Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing melt iron comprising the following steps: a) reducing the iron ore particles to form pre-reduced iron comprising excess free carbon; b) hot process transfer of the pre-reduced iron in a smelting furnace; c) smelting the pre-reduced iron in a smelting furnace to obtain melt iron.

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 combined machine for opening a taphole in a shaft furnace and for plugging the taphole with a plugging mass is presented. The machine comprises a mount, a suspension structure for the mount, drive means on the mount and a plugging device. The plugging device portion of the machine comprises a plugging chamber, plugging snout and a piston for expelling the plugging mass. For the plugging operation, the plugging device is supported on the mount in the extension of the axis of the taphole and the expulsion piston is coupled to the drive means already present on the mount for opening the taphole with a piercing rod or a drill bit.

Abstract: An automatic lance changeover device is presented wherein a radially guided ring is axially vertically displaceable by two lifting spindle systems provided on each side of the ring and bears pivotable hooks for receiving the lance and for pressing the latter axially against a sealing surface on the coupling head. The hooks are connected to the stationary coupling head via pivotable connecting rods whose length is alterable, these connecting rods being eccentrically articulated on the support pin of the hooks with the bearing bore at the coupling head end of the connecting rods having a larger diameter than the associated wrist pin. When the ring is axially displaced, the hooks, which have swung out, in a first phase, initially surround the supporting pins on the upper part of the lance as the ring is displaced further, the hooks, without executing any further pivoting movement, pull the lance head into sealing contact with the coupling head.

Abstract: A lance guiding and changing apparatus is presented for immersion lances which enables the lances to be changed or replaced at a rapid rate, the lances being held particularly firmly and rigidly during the plural injection processes. The immersion lance guiding and changing apparatus comprises, in part, lance storage means, lance transfer means, and lance changing means. The lance changing means includes a vertical mount which is capable of rotating about its vertical axis via a suitable drive means. At least two lance carriages are suspended on the mount, and the carriages are vertically transportable along the mount. The lance storage means, preferably comprised of a turret-type container capable of holding a plurality of lances, supplies or receives new and used lances respectively. The lance transfer means transfers the new or used lances between the storage means and the rotatable mount.