Claims:We claim:

1. An apparatus (100) for automatically locking a cold blast valve (105), the apparatus (100) comprising:
a lock pin (106) configured to lock the cold blast valve (105) in an open position;
an actuator (103) coupled to the lock pin (106);
a sensor (104) associated with the cold blast valve (105), wherein the sensor (104) is configured to detect movement of the cold blast valve (105) in both the open position and the closed position; and
a control unit (102), communicatively coupled with the sensor (104) and the actuator (103), the control unit (102) is configured to actuate the actuator (103) to operate the lock pin (106), upon receiving a signal from the sensor (104).

2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock pin (106) is actuated by the actuator (103) to lock the cold blast valve (105) in the open position.

3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (104) is at least one of a reed switch and a proximity sensor.

4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold blast valve (105) is provisioned in a path between an air blower and a hot stove of a blast furnace.

5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator (103) is a pneumatic actuator.

6. A system (500) for actuating a cold blast valve (105) provisioned between an air blower and a hot stove of a blast furnace, the system (500) comprising:
an actuation unit (111) configured to operate the cold blast valve (105) between an open position and a closed position; and
an apparatus (100) for automatically locking the cold blast valve (105), the apparatus (100) comprising:
a lock pin (106) configured to lock the cold blast valve (105) in open position;
sensor
a sensor (104) associated with the cold blast valve (105), wherein the sensor (104) is
configured to detect movement of the cold blast valve (105) in both the open position and
the closed position; and
a control unit (102), communicatively coupled with the sensor (104) and the actuator (103), the control unit (102) is configured to actuate the actuator (103) to operate the lock pin (106), upon receiving a signal from the sensor (104).

7. The system (500) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuation unit is a pneumatic actuator.

8. The system (500) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor (104) is at least one of a reed switch and a proximity sensor.

9. The system (500) as claimed in claim 6, comprises a display unit (101) associated with the control unit (102), wherein the control unit (102) indicates the position of the cold blast valve (105) through the display unit.

10. The system (500) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit (102) is a human machine interface (HMI) unit.

11. A method for automatically locking a cold blast valve (105), the method comprising:
detecting, by a sensor (104), movement of the cold blast valve (105) to at least one of the open position and closed position;
receiving, by a control unit (102), a signal from the sensor when the cold blast valve (105) is in at least one of open and closed position; and
operating, by the control unit (102), an actuator (103) to actuate a lock pin (106) to lock the cold blast valve (105).
, Description: