A melting apparatus for steel production includes a support structure to support a shell for the production and tapping of steel, and a source or zone for the emission of fumes resulting from the tapping of the steel from the shell. The melting apparatus also includes a tapping hood integrated into the support structure and provided with a suction mouth positioned directly above the zone for the emission of fumes, the shell is provided with a bottom wall in which an E.B.T. is provided for tapping the steel.

A powder feeder system for a foundry system having a mixing hearth includes a housing assembly, and a feeder assembly in the housing assembly having a moveable barrel feeder for feeding a pre-weighed charge of metal powder into the mixing hearth of the foundry system during operation thereof. A method for recycling metal powder includes the steps of melting a content of the mixing hearth completely; and then feeding the metal powder into the mixing hearth while the contents of the mixing hearth are still molten using the powder feeder system.

A powder feeder system for a foundry system having a mixing hearth includes a housing assembly, and a feeder assembly in the housing assembly having a moveable barrel feeder for feeding a pre-weighed charge of metal powder into the mixing hearth of the foundry system during operation thereof. A method for recycling metal powder includes the steps of melting a content of the mixing hearth completely; and then feeding the metal powder into the mixing hearth while the contents of the mixing hearth are still molten using the powder feeder system.

The present document describes a smelting apparatus for smelting metallic ore. The smelting apparatus comprises a furnace having a continuous curved wall and end walls defining a longitudinal volume having a longitudinal axis in a horizontal direction. The continuous curved wall has a lowermost area. The longitudinal volume is divided in at least three longitudinal layers comprising a top layer within which gasified fuel is combusted for creating a hot gas composition at a temperature sufficient to release, from the metallic ore, at least molten metal and slag, a lowermost layer at the lowermost area for holding molten metal, and a mid-layer above the lowermost layer in which the slag accumulates. The present document also describes processes using the smelting apparatus for producing ferrous and non-ferrous minerals from a metallic ore.

A method for operating a converter and a support device for the converter. The converter is rotatably or tiltably mounted and rotatably coupled in a transmission via support pins in the support device. The transmission is supported permanently on a base via a torque support. In order to reduce costs for a corresponding support device and, simultaneously, so as to be able to better control the torque exerted by the converter on the transmission, the time-variable actual torque M.sub.Ist exerted by the converter on the transmission is controlled to a predefined target torque M.sub.soil.

A method for operating a converter and a support device for the converter. The converter is rotatably or tiltably mounted and rotatably coupled in a transmission via support pins in the support device. The transmission is supported permanently on a base via a torque support. In order to reduce costs for a corresponding support device and, simultaneously, so as to be able to better control the torque exerted by the converter on the transmission, the time-variable actual torque M.sub.Ist exerted by the converter on the transmission is controlled to a predefined target torque M.sub.soil.

A dual-purpose sintering furnace including a furnace body having a furnace chamber, a first furnace mouth and a second furnace mouth which are communicated with the furnace chamber, a furnace door hinged to the furnace body and configured for closing the first furnace mouth, a blocking member lap-jointed inside the furnace chamber and configured for blocking the second furnace mouth, a sample stage, an ejection rod fixedly arranged on a sample placement face of the sample stage, a lifting device configured for driving the sample stage to raise or lower, so that the ejection rod pushes the blocking member until the second furnace mouth is opened, and so that the sample stage enters the furnace chamber through the second furnace mouth. The dual-purpose sintering furnace can complete a large amount of sintering as conventional sintering and also implement rapid sintering.

A dual-purpose sintering furnace including a furnace body having a furnace chamber, a first furnace mouth and a second furnace mouth which are communicated with the furnace chamber, a furnace door hinged to the furnace body and configured for closing the first furnace mouth, a blocking member lap-jointed inside the furnace chamber and configured for blocking the second furnace mouth, a sample stage, an ejection rod fixedly arranged on a sample placement face of the sample stage, a lifting device configured for driving the sample stage to raise or lower, so that the ejection rod pushes the blocking member until the second furnace mouth is opened, and so that the sample stage enters the furnace chamber through the second furnace mouth. The dual-purpose sintering furnace can complete a large amount of sintering as conventional sintering and also implement rapid sintering.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation for vaginal administration, wherein the formulation comprises a pharmaceutical acceptable excipient and glucono δ-lactone, wherein the glucono δ-lactone is present in an amount of 5 to 99 wt % of the formulation. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical formulation according to the invention for use in the prevention or treatment of a urogenital fungal infection. Furthermore, the invention relates to glucono δ-lactone (formula (III)), for use in the in the prevention or treatment of a fungal infection.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation for vaginal administration, wherein the formulation comprises a pharmaceutical acceptable excipient and glucono δ-lactone, wherein the glucono δ-lactone is present in an amount of 5 to 99 wt % of the formulation. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical formulation according to the invention for use in the prevention or treatment of a urogenital fungal infection. Furthermore, the invention relates to glucono δ-lactone (formula (III)), for use in the in the prevention or treatment of a fungal infection.