Device for determining the profile of the charging surface of a shaft furnace

An apparatus for determining the profile of the charging surface of a shaft furnace including:

• supporting arm means, said supporting arm means being adapted to suspend above the charging surface and comprising a substantically closed sleeve having a plurality of orifices along the length thereof, said orifices being disposed over the charging surface;
• control unit means, said control unit means adapted to be located external of the shaft furnace and comprising a plurality of winding drums, each drum having driving means associated therewith;
• a plurality of cable guide tube means, each of said cable guide tube means located substantially within said sleeve and communicating between one of said orifices and said control unit means;
• a plurality of level probe means, each of said level probe means including a weight;
• a plurality of cable means, each of said cable means connected at one end thereof to one of said level probe means and at the other end thereof to one of said winding drums, each of said cable means being located within one of said guide tube means;
• said driving means adapted to actuate said winding drum to raise or lower said probe onto said charging surface;
• means for measuring the winding or unwinding of said cable means from said drum;
• and
• cooling circuit means located in said supporting arm.