US1304350A - Electric furnace - Google Patents

Description

W. E. MOORE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPucATmN FILED JUNE l. Isn- Putunted May 20, 1912!.

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ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 11. m1

Patented May 20, 1919.

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W. E. MOORE. ELECTRIC FURNAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II 19Hv 1,304,350. Patented May 20, 1919.

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ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 1:. l9l7.

1,304,350. Patented May 20, 1919.

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ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, mm.

1,304,350, Patented May 20, 1919.

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W. E. MOORE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

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Patented May 20, 1919.

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1 6 Q 0' 7 1 Q a ,m a m a My WILLIAM E. MOORE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 11, 1917. Serial No. 174,010.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to improve. the construction and general efficiency of arc-type electric metallurgical furnaces.

In electric furnaces heretofore manufactured, the furnace shell has been made with a flat bottom or with such a cylindrical bottom that, when the bottom heats, by reason of a portion of the lining floating up, the bottom plate generally buckles up, causing still further breakin of the refractory, and the refractories not ing arched in are, if thus loosened, easily floated up by the metal. These disadvantages I'overcome by means of a spherical bottom so arranged that the spot heated bulges out and away from the refractories, thus preventing them from being cracked. The refractory brick layers next to the bottom form an inverted arch so that, if they should be loosened and the metal find its way underneath the refractories by reason of the inverted spherical arch, they are better able to resist such floating tendenc eretofore it has been customary to mount rolling furnaces on rockers attached to the furnace bottom and rocking on arallel horizontal tracks, the furnace being rocked by means of a screw underneath the bottom of the furnace on the side opposite to the spout or b means bf connecting rods coupled to the urnace bottom in the same position and leading down to the crank shaft located underneath the furnace. The movement of the spout in a horizontal direction when the furnace isbeing rocked makes it diflicult to direct the metal stream into the ladle or mold and the location of the tilting gear underneath the furnace opposite the spout practically prohibits the installation of a slag buggy or track running underneath the charging platform which is the natural position. Therefore, the arrangement which I have adopted of mounting the furnace so that its rockers rest on stationary traction rollers with the gears and tilting motor to one side of the furnace, where they do not interfere either with the pouring of the metal or the slagging operation is better.

The screw tilting mechanism involves the necessitv for some device preventing its overtravel which renders the furnace unsafe. With my furnace, this is readily attained by means of the bumper blocks mounted on the rockers which ride u on the traction rollers at the limits of traveFso that the rollers cannot further tilt the furnace, even if they continued to revolve, thus making a cheap and convenient safety device.

It is true that metallurgical furnaces have heretofore been mounted to tilt on stationary rollers so as to eliminate the objectionable spout travel of the rock-over type, but in such cases auxiliary devices have been added to tilt the furnace which are more complicated than the tilting of the furnace by means of traction rollers motor operated.

It has been customary to mount the electrode arms on the back side or side of the furnace opposite the spout with the arms fixed, that 18, not rotatable in a horizontal plane. This makes it necessary, when adding new electrodes, or when unclamping electrodes to lower them as they burn away, for

Patented May 1919.

the attendant to work on top of and over the hot furnace roof, which is an unhealthy and dangerous operation. These fixed electrode arm's also greatly interfere with the operation of changing the roof, which from time to time must be replaced by a new roof arch previously bricked into its roof arch ring. This roof ring is usually handled by means of an overhead crane, an operation greatly interfered with by reason of the fixed electrode arms and holders. Whereas, with my furnace, these parts being rotatable in a horizontal plane may be swung to one side after the electrodes are lifted so as to clear the furnace roof, and also where the electrodes may be conveniently worked at by the attendant when standing upon a suitable platform or step-ladder.

' I am aware that furnaces with conducting bottoms have been manufactured, but such bottoms have frequently involved the complications of large water-cooled electrodes or ave had electrodes of such size as to interfere with the laying of the brick layers in the bottom of the furnace or, if metal projections from the bottom of the furnace up into the refractories have been eliminated by the use of graphite mixed into the mortar, it frequently happens that, when the furnace is cold, the bottom is of such high resistance that practically no current may be forced through, making necessary the expedient of driving spikes through the refractories to the metal bottom to get a contact. In my furnace, I connect a number of thin metal strips which roject through the joints in the bottom brick up into the refractory material of the furnace bottom, said strips being preferably welded to the furnace bottom plate.

Heretofore the electrode Winch motors have been mounted immediately adjacent the furnace shell which they rock over with and where they are subject to heat, fumes and dirt, all detrimental elements to the life of the motor, or have been located to one side and connected by means of overhead cables so that the height of the electrodes is greatly disarranged and interfered with at the time of tilting the furnace. This I overcome by combining the cables on pulleys so as to bring them to a point near the tilting center of the furnace and-by locating the motor winches in a suitable chamber underneath the platform where they are protected from objectionable elements.

