Patent ID: 8630328

Claim:
A melting furnace comprising: a sealed container containing an inert gas atmosphere; a crucible that is located inside the sealed container and melts a raw material by induction heating; and a crucible cooling mechanism, comprising: a pipe portion that includes an intake that communicates with the sealed container and that enables the inert gas to be discharged from the sealed container, and an outlet that enables the inert gas to be introduced into the sealed container; a heat exchange portion that is located partway along the pipe portion; and a gas transporting portion that is located partway along the pipe portion, wherein the outlet is positioned proximate to a top region of the sealed container and is facing an inside bottom surface of the crucible when the crucible is in a pouring state; and when the crucible is in the pouring state and a spout portion of the crucible is facing towards the bottom surface side of the sealed container, the intake is positioned proximate to a bottom region of the sealed container below the spout portion in order that the gas is circulated positively in the sealed container and the crucible cooling mechanism.