US2789151A - Electrode holder construction - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1957 E. F. BORON ETAL ELECTRODE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTORS EUGENE F.BORON. EARL WILUAM YOST, RICHARD M. SCRIVER a WILLIAM H.GORGA ATTO R N EYS April 16, 1957 E- F. BORON ETAL 2,789,151

ELECTRODE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTORS EUGENE F.BORON, EARL WILUAM YosT. RICHARD M.SCRIVERu y WILLIAM H.GORGA "d ATTORNEYS A ril 16, 1957 E. F. BORON ETAL 2,789,151

ELECTRODE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m RA w wm m R0 E I mamx w F H 8. WMMMM w WEWWAIA A o 0 u URH F F cAmw R m I 7 a m I- o m I April 16, 1957 E. F. BORON ETAL 2,789,151

ELECTRODE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 15,- 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 R m m mzm wmwmm &

9 2 m E m :0 v i F w $2 1 I Q m a wm s l x W m M M m H mm M m z w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 ELECTRODE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION Eugene F. Boron, Niles, Earl William Yost, Youngstown, Richard M. Scriver, North Jackson, and William H. Gorga, Warren, Ohio, assignors to Mallory-Sharon Titanium Corporation, Niles, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1955, Serial No. 515,614

18 Claims. (Cl. 13-15) Our invention relates to electrode holder construction and more specifically to a consumable electrode holder construction for use with electrodes of considerable size and weight, such as relatively large titanium electrodes, which holder supports the electrode in a vertical position for being fed vertically into a consumable electrode arc furnace.

The manufacture of products from titanium or titanium alloys requires the production of titanium or titanium alloy sheet or strip or bar or rod material which in turn must be rolled or forged from ingots or billets.

It is desirable from many standpoints that such ingots be as large as possible not only in diameter or cross-sectional area, but in mass or Weight. One procedure by which sound titanium or titanium alloy ingots may be produced involves the melting of a consumable electrode of the desired analysis in an arc furnace to form an ingot of substantially greater cross-sectional area than the crosssectional area of the electrode consumed; and then to utilize such ingots as an electrode, by securing a number of the same together end to end, and remelting the same in another consumable electrode arc furnace to produce the final desired ingot of increased cross-section and size.

The electrodes for the initial melting operation may be formed of a series of compressed bars of titanium sponge welded together side by side and end to end, the same normally having a rectangular or square cross-section. The intermediate ingots formed from the first melting operation may be round so that the consumable electrode formed by securing several of the same together end to end may have a round cross-section. Alterna'tely, any of such consumable electrodes may be formed of scrap titanium of known analysis consolidated in some manner to provide a current-conducting bar.

In the operation of a consumable electrode arc furnace for melting titanium or titanium alloys, the electrode is clamped and supported in a vertical position by means of an electrode holder. The electrode holder and therefore the electrode are then lowered vertically into the furnace at a steady rate determined by the speed at which the electrode is being arc melted, with'the molten metal flowing into and solidifying in a mold positioned in the lower portion of the furnace.

Certain problems are encountered, however, in the design and construction of an electrode holder for such a use. One problem is that the electrode holder must be provided with cooling means, since the electrode and the electrode holder must be lowered into extremely high temperature Zones in the furnace, particularly as the portion nearest the electrode holder is consumed. Moreover, the melting chamber of such an arc furnace is provided with a controlled, usually argon, atmosphere to prevent oxidation of titanium during melting and cooling.

Thus, the electrode holder is exposed to a great amount of heat.

A further problem is that the electrode holder, including both the supporting and clamping portions thereof, must be formed of a material which will readily conduct Patented Apr. 16, 1957 "ice electricity, since electricity must be conducted to and through the electrode during the entire melting operation. Such materials usually have a relatively low strength, for instance, copper, but yet the electrode holder must be constructed so that it will support an electrode of considerable size and weight without failure at high temperature.

A still further requirement of the electrode holder is that the clamping means thereof should be readily detachable from the support and cooling portions in order to enable the electrode clamping means to be secured to the electrode at a location remote from the furnace. This latter requirement arises because of the practical difficulty of securing the clamping means to the electrode while both are suspended above a furnace which can be sealed readily for maintaining the controlled atmosphere therein. However, when the clamping means is properly secured to the electrode at a convenient work station so as to obtain the desired supporting and current-conducting connection therebetween, such clamping means may be readily engaged while suspended above a furnace laterally with the support and cooling portion of the electrode holder.

Finally, another requirement is that, although the clamping and supporting portions of the electrode holder must be readily detachable from each other, when connected, they must form a unit of sufficient strength to support a relatively large and heavy electrode. Also, the connector or coupling must be one which may be quickly and conveniently connected or disconnected.

