Apparatus for dispensing particulate material and components therefor

A particulate dispensing apparatus for dispensing particulate refractory material into a lining gap defined between an inner furnace surface and an expendable metal form, said particulate dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a platform supporting a carriage adjacent an upper end of said expendable metal form, said carriage being pivotally coupled to said platform and rotatable about a pivot point located generally at the center of said platform;
• a hopper coupled to said carriage, said hopper for receiving particulate refractory material via an inlet and dispensing said particulate refractory material through an outlet;
• a feeder coupled to the outlet of said hopper, said feeder for moving the particulate refractory material from said outlet to a dispenser, said dispenser being coupled to said carriage at a distal end of said feeder and being suspended above and extendable into said lining gap to reduce the distance the particulate refractory material falls thereby to reduce the occurrence of airborne particulate material;
• an air extractor device coupled to said carriage for removing air from particulate refractory material deposited in said lining gap and for re-compacting the particulate refractory material;
• and
• a drive for rotating said carriage relative to said platform.

A particulate dispensing apparatus for dispensing particulate refractory material into a lining gap between an inner furnace wall and an expendable metal form, said particulate dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a platform supporting a carriage adjacent an upper end of said expendable metal form, said carriage being pivotally coupled to said platform and rotatable about a pivot point located generally at the centre of said platform;
• driving means for rotating said carriage relative to said platform;
• a hopper coupled to said carriage, said hopper for receiving particulate refractory material via an inlet and dispensing said particulate refractory material through an outlet;
• and
• a feeder coupled to the outlet of said hopper, said feeder having an auger extending through the length thereof having an encircling blade for moving the particulate refractory material from said outlet to a dispenser, said dispenser being coupled to said carriage at a distal end of said feeder and being suspended above and extendable into said lining gap to reduce the distance the particulate refractory material falls thereby to reduce the occurrence of airborne particulate material;
• wherein said auger blade has a variable pitch that increases in a direction toward said dispenser.