Device for distributing charge material into a shaft furnace

A device for distributing charge material into a shaft furnace, in particular into a blast furnace, said device comprising:

• a main housing;
• a distribution chute for distributing charge material;
• a suspension rotor mounted in said main housing so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis, said suspension rotor being provided with a first gear ring;
• an adjustment rotor mounted in said main housing so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis, said adjustment rotor being provided with a second gear ring;
• said distribution chute being suspended to said suspension rotor so as to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and being adjustable in orientation relative to said suspension rotor through said adjustment rotor for radial distribution of charge material;
• a differential gear interconnecting said suspension rotor and said adjustment rotor so as to allow differential rotation of the adjustment rotor relative to the suspension rotor;
• a main rotation drive, in particular an electric motor, connected to said suspension rotor for imparting rotation to said suspension rotor and connected through said differential gear to said adjustment rotor for imparting rotation to said adjustment rotor;
• an adjustment drive, in particular an electric motor, connected through said differential gear to said adjustment rotor for imparting differential rotation to said adjustment rotor relative to the suspension rotor;
• said differential gear being configured to transmit to said adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to said suspension rotor by said main rotation drive unless said adjustment drive imparts, through said differential gear, differential rotation to said adjustment rotor relative to the suspension rotor;
• wherein said device further comprises:
• a first gear casing arranged on said main housing and enclosing a gear mechanism that connects said main rotation drive to a first output shaft that protrudes into said main housing where it is connected to a gearwheel that meshes with said first gear ring of said suspension rotor;
• a second gear casing arranged on said main housing and enclosing said differential gear that connects said adjustment drive to a second output shaft that protrudes into said main housing where it is connected to a gearwheel that meshes with said second gear ring of said adjustment rotor;
• and
• a shaft arrangement equipped with a compensating coupling and connecting said differential gear in said second gear casing to said gear mechanism in said first gear casing.