Abstract: An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.

Abstract: An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.

Abstract: A self-contained mobile sampling and processing facility for use at a mine having at least one blast-hole that forms a blast-hole cone wherein the sampling and processing facility includes at least one primary robotic arm that carries at least one sampling tool, and the primary robotic arm and sampling tool is controlled by robotic arm and sampling tool movement controller means, and the primary robotic arm is capable of self-determining the direction, distance and shape of a nearby blast-hole cone, then subsequently positioning itself so that the sampling tool is able to engage with the blast-hole cone and retrieve a sample from it without significant mixing or stirring the cone, or a localized region of the cone, and then the sample is deposited into the processing facility.

Abstract: A self-contained mobile sampling and processing facility for use at a mine having at least one blast-hole that forms a blast-hole cone wherein the sampling and processing facility includes at least one primary robotic arm that carries at least one sampling tool, and the primary robotic arm and sampling tool is controlled by robotic arm and sampling tool movement controller means, and the primary robotic arm is capable of self-determining the direction, distance and shape of a nearby blast-hole cone, then subsequently positioning itself so that the sampling tool is able to engage with the blast-hole cone and retrieve a sample from it without significant mixing or stirring the cone, or a localised region of the cone, and then the sample is deposited into the processing facility.

Abstract: An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.

Abstract: A melting apparatus facilitates the melting of pieces of solid metal in a bath of molten metal (10). The melting apparatus comprises a device (18) having a lower portion (22), an upper portion (20), and a body portion (24) extending therebetween. Solid metal is introduced into the device (18) through the upper portion (20). A flow inducer, such as an impeller (28) induces flow of molten metal through the device (18). Flow straighteners, such as baffles (38) encourage axial flow of molten metal through the device (18). The body portion (24) is formed with a plurality of apertures (36) therein and the device (18) is arranged, in use, with the lower portion (22) and the plurality of apertures (36) positioned within the bath (10) and the upper portion (20) positioned above the upper surface (12) and the molten metal bath (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel including a gas flow duct 31 which receives hot gas through a gas inlet structure 32 at a rear end of the duct. An elongate central structure 33 extends throughout the length of duct 31 and carries a series of vanes 34 for imparting swirl to the gas flow exiting the forward end of the duct. The forward end of the duct 31 has an internally water cooled tip 36 and water flows to and from tip 36 through annular passages 43, 44 in the wall of duct 31. Vanes 34 are mounted on central structure 33 so as to extend to forward ends disposed within the duct tip 36 and are dimensioned such that during operation of the apparatus their forward ends are engaged and supported by the internally water cooled duct tip 36.

Abstract: A melting apparatus facilitates the melting of pieces of solid metal in a bath of molten metal (10). The melting apparatus comprises a device (18) having a lower portion (22), an upper portion (20), and a body portion (24) extending therebetween, introduction means for introducing the solid metal into the device (18) through the upper portion (20), flow inducing means (28) for inducing flow of molten metal through the device (18), and flow straightening means (38) for encouraging axial flow of motel metal through the device (18). The body portion (24) is formed with a plurality of apertures (36) therein and the device (18) is arranged, in use, with the lower portion (22) and the plurality of apertures (36) positioned within the bath (10) and the upper portion (20) positioned above the upper surface (12) of the molten metal bath (10).