Title: Coupler for electric furnace electrodes

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1. A device for coupling a new furnace electrode section to another electrode section previously operatively associated with said furnace comprising:

a. a flexible means for being formed into a loop to enclose at least one of said electrode sections and to dispose at least a portion of said flexible means in gripping engagement with at least a portion of the periphery of one electrode section, and

b. means for translating said flexible means to effect turning of said at least one electrode section when said flexible means is in gripping engagement therewith.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 including:

a. means for imparting tension in said flexible means to enhance the gripping engagement between said flexible means and said one electrode section.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 including:

a. means for selectively disconnecting and connecting adjacent portions of said flexible means to enable passing said flexible means around said electrode section and to form a loop which encloses said electrode section.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said flexible means is a chain means and said device includes,

b. arm means mounted for being extended and retracted toward and away from said another electrode section,

c. a plurality of sprocket means supported by said arm means and arranged for being engaged by said chain means, said sprocket means defining the translational path of said chain means,

d. motor means operatively coupled with at least one of said sprocket means for turning said sprocket means to effect translation of said chain means,

e. movable supporting means for another of said sprocket means, and

f. means for selectively moving said movable supporting means in one direction for causing said another sprocket means to press against said chain means to impart tension thereto and effect increased gripping engagement with said electrode section and for moving said supporting means in another direction to relieve said tension.

5. The device set forth in claim 1 including:

a. arm means,

b. means for supporting said arm means for being advanced and retracted toward and away from said another electrode section in a line substantially perpendicular to the axes of said section,

c. motor means supported on said arm means,

d. means for coupling said motor means to said flexible means for said motor means to translate said flexible means and thereby rotate said one electrode section, and

e. means for pressing against said flexible means to impart tension therein for enhancing the gripping engagement between said flexible means and the periphery of said one electrode section.

6. The device set forth in claim 5 including:

a. roller means mounted on said arm means and being constructed and arranged for contacting the periphery of said one electrode section for resisting any bending force imposed thereon by said flexible means.

7. A device for coupling a new furnace electrode section to an electrode previously operatively associated with said furnace comprising:

support means mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the axis of said electrode,

said support means including translatable means advanceable and retractable relative to said electrode axis and first drive means for selectively moving said translatable means,

electrode engaging means for releasably engaging said electrode section and being mounted on said translatable means for movement therewith whereby the electrode section engaged thereby may be moved into axial alignment with said electrode,

and second drive means coupled to said electrode engaging means for moving the same in a path around the axis of said electrode for rotating said electrode section into coupling engagement with said electrode.

8. The device set forth in claim 7 wherein said electrode engaging means comprising elongate flexible means and including first means for moving said elongate flexible means into and out of engagement with said electrode.

9. An electric furnace assembly comprising:

a. a furnace,

b. an elongated electrode extending from the outside to the inside of said furnace the end portion of said electrode inside of said furnace being consumable,

c. an electrode support means coupled to said electrode and for supporting the same,

d. coupling means for coupling a new electrode section to said electrode endwise thereof and outside of said furnace, said electrode and said section being constructed and arranged such that they may be coupled in an endwise relation by relative rotation about a common axis,

e. said coupling means comprising first means for releasably engaging the periphery of said electrode section, second means for moving said first means into gripping engagement with said section, and third means for translating said first means about the axis of said section for securing the same to said electrode,

f. pivot means,

g. support means mounted on said pivot means for movement toward and away from said electrode in a line substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrode, said coupling means being mounted on said support means for movement therewith into operative engagement with said electrode, and

h. bidirectional drive means supported on said pivot means and means coupling said drive means to said support means for advancing and retracting said support means to facilitate aligning said electrode section with said electrode.

10. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said pivot means is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the axis of said electrode, said support means being mounted on said pivot means for movement normal to the axis of said pivot means.

11. The device set forth in claim 10 wherein said support means comprises elongate arm means, said first means being mounted adjacent one end of said arm means, said bidirectional drive means engaging said arm means at a point spaced from said first means whereby said section may be coupled to any one of a plurality of electrodes spaced at different distances from the axis of said pivot means.

12. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said furnace includes a plurality of electrodes, said pivot means and said support means being operative to position said first means adjacent each of said electrodes for selectively affixing new electrode sections thereto.

13. An electric furnace assembly comprising:

a. a furnace,

b. an elongated electrode extending from the outside to the inside of said furnace, the end portion of said electrode inside of said furnace being consumable,

c. an electrode support means coupled to said electrode and for supporting the same,

d. coupling means for coupling a new electrode section to said electrode endwise thereof and outside of said furnace, said electrode and said section being constructed and arranged such that they may be coupled in an endwise relation by relative rotation about a common axis,

e. said coupling means comprising first means for releasably engaging the periphery of said electrode section, second means for moving said first means into gripping engagement with said section, and third means for translating said first means about the axis of said section for securing the same to said electrode,

f. said first means comprising a flexible means for being formed into a loop to enclose said electrode section and to dispose at least a portion of said flexible means in gripping engagement with at least a portion of the periphery of said electrode section, and

g. said third means comprising means for translating said flexible means to effect turning of said electrode section when said flexible means is in gripping engagement therewith.

14. The device set forth in claim 13 wherein said second means comprises means for imparting tension in said flexible means to enhance the gripping engagement between said flexible means and said one electrode section.

15. The device set forth in claim 14 including:

a. means for selectively disconnecting and connecting adjacent portions of said flexible means to enable passing said flexible means around said electrode section and to form a loop which encloses said electrode section.

16. The device set forth in claim 15 wherein:

a. said flexible means comprises a roller chain,

b. said motor means includes a drive sprocket engageable with said roller chain whereby rotation of said drive sprocket will translate said roller chain.

17. The device set forth in claim 16 including:

a. a pliable material on the side of said roller chain that engages the periphery of said electrode section.

18. The invention defined in claim 17 wherein:

a. said support means comprises arm means,

b. arm support means supporting said arm means on said pivot means for said generally transverse movement,

c. said pivot means supporting said arm support means for swinging about an axis substantially parallel with the axes of said electrodes for enabling alignment of said arm means with a selected electrode.

19. The invention set forth in claim 18 wherein said bidirectional drive means comprises a shaft journaled for rotation on said arm support means and a pinion affixed on said shaft, and a toothed rack fixed on said arm means whereby rotation of said shaft will advance and retract said arm means.

20. The invention set forth in claim 19 wherein:

a. said pivot means for supporting said arm supporting means for swinging comprises a column means and a stationary socket means near said furnace for receiving and holding said column means.

21. The device set forth in claim 20 including:

a. idler means mounted for rotation on said arm means and engageable with said flexible means when the latter is formed as a loop,

b. a rotatable element and means for urging said element against said flexible means when it is formed as a loop to impart tension to said flexible means and thereby enhance gripping engagement with said electrode section.

22. The device set forth in claim 20 including:

a. a plurality of rotatable idler means on said arm means for said flexible means to run against when said flexible means is enclosing said one electrode section,

b. movable means supporting at least one of said idler means for movement, and

c. means for moving said movable means toward said flexible means for said at least one idler means to press against said flexible means and increase the tension therein.

23. The invention set forth in claim 22 wherein:

a. said means for moving said rotatable means for tensioning said flexible means comprises a bell crank pivotally mounted on said support means and on which said rotatable means is mounted for rotation,

b. a fluid operated cylinder means mounted on said support means and operatively coupled with said bell crank to swing said crank about its pivot.
Other info:

Inventors: Wynne, Peter J. (Pittsburgh, PA, US)

Application Number: 508510
Filing Date: 1974-09-23
Publication_date: 1976-02-10
Assignee: Lectromelt Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Class(es): 373/92
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3795753	Mar, 1974	Mori et al.	13/18.
3796818	Mar, 1974	Yuasa et al.	13/18.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Envall, Jr., R. N.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Wiviott; Fred