US2842354A - Smelting furnace system - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1958 H. HHNE SMELTING FURNACE SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 0G13. 19, 1955 Hanru-I B5.

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SMELTING FURNACE SYSTEM Filed oct. 19, 1955 '7 sheets-sheet '7v 2,842,354 Patentedy July 1958 SMELTIN G FURNACE SYSTEM Heinrich Hhne, Gevelsberg, Westphalia, Germany, as-

signer to Stockey & Schmitz, Gevelsberg, Westphalia, Germany, a firm 2s claims. `(ci. 26e- 40) The invention relates to smelling furnaces, and'more particularly to a smelting furnace lsystem in which `a preferably heatable forehearth movable during the charging operation is connected up to a smelting furnace or the like. As a rule operationally moved forehearths serving for collecting and improving the fused mass obtained from the smelting furnace are charged with the `aid of ladies transportable `by cranerarrangements, the forehearth being brought to a standstill during the introduction of the fused mass. lt is also known to feed the melt directly to the movable forehearth in a continuous operation. For this purpose gutter arrangements are provided which conduct the melt into a pear-shaped forehearth through a hollow trunnion bearing. These constructions have not provided satisfactory in practice. It is likewise known to provide in the jacket of a drumshaped rotatable foreheaith a charging opening extending over a considerable portion of the periphery, through which opening the melting charge enters independently of the movement of the forehearth. These constructions have also not achieved any practical importance because, due to the large expanse of the charging opening, the angle of oscillation of the lforehearth is necessarily restricted within narrow limits. Consequently, `economical utilization of the quantity of heat applied for heating the forehearth is not possible because a great portion of this heat merely heats the portion of the lining of the forehearth which always remains above the level-of the melt and good thermal efficiency is only obtained when the portieri of the lining located above the meltruns regularly under the melt in order to give upto then-melting charge the heat which it has accumulated.

The object of the 'present invention is to'fcreate a smelting furnace'system of the type-above described which Iallows automatic charging independently of the operational movement of a heata'ble vrotatably mounted drum- .shaped forehearth and ensuring particularly ygood thermal efficiency.

According to the present invention there is `provided a smelting furnace system comprising iti-combination at least one' smelting furnace, a heatable rotatable mount.

ed drum-Shaped forehearth connected up to said smelt-'i ing furnace, a charging opening in the forehearth, said forehearth being oscillatable during a charging operation, an arrangement for guiding a melting charge toi said rotatably mounted drum-'shaped .'foreheaith, and means for automatically. moving said guiding arrangement in rhythm with the movement of the forehearth.

The guiding of the `melting charge to the forehearth can be attained in a number of ways inithat a gutter, or a part thereof, kconducting the melting charge is automatically moved in rhythm with the movement of the forehearth. The melting charge can be fed continuously to the movingfforehearth, tor the arrangement'may be such that the melting charge enters intermittently in rhythm with the oscillating movements of the forehearth Both forms of construction allow the forehearthto be charged practically automatically, and at ythe same time a particularly good thermal efficiency to be attained because the charging openingof the forehearth, owing to the movability of the arrangement feeding the melting charge, may be only of small dimensions which in practice do not reduce the greatestV possible range of oscillation determined and necessitated by the tap which, as 'a rule, is permanently open. The small dimensions of the charging opening likewise reduce to a great extent the possible entry of fresh air and thermal losses.V This results in high-grade smeltings in addition to saving expenses. Other details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of different forms of construction and the claims. y

Several preferred embodiments `of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: l 'p Fig. l is `an elevational view of a smelting'furnace system; n

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. g1, wherein the parts of the arrangement affecting the invention are shown in section; y

Fig. 3 is an elevation on a larger scale, showing the parts affecting the invention illustrated in Figs. Vl and 2; l Fig. 4 is a section taken on line lV-IV of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a rotatable forehearthand a guiding arrangement according to a modified form of construction of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section on line Vl-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another formY `of ycon'- struction of a rotatable forehearth with `automatic guiding arrangement;

