DEVICE FOR FEEDING A METERED SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIAL INTO AN ALUMINIUM ELECTROLYSER (VARIANTS)

The present device comprises a hopper for a material to be metered, a metering chamber with loading ports situated around the perimeter of the upper part thereof, above the base of the hopper, a rod with a pneumatic actuator, an upper closure member rigidly secured to the rod in the top part of the metering chamber and being situated, when the rod is in a top position, between the lower and the upper edge of the loading ports, and a lower closure member secured to the end of the rod. According to a first variant, the device is provided with a shuttle valve, which is situated in the upper part of the metering chamber, above the upper closure member, and is rigidly secured to the rod such that when the rod is in a start position, the upper edge of the valve is situated below the upper edge of the loading ports. According to a second variant, inside the hopper, above the upper closure member, are mounted not less than one circular rib, secured in the upper part of the metering chamber, and, secured to the walls of the hopper, not less than one rib and one transverse partition, it being possible for material to pass through gaps between the edges of the partition and the walls of the hopper and the metering chamber. The invention provides improved metering consistency.