NO132803C

A discharge system for a shaft-type furnace comprising a table supporting a column of furnace charge at the base of the shaft-type furnace for the direct reduction of iron ore to produce sponge iron, a discharge device on this table being horizontally reciprocable to carry hot sponge iron alternately to one side and the opposite side of the table and expells the sponge iron into discharge openings provided at the opposite sides of the table. The sponge iron cascades through downwardly extending shafts or chutes of each opening, which, in turn, open downwardly into respective intermediate bins, the latter opening into dispensing hoppers which communicate via compensating connectors (e.g. bellows), with transport vessels or the like for the storage or further treatment of the sponge-iron. The transport vessel is provided with a system for flushing the interior with a nonoxidizing gas and the discharge hopper or bellows, is provided an outlet for the flushing gas. Between the bin and the hopper and between the discharge shaft and the bin, flap-type closures are provided to hermetically seal the respective openings.