In many electric furnaces, the electrode holders have been made of one piece with a split joint, the joint being drawn together or bent apart by means of a screw or screws. Owing to the irregularities of the electrode sizes, such construction throws a severe strain upon the electrode holder, bending it and causing severe work on the part of the attendant to open up or close the clamp. It also prevents the proper contact of the clamp with, the carbon. According to my invention, the electrode clamp is easily loosened and the loose sides thereof compensate for the variable dimensions of electrodes which may be inserted through the front of clamp avoiding the necessity of threading down through the top which at the same time greatly reduces and quickens the work of the attendant.

In electric furnaces heretofore generally made, it is impractical to use the skimmer arch for the reason that the slag must be drawn out through the pouring door or spout of the furnace. My furnace permits the use of the skimmer arch and greatly helps to hold back the slag from mixing with the metal in the ladle when pouring the furnace.

In furnaces heretofore made, the door maintenance has been extremely high due to the fact that the heat rays leaking through the cracks between the abutting points of the door frame and the furnace shell cause severe heating and burning of same, also great heat losses. My construction, which permits the lapping of refractories of the door with the furnace lining, avoids'these difficulties and preserves the metal work and retains the furnace heat.

Therehas also been great difiiculty in holding the door against the furnace shell due to the expansion and warping of the door frame and of the door castings. In my furnace, adjustable means or strips for holding the door against the furnace shell only at the lower portion of its stroke eliminate these difficulties.

In electric furnaces, it has heretofore been customary to have a. metal arm which is grounded or in contact with the furnace shell extending out from the electrode clamp which is suspended from same by means of suitable insulation bolts and washers, this in sulation being immediately over the electrode opening in the roof is subject to intense heat, smoke and gases. In my structure, I mount the electrode holders on the ends of rigid conducting arms carried on suitable sliding sleeves which move upon the columns which are grounded and in contact with the furnace frame-work; the arm being insulated from the slides by means of insulation which, being located to one side of the furnace roof, is less exposed to heat, smoke and gases.

Heretofore, it has been customary to rivet or bolt the furnace pouring spout to the shell. As the refractory lining of the spout is rapidly worn or washed away by the intensely hot metal, the spouts must frequently be changed or relined, which in the old furnace was slow work, and if relined while on the hot furnace made poor linings of short life. I have overcome these difficulties by means of duplicate spouts quickly interchangeable by hooking on the furnace shell.

Heretofore the door frames and door castings have been subjected to excessive heating. This I have overcome largely by means of ribs for radiating the heat from those parts of the door which are subjected to the greatest heat effects.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description, the novel features being more particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In order to more fully describe my invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view, partly in elevation, of one embodiment of my improved furnace;

Fig. 1" is a detail top plan view of the driving gearing of the traction rollers for tilting the furnace;

Fig. 2 is a section of said furnace taken on the line 2" of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3"-3f of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of one of the door frames;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of a portion of one of the door frames;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal detail section through the pouring opening and parts adjacent thereto;

Fig. 7 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary elevation to show the disposition of the electrode hoisting cables leading from the cranes to the hoisting drums;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views in elevation of one of the furnace doors and parts immediately associated therewith;

Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, are details of the spout;

Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive, are details of one of the electrode holders;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail vertical section of one of the electrode glands;

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the general arrangement of a furnace unit of a plant according to my in vention; and

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the relative arrangement in top plan of several furnaces in a row to the charging and slagging tracks, transformers and ladles.

The furnace proper here shown consists, among other parts, of a cylindrical shell and lining usually of basic brick 1 and acid brick 2-, inclosed in a metal casing 3 and an arched roof 4 of acid brick or other refractory material, supported by an acid brick skewback ring 5 held Within two rings 6 and 7 of angle iron, which in turn engage the inner periphery of a metal ring 8.

The furnace bottom is composed, among other parts, of an outer metal casing 9, the

. upper edges of which are overlapped and enducting at high temperatures.

gaged by the cylindrical casing 3; a lining 10 next to the casing 9 consisting of conducting mortar composed of raphite or carbon mixed with molasses, or pitch, or other suitable material; a layer of basic or neutral brick 11 next to said lining; a layer or strata of refractory material 12 which is electrically conducting at ordinary temperatures, and a top layer 13 of refractory material which becomes electrically conducting only at high temperature. The layer 13 is provided with a pouring depression 13 leading to the pouring opening, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. This layer (13) of the furnace bottom may consist of magnesite, dolomite, chromite, ganister or other refractory material which becomes electrically con- The layer 12 may be composed of carbon, graphite, or other suitable conducting material, and the mixture is so constituted that the strata or layer 12 is of increasing conductivity downward, that is to say, when cold it is a better electrical conductor at its bottom than at its top. The bricks 11 are laid with conducting mortar which may be of the same material as the lining 10. A multiplicity of metal strips or fins 14 are welded or otherwise attached to the metal plates 9 and extend upward between bricks 11, through layer 12 and into the layer 13. The inverted arch of one or more layers of magnesite brick laid in between conducting strips 14 resists the floating up of the bottom in case the granular refractories overlying the same reak up or give Way.

