A method of sealing a slag drain in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of maintaining a slag drain channel and a direct smelting vessel with a slag drain channel that extends through a sleeve of refractory material installed in the direct smelting vessel. The method for sealing the slag drain includes locating a pre-formed refractory material at an inlet end of the slag drain channel so that it is exposed to a molten bath contained within the direct smelting vessel and sealing the slag drain channel with sealing material downstream of the pre-formed refractory material.

A method of sealing a slag drain in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of maintaining a slag drain channel and a direct smelting vessel with a slag drain channel that extends through a sleeve of refractory material installed in the direct smelting vessel. The method for sealing the slag drain includes locating a pre-formed refractory material at an inlet end of the slag drain channel so that it is exposed to a molten bath contained within the direct smelting vessel and sealing the slag drain channel with sealing material downstream of the pre-formed refractory material.

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.

Exemplary embodiments of mud gun caps are disclosed herein. An exemplary mud gun cap includes a flame-resistant body that has a tap hole contacting surface. The flame-resistant body has side wall; a first bore and a second bore located within the flame-resistant body. The first bore has a first diameter and second bore has a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and the second bore is located farther away from the tap hole contacting surface than the first bore.

Exemplary embodiments of mud gun caps are disclosed herein. An exemplary mud gun cap includes a flame-resistant body that has a tap hole contacting surface. The flame-resistant body has side wall; a first bore and a second bore located within the flame-resistant body. The first bore has a first diameter and second bore has a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and the second bore is located farther away from the tap hole contacting surface than the first bore.

A drill bit (11) for the drilling, in particular the rotary percussive drilling, of a hole, in particular a tap hole of a melting furnace, the drill bit (11) comprising a drill head (10), which has at least one hard material insert (16), and a base body (12) for connecting the drill bit to a driving element, the hard material insert (16) being inserted into a seat, which is formed in an axial end face (13) of the drill head (10), in such a manner that at least a head cutting edge (18) of the hard material insert (16) protrudes beyond the axial end face (13), wherein the seat has a flank portion and a mating flank portion located opposite the flank portion, between which the hard material insert (16) is disposed, the flank portion, which is disposed opposite a recess formed in the hard material insert (16), being provided with a material projection (35) which is at least partially made of a welding material, is bonded to the drill head (10) via the welding material and protrudes into the recess so as to establish a form-fitting connection with the hard material insert (16).

A drill bit (11) for the drilling, in particular the rotary percussive drilling, of a hole, in particular a tap hole of a melting furnace, the drill bit (11) comprising a drill head (10), which has at least one hard material insert (16), and a base body (12) for connecting the drill bit to a driving element, the hard material insert (16) being inserted into a seat, which is formed in an axial end face (13) of the drill head (10), in such a manner that at least a head cutting edge (18) of the hard material insert (16) protrudes beyond the axial end face (13), wherein the seat has a flank portion and a mating flank portion located opposite the flank portion, between which the hard material insert (16) is disposed, the flank portion, which is disposed opposite a recess formed in the hard material insert (16), being provided with a material projection (35) which is at least partially made of a welding material, is bonded to the drill head (10) via the welding material and protrudes into the recess so as to establish a form-fitting connection with the hard material insert (16).

Device for inserting a refractory block into a taphole structure of a metallurgical vessel, in particular a basic oxygen furnace wherein the refractory block is carried by a mounting unit and has a proximate end introducable into the taphole. A distal end with locking elements, which can be coupled to a locking plate of the vessel, is disposed at the outside of the taphole of the vessel. The refractory block can be introduced into the taphole structure until the locking elements of the mounting unit can be attached to and coupled with the coupling head with a manipulator. This mounting unit can be uncoupled with the manipulator, when the refractory block is mortared and fixed in the lining, whereby the mounting unit can be decoupled and removed solely out of the taphole to enable refractory block replacement and gunning of refractory material from the inside of the furnace more easily.

Device for inserting a refractory block into a taphole structure of a metallurgical vessel, in particular a basic oxygen furnace wherein the refractory block is carried by a mounting unit and has a proximate end introducable into the taphole. A distal end with locking elements, which can be coupled to a locking plate of the vessel, is disposed at the outside of the taphole of the vessel. The refractory block can be introduced into the taphole structure until the locking elements of the mounting unit can be attached to and coupled with the coupling head with a manipulator. This mounting unit can be uncoupled with the manipulator, when the refractory block is mortared and fixed in the lining, whereby the mounting unit can be decoupled and removed solely out of the taphole to enable refractory block replacement and gunning of refractory material from the inside of the furnace more easily.

The invention relates to an oxygen lance guiding assembly having an oxygen lance feeding device, which is disposed on a tap hole drilling unit. The tap hole drilling unit has a drilling rod guiding device for a drilling rod, which is driven by a drilling mechanism, on a receptacle configured to have the drilling mechanism disposed thereon. The oxygen lance feeding device is disposed in an operating position in a space formed between the drilling rod guiding device and the drilling mechanism in such a manner that the drilling rod guiding device serves to form an oxygen lance guiding axis.