Patent ID: 7374716

Claim:
A metallurgical furnace comprising: a vessel having a maximum filling height defined therein, a cover coupled to the vessel, a projection mounted to one of the cover and the vessel and having a charging opening defined therein, a waste gas extraction opening defined in a lateral side of the projection, a charging apparatus arranged and constructed to charge material to be smelted into the vessel, the charging apparatus comprising at least first and second self-supporting material baskets arranged and constructed to be alternatively positioned above the projection, each basket defining an internal space and having a pivotable retaining means arranged and constructed to close an underside of the basket, wherein at least one space is defined in the pivotable retaining means to permit passage of hot gas emanating from the vessel into the internal space, wherein the pivotable retaining means is pivotable into the projection when material to be smelted is charged into the vessel, but the pivotable retaining means do not pivot below the maximum filling height, and means for positioning the material basket above the projection and for exchanging the first material basket with the second material basket.