Certain prior electrode holder constructions have supported the clamping portion thereof through a threaded connection with copper cooling and supporting pipes. Such threaded connections does not, however, provide the desired strength for supporting a relatively large electrode, due to the relatively low strength of copper and the fact that the entire weight of the electrode must be carried by the threads.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position which overcomes the stated difficulties and problems of prior constructions and meet the necessary requirements of cooling, strength and detachability.

it is a primary object of the present invention to pro vide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace which may be constructed substantially entirely of a relatively low strength material having high current conductivity, such as copper, but yet which will support an electrode of considerable size and weight.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace in which the cooling pipes form the supporting portion thereof and the clamping portion is detachably secured thereto by means which transmit the entire load of the electrode directly to the supporting pipes independent of any pipe thread connection, thereby removing all of said load from any pipe thread connection present in the holder assembly.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace in which the clamping portion may be secured to the electrode at a point remote from the furnace and the supporting portion of the electrode holder, so that the electrode may be thereafter moved to the furnace and quickly and conveniently attached to the supporting portion of the holder.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace in which the clamping portion thereof is provided with convertible plate means for quickly and conveniently adapting the clamping portion for use with electrodes having cross-sections of dilferent size and configuration.

It is another-object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in which double clamping means is provided for clamping the electrode at vertically spaced points giving a secure clamping action sufficient to support an electrode of considerable size and weight.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace in which the double clamping means is formed of material having high current conductivity, thereby permitting the lower positioned of said clamping means to serve as the primary means for conducting electricity into the electrode.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode holder for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace, which satisfies all of the above objects in a simple and relatively inexpensive manner.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of which-illustrative of the best modes of which applicants have contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In general terms, the electrode holder construction comprising the present invention for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace may be stated as including a supporting portion and a clamping portion mounted on said supporting portion. The supporting portion is preferably detachably threadably engaged with a clamping portion engagement member with other connection means between said portion and member directly connecting the same and transmitting substantially all of any load between said portion and member and eliminating substantially all of said load from said threaded connection therebetween. Also, said engagement member may be fixedly secured to the remainder of the clamping portion or may form a part of T-slot means detachably securing the remainder of the clamping portion thereon.

More specifically, the supporting portion preferably includes generally verticalb-extending cooling and supporting pipe means having pipe thread connection with the engagement member. The pipe means and engage ment member are also preferably directly connected by other connection means transmitting substantially all of any load on said engagement member to the pipe means and eliminating substantially all of said load from the pipe threaded connection between said member and pipe means.

The supporting portion connection means preferably includes a plug member secured in the end of the pipe means and fastening means engaged with said plug member and the engagement member. The fastening means may be a screw member received through and engaged with the engagement member and threadably engaged with the plug member. In the alternative, the plug member may be received through the engagement member and washer means may be engaged with the plug member'and the engagement member.

More specifically, the clamping portion may include clamping means mounted on the engagement member. Preferably, this clamping means is detachably mounted on the engagement member for selective disengagement therefrom. Also, the clamping means may comprise a single clamp member contacting the electrode over a portion of the length thereof, with said clamp member being provided with interchangeable face plate means for adapt- 4 ing said clamp member for use with electrodes of various sizes and cross-sectional shapes.

Further, the clamp means may, in the alternative, comprise a first clamp means for contacting and clamping the extreme upper end portion of the electrode and a second clamp means connected to and spaced downwardly from said first clamp means for contacting and clamping the electrode at a zone spaced from the extreme end portion thereof. The first clamp means may be fixedly secured the engagement member or may comprise upwardly ardiy-extending generally L-shaped arm members eg a t -slot therebetween detachably engaged with the engagement member in T-slot fashion for selective disengagement therefrom.

Additionally, the first clamp means is preferably provided with a laterally-extending slot formed therein intermediate the distance between the L-shaped arm members receiving the engagement member and the supporting portion connection means screw member when the L-shaped arms are engaged with the engagement member. Finally, the first clamp means preferably includes circumfere'ntially spaced radially extending clamping screws and the second clamp means is preferably a split ring clamp means.

By way of example, embodiments of the electrode holder construction comprising the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, part in section, showing one form of electrode holder construction of the present invention;

Fig. 2, a side elevation, part in section, showing the electrode holder of Fig. l with an electrode clamped and sup ported therein;

Fig. 3, a vertical section looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a horizontal section looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a horizontal section looking in the direction of the arrows 55 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary vertical section, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 66 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7, a top plan view, part in section, of a second embodiment of the electrode holder construction;

Fig. 8, a vertical section, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 8$, in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, a horizontal section, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 99 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, a top plan view, part in section, of a third embodiment of the electrode holder construction;

Fig. 11, a horizontal section, looking in the direction of the arrows 1-111 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 12, a vertical section, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows l212 in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13, a fragmentary horizontal section looking in the direction of the arrows 13-13 in Fig. 12.

