US 12,371,361 B2 · Submerged feedstock charging of melting vessels

Abstract

A melting furnace feedstock charger includes a charger conduit including an inlet to receive feedstock and an outlet at an outlet portion of the charger conduit to transmit feedstock, and an auger or other feedstock mover coupled to the charger conduit to convey feedstock in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet. A gate may be detachably coupled to the outlet portion of the charger conduit and configured to be coupled directly to a wall of a melting vessel. The auger may have a helical flight with an outer diameter of varying size. A stripper may be movably carried by the charger conduit and may include a stripping tool moved by an actuator with respect to the charger conduit to facilitate transmission of feedstock and/or to strip away clogged feedstock and/or molten material.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A melting furnace feedstock charger, comprising:

a charger conduit including an inlet to receive feedstock into the charger conduit and an outlet at an outlet portion of the charger conduit to transmit feedstock out of the charger conduit;
a feedstock mover coupled to the charger conduit to convey feedstock in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet;
and
a gate detachably coupled to the charger conduit and including a gate closure having a movable feed aperture and a closure wall;
and
a stripper including
a stripping tool movably carried by the charger conduit;
and
at least one actuator coupled to the stripping tool to move the stripping tool with respect to the charger conduit, wherein the stripping tool is translatably disposed around the outlet portion of the charger conduit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Submerged feedstock charging of melting vessels

Life of this patent

Submerged feedstock charging of melting vessels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19