Fig. `8 is a detail of the arrangement shown in 'Fig."7, and v Fig. 9 is a section on line lX-IXof-Fig. 7. 5*

A smelting furnace system illustrated in Figs.- land 2 consists substantially of two smeltingfurnaces A, lpreferably cupola furnaces, arranged side by side, lfrom which the melting charge obtained flows into `a feed gutter B 'bifurcated `at `one end which conducts itto ai receiving member C from which the melting charge venters an operationally movable forehearth D in the form of arotatable drum or, if desired, with an appropriate displacement `of the receiving member C, to -a transportable collecting vessel E, from which it can, if '-desired, Vv'be returned to the rotatable forehearth D by a gutter-F shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The arrangement might also have only one smelting furnace. Moreover, it is pointed out that the melting charge need not necessarily be obtaineddirectly from a smelting furnace but might also How, preferably continuously, from la ,large collecting vessel. The arrangement of the smelting furnaces A has practically no unusual features so that it is not necessary t-o describe it in detail. .v

According to Figs. 3 and 4, showing particularly the forehearth' arrangement, the rotatable forehearth D cony sists of a substantially cylindrical, drum-shaped body 20 with conical end walls 21 ,and a refractory lining 22.

In known manner, such rotatable drum-shaped forehearths are provided with raceways 24 carried by supporting bars 23 with the aid of which raceways they vreston pairs of rollers 25 and 26, the pair of rollers 26 being driven in Valternating directions of rotation by electric motors 27 or the like in such a manner that the lforehearthD carries out continuous oscillating movements which can extend through an angle of about to 200. During these movements the lining of the rotatable forehearth runs under the melt located therein in rhythm with the oscillating movements-so that the heat accumulated in the lining in the intervals is utilized' forV heating up the melting charge. The pairs of rollers 25 and26 are mounted on bearing blocks 28. Between these blocks 28 a lifting platform truck 29 can be run in known man- 3 ner for lifting the rotatable forehearth D oi the rollers and 26 for the purpose of exchange or repair. Coordinated to central apertures, provided in the end walls 21, are a burner, not shown in the drawings, at one end and a ue at the other end. rotatable forehearth D easily movable for the purpose of` maintenance, sockets 31 are provided in known mannery on opposite sides of the jacket within the range of the'4 centroidal axis for receiving trunmons with the aid of` which the forehearth can be mounted on supporting blocks in such a manner that it can be swung with little effort. To this extent rotatable forehearths are known.'

