Abstract: The invention concerns a method for continuous smelting of solid metal products in a reactor comprising a smelting zone and a metallurgical processing zone, which consists in continuously heating the solid metal products in the smelting zone, gradually transferring said smelted products into the metallurgical process zone, refining the smelted products in the metallurgical process zone in an oxidising slag medium, separating the metallurgical process zone slag from the smelting zone slag, transforming the oxidising slag in the metallurgical process zone into a reducing slag, desulphurizing the smelted products in the metallurgical processing zone in a reducing slag medium and casting the smelted metal.

Abstract: A graphite nipple projecting from one end of a graphite electrode portion of the type used in an electric furnace has a supporting face for receiving a non-graphite portion of a clamping device in shape-locking engagement for holding the electrode for use. It also has a conventional screw-thread surface for joining the nipple to another electrode portion for extending the electrode. The supporting face does not alter the conventional screw-thread surface arrangement for joining electrode portions so that specially-shaped and thus costly electrode-supporting nipples are not required in addition to the conventionally-shaped nipples for joining electrode portions, and a graphite screw-thread does not have to be unscrewed for the same, which unscrewing frequently broke the nipple or electrode portion.