A method of heating up a furnace bottom and a burner lance used in the method are proposed. The method of heating up the furnace bottom includes a step of opening, in the tap hole, a burner lance insertion hole having a diameter larger than a diameter of the burner lance so as to penetrate into the furnace, a step of installing the burner lance in the opened burner lance insertion hole, a step of filling a gap between the installed burner lance and a furnace exterior side of the tap hole with a refractory, and a step of blowing in gas for heating into the furnace from the burner lance to heat up the furnace bottom.

A method of heating up a furnace bottom and a burner lance used in the method are proposed. The method of heating up the furnace bottom includes a step of opening, in the tap hole, a burner lance insertion hole having a diameter larger than a diameter of the burner lance so as to penetrate into the furnace, a step of installing the burner lance in the opened burner lance insertion hole, a step of filling a gap between the installed burner lance and a furnace exterior side of the tap hole with a refractory, and a step of blowing in gas for heating into the furnace from the burner lance to heat up the furnace bottom.

An ignitor cap for a thermal lance including a proximal end adapted to receive the thermal lance, a distal end, a housing having a sidewall extending from the proximal end to the distal end and defining a passageway, and primary fuel and secondary fuel disposed within the passageway. At least a portion of the primary fuel is in contact with the secondary fuel and/or the distal end is substantially sealed and the proximal end includes at least one opening such that, when the thermal lance is received in the proximal end of the ignitor cap, gas flows axially through the primary fuel and the secondary fuel, and is then redirected by the sealed distal end back through the primary fuel and the secondary fuel and out through the at least one opening and along an exterior surface of the thermal lance. Also, thermal lances including such an ignitor cap.

An ignitor cap for a thermal lance including a proximal end adapted to receive the thermal lance, a distal end, a housing having a sidewall extending from the proximal end to the distal end and defining a passageway, and primary fuel and secondary fuel disposed within the passageway. At least a portion of the primary fuel is in contact with the secondary fuel and/or the distal end is substantially sealed and the proximal end includes at least one opening such that, when the thermal lance is received in the proximal end of the ignitor cap, gas flows axially through the primary fuel and the secondary fuel, and is then redirected by the sealed distal end back through the primary fuel and the secondary fuel and out through the at least one opening and along an exterior surface of the thermal lance. Also, thermal lances including such an ignitor cap.

A manipulator arm for being connected to a manipulator chassis frame disposed in particular in the periphery of a metallurgical smelting furnace includes a proximal end for being connected to the manipulator chassis frame and a distal end equipped with a first tool receptacle and serving to be connected to a shovel or bucket. The manipulator arm has a second tool receptacle at its distal end, the second tool receptacle being formed irrespective of the first tool receptacle and being intended to be connected to a hammer mill or a drilling machine.

The invention relates to an oxygen lance guiding assembly having an oxygen lance feeding device, which is disposed on a tap hole drilling unit. The tap hole drilling unit has a drilling rod guiding device for a drilling rod, which is driven by a drilling mechanism, on a receptacle configured to have the drilling mechanism disposed thereon. The oxygen lance feeding device is disposed in an operating position in a space formed between the drilling rod guiding device and the drilling mechanism in such a manner that the drilling rod guiding device serves to form an oxygen lance guiding axis.

The invention relates to an oxygen lance guiding assembly having an oxygen lance feeding device, which is disposed on a tap hole drilling unit. The tap hole drilling unit has a drilling rod guiding device for a drilling rod, which is driven by a drilling mechanism, on a receptacle configured to have the drilling mechanism disposed thereon. The oxygen lance feeding device is disposed in an operating position in a space formed between the drilling rod guiding device and the drilling mechanism in such a manner that the drilling rod guiding device serves to form an oxygen lance guiding axis.