In the form of construction illustrated particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 a guide gutter or channel 32 lined with refractory material is arranged on the jacket of the rotatable forehearth D in the peripheral direction thereof and extends through an angle of about 100. This guide gutter 32 is closed at its free end and terminates at its other end in a charging opening 33 of the forehearth, in front of which charging opening 33 a guide member 34, rigidly connected to the jacket of the forehearth, is mounted in such a manner that the melting charge flowing through the guide gutter or channel 32 enters the charging opening 33 reliably and without loss even when this opening 33 is located below the horizontal middle plane of the rotatable forehearth. A tap spout 35 slightly displaced relatively to the charging opening 33 in the peripheral direction is arranged in a radial plane displaced relatively to the guide gutter 32. The range of oscillation of the rotatable forehearth must consequently be so chosen that the melting charge does not normally ow out of the tap spout 35 or the charging opening 33. In Figs. 3 and 4 the rotatable forehearth is shown in a position in which the tap spout 35 is in the pouring position. The melting charge continually flowing through the above mentioned feed gutter B is conducted into the guide gutter 32 by means of the receiving member C which, in the construction illustrated, consists of a substantially closed container 37 provided with a channel-shaped pouring spout 36 and lined with refractory material. The melting charge continually flowing from the gutter B enters the container 37 through a slot-shaped charging aperture 38. Beside this aperture an aperture, preferably closable by a ap 39, is provided which serves for introducing uxes or admixtures for improving or refining the melt. This presents advantages in many respects over the direct introduction of such uxes or admixtures into the forehearth. Thus, a damaging of the lining 22 of the forehearth is reliably prevented. according to the invention-that is when introducing fluxes or admixtures into the receiving member C- unfavorable changes in temperature of the melting charge are avoided, so that the continuity of the working process is improved. Fig. 4, a pouring spout 40 can also be provided on Vthe receiving member C, extending in the opposite direction to the pouring spout 36, and can be used, if required, for conducting the melting charge to the collecting vessel E instead of to the forehearth D when this melting charge is needed at another place or the forehearth D is lled to the permissible limit. The two pouring spouts 36 and 40 of the receiving member C are inclinedat different angles to the horizontal plane, these angles being so chosen that one of the spouts comes selectively into operation, whereas the other remains empty. The receiving member C is oscillatable about an axle 41 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pouring spout 36 and located outside the center of gravity of the receiving member C in such a manner that this member is alwayssubjected to a moment of rotationv in counter-clockwise direction determined by weight. This is taken up by a supporting arm 42 carrying at its extremity a control roller 43. This control roller 43 runs on a cam race 44 which extends over a portion of In order to make the Furthermore, with the manner of operation Moreover, as shown in dotted lines in charging opening 33 passes the mouth of the the periphery of the forehearth D in such a manner that the pouring spout 36 of the receiving member C is 1nclined for a direct pouring of the melting charge as long as a portion of the guide gutter 32 is located under its mouth. 1f, however, during the swinging movement of the forehearth D, which first takes place in counter-clockwise direction based on the position shown in Fig. 4, thc pourmg spont 36, the receiving member C in the state of disequilibrium is swung about the axle 41 in counter-clockwise direction by means of the cam race 44 and the arm and roller 42, 43, so that the outflow of the melting charge continually entering the receiving member C 1s interrupted. This interruption continues until, as the forehearth D swings back, the charging opening 33 has passed the mouth of the pouring spout 36, so that a portion of the guide gutter 32 is again located thereunder. In the intervals between the pouring into the guide gutter 32 the receiving member C serves as a collector.

The tipping movements of the receiving member C occurring during the operations are so timed that when the pouring spout 36 is swung upwards the pouring spout 4t), if provided, has not yet become operative. The introduction of the melting charge into the collecting vessel E through the intermediary of the pouring spout 40 rcquires a further tipping of the receiving member C 111 j counter-clockwise direction. This is rendered possible by a link system 45, 46 composed of two members connected like a toggle lever and extending between the supporting arm 42 and the receiving member C, which system guides the arm 42 carrying the control roller 43, whereby a buckling of the link system 45, 46 causes the receiving member C to swing about its axle 41 in opposition to the support by the arm 42. The buckling of the link system composed of the parts 4S and 46 can be effected by means of an adjusting rod gear indicated by an arrow 48. So as to prevent the movements of the receiving member C occurring during the normal charging of the forehearth D from being inlluenced by such a link system, it is advisable to construct the part 46 as one arm of a bellcrank lever another arm 47 of which extends to within the range of the fulcrum or axle 41. The adjusting rod gear indicated by the arrow -48 is also connected coaxially with the fulcrum or axle 41. By the coaxial arrangement of the engagement point of the adjusting rod gear 48 with the axle 41 displacements of the toggle-lever or Ilink system 45, 46 do not take place during the normal movements of the receiving member C.

