Abstract: The stack gas from a shaft furnace in which iron ore is directly reduced is cooled and filtered and then subjected to steam so as to convert its carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide and water are then scrubbed out of this stack gas so as to leave virtually pure hydrogen which is heated to a temperature between 400.degree. and 600.degree. C and added to the output of an oxygen reactor that transforms coal and oxygen into a synthetic gas having a carbon-monoxide/hydrogen volume ratio of at least 1.5:1. The addition of this hydrogen to the output of the reactor lowers the volume ratio to 1:1 at most so that this mixture can be reintroduced into the shaft furnace at a temperature of around 1000.degree. C as a reducing gas.

Abstract: The stack gas from a shaft furnace in which iron ore is directly reduced is cooled and filtered and then subjected to steam so as to convert its carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide and water are then scrubbed out of this stack gas so as to leave virtually pure hydrogen which is heated to a temperature between 400.degree. and 600.degree. C and added to the output of an oxygen reactor that transforms coal and oxygen into a synthetic gas having a carbon-monoxide/hydrogen volume ratio of at least 1.5:1. The addition of this hydrogen to the output of the reactor lowers the volume ratio to 1:1 at most so that this mixture can be reintroduced into the shaft furnace at a temperature of around 1000.degree. C as a reducing gas.

Abstract: An elastic support mount for use between an outer member having an inner surface formed generally as a surface of revolution and an inner member in the outer member and having an outer surface formed generally as a surface of revolution comprises a solid (circumferentially continuous) elastomeric body of revolution having an outer surface directly engageable against the inner surface of the outer member and an inner surface directly engageable against the outer surface of the inner member. This body has at least one axially open end and is provided at this end with an inner metal sleeve and a coaxial outer metal sleeve which are imbedded in the elastomeric body at the open end and have axial lengths equal to a fraction of the overall length of the elastomeric body. In use this mount is axially compressed by snap rings or the like engaging only against the inner and outer rings so that it is forced into very tight frictional contact with the surfaces of the members between which it is mounted.