The electrode holder construction comprising the present invention preferably includes a supporting portion generally indicated at 20 and a clamping portion generally indicated at 21, as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6. The main parts of portions 20 and 21 are preferably all formed from copper or other material which will readily conduct electricity, except certain minor elements thereof as hereinafter described.

The supporting portion 20 preferably includes the vertically extending cooling and supporting pipes 22 and 23 for supporting the electrode holder in a vertical position above a suitable consumable electrode arc furnace (not shown). Cooling pipes 22 and 23 extendupwardly and are closed at the upper end thereof and supported by preferably a generally U-shaped yoke (not shown) which maybe engaged'by any suitable means'to selectively lower the electrode holder having a titanium electrode or the like supported therein downwardly into the consumable electrode furnace. t

Pipe 23 is of smaller diameter than pipe 22 and is re ceived telescopically therein, as shown. Further, the lower end of pipe 23 is provided with a series of spaced circulation apertures 24 formed through the side wall thereof, so that a cooling medium, such as water, may be connected to the pipe 22 and will flow downwardly in pipe 22 along the outer surface of pipe 23 through the apertures 24 into the pipe 23, and up pipe 23 to be discharged out of an outlet at the upper end of pipe 23.

As best seen in Fig. 3, pipe 22 is preferably provided with threads 25 around the outer periphery at the lower end thereof, and is also provided with a plug member 26 received telescopically in the closing the lower end thereof, with plug member 26 preferably being secured in place by welding, as at 27. Further, the lower end of the pipe 23 is received in an axially extending centrally located opening 28 formed in the plug member 26, as shown, thereby sealing the lower end of pipe 23.

Engagement member 29 of clamping portion 21 is preferably of three dimensional rectangular configuration and is provided with the top surface 30, bottom surface 31 and side surfaces 32, 33, 34 and 35. A threaded opening 36 is formed centrally through top surface 30 extending downwardly into engagement member 29 to a point spaced from the lower surface 31 thereof, with the lower end of pipe 22 being threadably engaged therein, so that the threads 25 on pipe 22 are engaged in the threaded opening 36.

Further, a smaller bolt opening 37 is formed in engagement member 29 extending centrally from the lower end of threaded opening 36 to the bottom surface 31. Bolt 38 is received through bolt opening 37 and is threadably received and engaged in plug member 26 secured in the lower end of the pipe 22 as at 39, with bolt 38 being provided with the washer 40, which washer abuts the bottom surface 31 of engagement member 29.

Thus, any vertical load carried by the engagement member 29 is transmitted through the washer 40, bolt 38 into the plug member 26 and consequently, into the pipe 22, independent of the pipe threads 25, thus removing said load from the threads 25 of pipe 22. This embodiment of the invention thus includes connection means between the engagement 29 and the pipe 22 other than the threaded connection of the threads 25 and the threaded opening 36, which other connection means carries the suspended load between engagement member 29 and pipe 22, thereby preventing substantially all of any such load from being transmitted through the pipe thread connection between member 29 and pipe 22.

The clamping portion generally indicated at 21 preferably further includes a first clamp means generally indicated at 41 and a second clamp means generally indicated at 42 connected to and spaced downwardly from clamp means 41. The first clamp means 41 includes the generally cylindrical portion 43 having a centrally located opening 44 formed axially therein extending from the lower end 45 upwardly, forming the clamping ring portion 46.

Further, cylindrical portion 43 has a diametrically extending slot 47 formed in the top surface 48 thereof, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Still further, cylindrical portion 43 has the spaced upwardly inwardly extending generally L-shaped arm members 49 and 50 preferably formed integrally therewith and extending upwardly from the top surface 48.

Arm members 49 and 50 are provided with the vertically extending portions 51 and 52 and the generally horizontally inwardly extending portions 53 and 54 connected to the upper ends of portions 51 and 52, respectively. All of portions 51, 52, 53 and 54 are preferably of equal width, and portions 51 and 52 are in spaced parallel alignment, so. that the horizontally extending portions 53 and 54 are in generally horizontal alignment,

with the inner end surfaces 55 of portion 53 spaced from but parallel to the inner end surface 56 of portion 54.

Thus, a T-slot is formed by the arm members 49 and 5t) and the top surface 48 of the cylindrical portion 43, with the horizontal distance between the vertically extending portions 51 and 52 of arm members 49 and 50 being slightly greater than the width of the engagement member 29 between the side surfaces 32 and 34, the ver tical distance between the horizontally extending portions 53 and 54 of arms 49 and 50 and the top surface 48 of cylindrical portion 43 being slightly greater than the height of engagement member 29 between the bottom surface 31 and the top surface 30, and the horizontal distance between the inner end surfaces 55 and 56 of horizontally extending portions 53 and 54 being slightly greater than the outer diameter of cooling pipe 22.

