Abstract: The invention concerns a metering oven (1) with a vessel (12) for holding a liquid metal and with a device for detecting a liquid metal level in a vessel. A tubular probe (5) is connected to a gas source (10) for discharging a gas at a predetermined pressure from the gas source through the probe and out of its aperture. The probe is spatially associated in a fixed manner with the vessel such that pressures which can be detected by a pressure-measuring device (9) can be associated with different liquid metal levels inside the probe. At a given pressure threshold value, the pressure-measuring device can emit a signal for a given liquid metal level to be detected.

Abstract: A shaft melting furnace for melting metals is proposed with an interior receiving the molten bath, a charging shaft for supplying the melting stock and a burner supplying heat to the latter. The charging shaft is funnel-shaped and passes into a melting zone of constant cross-section leading to a melting bridge.