Smelting furnace

A smelting furnace, comprising:

• a lower furnace body for containing molten metal supported rotatably, said lower furnace body being formed generally in the shape of a substantially circular dish having a bottom bed, and having an upper opening, said lower furnace body comprising at a lower portion thereof a normally-closed molten metal outlet and means for selectively opening said outlet, and wherein the bed of said furnace is inclined downwardly toward said molten metal outlet;
• means for rotating said lower furnace body;
• an upper furnace body covering the top of the lower furnace body to define an interior chamber of said furnace;
• a feed inlet chamber provided in a peripheral portion of said upper furnace body and positioned above the upper opening of the lower furnace body, said feed inlet chamber having opposite side walls extending downwardly to the upper edge of the lower furnace body to laterally separate the feed inlet chamber from the interior chamber of the furnace and said feed inlet chamber being enclosed with a box-like cover which is open at the bottom and includes a selectively openable door on its outer peripheral wall for introducing material into the furnace;
• a burner mounted on the upper furnace body;
• and
• exhaust means attached to the upper furnace body for releasing combustion waste gas.