Maximum strength of the furnace bottom and freedom of the same to expand are secured by making said bottom in the form of a section of a sphere, or spherical shaped. With this construction, when hot spots occur, the expansion is always outward and away from the refractories, tending to prevent bulging or breaking of the latter.

Located 180 apart and extending through the cylindrical side walls of the furnace to tort are two openings 15 and 16, the former constituting the charging opening and the latter the pouring opening. These 0 enings are provided, respectively, with re ractory lined vertically sliding doors 17 and 18, the latter in its lowermost position resting upon a refractory ledge or fore-plate 19 outside of the charging opening and supported upon an angle iron sill or fore-plate 20. The door of the pouring opening 1n its lowermost position may rest upon a slag skimmer arch or dam 21 of refractory material extendin across the pouring opening. Thedoors 1 and 18 slide vertically through fixed yokes or lintels 22 and 23, respectively, fast to the furnace shell and to an le iron sectors or straps 24 and 25 around 1; e outer and upper portions of the cylindrical shell of the furnace (see Fig. 3). These yokes and straps form a retaining band for the furnace shell across the door openings where the furnace shell is cut away. The furnace shell is not only cut away to the width of the door openings through the refractories thereof, but cut wider to allow the refractory door linings to lap the refractory linin of the shell, and also cut away above the oor openings so that the white hot refractory door linings will not bulge and burn the furnace shell when the doors are raised; this arrangement allowing the refractory door linings to project beyond the face of the door castings so as to close directly against the arches over the doors and the furnace lining at the sides of the doors.

The doors 17 and 18 are identical in construction, and the detail description of one will suffice for both. The door of the pouring opening (see Figs. 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10) comprises, among other parts, casting 26 having an insert or refractory lining 27 a plurality of vertical exterior ribs 28, and side flanges 29 and 30 adapted to travel in grooves or ways 31 and 32 in two vertical uides 33 and 34 fast to the outside of the urnace. The ribs 28 on these doors facilitate cooling, and

are placed at points thereon which require the greatest cooling. For lightness, the door frame is provided with three openings 35, 36 and 37. These doors are arched in horizontal cross section so as to fit against the cylindrical portion of the furnace shell, and better retain their refractory linings, and also have an inverted arched bottom adapted to conform to the spout-shaped arc of the refractory insert or lining 38 in the forelate or door sill casting 39 fast to the outside of the furnace shell.

For the purpose of 'ammin the door against the rear walls 0 the guides 33 and 34 to hold the same tightly closed, there are provided two resilient metal strips 40 and 41 fast, respectively, to the guides 33 and 34 and bent to extend through cut-away portions 42 and 43 of said guides into the ways in which the door travels. These jamming strips may be adjusted to take care of the varying expansions in the door and furnace shell. Each side flange 29 and of the door frame is provided with a raised portion 30" adapted to be engaged by the respective members and 421- For the purpose of raising and lowering the furnace doors, the following is provided for each door: The door is attached at its top to the lower end of a chain 44, the other end of which is attached to a sector 45 formed on one end of a lever 46 fulcrumed upon the upper end of a supporting collar 47 r1gidly mounted upon the yoke or lintel 22 of the furnace shell. The furnace door is countenbalanced by a weight 48 attached to the lever 46 through an arm 49, said weight being guided in its vertical movement by a stationary rod 50. This weight is preferably made hollow so that additional weights may be inserted therein to be removed as the refractory lining of the door burns away so as to compensate for decreasing weight of the door. The counterweight 48 may be provided with a handle 51 for raising and lowerin the same.

The urna is provided with a detachable spout 52 interchangeable with either the pouring or charging openings, thereby rendering the furnace reversible. This spout com rises, among other parts, (see particulary Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive), a metal frame or casting having a trough-shaped bottom 53, an upwardly extending forward flange 54, and a rear flange or apron 55 arched to fit the cylindrical contour of the furnace shell. This spout is lined with suitable refractory material 56 (see Fig. 2), and

is supported upon the furnace by two hooks 57 and 58 fast to each door frame, and in which .rests extensions 59 and 60 of the spout casing. The spout is held in position against the furnace by a bolt 61 and nut 62, the bolt bein mounted to swing on a rod 63 carried y two flanges 64 and 65 on the frame of each door sill, said bolt being adapted to extend through a slot 66 (see Figs. 11 and 13) formed in a plate 67 fast to the spout casing.