The engagement member 29 therefore may be laterally received an engaged with the arm members 49 and 50 in T-slot fashion, with the side furfaces 32 and 34 of member 29 spaced inwardly from the vertical portions 51 and 52 (Fig. 3), the top surface 30 of member 29 engaged beneath the horizontally extending portions 53 and 54, pipes 22 and 23 extending vertically upwardly between the inner end surfaces 55 and 56 of portions 53 and 54, and with the bottom surface 31 of member 29 spaced upwardly from the top surface 48 of cylindrical portion 43. Further, the head end of the bolt 38 may be received in the diametrically extending slot 47 formed in the top surface 48 of cylindrical portion 43.

Engagement member 29 of supporting portion 20 may be secured in engagement with the arm members 49 arm 50 of clamping portion 21 by any usual fastening means, such as the series of downwardly extending bolts 57 received through the horizontally extending portion 53 of arm 49 into engagement member 29, with the lower ends thereof received and engaged in the inserts 58. Also, a similar series of bolts 59 may be received through the horizontally extending portion 58 of arm 50 into engagement member 29 and into the inserts 60.

Clamping ring portion 46 of cylindrical portion 43 is preferably provided with a steel or otherwise hardened material facing ring 61 secured in the opening 44 of ring portion 46. Further, a series of circumferentially spaced radially extending inserts 62 are received through and secured in the clamping ring portion 46, with the clamping screws 63 being threadably engaged with and received through inserts 62, as best seen in Fig. 4.

A series of preferably four horizontally extending slots 64 are formed at equally spaced intervals around the outer circumferential surface 46 of cylindrical portion 43, with slots 64 extending from the lower end 45 of portion 43 to a point spaced downwardly from the top surface 43 thereof. Generally rectangular cross-section arms 5 are received in slots 64, with arms 65 extending downwardly from the lower end 45 of cylindrical portion 43, and with these arms being secured in slots 64 by any usual fastening means such as the fastening screws 66, as best seen in Fig. 6.

The second clamp means 42 is secured to the lower ends of arms 64 as by studs 67 and welding as at 68. As best seen in Fig. 5, the second clamp means 42 is preferably of a split ring construction including the four similar segments 69, each of which is secured to one of the arms 65.

Segments 69 are provided with outwardly extending and portions 70, with the connecting bolts 71 being received through end portions 70 securing the various segments 69 in ring-like position. Further, the end portions 70 are preferably provided with the bracing members 72 preferably secured thereto by the fastening screws 73.

Thus, with the electrode holder construction illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6, the clamping portion 21 may be conveniently detached from the supporting portion 20 by disengaging andremoving the bolts 57 from the engreener gagementmember 29. After removal of the bolts 57, the clamping portion 21 may be moved horizontally in reference to the supporting portion as, so that the cooling pipes 22 and 23 and engagement member 29 are disengaged from the T-slot formed by the arm members 49 and 50. Also,- as the engage ent member 29 is moved horizontally, the bolt 38 engaged in the plug member 26 may move horizontally in the slot 47 formed in the cylindrical portion 4-3. When the clamping portion 21 is detached from the supporting portion 20, as described, the bolt'38 is accessible for removal to permit engaging member 29 to be unscrewed from the end or" pipe 22'.

- Thereafter, the clamping portion 21 may be removed to a desired location and at said location may be engaged with the end portion of a consumable electrode '74 formed of the material to be melted in the consumable electrode arc furnace, for instance, titanium. The end of the electrode 74 illustrated is of cylindrical configuration and for this reason, the first and second clamp means 41 and 42 of the electrode holder are constructed for reception of said cylindrical electrode end. However, if electrode 74 is of rectangular or square cross-section or otherwise, the first and second clamp means 41 and 42 may be constructed to receive such other configuration without departing from the principles of the present invention. The extreme end portion of electrode 74 is received within the facing ring 61 positioned in the opening 44 of clamping ring portion 46, and the clamping screws 63 are moved threadably inwardly to engage the outer periphery of said electrode end portion. With the end portion of the electrode 74- securely clamped in the first clamp means 41, the second clamp means 42 is positioned surrounding a portion of the outer periphery of electrode 74 spaced from the first clamp means 41. The connecting bolts 71 may then be tightened to draw the end portions 70 of adjacent segments 69 in a direction toward each other, so that the various segments 69 securely clamp the outer periphery of electrode 74.

