechanismvon said boom for operating said hoisting mechanism, and means operable dur-, ing initial vertical movement of said hook for connecting said hook with said plate preparatory to suspension movement of said plate or for release of said hook from said plate after said plate has been transported.

18. Tapping hole drilling apparatus for blast furnaces comprising a boom, a drill frame suspended from said boom, a drill and driving means therefor on said frame, means for swinging said boom to align said drill frame relative to a tapping hole to be drilled, and means for effecting vertical and angular adjustment of said drill frame relative to said boom for the desired angularity of drilling.

19. In apparatus for drilling tapping holes in blast furnaces, the combination of a supporting structure, a drill frame suspended from structure, a drill mounted on said frame, power means for moving said supporting structure for locating said drill frame for a drilling operation, and power driven means on said dill frame forcausing rotary and axial movement of said drill.

20. In apparatus for drilling tapping holes in blast furnaces, the combination of a supporting structure, a drill frame supported from said structure, a drill mounted on said drill frame, power means for moving said supporting structure for locating said drill frame for a drilling operation, a driving motor on said drill frame, a transmission train betweensaid' motor and drill for rotating said drill, and a transmission train between said I motor and drill for axially moving said drill. 21. In apparatus for drilling tapping holes in blast furnaces, the combination of a supporting structure, a drill frame supported from said structure, a drill spindle on said drill frame adapted to receive a drill, a motor on said drill frame, a transmission train between said motor and spindle for rotating the spindle, a screw on said drill frame, atransmission' train between said motor and screw for rotating said screw, and a connection between said spindle and screw for causing axial movement of said spindle when said screw is rotated.

22. In tapping hole drilling apparatus the combination "of a-supporting boom, a drill frame supported by said boom, a drill on same frame adapted for rotation and for axial mo ement thereon, means for swinging said boom to align said frame with a hole to be tapped, a motor on said drill frame, and connections between said motor and drill for causing combined rotary and axial movements of said drill.

23. In tapping hole drilling apparatus, the combination of a support, a drill frame carried by said support, a rotatable and axially shiftable drill on said frame, driving means on said frame for controlling the rotational and axial movement of said drill, means for swinging said support to align said frame relative to a hole to be tapped, and means forv an ularly adjusting said frame relative to said support for the desired angular setting of said drill. I

24. In tapping hole drillin apparatus, the combination of a support, a truck shiftable back and forth on said support, a drill frame pivoted on said truck to be rotatable in a vertical plane, drill and driving means therefor on said frame, means for controlling the movement of said truck andmeans for rotating said frame for alignment of said drill relative to a hole to be tapped.

25. The combination with a blast furnace having-a tapping hole, a splasher plate for plate.

26. The combination with a blast furnace having a tapping hole, a splash-er plate for application in front'of and above said tap- V V ping hole, a movablesupport for said plate, hoisting mechanism on said support including a hook, means enective during initial movement of said hook by said hoisting mechanism automatically controlling the application of the hook to the plate or release therefrom, and means controllingthe movement of said support for transporting the plates when suspended on said hook.

27. In combination, a sp'lasher plate for a blast furnace, a movable support therefor, .a hook suspended from said support for receiving said plate, and power means on said support for raising and lowering said hook.

28. In combination, a splasher plate for a blast furnace, a swinging boom, and power driven hoisting mechanism on said boom including a hook for engagement with'said Indiana. I

AUGUST F. GIESE, JR.