For supporting the furnace for tilting motion, and for operating it to effect this motion, the following mechanism is pro-p.

vided:-

Rigidly fastened to the metal casing of the bottom are two rockers 68 and 69 havin runways or longitudinally grooved tread portions 70 and 71. The ooved treads of these rockers rest, respectively, upon pairs of traction rollers 72-73 and 74-45. The roller 74 does not appear in the drawings but is located opposite the roller 72. These rollers are supported upon shafts journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the masonry foundation 76, as shown.

The furnace is tilted by imparting rotation to the rollers 72-73 and 7475, and this is effected in the case shown (see Fi 1 and 1), by mountin fast on the shafis 72 and 72 of these r01 ers, to which shafts said rollers are also fast, gears 77 and 78 meshing with pinions 79 and 80 driven by gears 81 and 82 which mesh with an intermediate pinion 83 on a power shaft 84 connecting to the armature shaft of an electric motor 85. This motor is located at one side of the furnace and underneath the charging platform 86 (see Fig. 18), where it is out of the way during the charging and slagging operations, thus permitting a slag car 87 to run beneath the rear doors 18 of a line of furnaces for catching the slag for which there is preferably provided a chute 87". The tilting motor is also out of the way of ladle 88 when set under the pouring opening. The travel of the furnace in tilting is limited in both directions by stops 89 and 90 fast to the rockers 70 and 71, and adapted to on age with the traction rollers.

n the accompanying drawings, 91 indicates the molten metal. The layer of slag, however, which would naturally always extend over this molten metal, is omitted for the sake of greater clearness in showin the construction of the retort proper. It will be understood, however, that the line 92 (Fig. 2.) indicates the approximate slag level.

The present furnace is provided with three arcing electrodes 93, 94 and 95 supported as hereinafter described and arranged with their vertical axes 120 apart. These electrodes extend into the furnace through three collars or rings 96, 97 and 98, respectively, of refractory material fitted into or forming a part of the furnace roof. These electrodes also pass, respectively, through three water cooled glands 99, 100 and 101 resting upon the refractory rings 96, 97 and 983 These glands are similar in construction so that the descri tion of one will sulfice for all. One of these glands is shown in detail in Fig. 17, from which it will be seen that the wall adjacent the electrode passage is provided with a series of annular grooves 102 which restrict the circulation of gas and romote the deposit of soot to make a better t around the electrode. There is also formed on the top of the gland an arm or flange 103 which forms a recess or cavity 104 on top of the gland, which cavity may be filled with asbestos or other suitable material to form a seal around the electrode. The casting of this gland is cored to form anannular water circulating chamber 105 arranged for connection with inlet and outlet pipes 106 and 107 disposed tangential to the water circulation chamber as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The water pipes enter at the top of the jacket annulus so that the entering velocity of the water induces the circulation around the jacket annulus and the exit pipe being at the top of the annulus sweeps out completely any accumulation of steam or gases such as might nullify the cooling effect.

Each electrode is individually supported by a clamp or holder carried on the end of an arm mounted for vertical as well as horizontal movement, so that the electrodes may be raised and lowered or swung in a horizontal plane. In the accompanying drawings, 108, 109 and 110 represent the three electrode arms, and 111, 112 and 113 the electrode clamps carried respectively by these three arms. Each of these electrode arms is in the form of a rectangular tube or box composed of flat side members 114 and 115 and top and bottom members 116 inserted between and attached to the side members to form rectangular tubes or boxing mechanically stifl' against torsion or bending stresses, and the whole made of electrical conducting material. The side members 114 and 115 extend forwardly and rearwardly of the top and bottom members of the box to form straps between which are held, re-

. spectivel y, the electrode clamp at one end of the arm and a sup orting slide or castin 117 at the other end of the arm, said block having a sleeve 118 adapted to make a sliding fit with one of three vertical columns and constituting a part of the electrode crane hereinafter more particularly described. The side members 114 and 115 of each electrode arm are rigidly attached to the slide 117 by bolts 119 and 120 thoroughly insulated from the conducting material of the electrode arm. The electrode arm is also insulated from its supporting block 117 by insulating material 121. In this way, the conducting material of the electrode arms is thoroughly insulated from its crane column and from the shell of the furnace proper. The electrical conducting sides of said electrode arms pass around opposite electrical connection therewith.

sides of the sliding sleeve and its inclosed steel hollow column so as to neutralize the inductive effects of the heavy alternating current.

One of the electrode clamps is shown in detail in Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive. Each of these clamps comprises three metal electrode engaging sections, a fixed section 122 and two hinged sections 123 and 124. The fixed section 122 has an extension 125 bolted rigidly between the side members 114 and 115 of the electrode arm so as to make a good The two sections 123 and 124 are adapted to swing on hinges 126 and 127 and are clamped around the electrode by a bolt 128 pivotally attached to a section 124 and carrylng a nut 129 adapted to be screwed against a slotted lug 130 on the section 123. The pins on hinges 126-427 are of copper, slightly oval in section, being formed by turning on two different centers so that, while the contact surfaces of said pins form accurate contact with the bore of hinges, the pins are, nevertheless, loose in the hinges and free when unclamped to open without galling or binding in the bores of the hinge leads. Each electrode clamp is double water jacketed, for which purpose each clamping member is provided with two water clrculating chambers 131 and 132 connected to inlet and outlet pipes 133 and 134 and provided with piping bridging the hinged joints and having swiveled unions 135 and 136.

