Apparatus for charging a shaft furnace

An apparatus for charging a shaft furnace with a flowable material comprising:

• a cylindrical casing secured to the furnace, said casing having an inner surface;
• a first ring rotatably secured to the inner surface of the casing for rotation about a vertical axis, said ring having an inner surface;
• a second ring rotatably secured to the inner surface of the casing for rotation about the vertical axis;
• a pair of crossmembers extending across the first ring and secured to the inner surface of the first ring;
• a distribution chute pivotably suspended between the crossmembers at an angle of inclination relative to the vertical axis;
• means for rotating the first ring;
• means for rotating the second ring;
• means for linking the chute with the second ring so that differential relative rotational movement between the first and second means changes the angle and inclination of the chute relative to the vertical axis;
• a charging lock secured atop the casing, said lock having a first opening for introducing the material into the lock and a second opening for discharging material from the lock to the distribution chute;
• and
• valve means for metering flow of material from the second opening of the charging lock.