Electric arc furnace hearth connection

An electric arc furnace comprising a hearth having an inside and outside for containing a melt on its inside, an electrode positioned to form an arc between the electrode and a melt in the hearth when the electrode and melt have connections with an electric power source, an electric melt connection comprising at least one elongated metal conductor having inner and outer ends and a refractory enclosure exposing the inner end for contact with and melting by a melt in said hearth, and cooling means for cooling the conductor at least between its inner and outer ends for removing heat therefrom at a rate preventing the conductor from melting throughout its length to its outer end, said hearth comprising a refractory lining and said refractory enclosure comprising a downward hearth projection of said lining, said projection being an integral part of said lining and extending straight downwardly from the hearth's inside to beyond its outside and to the outer end of said conductor, and a metal shell projection enclosing said hearth projection on the outside of said hearth, said cooling means comprising means for removing heat from at least a portion of said shell on the outside of the hearth.