Process for the melting of metals, for example copper, and an electric furnace for the performance of said process

Claim 1

AN ELECTRICAL FURNACE FOR MELTING READILY OXIDIZABLE METALS IN A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A FURNACE BODY OF REFRACTORY MATERIAL, A MELTING BASIN RECESSED IN THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID FURNACE BODY, SAID MELTING BASIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CHARGE OF METAL TO BE MELTED, WITH SAID CHARGE COVERED WITH AN INCOHERENT CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, A MOVABLE ROOF OF REFRACTORY MATERIAL DISPOSED ABOVE SAID MELTING BASIN MEANS FOR HORIZONTALLY TRANSPORTING SAID ROOF IN A LINEAR PATH OVER THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID FURNACE BODY, AT LEAST TWO VERTICAL WELLS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ROOF, A CARBON ELECTRODE DISPOSED COAXIALLY IN EACH SAID WELL AND EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ALONG THE AXIAL LENGTH THEREOF, EACH SAID ELECTRODE HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION TERMINATING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF EACH SAID WELL AND POSITIONED OVER SAID MELTING BASIN, AT LEAST ONE METAL MEMBER SECURED TO AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE TOP PORTION OF EACH SAID ELECTRODE FOR SECURING SAID ELECTRODES IN PLACE IN SAID WELLS AND PROVIDING TERMINAL MEANS FOR APPLICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL THERETO, AND AN INCOHERENT CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL DISPOSED AROUND EACH SAID ELECTRODE SO AS TO COMPLETELY FILL EACH SAID WELL, SO THAT CURRENT FLOW THROUGH SAID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL RESULTS IN HEATING TO THEREBY MELT SAID METAL, WITH SAID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL PROVIDING A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE AND INSULATING SAID MELTED METAL FROM OXIDIZING GASES.