Molten metal stirring equipment

In a melting furnace of the type including a melting chamber for melting therein metal to form molten metal, and means for discharging exhaust gases from said melting chamber, the improvement comprising:

• a riser extending upwardly from said furnace and having a riser passage connected to said melting chamber at a level beneath the surface of the molten metal therein;
• a vacuum source;
• means for selectively connecting said vacuum source to said riser passage, thereby to reduce the pressure therein and to draw molten metal from said melting chamber upwardly into said riser passage, and for disconnecting said vacuum source from said riser passage and connecting said riser passage to atmospheric pressure, thereby to enable the molten metal drawn into said riser passage to return to said melting chamber by gravity, said connecting and disconnecting means comprising a changeover valve connected to said vacuum source and to said riser passage and having a valve member movable between a first position, whereat said vacuum source and said riser passage are connected, and a second position, whereat said vacuum source and said riser passage are disconnected;
• means for, when said riser passage is connected to atmospheric pressure, preventing oxidation of the molten metal returning from said riser passage to said melting chamber, and thereby for preventing clogging of said riser passage by oxides of the metal, said preventing means comprising a duct connected to said exhaust gas discharging means and to said changeover valve at a position such that when said valve member is in said second position thereof the exhaust gases pass through said duct and said changeover valve to said riser passage;
• fluid pressure operated means for controlling movement of said valve member between said first and second positions thereof;
• and
• electric heating means for heating said riser at least at the vicinity of the position thereof which is reached by the molten metal drawn into said riser passage.