With electrode 74 thus engaged with the clamp means of clamping portion 21, this electrode and clamp means may then be moved to the position of the supporting portion 26 above the consumable electrode arc furnace, and the clamping portion 21 may again be engaged laterally with the supporting portion 20 in T-slot fashion, as described above and as illustrated. Electric power connected (not shown) to the upper end portion of cooling and supporting pipe 22 passes through the pipe 22, engagement member 29, arm members 49 and 51) into the first clamp means 41 and also into the second clamp means 42, to electrode 74. Since the second clamp means 42 contacts the outer periphery of the electrode 74 through preferably copper segments 69, the second clamp means constitutes the primary means of conducting current into electrode 74. Furthermore, current is conducted through the various parts of the electrode holder described quite readily as subtsantially all of the parts are formed preferably of copper.

Thus, in the electrode holder construction illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6 and described above, cooling is provided for the electrode holder by the cooling and supporting pipes 22 and 23, so that as the electrode 7 and the electrode holder comprised of the clamping portion 21 and the supporting portion 29 are lowered into the consumable electrode are furnace, cooling medium such as water flowing down pipe 22 and up pipe 23 will rapidly remove heat from supporting and clamping portions 20 and 21. Further, the entire load of the electrode 74 is supported by the pipe 22- independent of the pipe thread engagement between pipe 22 and engagement member 29, since substantially all of said load is transmitted from engagement member 29 through bolt 38 into plug member 26 and through weld 27 directly to pipe 22.

Still further, since pipe 22, engagement member 29', first clamp means 41 and second clamp means 42' are all formed from a material which will readily conduct electricity, such as copper, electricity may be easily and conveniently conducted into the electrode 74. Even though these various parts are made of a material which has relatively low strength, the T-slot connection between the first clamp means 41 and the engagement member 29, and the bolt and plug connection between engagement member 29 and pipe 22, enables the electrode holder construction to provide sufificient strength to tightly clamp and support an electrode of considerable size and weight. Also, with the provision of double clamp means formed by the first and second clamp means 41 and 42, the electrode is securely clamped and supported therein.

Finally, again due to the T-slot connection of clamping portion 21, the clamp means of clamping portion 21 may be conveniently removed from supporting portion 2i and securely clamped on the end portion of an electrode 745 at a point remote from the consumable electrode arc furnace. After such clamping, the electrode '7 and the clamp means of clamping portion 21 may be quickly and conveniently engaged with and secured on the supporting portion 20 by lateral movement above the furnace,

The second embodiment of the electrode holder construction comprising the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8- and 9. Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes a supporting portion generally indicated at 12%) and a clamping portion generally indicated at 1211.

Supporting portion similarly includes the cooling and supporting pipes 122 and 123, with pipe 123 having the apertures 124. Also, the pipe 122 is provided with the plug member 126 which is secured therein by welding, as at 127, and additional plug welds 175 are provided through the pipe 122 into plug member 126 at circumferentially spaced points spaced upwardly from the lower end of plug member 126.

A clamping portion engagement member 129 is threadably engaged with the lower end of pipe 122; and bolt 133 is received through bolt opening 137 of engagement member 129 and threadably engaged with plug member 126, thereby transmitting any load on engagement member 129 directly to plug member 126, and relieving substant-ially all of said load from the pipe thread connection between engagement member 129 and pipe 122.

The clamping portion 121 in the second embodiment also is provided with generally L-shaped arm members 149 and 150. However, these arm members extend downwardly from engagement member 129 and form a part of the single clamp means generally indicated at 176. Arm members 149 and 15 when mounted on engage- Inent member 129 are secured in position by a, series of bolts 156 and 157 which extend completely through engagement member 129 and are received through generall-y L-shaped attachment brackets 177 and 17S.

Brackets 177 and 173' preferably extend through the complete width of arm members 149 and 15d and are secured to the inner surfaces of these arm members by welding or other usual fastening means. Bolts 156 and 157 are secured with brackets 177 and '78 by the series of nuts 179 and 189. Thus, bolts 156 and 157 removably retain the engagement member 129 and the arm members 149 and 1% in assembled position.

The single clamp means 176 includes a set of plates 181,, which have substantially the same width as arm members 149 and and are secured to the inner faces of these arm members and extend from the lower ends of the arm members upwardly to a zone spaced downward-1y from the attachment brackets 177 and 178. A

second: set of plates 182, similar in configuration to plates 18-1, is mounted abutting the outer surfaces of arm members 149 and 150.

A set of detachable or convertible clamp plates 183 is mounted: abutting the inner or opposed surfaces of plates 1 81, as shown. The inner faces 184 of plates 183' are .9 provided with vertically extending grooves 185. Plates 183 are retained in assembled position by vertically spaced clamping bolts 186 and 187, which extend the complete width of the single clamp means 176 between the outer surfaces of plates 182; and the bolts 186 and 187 are secured in position by the nuts 188 and 189. Also, each of the clamping bolts 186 extends through plates 131, 182, 183 and arm members 149 and 150 in a plane spaced inwardly from the side edges thereof and spaced outwardly from the grooves 185 formed in the plates 184, and clamping bolts 187 are similarly located.

