BULK LOADER

摘要

The present invention is a bulk loader apparatus for providing bulk material through an open roof of an electric arc furnace (2). The apparatus has a base (11), a swing arm (19), a swing cradle (53), and a hopper (55) positionable in the swing cradle (53). A hydraulic cylinder (31) moves the swing arm (19) and hopper from a standby position to a charging position where the contents of the hopper (55) are emptied into the furnace (2). In a preferred embodiment, a wire and pulley assembly (49, 51) is also included to reduce the distance the swing arm (19) must be rotated to empty the bulk material from the hopper (55). In another embodiment, the swing arm is mounted on a turret which rotates the swing arm (19) between the standby position and charging positions. The present invention reduces the operating costs and the environmental impact of the metal refining process by efficiently supplying bulk material to the electric arc furnace (2).