Abstract: An apparatus and a method for melting solid metals, including iron, are provided. The apparatus includes a vertical shaft furnace through which the metal is fed. The shaft furnace is mounted on a horizontal induction furnace containing a molten pool of metal. Metal solids are charged at the top of the vertical shaft furnace down onto a refractory pedestal in the molten metal pool or suspended magnetically in the vertical shaft above gas burners. The metal is melted by contact with the molten metal pool. The combination of oxygen fuel burner preheating and induction melting creates an extremely efficient melting unit that can process metal at a much lower cost than conventional systems while preventing the oxidation problems incurred by apparatuses which melt metal using combustion only.

Abstract: An oscillating device comprises a body support on which opposed open bearing-receiving members are located, so that support-bearing members secured to mounting members of legs that are pivotally mounted onto a base are disposed in the bearing-receiving members and springs are mounted on spring-supporting bearing members secured to the mounting members of the legs to maintain the legs in a substantially vertical rest position and to move the body support along an arcuate path when it is moved from the vertical position in an oscillating motion.