A stockhouse arrangement for a metallurgical furnace includes a set of storage bins for granular material; a material feeding device associated with the set of storage bins, the material feeding device being arranged above the set of storage bins and allowing to selectively fill each of the storage bins with granular material; and a raw material feed system to convey raw granular material to the material feeding device, wherein a respective weighing hopper is arranged downstream of each storage bin and including an outlet associated with a feeding gate. A and a charge conveying system is provided for collecting and conveying material selectively discharged from the weighing hoppers through their respective feeding gate, the material feeding device being configured to screen raw granular material arriving from the raw material feed system such that only material with desired granulometry is forwarded to the respective bin(s).

A stockhouse arrangement for a metallurgical furnace includes a set of storage bins for granular material; a material feeding device associated with the set of storage bins, the material feeding device being arranged above the set of storage bins and allowing to selectively fill each of the storage bins with granular material; and a raw material feed system to convey raw granular material to the material feeding device, wherein a respective weighing hopper is arranged downstream of each storage bin and including an outlet associated with a feeding gate. A and a charge conveying system is provided for collecting and conveying material selectively discharged from the weighing hoppers through their respective feeding gate, the material feeding device being configured to screen raw granular material arriving from the raw material feed system such that only material with desired granulometry is forwarded to the respective bin(s).

A gearbox assembly for a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor includes a stationary casing housing a gear assembly. The casing includes a bottom section with a central opening. The assembly further includes a rotor mounted within the casing for rotation about a first axis, which defines an axial direction. The rotor includes a support for the gear assembly, wherein a lower section of the support is disposed within the central opening. To provide for a better protection of a gear assembly, the bottom section includes a first annular portion extending radially inwards to a first radius. The lower section has a second annular portion extending radially outwards to a second radius that is greater than the first radius. The second annular portion is disposed adjacent to the first annular portion. The first annular portion includes a ring element disposed for sliding contact with the second annular portion.

A gearbox assembly for a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor includes a stationary casing housing a gear assembly. The casing includes a bottom section with a central opening. The assembly further includes a rotor mounted within the casing for rotation about a first axis, which defines an axial direction. The rotor includes a support for the gear assembly, wherein a lower section of the support is disposed within the central opening. To provide for a better protection of a gear assembly, the bottom section includes a first annular portion extending radially inwards to a first radius. The lower section has a second annular portion extending radially outwards to a second radius that is greater than the first radius. The second annular portion is disposed adjacent to the first annular portion. The first annular portion includes a ring element disposed for sliding contact with the second annular portion.

A method for charging raw materials into a blast furnace is as follows. The blast furnace includes a bell-less charging device that includes a plurality of main hoppers and an auxiliary hopper. The auxiliary hopper has a smaller capacity than the main hoppers. The method includes discharging ore charged in at least one of the plurality of main hoppers, and then sequentially charging the ore from a furnace center side toward a furnace wall side by using a rotating chute. After charging of the ore is started, only the ore is charged from the rotating chute at least until charging of 45 mass % of the ore is completed based on a total amount of the ore to be charged per batch; then, discharging of low-reactivity ore charged in the auxiliary hopper is started; and then, the low-reactivity ore is charged together with the ore from the rotating chute.

A method for charging raw materials into a blast furnace is as follows. The blast furnace includes a bell-less charging device that includes a plurality of main hoppers and an auxiliary hopper. The auxiliary hopper has a smaller capacity than the main hoppers. The method includes discharging ore charged in at least one of the plurality of main hoppers, and then sequentially charging the ore from a furnace center side toward a furnace wall side by using a rotating chute. After charging of the ore is started, only the ore is charged from the rotating chute at least until charging of 45 mass % of the ore is completed based on a total amount of the ore to be charged per batch; then, discharging of low-reactivity ore charged in the auxiliary hopper is started; and then, the low-reactivity ore is charged together with the ore from the rotating chute.

A sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation, said arrangement comprising: a shutter arranged for cooperating with a valve seat; an integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device for moving said shutter between a sealed closed position in sealing contact with the valve seat and an open position remote from the valve seat, said integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device comprising: a primary motion assembly for moving said shutter from said sealed closed position to an undamped position wherein the shutter is released from the valve seat; a secondary motion assembly for tilting said shutter from said undamped position to said open position remote from the valve seat, said secondary motion assembly comprising a tilting arm carrying said shutter and connected to a tilting shaft that defines an axis of rotation and a tilting shaft actuator configured to impart an angular rotation about said axis to said tilting arm; wherein said integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device further comprises a stationary outer cylindrical sleeve, wherein said primary motion assembly comprises an inner eccentric sleeve shaft rotationally mounted within said outer cylindrical sleeve and a primary motion actuator configured to impart angular rotation to said inner eccentric sleeve shaft, the primary motion being a function of the eccentricity and angular rotation of the inner eccentric sleeve shaft; and wherein said tilting shaft of said secondary motion assembly is rotationally mounted within said inner eccentric sleeve shaft of said primary motion assembly, the secondary motion being a function of the angular rotation of the tilting shaft.

A sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation, said arrangement comprising: a shutter arranged for cooperating with a valve seat; an integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device for moving said shutter between a sealed closed position in sealing contact with the valve seat and an open position remote from the valve seat, said integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device comprising: a primary motion assembly for moving said shutter from said sealed closed position to an undamped position wherein the shutter is released from the valve seat; a secondary motion assembly for tilting said shutter from said undamped position to said open position remote from the valve seat, said secondary motion assembly comprising a tilting arm carrying said shutter and connected to a tilting shaft that defines an axis of rotation and a tilting shaft actuator configured to impart an angular rotation about said axis to said tilting arm; wherein said integrated dual-motion shutter-actuating device further comprises a stationary outer cylindrical sleeve, wherein said primary motion assembly comprises an inner eccentric sleeve shaft rotationally mounted within said outer cylindrical sleeve and a primary motion actuator configured to impart angular rotation to said inner eccentric sleeve shaft, the primary motion being a function of the eccentricity and angular rotation of the inner eccentric sleeve shaft; and wherein said tilting shaft of said secondary motion assembly is rotationally mounted within said inner eccentric sleeve shaft of said primary motion assembly, the secondary motion being a function of the angular rotation of the tilting shaft.

A delivery device for delivering filler material into a blast furnace, comprising: a housing provided with a transition channel for the filler material which defines a first axis X; a chute for the filler material arranged underneath said transition channel; first actuating means, defining a respective second axis A parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a tilt of the chute with respect to the first axis X; second actuating means, defining a respective third axis B parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a rotation of the chute about said first axis X; a first annular body inside said housing and coaxial to the first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X by means of said first actuating means; a second annular body inside said housing and coaxial to said first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X being coupled to the first annular body and/or adapted to rotate about the first axis X by means of said second actuating means; a mechanism coupled to the second annular body and to the chute, adapted to convert a translational motion of the second annular body into a tilting movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X, and adapted to convert a rotation motion of the second annular body into a rotation movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X.

A delivery device for delivering filler material into a blast furnace, comprising: a housing provided with a transition channel for the filler material which defines a first axis X; a chute for the filler material arranged underneath said transition channel; first actuating means, defining a respective second axis A parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a tilt of the chute with respect to the first axis X; second actuating means, defining a respective third axis B parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a rotation of the chute about said first axis X; a first annular body inside said housing and coaxial to the first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X by means of said first actuating means; a second annular body inside said housing and coaxial to said first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X being coupled to the first annular body and/or adapted to rotate about the first axis X by means of said second actuating means; a mechanism coupled to the second annular body and to the chute, adapted to convert a translational motion of the second annular body into a tilting movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X, and adapted to convert a rotation motion of the second annular body into a rotation movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X.