Thus, the end portion of an electrode may be received vertically between the plates 183 and between the sets of clamping bolts 186 and 187, and the nuts 188 and 189 may be tightened to clamp the electrode securely-in the single clamp means 176. It should be understood that grooves 185 formed in plates 183 may or may not be provided. Also these grooves may be of any suitable configuration depending on the particular cross-sectional configuration of the electrode. Also, plates 183 are readily detachable from the single clamp means 176 merely by removing the clamping bolts 186 and 187, so that plates of different shapes may be readily mounted in or removed from the clamp means 176.

The second embodiment of electrode holder also provides the feature of convenient selective detachment of the clamp means clamping portion 121 laterally slidably from the supporting portion 120. A further element which may be provided for guiding the clamping portion 121 into proper engagement with the supporting portion 120 is the guide member 190, which is best seen in Fig. 7.

Guide member 190 may be secured to the top surface of engagement member 129, as shown, with the arcuate portion 191 thereon spaced from the outer surface of pipe 122. Also, guide member 190 has a width silghtly less than the horizontal distance between the upper ends of arm members 149 and 150, so that as the arm members 149 and 150 are moved into engagement with the engagement member 129, these arm members will slide along the side edges of and be guided into proper position by the guide member 190. Also, guide member 190 prevents arms 149 and 150 from contacting pipe 122, thereby preventing damage to the pipe.

Thus, the second embodiment of electrode holder provides the feature of having the clamp means of the clamping portion 121 of the electrode holder readily detachable from the supporting portion 120, so that the clamp means may be attached to an electrode at a location remote from the consumable electrode arc furnace, and may be thereafter moved to the furnace where the electrode holder may again be quickly and conveniently assembled. Further, the second embodiment provides means between the pipe 122 and the engagement member 129 preventing substantially all of any load carried by engagement member 129 from being transmitted through any pipe thread connection between pipe 122 and member 129.

The third embodiment of the electrode holder construction of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13. In this instance, the electrode holder construction also includes a supporting portion generally indicated at 220 and a clamping portion generally indicated at 221.

Supporting portion 220 includes cooling pipes 222 and 223; and pipe 222 is threadably engaged with an engagement portion 292a forming a part of and fixedly secured to cylindrical portion 292 of clamping portion 221.

A plug member 226 is located in the lower end of pipe 222 and extends downwardly below the lower end of pipe 222. The sides of the lower end of plug 226 are tapered inwardly to form a reduced diameter portion 293 thereon below the lower end of pipe 222. A ring member 294 is secured surrounding the lower end of reduced diameter portion 293 spaced downwardly from the lower end of pipe 222, thereby forming an engagement groove 295 between ring member 294 and the lower end of pipe 222.

Engagement portion 292a is formed with a centrally. located axially extending cylindrical opening 296 extending from the lower edge thereof upwardly and communicating with the threaded opening 236 formed in portion 292;: for threaded reception of pipe 222. Opening 296, however, has a larger diameter than threaded opening 236, thereby forming the offset portion 297 at the upper end of opening 296.

Thus, pipe 222 may be threaded into opening 236 of engagement portion 292a until the lower end of pipe 222 is even with or extends slightly below the lowermost surface of portion 292a. Thereafter, two halves of a split ring washer 298 may be received in the groove 295 and surrounding part of the reduced diameter portion 293 of plug member 226.

Pipe 222 may then be threaded in a direction to move it upwardly until split washer 29S abuts the offset portion 297 between the cylindrical opening 296 and the threaded opening 236 of engagement portion 292a. In this way washer 298 forms fastening means between plug member 226 and portion 292 and any load on cylindrical portion 292 is transmitted through the offset portion 297, washer 293, and ring member 294 into plug member 226 and thereafter directly into pipe 222. This prevents any load from being carried by the pipe thread connection between pipe 222 and engagement portion 292a of cylindrical portion 292.

In this third embodiment, the cooling pipe 223 is positioned within pipe 222 so that the lower end of pipe 223 is spaced upwardly from plug member 226. Thus, cooling medium may be circulated down pipe 222, outwardly of pipe 223 and enter the lower end of pipe 223, and thereafter travel up pipe 223 and out the upper end portion thereof.

Cylindrical portion 292 is provided with an offset portion 299 around the outer circumference of engagement portion 292a at the lower end thereof. Clamping ring portion 246 is preferably integrally connected with a cylindrical ring portion 300 forming a part of cylindrical portion 292, which ring portion 300 is provided with an offset portion 301 at the inner circumference and spaced from the lower end thereof.

