Distribution apparatus for throat closures of shaft furnaces, in particular for blast furnace closures

A distribution apparatus for the top closures of shaft furnaces having furnace domes comprising:

• (a) a funnel tube arranged at the entrance of said furnace dome;
• (b) a distribution pipe extending below said funnel tube and capable of selectively directing charge material to a charging surface;
• (c) said distribution pipe being pivotally supported by a pair of horizontal swivel pins to thereby enable said distribution pipe to swing about a horizontal axis passing through said swivel pins;
• (d) a frame element supporting said swivel pins;
• (e) said frame element being supported by a hollow shaft extending perpendicular to the horizontal axis passing through said swivel pins;
• (f) said hollow shaft passing through said furnace dome;
• (g) a swing drive connected to said hollow shaft for selectively rotating said distribution pipe about the axis passing through said hollow shaft;
• (h) a pivot drive passing through said hollow shaft;
• (i) said pivot drive having a first vertical drive disc;
• (j) a second vertical drive disc connected to one pin of said pair of swivel pins;
• and
• (k) power transmission elements serving to couple said first and second drive discs so that rotation of said pivot drive causes said distribution pipe to swivel about said horizontal swivel pins.