Delivery device for blast furnace

A delivery device for delivering stock material into a blast furnace, the delivery device comprising

• a transition channel for the stock material, defining a first axis;
• a chute for delivering the stock material, arranged below the transition channel;
• a first annular body, coaxial to and outside the transition channel, adapted to rotate about the first axis;
• a second annular body, coaxial to and outside the first annular body, adapted to translate along the first axis with respect to said first annular body and/or to rotate about the first axis together with said first annular body;
• at least one rack fixed to the second annular body and arranged parallel to the first axis;
• two shafts, having a second axis, transversal to said first axis, arranged on opposite sides with respect to the transition channel and crossing said second annular body and said first annular body;
• at least one toothed wheel, engaging the at least one rack and fixed to one shaft of said two shafts;
• wherein the chute is connected to the two shafts;
• whereby, when the second annular body translates along the first axis, the at least one rack rotates the at least one toothed wheel and a respective shaft of said two shafts about the second axis, thus causing a change in the inclination of the chute with respect to the first axis;
• wherein there are provided engagement position keeping means, adapted to keep the engagement position of the at least one toothed wheel on the at least one rack during a roto-translation of the second annular body;
• wherein said engagement position keeping means are at least partially arranged on said second annular body;
• wherein said engagement position keeping means comprise at least one slider, which is integral with the second annular body and adapted to oppose a reaction force component, which is orthogonal to said at least one rack, which is generated when said second annular body translates along the first axis;
• wherein said engagement position keeping means comprise said at least one slider, which is integrally fixed to the second annular body so as to be parallel to and opposite to the at least one rack, and a movable rack arranged between the at least one slider and the at least one toothed wheel, and engaging the at least one toothed wheel on a first side thereof and being slidable on a second side, opposite to the first side, on the at least one slider.