Sealing system for blast furnace bells for high pressure top operation

Claim 1

IN A BLAST FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS HAVING BELL AND HOPPER DEVICES, MEANS INTERMITTENTLY OPERATIVE TO DISPLACE A BELL OF SAID DEVICES BETWEEN OPENED AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO A HOPPER COOPERATIVELY RELATED THEREWITH, AND MECHANISMS TO CLEAN A SURFACE OF SAID BELL, SAID MECHANISMS COMPRISING A CONDUIT HAVING A MULTITUDE OF PASSAGES DIRECTED OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, ELEMENTS SUPPORTING SAID CONDUIT ON SAID HOPPER WHEREBY SAID MULTITUDE OF PASSAGES OF SAID CONDUIT HAVE THEIR OUTER OPENINGS FACING THE SURFACE OF SAID BELL DESIGNED TO CONTACT SAID HOPPER WHEN IT IS CLOSED THEREBY, SUPPLY LINES FOR FURNISHING A GASEOUS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CONDUIT, CONTROL VALVE MEANS IN SAID SUPPLY LINES OPERABLE TO DISRUPT OR CONTINUE THE FLOW OF SAID GASEOUS STREAM THEREIN TO SAID CONDUIT, AND OPERATION COORDINATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID BELL DISPLACING MEANS TO REGULATE THE OPERATION OF SAID CONTROL VALVE WHEREBY THE FLOW OF A GASEOUS STREAM UNDER PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED IN SAID SUPPLY LINES AND RELEASED TO SAID CONDUIT DURING THE TIME SAID BELL IS DISPLACED FROM AN OPENED TO A CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOPPER SUCH THAT SAID GASEOUS STREAM IS JETTED OUT OF SAID MULTITUDE OF PASSAGES AND ON TO SAID HOPPER CONTACTING SURFACE OF SAID BELL.