Device and method for filling a tap hole of an electric arc furnace with refractory filling material

A tap hole filling device for filling a tap hole of an electric arc furnace with refractory filling material, the electric arc furnace comprising a furnace vessel that includes a furnace lower vessel having an eccentric or offset bottom tap hole extending along a first longitudinal axis (L1) in a furnace vessel bay covered by a bay cover comprising a bay cover opening above the bottom tap hole and a bay cover opening lid, a furnace tilting device comprising a cradle, on which the furnace vessel is supported, configured to tilt the furnace vessel relative to a horizontal direction of a foundation that supports the electric arc furnace, a tap hole gate configured to open and close a bottom side of the tap hole, and a control system configured to control operation of the electric arc furnace, the tap hole filling device comprising:

• a pivot arm configured to be pivoted between a parking position and an operating position,
• a pivot arm actuator,
• an actuator link mechanism selectively connecting the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator such that, when connected via the actuator link mechanism, the pivot arm actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm between the parking position and the operating position,
• a refractory filling material dispenser having a dispensing opening at or on a bottom side of the refractory filling material dispenser, the refractory filling material dispenser being configured to dispense refractory filling material from the dispensing opening, and
• a pivot mechanism comprising a pivot console configured to be connected to the electric arc furnace vessel and a pivot carrier having a first end and a second end and connected to the pivot console with a device center axis located between the first end and the second end of the pivot carrier,
• wherein:
• the refractory filling material dispenser is attached to a first end portion of the pivot arm such that the dispensing opening is vertically above the tap hole while the pivot arm is in the operating position and the refractory filling material dispensed from the dispensing opening is falling into the tap hole,
• the actuator link mechanism comprises a connector for selectively connecting the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator, the connector being movable by manual or powered actuation between a connecting position, where the connector connects the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator such that the pivot arm actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm between the parking position and the operating position, and a disconnected position, where the connector does not connect the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator,
• a second end portion of the pivot arm is pivotably connected to the pivot carrier to pivot around a first pivot axis (P1), which is parallel to the device center axis and is located at the first end of the pivot carrier,
• the pivot carrier comprises a support at the second end to which the pivot arm actuator is attached, and
• the actuator link mechanism is attached to the second end portion of the pivot arm such that the pivot arm actuator is selectively connectable with and disconnectable from the pivot arm by moving the connector between the connecting position and the disconnected position.

A tap hole filling device for filling an eccentric or offset bottom tap hole of an electric arc furnace with refractory filling material (S), comprising:

• a pivot arm configured to be pivoted between a parking position and an operating position,
• a pivot arm actuator,
• an actuator link mechanism selectively connecting the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator such that, when connected via the actuator link mechanism, the pivot arm actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm between the parking position and the operating position, and
• a refractory filling material dispenser having a dispensing opening at or on a bottom side of the refractory filling material dispenser, the refractory filling material dispenser being attached to a first end portion of the pivot arm and configured to dispense refractory filling material from the dispensing opening while the pivot arm is in the operating position,
• wherein the actuator link mechanism comprises a connector for selectively connecting the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator, the connector being moveable by manual or powered actuation between a connecting position, where the connector connects the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator such that the pivot arm actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm between the parking position and the operating position in an automatic operation mode, and a disconnected position, where the connector does not connect the pivot arm and the pivot arm actuator, to enable a manual operation mode.