For the purpose of forming a more perfect electrical connection between hinged sections 123 and 124 and fixed section 122, the former are electrically connected to the latter through flexible braided cables or bonds 137 brazed or otherwise connected to the clamp sections around and shunting the hinged joints, as shown. In the accompanying drawings, I have indicated but three such bonds for each hinge, it being understood, howcver, that in actual ractice a greater number may be employed 1f desired. In Figs. 3 and 18 of the drawings, the water piping and other details of the electrode clamps are omitted for the sake of clearness.

Each electrode arm is preferably supported on an individual crane, each of which cranes comprises a vertical column upon the upper end of which is carried a horizontally movable or swinging hoisting mechanism, hereinafter described. In the accompanying drawings, 139, 140 and 141 represent the three crane columns, each of which extends at its lower end into an individual opening in a supporting bracket 142 fast to the exterior of the furnace shell.

As hereinbefore stated, the sleeves 118 of the respective electrode arms make a sliding fit with their respective crane columns. Throughout a greater portion of the vertical movement of the electrode arms, they are held against angular movement horizontally and may be only so moved when they have been raised approximately to the upper limit of their travel. This is effected by means of a feather 143 on the crane column engaging with a slot in the collar 118 of that column.

Each crane jib 138 is fixed at one end to a swivel cap 1-1-1 rotatable on the upper end of its supporting column. The three electrode arms 108, 109 and 110 are supported, respectively, by pairs of cables -146, 147-148 and 149150 connected at their lower ends, respectively, to pairs of'hooks 151152, 15315'1 and 155-156 attached to the three electrode arms and insulated therefrom by tubes 157 and washers 158 of insulating material. Each crane jib carries two pulleys 159 and 160, over which the individual supporting chains or cables of the respective jibs pass to two pulleys 161 and 162 mounted in a bracket 163 on the top of the swivel cap (see Fig. 2), thence into the hollow column of that crane. The cables passing through the outer columns 139 and 141 pass at the lower ends of said columns over pulleys 16st and 165 (see Fig. 7) and thence over pulleys 166 and 167 at the lower end of the center column, and thence to winding drums 168 and 169. The cables of the center column pass straight down between the pulleys 166 and 167 to a winding drum 170. The point between pulleys 166 and 167 to which the cables converge from the winding drums (see Fig. 7) approxiproximately coincides with the tilting axis of the furnace, so that the tilting of the furnace will not largely affect the height of the electrodes; that is, will not raise or lower them by acting on the hoisting cables to an objectionable extent.

Within each of the hollow columns 139, 140 and 141 is a counterweight 140 attached to the hoistin cables extending through the respective COfilIIll'lS and adapted to travel vertically therein. Each of these weights is of suflicient mass to counterbalance its corresponding electrode arm without the electrode secured thereto so that, when an electrode is detached from its arm, the letter will be counterbalanced.

The hoisting drums 168, 169 and 170 are equipped with means for operating them either by electric or other power or manually, the latter being used when the electric power is off or when it is desired to raise or lower the electrodes a small amount only as in adjusting the arcs. In Fig. 6, 171 indicates the electric motor for this ur ose, and 17 2 the shaft havin a detacha le and operated crank arm 1 3 applicable at its upper end and connected at its other end through suitable gearing to the power shaft of the hoisting drums for operating the same manually.

The current is led to the electrode arms by a plurality of heavy flexible cables 174, and these are connected to their respective electrode arms by cable clamps 17 5 consisting each of a pair of plates (see Fig. 3) bolted between and in good electrical contact with extensions of the side conducting members of the respective electrode arms. The pairs of plates composing these cable clamps are provided on their interior faces with matched grooves adapted to receive the cables and extending diagonally of the horizontal axis of the electrode arms so that the cables will pass to said arms on a slant or at an an 'le, as shown in Figs. 1 and 18. These cable clamps avoid soldering or brazing of the cables where they connect to the electrode arms, at which points they are subjeot to breakage by constant bending. W'it-h the cable clamps shown, all that is necessary when a cable becomes broken or frayed at this point is to loosen the clamp, slide the cable in it, and tighten the clamp again.