The modified form of construction of a drum-shaped forehearth and of the guiding arrangement for the melting charge illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 can be applied in a similar manner to the arrangements shown in Figs. l and 2. Also in this form of construction the rotatable forehearth D consists of a drum-shaped housing which is lined with refractory material. The mounting of the forehearth corresponds to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that explanations in this respect are not necessary.` The forehearth D is, as can be seen from Fig. 6, provided with a charging aperture 50 to which, contrary to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, no gutter or the like is co-ordinated. The charging aperture 5l) is, as in the construction illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4, located slightly displaced in the peripheral direction relatively to a spoilt 51 which is moreover arranged in a different radial plane. For feeding the melting charge preferably flowing continuously through the feed gutter B, a receiving member 52 is provided in the form of a drum having a charging aperture 53 at the top and a spout 54. The receivingv member 52 is oscillatable in bearings in a carrier frame 56 with the aid of trunnions 55 or a suitable cradle, the range of oscillation being limited by abutments 57 and 58 on the drum jacket, which abutmcnts co-operate respectively with a counter-abutrnent 59 on the carrier frame 56. The movements of the receiving member 52 which are operationally necessary are effected on the one hand by a c-ounterweight 60 which is connected to a bracket 62 on the receiving member 52 orcrad'le by a rope 61 guided over pulleys and tends to swing the spout 54 upwards. The lowering of the spout 54 necessary for intermittently charging the forehearth D, is effected by arms '63 extending outwardly from the jacket of the forehearth D and having inwardly bent ends which, when the forehearth reaches the position suitable for commencing the charging operation, come into contact with counter-abutment surfaces 64 on the receiving member 52 and turn `the latter about the trunnions 55 in counter-clockwise direction, so that the weight 60 constituting a work accumulator is raised through the intermediary of the rope 61. As the spout 54 is lowered, the melting charge accumulated in the meantime in the receiving member 52 flows off into the charging aperture 50 of the forehearth D. When the latter has reversed its direction of movement the counterweight 60, through the intermediary of the rope 61, turns the receiving member 52 in clockwise direction in rhythm with the return swing of the arms 63 on the forehearth, so that the spout 54 swings upwards and interrupts the outow of the melt. As the melt is fed continuously along the feed gutter B, the receiving member 52 acts as collector during the greater part of each swinging movement of the forehearth D. The arrangement is such that the receiving member 52 is only tipped for effecting the outflow of the melting charge when the charging aperture 50 of the rotatable forehearth D is underneath the mouth of the spout 54. The abutment arrangement 57 to 59 may also be provided with electric switch elemen'ts, not shown in the drawings, which interrupt the movement of the rotatable forehearth in the event of irregularities `in the movement of the receiving member 52.. For this purpose the abutment 58 must be so arranged that it does not normally come into contact with the stationary counter-abutment 59, whereas the abutment 57 limits the lifting of the spout 54 by cooperation with the stationary counter-abutment 59.

Figs. 7 to 9 show another possible form of construction for a system of a rotatable forehearth and guiding arrangement to be incorporated in an arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 2. A rotatable forehearth 70, lined with a refractory material, is oscillatably mounted on pairs of rollers 71. in the manner already described. Contrary to the constructions above described, guide gutter lsections 73 and 74 extend from a charging aperture 72 of the rotatable forehearth 70 in opposite peripheral directions and are lined with refractory material. The melting charge is fed alternately to the charging aperture 72 of the rotatable forehearth 70 by the guide gutter sections 73 and 74. As it is advisable for obtaining a perfect outflow of the melting charge to have it impinge upon a sloped part of the gutter arrangement, a receiving member 75 automatically movable in rhythm with the forehearth is introduced between the feed gutter B and the guide gutter sections 73, 74. This receiving member 75 is in the construction illustrated formed as a gullet or pan lined with refractory material and has a centrally arranged discharge nozzle 6 serving as pouring aperture. The receiving member 75 is mounted in a carrier frame 77 so that it is shiftable in substantially horizontal direction and for this purpose can be movable on raillike guides preferably with the aid of rollers not shown in the drawings. The range of movement of the receiving member 75 is such that even in its end positions a portion of the channel or pan of the receiving member 75 is always located under a pouring aperture 78 provided in the feed gutter B. The drive of the receiving member 75 is dependent upon the movement of the forehearth 70 and will be hereinafter described in detail.

