Melting and holding furnace for aluminum blocks

A melting and holding furnace for aluminum blocks, the furnace being characterized in that the furnace comprises:

• a pre-heating tower for pre-heating aluminum blocks,
• a melting crucible furnace comprising a melting crucible enclosed by a first furnace body, which melting crucible receives a supply of aluminum blocks from the pre-heating tower at a position immediately under the pre-heating tower, wherein a surrounding space is formed around the melting crucible and between the melting crucible and the first furnace body and a combustion gas is provided to the space and exhaust gas utilized in the melting crucible furnace is supplied to the pre-heating tower as an ascending current for heat exchange with the aluminum blocks, and
• a holding crucible furnace disposed side-by-side with said melting crucible furnace which receives a continuous supply of molten aluminum from the melting crucible of the melting crucible furnace,
• wherein said melting crucible and said holding crucible furnace are communicated with each other via a conduit extending from a trunk portion of the melting crucible toward said holding crucible furnace so that molten aluminum overflows from said melting crucible into said holding crucible furnace through the conduit.