The cable connections from the furnace to the transformers and the general layout of the plant are shown in Fig. 18. From this view, it will be seen that the transformers 176 (only one of which is shown) are located in a pit to one side of the furnace and preferably beneath the char 'ng platform 86, the cables 174 being broug t up therefrom to a clamp 17 6 substantial y in line with the tilting axis of the furnace and connected to the electrode arms so as to permit proper sliding and horizontal rotation of the electrode arms and, at the same time, allowing of a maximum flexibility for forward and backward tiltin movements of the furnace. It will also Fe seen that the hoisting motors 171 and their drums and gearing are located in a pit below the charging platform so as to be entirely out of the way of the heat and dust. The motor 85 for tilting the furnace, as hereinbefore pointed out, is also located in such position as to in no way interfere with the charging, slagging, or other operations.

The instrument tree 177 with motor controllers 178 and switches 179 are placed on the charging platform to one side of the a furnace in a position for the operator to convenientl observe the pouring spout. In the furnace ere shown. an electric connection is effected from the furnace bottom to a terminal or terminals in the transformer system through cables 180. In connection with Fig. 18, it might here be stated that the furnace shell and top there illustrated is shown of seamless. or continuous material. This, however, is done merel for the purpose of simplicity in the drawings, as this view is not directed to the construction of details of the furnace retort, it being understood that the construction of the retort in this case is the same as in other views. It might also be stated that the electrodes here shown are built up of longitudinal sections joined together according to common practice.

In Fig. 19, I have shown in top plan diagrammatically, the layout of several furnaces in a row, showing the charging track 181 extending along the rear of and common to the series of furnaces and on which.

travels the charging car 182. Parallel with this track and beneath it is the track 183 of the slagging car 87. The transformers 176 are located between the furnaces, as shown. The whole arrangement is such as to effect the greatest economy in space and facility of operation.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and comprising a retort, rockers on which said retort is mounted, traction rollers supporting said rockers and carrying the entire weight of the furnace, and means to drive said rollers to tilt said furnace.

2. The combination with a charging platform, of a metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically, means to tiltingly mount said furnace below said platform, a motor connected to tilt said furnace and located below said platform and to one side of the furnace, and means extending above the platform for controlling the motor.

A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and comprising a retort having a shell provided with a spherically shaped bottom, and an inverted arch-shaped refractory lining.

- 4. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and comprising a retort having a shell provided with a spherical bottom, and an inverted archshaped refractory lining made up of a plurality of layers.

5. A metallurgical furnace comprising a. retort having a spherically shaped bottom composed of a plurality of layers ofrefractory material, and electrically conducting strips extending through one or more of said layers.

6. A metallurgical furnace comprising a. retort having a bottom composed of a layer of granular refractory material normally of low electrical conductivity but which becomes a. better electric conductor When heated, a layer of granular or amorphous refractory material of normally higher electrical conductivity than the first-mentioned layer and beneath the same, a metal outer casing, a layer of granular electrical conducting material forming a lining for said casing, an inverted arch of refractory brick interposed between the second-mentioned layer and said lining of the outer casing, and a plurality of metal strips in electrical contact with said casing and extending through the spaces between said brick, through the layer next above said brick and into the first-mentioned layer.

7. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of amorphous or granular material. a layer of brick interposed between said strata, and electrically conducting strips extending from one of said strata of granular material to another of said strata through said layer of brick.

8. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of granular material, a layer of refractory material comprising an inverted arch interposed between said strata, and electrically conducting strips extending from one of said strata of granular material to another of said strata. through said arch.

9. A metallurgical furnace comprising a. retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of amorphous or other granular material, an inverted spherically shaped brick arch interposed between said strata, and electrically conducting anchor plates extending from one of said strata of granular material to another of said strata through said brick arch.

10. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of granular material, an inverted spherically shaped brick arch interposed between said strata. electrically conducting anchor plates extending from one of said strata of granular material to another of said strata through said brick arch, an outer metal casing, said anchor plates secured to said casing and extending through said brick arch and through one of said granular strata into the other.

11. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of pyro-conducting material, an inverted spherically shaped brick arch interposed between said strata, electrically conducting anchor plates extending from one of said strata of material to another of said strata through said brick arch, an outer metal casing, and anchor strips secured to said casing and extending through said brick arch and through one of said strata into the other.

12. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and comprising a retort having a pouring opening, a skimmer arch extending across said opening, and a tap hole below said arch.

13. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat. the same electrically and comprising a retort having a pouring opening, a skimmer arch extending across said opening, a tap-hole below said arch. and a charging opening opposite said opening.

14. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and having aslidable door comprising an exteriorly ribbed metal frame. and a refractory linin and means to jam the door against the si e of the furnace in closing the door.

15. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and having a sliding door provided with a refractory lining. means to jam the refractory lining of said door against the side of said furnace in closing the door. said jamming means being adjustable to compensate for the burning away of the refractory lining or warping of the door or frame.

16. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and having a sliding door provided with a ref actory lining and resilient means engaging the door to force the latter against the side of the furnace when the door is closed. said rcsilient means acting to compensate for the burning away of the refractory lining or warping of the door or frame.

17. 'A metallurgical furnace. comprising a retort. a detachable spout therefor. hooks for supporting said spoilt, and means comprising a swinging bolt to hold Said spout in position.

18. A metallurgical furnace. comprising a retort. a spout therefor having a flanged metal frame or casing lined with refractory material and having arms extending to each side thereof. hooks in which said arms are adapted to rest to support the spout. a slotted plate secured to said spout. and a swinging bolt adapted to engage a slot in said plate and provided with a nut adapted to cooperate therewith to retain said spout in position.

19. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement. a plurality of electrodes. a pivoted supporting arm for each electrode, hoisting cables attached to said electrode arms to impart vertical travel thereto. said hoisting cables being brought into proximity to each other along the pivotal axis of said pivoted arms.

20. An electrical metallurgical furnace comprising a retort having an opening in its roof. an electrode gland mounted on said roof in register with said opening and means carried by the gland for automatically sealing the space between the walls of the gland and the surface of the electrode.

21. An electrical metallurgical furnace comprising-a retort having an opening in its roof, an electrode gland mounted on said roof in register with said opening and means carried by the gland on the interior thereof for promoting the deposit of soot between the gland and the electrode thereby insuring a tight fit.

'22. A metallurgical furnace comprising an electrode. an electrical conducting arm for supporting said electrode. an electrical conducting electrode clamp carried by said arm. said clamp having a fixed water-jacket section and a pair of movable water-jacketed sections hinged to said fixed section. flexible means for electrically connecting the hinged sections with the fixed section and flexible means for connecting the water-jacket of said fixed and hinged sections in any position of the latter.

:23. In a metallurgical furnace. a retort. means for tilting the retort. a support carried by the retort. pivoted arms carried by said support. electrodes carried by the arms. said arms extending at right angles to the tilting plane and means for raising and lowering said arms.

ll. In a metallurgical furnace. a retort, means for tilting the retort. a support carried by the retort. pivoted arms carried by said support. electrodes carried by the arms, said arms extending at right angles to the tilting plane. means for raising and lowering said arms said means comprising cables secured by the arms, pulleys secured to the support ar 'anged to receive the cables. the ends of said cables being brought together along the pivotal axis of said arms.

'25. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, a vertical metal column carried by said retort, an electrode. an electrically conducting arm for supporting said electrode and carrying at one end electrode holding means. a slide to which said arm is secured at its other end. means for insulating said arm from the furnace shell. said slide being adapted to travel on said colmnn. and means to raise and lower said arm. said arm being split where it engages said slide so as to divide the electric current around the column and slide and neutralize the self-induction due to said column and slide.

26. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement. a vertical column carried by said retort, an electrode. an electrically insulated arm for supporting said electrode and carrying at one end electrode holding means. a collar to which said arm is secured at its other end, means to raise and lower said arm. and means to direct the current to neutralize self-induction.

27. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort. a column mounted thereon. and constituting a portion of a crane for lifting and supporting an electrode. an electrode arm having a slide adapted to travel 011 said col.- umn, insulated securing means for said arm, cables attached to said. securing means, pulieys carried by said crane and over which said cables pass, said securing means, cables and pulleys being so disposed as to support said arm against vertical angular movement which would increase the friction between said slide and column.

28. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, a column mounted thereon and constituting a portion of a crane for lifting and supporting an electrode, an electrode arm having a slide adapted to travel on said column, bolt hooks secured to said arm, cables attached to said hooks, a swinging arm carried by said column, and pulleys carried by said arm and over which said cables pass, said hooks, cables and pulleys being so disposed as to support said arm against vertical angular movement which would increase the friction between said slide and column and to permit said arm to rotate in a horizontal plane.

29. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, a vertical column carried by said retort, an electrode, an electrically conducting arm for supporting said electrode and carrying at one end electrode holding means, a collar to whichsaid arm is secured at its other end, means to raise and lower said arm, means for supporting said arm whereby it may swing in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said column, and hoisting means to support said electrode arm and insulate the same from the furnace shell.

30. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, a verl tical column carried by said retort, an electrode, an electrically conducting arm for supporting said electrode and carrying at one end electrode holding means, a collar to which said arm is secured at its other end, means to raise and lower said arm, a crane jib carried by said column and adapted to swing in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said column, hoisting means to support said electrode arm from the crane comprising said jib and column, said electrode arm being rotatable around the axis of said column, and means to hold said arm normally against such rotation.

31. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, a plus rality of electrodes, a supporting arm for each electrode, hoisting cables attached to said electrode arms to impart vertical travel thereto and brought into proximity to each other at a point substantially coinciding with the pivotal axis of said retort, and hoisting means for operating said cables.

32. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, an electrode, an electrically conducting hollow arm of rectangular cross-section for supporting said electrode, and a cable holder comprising a pair of cable clamping plates attached to said arm.

33. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, an electrode, an electrically conducting arm for supporting said electrode, and a cable holder comprising a pair of cable clamping plates attached to said arm and having grooves diagonal to the longitudinal direction of said arm and adapted to engage individual cables.

34. An electrical metallurgical furnace comprising an electrode, an electrically conducting arm for supporting said electrode, anelectrically conducting electrode clamp carried by said arm and having one or more hinged sections, and flexible electrical connections around said hinge connections.

35. In an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrode clam comprising fixed and movable water jac eted sections hinged together, and flexible pipe connections leading from the water jacket of one section to that of another.

36. In an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrode clam comprising fixed and movable water jac eted sections hinged toether, and pipe connections leading from t e water jacket of one section to that of another, said pipe connections including swivel unions,

37. In an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrode clamp comprising a fixed electrode clamping member, and one or more movable clamping members hinged to said fixed member.

38. In an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrode clamp comprisin one or more hinged sections, said hinge inchiding an electrically conducting hinge pin of oval crosssection.

39. In an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrode clamp comprising a fixed electrode clampin member, and two movable clamping mem ers hinged to said fixed member, and a swinging bolt forming a connection between said movable members to bind the same against the electrode.

40. An electric metallurgical furnace comprising a retort having an opening in its roof, an electrode gland mounted on said roof in register with said opening and having a plurality of interior annular grooves 0r recesses arranged to lie adjacent the electrode.

41. An electric metallurgical furnace comprising a retort having an opening in its roof, an electrode gland mounted on said roof in register with said opening, and having an annular water jacket, and inlet and outlet openings therefor arranged to direct the flow of water substantially tangential to the annular water jacket.

42. The combination with a metallurgical furnace, of a charging platform therefor,

and electrode hoistin means comprising a motor winch located neath said platform and to one side of said furnace approximately 90 from the spout thereof.

43. The combination with a tilting electric metallurgical furnace, of an electrode suporting arm carried on said furnace and fiavin" electric cable attaching means, a transformer located to one side of said furnace substantially in alinement with the vertical lane of the tilting axis thereof, and cable olding means above said transformer from which the cables are carried to said cable attaching means of the electrode arm.

44. The combination with an electric metallurgical furnace, of a chargin platform therefor, electrode hoisting mec anism comprising a cable drum located beneath said slatform, and manual means to operate said rum from said latform comprising a shaft geared to said rum and extending to -a point above said platform and provided with means for operating the same.

45. The combination with a plurality of electrically heated metallurgical furnaces arranged in a row, and each having door openings at its opposite sides in line with an axis extending transversely to the line of furnaces, a charging platform, and a track thereon common to the several furnaces, a charging car adapted to travel on said track to deliver material to any of said furnaces, a track below the said platformand common to said series of furnaces, and a slagging car ada ted to travel on the last-mentioned trac 46. A metallurgical furnace having electrical heating means and comprising a retort, rockers on which said retort is mounted, traction rollers supporting said rockers, and means carried by said rockers to limit the rocking motion thereof on said rollers.

47. A metallurgical furnace having electrical heating means and comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement and having charging and casting openings located on opposite sides of its tilting axis, means to limit the tilting movement of said retort, and power means for im arting tilting movement to said retort an located to one side thereof in a plane intermediate of said openings.

48. A metallurgical furnace having electrical heating means and comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement and having charging and casting o enings located on opposite sides of its ti ting axis, and power means for imparting tilting movement to said retort and located to one side thereof in a plane intermediate of said openm 1 49. The combination with a tilting electric metal rgical furnace, of an electrode supporting arm carried on said furnace and havin e ectric cable attaching means, a trans 'ormer in line with and b l w the tiltin axis of said furnace, a flexible electrica ly conducting cable connected at one end to said electrode arm and at its other end to said transformer, the transformer end of said cable approximately coinciding with the center of rotation of the electrode end of said cable.

50. An electrical metallur ical furnace comprising a retort mountet l for tilting movement, an electrode, an electrically conducting horizontal arm for supporting said electrode, and a cable holder comprising a pair of cable clamping plates secured to said arm, said plates being provided with interior grooves extending upwardly and outwardly and ada ted to engage individual cables.

51. T e combination with a metallurgical furnace, of a charging platform therefor, a support carried by the furnace, a plurality of electrodes carried by said support, and an electrode hoisting means comprising a motor winch located beneath said platform and to one side of said furnace approximately 90 from the spout thereof.

52. A metallurgical furnace having electrical heating means and comprising a retort, rockers on which said retort is mounted, traction rollers supporting said rockers, means for driving said traction rollers for causing a rocking motion of the furnace and means carried by said rockers to limit the rocking motion thereof on said rollers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. MOORE.

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