To ensure that the melting charge flowing along one ofthe guide gutter sections 73 or 74, respectively, actually reaches the charging aperture 72 when this is in or below the horizontal central `plane of the rotatable fore- CII hearth, special guide members are provided in the form of construction shown in Figs. 7 Ito 9. In the construction illustrated, these consist of substantially spade-shaped guide members 79 which are each shiftable with the aid of two pairs of guide rollers 80 and $1 running in pairs of guide rails 82 and 83 mounted on the uprights of the frame 77. The pairs of guide rails S2, 83 extend on a considerable lower `portion of their lengths in a curve the ycenter of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the forehearth 70. The upper reaches of the pairs of the guide rails 82, 83 difrer so that the guide members 79 on attaining these reaches are so swung that their mouths cannot discharge into the charging aperture 72. The guide members 79 should only be operative over a limited range of the movement of the forehearth so as to ensure that the melting charge enters the charging aperture 72 Without loss. The guide members 79 are driven by entrainment means acting against dead loads. For this purpose a rope tackle 84 is attached at one end to each guide member 79, guided over pulleys 85 on the carrier frame 77 and carries at its other end a counterweight 86.v The arrangement is such that the counterweight tends to .raise the guide member 79, that is to bring it into its inoperative position. A guide member in this position is shown on the right of Fig. 7. When the charging `aperture 72 lof the rotatable forehearth 70 comes within the range of this guide member 79, an abutment 87 fixed on the rotatable forehearth and projecting from the periphery thereof, comes into Contact with a projection S8 on the guide member and carries this along with it against the action of the counterweight. Owing to the different curvature of the path of the pairs of guide lrails 82, 83 in the rst phase of this movement, a mouth end -89 provided on the guide member 79 swings into the charging opening 724v of the rotatable forehearth 70. The guide member is carried along in this position until the reversal point is reached. During the following swinging movement of the rotatable forehearth 70 in the opposite direction, the guide member 79, under the action of the counterweight, follows the movement `of the rotatable forehearth 70 until it arrives in the differently curved portion of its guide rails when it is brought into an inoperative position. It is possible with the aid of the guide members 79 to obtain a perfect charging also in those reaches of the forehearth oscillation path in which satisfactory charging of the melt into the charging opening 72 from a gutter section 73 or 74 could otherwise not be ensured.

The necessary operative movement of the receiving member 75 is also controlled with the aid of abutments. The arrangement employed for this purpose is separately illustrated in Fig. 8. The surface of the jacket of the rotatable forehearth 70 carries a substantially radially projecting abutment finger 90 which is preferably adjustable in length. On the slidably mounted receiving member 75 abutments 91 in the form of double levers are provided which are arranged in opposite directions and co-operate with an abutment 92. The abutments or double levers 91 are oscillatable about pins 93 and allow the abutment which is not actually required to yield so that a proper entrainment of the receiving member 75 from one end position into the other is possible Without it being necessary to work to very ne tolerances in the production.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 provides'for the division of the melting charge feed into three phases. In the end regions of the movement of the rotatable'forehearth 70 shown in Fig. 7 the melting charge ilows out of the feed gutter B through the receiving member 75, the guide gutter section 73, and the guide member 79 into the charging aperture 72 of the forehearth 70. When the guide `member 79 has become inoperative, that is as soon as the charging aperture 72 of the forehearth 70 has moved through an angle of about 60 out of itsvertical middle position, the melting charge passes from the feed gutter B through the receiving member 75 and the guide gutter section 73 directly into the charging aperture 72. As soon as, during the further movement of the rotatable forehearth 70, the charging aperture 72 comes directly below the discharge nozzle 76 of the receiving member 75 a gutter section is no longer required because the melting charge can enter the charging aperture 72 directly from the discharge nozzle 76 of the receiving member 75. This direct charging takes place until a position beyond the upper deadcenter point is reached, whereby the receiving member 75 follows the charging aperture 72 owing to the co-operation of the abutment 90 of the rotatable forehearth 70 and the abutment 91 of the receiving member 75. Following this phase the guide gutter section 74 and finally in addition thereto a guide member 79 become operative.

The constructions illustrated are, as already mentioned, only preferred examples of how the invention may be put into effect. However, the invention is not restricted thereto and many other forms of construction are possible. In particular, the constructional details of the forms of construction illustrated can be modified in many ways. Moreover, details of the embodiments shown can be applied to other forms of construction. Instead of a direct drive for the movable parts of the guiding arrangements, individual drives can be used which are controlled in rhythm with the movement of the rotatable forehearth. Regarding the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 8 modifications can be introduced in that the receiving member 52 could be arranged at some other point within the swinging range of the charging aperture of the forehearth, for example, in the region of the middle position, that is vertically above the forehearth.

