Method and apparatus for resealing the large bell rod in a double bell charging system for a blast furnace

In a blast furnace having a double bell system for charging the furnace through the top of the furnace including a large bell rod, a small bell rod received about the large bell rod, and a first seal assembly including at least one seal ring positioned about the large bell rod to seal the interior of the small bell rod;

• an assembly for establishing a second seal above the first seal around the large bell rod when the first seal ring becomes worn, the assembly including a hollow enclosure positioned about the large bell rod and having a lower end sealed about the first seal assembly, and a second seal between the upper end of the enclosure and the large bell rod for sealing the interior of the enclosure.

For use in resealing a large bell rod in a double bell charging system for a blast furnace after the seal between the small and large bell rod has become worn and without requiring shutdown of the blast furnace or removal of the worn seal;

• an adaptor assembly including two enclosure sections adapted to be placed laterally about the large bell rod above the worn seal and secured and sealed together to form an enclosure about the large bell rod directly above the worn seal, the enclosure sections when assembled about the large bell rod defining an annular space about the bell rod at the upper end of the enclosure sections, and a second seal including a packing ring adapted to be received about the large bell rod in the annular space between the large bell rod in the upper end of the enclosure sections, and a packing gland including two laterally spaced sections adapted to be joined together about and laterally of the large bell rod above the upper end of the enclosure sections with portions of the packing gland in engagement with the packing ring.