Ring portion 300 surrounds engagement portion 292a with the offset 301 of ring portion 300 engaged with the offset 299 of engagement portion 292a, and portions 292a and 300 are secured together preferably by welding. Also, clamping ring portion 246 extends downwardly from the lower surfaces of ring portion 300 of cylindrical portion 292, and is provided with clamping screws 263 threadedly received therethrough at circumferentially spaced points.

Another ring portion 302 forming a part of cylindrical portion 292 is positioned abutting the top surface of ring portion 300 and surrounds the outer surface of engagement portion 292a to which it is welded. Thus, engagement portion 292a, ring portions 300 and 302 and clamping ring portion 246 form a single assembly.

Also, clamping ring portion 246 provides a first clamp means 241, and a second clamp means 242 is provided spaced downwardly from the first clamp means. Arms 265 connect the first and second clamp means 241 and 242 and are formed of generally L-shaped configuration, with the upper ends thereof engaged over the ring portion 302. Each of the arms 265 is secured at circumferentially spaced points to the clamping ring portion 246 by screws 303, as' best seen in Fig. 11. The second clamp means 242 may be secured to arms 265 spaced downwardly from the first clamp means 241 by any usual fastening means.

Clamp means 242 is preferably of split ring construction including two generally semi-circular segments 269, and segments 269 are provided with end portions 270, adjacent end portions of the segments being connected by bolts 271.

Thus, in the third embodiment,- the clamping portion 221 is selectively detachable from the supporting portion 220 through the threaded connection between the cooling pipe 222 and the cylindrical portion 292. However, connection means is provided by the plug member 22d, ring member 294, split ring washer 293 and the offset portion 297 on cylindrical portion 292, which transmits any load on cylindrical portion 292 directly to the pipe 222, thereby preventing any of said load from being carried by the pipe threaded connection between pipe 222 and cylindrical portion 292.

Still further, the third embodiment clamping portion 221 is provided with a first and second clamp means 241 and 242, which clamp means may be secured to the end portion of an electrode,- with clamp means 241 receiving the extreme end portion of the eiectrode and clamping the same by means of the clamping screws 263, and with the second clamp means 242 en aging the outer periphery of the electrode and clamping the same at a point spaced from the end thereof. Thus, clamping action is obtained by tightening the connecting bolts 271, thereby clamping the segments 269 securely around the elect'r'ode.

In this embodiment, when the electrode is clamped in the clamping portion 221, it is necessary that the upper end of the electrode be spaced downwardly from the lower surface of ring portion 399 and cylindrical portion 292, so that when the electrode and clamping portion 221 are engaged with the pipe 222, there will be sufficient distance between the electrode and cylindrical portion 292 for the pipe 222 to be received therethrough and extend from the lower surface thereof, thereby permitting the engagement of split ring washer 298, as described above.

In each of the three embodiments illustrated and described, cooling means is provided for the electrode holder by the cooling pipes, which also serve as the supporting portion of both the electrode holder and an electrode held therein. When the electrode holder and electrode are lowered into a consumable electrode arc furnace and power is supplied thereto, the cooling pipes will carry away heat to which the holder is subjected and therefore prevent the electrode holder from overheating.

Further, in each of the three embodiments, the major portions thereof, due to their unique construction and attachment, may be formed from materials which will readily conduct electricity, but which are of relatively low strength, so that a source of power may be connected to the upper ends of the pipes and transmitted through the cooling pipes to the clamping portion of the electrode holder and thence into the electrode.

Due to the unique connection means between the lower end of the outer cooling pipe and the other portions of the electrode holder, any load on the electrode holder is transmitted free of pipe thread connection directly to the outer cooling pipe. Since no load is transmitted through any pipe thread connection, an electrode holder construction is provided which, even though formed from relatively low strength material, has sufiicient strength to support an electrode of considerable size and weight.

Finally, in each of the three embodiments, the clamping portion of the electrode holder is readily and conveniently detachable from the supporting portion thereof. For this reason, the clamp means of the clamping portion may be removed from connection with the supporting portion and attached to an electrode at a location remote from the consumable electrode arc furnace, with said assembled electrode and clamping means thereafter being moved to the furnace and quickly connected to the supporting portion.

In the first and third embodiments, double clamping means are provided with one clamping means clamping' the extreme end portion of the electrode and with the other clamping means clamping a portion of the 12 electrode spaced from the end portion thereof.- Thus, the lower clamping means" forms the primary power connection for the electrode and the upper clamping means forms a secure support for the electrode.

In the second embodiment, a single clamping means is provided which clamps a portion of the length of the electrode and the clamping means also is provided with detachable plate means adapting the electrode holder for use in supporting electrodes of diiferent cross-sectional shapes and sizes,- such as square, rectangular or circular. it shouid be understood, however, that although this detachabie plate construction is shown in the second embodiment as a single clamp means, that this same construction could be incorporated in the double clamp means of the first and third embodiments.

