Abstract: A shroud assembly for an electric arc furnace in which a plurality of electrodes extend through the roof of the furnace and are adjustably positonable in a clamping type holder. The shroud is secured to each of the electrode holders and extends through the roof into the furnace, the shroud having a conductive ring disposed in the lower end of the shroud with the radial spacing between the lower end of the ring and the electrode being sufficiently small to provide substantial flow resistance to corrosive furnace gases tending to pass between the electrode and the ring, and the shroud having sufficient axial length to provide an abutment surface for the electrode, and lateral support, when the electrode is displaced from its normally vertical position thereby reducing the bending moment tending to break the electrode upon such displacement.

Abstract: A ladle canopy for venting gases during pouring of the molten contents of a furnace into a ladle which includes a frame, a plurality of individual curtain walls depending from the frame and arranged to be received over the ladle, a duct connected to the frame for receiving the gases in the canopy, the duct being releasably connected to a stationary duct system which communicates with a source of reduced pressure, the entire canopy and the associated duct being arranged for pivotal movement with respect to the ladle so that the entire canopy assembly can be swung into and out of ladle covering position.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for reducing an oxide of iron such as the oxides which occur in mill scale involves mixing particles of the oxide with particles of a carbonaceous reducing agent and passing the resulting mixing through a conduit disposed in the flue of a furnace, the flue gases which pass through the flue having a temperature sufficiently high to cause the reduction of the oxide by the reducing agent.