I claim:

l. A melting furnace arrangement comprising, in corn- -bination, at least one smelting furnace; a guiding arrangement located adjacent said smelting furnace for receiving molten metal, said guiding arrangement being movable between a collecting position and a discharging position and having an outlet for discharging metal in said discharging position; a forehearth located under.

neath said guiding arrangement and being oscillatable about a horizontal axis between a discharging position, and a heating end position, said forehearth having a discharge opening for discharge in said discharging position and a circumferentially extending charging opening located underneath said outlet in at least one intermediate position of said forehearth; and means for oscillating said forehearth between said discharging position and said end position for bringing the molten metal therein into contact with different inner surface portions thereof, and for simultaneously moving said guiding arrangement to and from said discharging position in a selected sequence with the movement of said forehearth so that said guiding arrangement is in collecting position when said forehearth oscillates.

2. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the arrangement for guiding the melting charge to the forehearth incorporates a guide gutter with means for automatically changing its position in accordance with the movement of the forehearth.

3. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l, wherein the arrangement for guiding the melting charge to the forehearth comprises a guide gutter and the forehearth has a jacket on which the mide gutter extends in the peripheral direction thereof and terminates in the charging opening in the forehearth.

4. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the arrangement for guiding the melting charge to the forehearth comprises a guide gutter and the forehearth has a jacket on which the guide gutter extends substantially over a quarter in the peripheral direction thereof, a feed gutter feeding the melting charge from the smelting furnace to the forehearth, and a receiving member arranged at the delivery end of said feed gutter and being automatically tiltable'according to the movement of the forehearth to conduct the melting charge directly to the guide gutter during a portion of each oscillating movement of the forehearth and to collect the melting charge, continuously flowing from the feed gutter, during the remaining portion of each oscillating movement of the forehearth.

5. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, comprising a feed gutter feeding the melting charge from the smelting furnace to the forehearth, a tiltable receiving member at the delivery end of said feed gutter, a guide gutter on the periphery of the forehearth leading to the charging opening thereof, a pouring spout on said receiving member and means for swinging said receiving member about an axle extending transversely to said spout to periodically deliver the melting charge into said guide gutter in dependency upon the movement of said forehearth.

6. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l,

wherein the drum-shaped forehearth has on its periphery two guide gutter sections extending in opposite directions from the charging opening thereof.

7. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l, wherein the drum-shaped forehearth has on its periphery two guide gutter sections extending in opposite directions from the charging opening thereof, and a receiving member is arranged at the delivery end of a feed gutter leading the melting charge from the smelting furnace, means being provided for adjusting said receiving member according to the position of said forehearth for alternately discharging the melting charge to each of said two guide gutter sections.

8. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drum-shaped forehearth has on its periphery two guide gutter sections extending in opposite directions from the charging opening thereof, and a receiving member, consisting of a gullet, is shiftable in synchronism with the movement of the forehearth to supply the melting charge alternately to each of the two guide gutter sections.

9. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l, wherein the drum-shaped forehearth has on its periphery two guide gutter sections extending in opposite directions from the charging opening thereof and a receiving member in the form of a gullet receives the melting charge from the smelting furnace and has abutments which cooperate with abutment fingers on the forehearth to shift said receiving member in synchronism with the movement of the forehearth for supplying the melting charge alternately to each of the two guide gutter sections.

10. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement incorporates a guide gutter arranged in peripheral direction on the forehearth and leading to the charging opening thereof and a guide mem-ber is arranged at the side of the forehearth separate therefrom in the plane of the charging opening to deflect the melting charge being fed in the direction of the charging opening during a portion of the movement of the forehearth.

1l. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement incorporates a guide gutter arranged in peripheral direction on the forehearth and leading to the charging opening thereof and a guide member is arranged at the side of the forthhearth to guide the onowing melting charge towards the charging opening, said guide member being movable and provided with means for swinging its mouth end into inoperative position as the charging opening of the forehearth passes through the upper range of its movement.

12. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1,

9 wherein the guiding arrangement incorporates a guide gutter arranged in peripheral `direction on the forehearth and'leadingto the charging opening thereof and a guide member is arranged at the side of the forehearth to guide 4the o'nowing melting charge towards the charging opening, said guide member being movable in guide rails the lower portions of which are curved coaXially withthe axis of jrotation of the forehearth whereas the upper portions of these rails spread apart so that the Aguide member carried along by the forehearth is swung rout of the charging opening thereof.

13. A smelting furnace system as set forth in-claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement incorporates a guide gutter arranged in peripheral direction on the forehearth and terminating in the charging opening thereof and a guide member is arrangedat the side of the forehearth to guide the onlowing melting charge in the direction of the'charging opening, said guide member being movable and provided with a projection which cooperates with an abutment on the forehearth to constitute an automatic drive .dependent upon the movement of the forehearth.

14. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement incorporates a guide gutter arranged in the peripheral direction on the forehearth and terminating in the charging opening thereof and a guide member is arranged as the side yof the forehearth to guide the onowing melting charge in the direction of the charging opening, said guide member being movable and carrying a projection cooperating with an abutment on the forehearth to swing the guide member into its operative position, and a work-accumulating device is provided in the form of a counterweight loading said guide member in the sense of a movement into inoperative position and force-locking said abutment and counter-abutment. j

15. A smelting furnacesystem asset forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement automatically movable in dependence upon the movement of the forehearth for initiating a continuous flow of melting charge into the operationally moved forehearth is formed by a stationary receiving member at the discharge end of a feed gutter for automatically emptying the melt into the forehearth in rhythm with the passage of the charging opening of the forehearth and collecting the melting charge during the intervals.

16. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement automatically movable in dependence upon the movement of the forehearth for initiating a continuous flow of melting charge into the operationally moved forehearth consists of a drumshaped receiving member having a pouring spout which is automatically raised and lowered in rhythm with the passage of the charging opening of the forehearth.

17. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement automatically movable in dependence upon the movement of the forehearth for initiating a continuous ow of melting charge into the operationally moved forehearth consists of a drum-shaped receiving member having a pouring spout oscillatable in front of the mouth of the feed gutter about an axis extending transversely to the pouring spout.

18. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a receiving member for collecting the melting charge delivered by a feed gutter from ythe smelting furnace has ya pouring spout coordinated to :the forehearth and a second pouring spout cooperating optionally with a collecting vessel for the melting charge independent of the forehearth.

19. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a receiving member for collecting the melting charge delivered by a feed gutter from the smelting furnace has a pouring spout coordinated to the forehearth and a second pouring spout coordinated to a collecting vessel independent of the forehearth, said re'- ceiving member carrying a control roller which'v cooperates with a cam race on the forehearth.

20. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein `a receiving member for collecting the melting charge deliveredby a feed gutter from the smelting furnace carries a control roller which cooperates with a cam race on the forehearth and is pivotable about an axle located outside its center of gravity so that the said control roller is maintained in positive contact vwith the cam race.

21. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l, wherein a receiving member for collecting the melting chargedeliveredby a feed gutter from the smelting furnace is oscillated by means of a control roller cooperating with a cam race on the forehearth, the control roller being carried by a supporting arm oscillatable to produce a movement of the receiving member independently lof the cam race on the forehearth.

22. A smelting furnace `system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a receiving member is provided for collecting the melting charge delivered by a feed gutter from the smelting furnace and oscillated -by means of a control roller cooperating with a cam race on the forehearth, said control roller being vcarried by an oscillatable supporting arm guided by a link system composed of two parts forming'a toggle'lever. l

23. smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a receiving member is provided for collecting the melting charge delivered by a feed gutter from the smelting furnace and oscillated by means kof a control roller cooperating with a cam race on the forehearth, the control roller being carried by an oscillatable supporting arm guided by a two-part link system, the part of the link system adjacent the receiving member being formed by one arm of a bell-crank lever the other arm of which is engaged by an adjusting rod gear coaxial with the pivot axis of the receiving member.

24. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim l, wherein a receiving member operatively automatically movable in dependence upon the movement of the forehearth is equipped with means for the optional introduction of admixtures for improving and refining the melt.

25. A smelting furnace system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a receiving member is provided for receiving the melting charge delivered from the smelting furnace and operatively automatically movable in dependence upon the movement of the forehearth, said receiving member having a charging aperture coordinated to a feed gutter delivering the melting charge from the smelting furnace, and a seco-nd closable charging aperture for introducing ilux materials for improving and refining the melt.

26. A smelting furnace arrangement comprising, in combination, at least one smelting furnace; a guiding arrangement located adjacent said smelting furnace for receiving molten metal, said guiding arrangement being movable between a collecting position and a discharging position and having an outlet for discharging metal in said discharging position; a forehearth located underneath said guiding arrangement and being oscillatable about a horizontal axis between a discharging position, a plurality of intermediate heating positions and a heating end position, said forehearth having a discharge opening for discharge in said discharging position and a circumferentially extending elongated charging opening locatedy underneath said outlet during oscillation of said forehearth between said discharging position andsaid intermediate position, and being located spaced from said outlet in said end position; and means for oscillating said forehearth between said discharging positio-n and said end position for bringing the molten metal therein into contact with different inner surface portions thereof, and

11 `for simultaneously moving said guiding arrangement to and from said discharging position in a selected sequence with the movement of said forehearth so that said `guiding arrangement is in said discharging position when said forehearth is in said discharging position and in said intermediate heating positions and is in said collecting position when said forehearth is in said heating end position.

27. A smelting furnace arrangement comprising,rin combination, at least one smelting furnace; a guiding arrangement located adjacent said smelting furnace for receiving molten metal, said guiding arrangement being movable between a collecting position and a discharging position and having an outlet for discharging metal in said discharging position; a forehearth located underneath said guiding arrangement and being oscillatable about a horizontal axis between a discharging position, a plurality of intermediate heating positions and a heating end position, said forehearth having a discharge opening for discharge in said discharging position and a circumferentially extending elongated charging opening located underneath said outlet during oscillation of said forehearth between said discharging position and said intermediate position, and being located spaced from said outlet in said end position; and means for continuously oscillating said forehearth about said horizontal axis between said intermediate heating positions and said heating end position whereby molten metal is brought into contact with different surface portions of said inner chamber for being heated by heat stored in the entire forehearth, and for selectively turning said forehearth into said discharging position, and for simultaneously moving said guiding arrangement so that said guiding arrangement is in said discharging position when said forehearth is in said discharging position and in said intermediate heating positions and is in said collecting posi- 12 tion when said forehearth is in said heating end position.

28. A smelting furnace arrangement comprising, in combination, at least one smelting furnace; a guiding arrangement located adjacent said smelting furnace for receiving molten metal, said guiding arrangement being movable between a plurality of positions and having an outlet for discharging metal; a forehearth located underneath said guiding arrangement and being oscillatable about a horizontal axis, said forehearth having at least one circumferentially extending elongated charging opening located underneath said outlet during oscillation of said forehearth, said forehearth being turnable into a discharge position and having a discharge opening for discharging in said discharge position; and means for oscillating said forehearth and said guiding arrangement in a timed sequence so that said charging opening is located to receive molten metal from said outlet of said guiding arrangement during the oscillating movement of said forehearth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS y1,119,540 Rockey et al. Dec. 1, 1914 1,198,434 Garred Sept. 19, 1916 1,865,491 Wells July 5, 1932 2,209,153 Dillon July 23, 1940 2,343,336 Somes Mar. 7, 1944 2,400,362 McWane et al May 14, 1946 2,494,501 Bahney et al. Ian. 10, 1950 2,565,959 Francis et al. Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 176,805 Great Britain Jan. 11, 1923 534,575 Germany Sept. 29, 1931

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