Patent ID: 8211357

Claim:
Smelting apparatus comprising: a metallurgical vessel within which to perform direct smelting to produce molten metal; at least one elongate solids injection lance extending through a side wall of the vessel with downwards and inwards inclination for injecting solids material into a molten bath contained within the vessel; a downwardly extending gas injection lance for delivering a hot air blast into upper regions of the vessel; an elongate track extending upwardly and outwardly from the side wall of the vessel; a carriage moveable along the track; a carriage drive configured to move the carriage along the track, the carriage being connectable to the solids injection lance to enable the solids injection lance to be supported from the track and moved upwardly and outwardly by operation of the carriage drive and thereby extracted from the vessel; and a lance connector for connecting the solids injection lance to the carriage so as to be supported through the carriage from the track, the lance connector being operable to allow the connected solids injection lance to be lowered from an initial inclined position extending parallel with the track to a generally upright position from which the solids injection lance is able to be lifted by operation of an overhead crane or hoist.