Thus, the electrode holder construction of the present invention for supporting an electrode in vertical position in an arc furnace, overcomes certain stated diliiculti'es and problems of prior constructions and meets the stated necessary requirements; may be constructed substantially entirely of a relatively low strength material which is a good conductor of electiicit such as copper, but yet which will support an electrode of considerable size and weight; includes a construction in which the cooling pipes form the supporting portion thereof and the clamping portion is detachably secured thereto by means transmitting the entire load of the electrode directly to the supporting pipes free of any pipe thread connections; includes a construction in which the clamping portion may be secured to the electrode at a point remote from the furnace and the supporting portion of the electrode holder and the electrode thereafter may be moved to the furnace and quickly and conveniently attached to the supporting portion of the holder; provides a construction in which the clamping portion is provided with convertible means for quickly and conveniently adapting the clamping portion for use with electrodes having crosssections of ditferentsizes and shapes; provides a construction in which double clamping means is provided for clamping the electrode at vertically spaced points giving a secure clamping action sufricient to support an electrode of considerable size and weight, and in which the double clamping means is formed of material which is a good conductor of electricity, thereby making the lower positioned clamping means, the primary means of conducting electricity into the electrode; and provides a construction in which all of these advantageous features are obtained in a simple and relatively inexpensive manner.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearn'ess and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be impiied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof. and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructiori and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

We c laim:

l. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including a supporting portion, a clamping portion removably connected to the supporting portion, other connection means between the clamping and supporting portions, said other connection means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the clamping portion to said supporting portion, and clamp means on the clamping portion for clamping" an end parties of an electrode.

2. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, a clamping portion threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means with at least a portion thereof extending below said pipe means, said plug means extending portion having a slot formed therein, split washer means engaged in said plug means slot and with the clamping portion, said plug means and split washer means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the clamping portion to said supporting pipe means, and clamp means on the clamping portion for clamping an end portion of an electrode.

3. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, other means further connecting the engagement member and pipe means, said other means transmittng substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, and clamp means on the clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode.

4. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including a supporting portion, a clamping portion threadably connected to the supporting portion, other connection means between the clamping and supporting portions, said other connection means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the clamping portion to said supporting portion, clamp means on the clamping portion for clamping an end portion of an electrode, and said clamp means having face plate means detachably secured thereto; whereby said face plate means may be selectively detached from said clamp means and replaced by a second face plate means of different configuration for adapting the clamp means to electrodes of difierent configurations.

5. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and sup porting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means, fastening means engaged with the engagement member and with the pipe means plug means, said plug means and fastening means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, and clamp means on the clamping member for engaging and clamping an end portion of an electrode.

6. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means, fastening means engaged with the engagement member and with the pipe means plug means, said' plug means-and fastening means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a first clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, clamp means on the first clamping member for engaging and clamping an extreme end portion of an electrode, a second clamping member connected to and spaced from the first clamping member, and second clamp means on the second clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode spaced from said extreme end portion.

7. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means, fastening means engaged with the engagement member and with the pipe means plug means,

said plug means and fastening means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, and said clamping member having face plate means detachably secured thereto for clamping an end portion of an electrode; whereby said face plate means may be selectively detached from said clamping member and replaced by a second face plate means of different configuration for adapting the clamping member to electrodes of difierent configurations.

8. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means, fastening screw means engaged with the engagement member and the plug means, said fastening screw means and plug means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a first clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, first clamp means on the first clamping member for engaging and clamping an extreme end portion of an electrode, a second clamping member connected to and spaced from the first clamping member, and second clamp means on the second clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode spaced from said extreme end portion.

9. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means, fastening screw means engaged with the engagement member and the plug means, said fastening screw means and plug means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member to said pipe means, a clamping member having a T-slot formed therein, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, and said clamping member having face plate means detachably secured thereto for clamping an end portion of an electrode; whereby said face plate means may be selectively detached from said clamping member and replaced by a second face plate means of different configuration for adapting the clamping member to electrodes of different configurations.

1t). Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, a clamping portion threadably connected to the pipe means, plug means connected to the pipe means with at least a portion thereof extending from said pipe means, said plug means extending portion having a slot formed therein, split washer means engaged in said plug means slot and engaged with the clamping portion, said plug means and split Washer means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the clamping portion to said pipe means, first clamp means on the clamping portion for clamping an extreme end portion of an electrode, and second clamp means connected to and spaced from the first clamp means for clamping an end portion of an electrode spaced from said extreme end portion.

ll. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means, other connection means between the engagement member and pipe means, said other connection means transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member to said pipe means, a first clamping member on the clamping portion for clamping an extreme end portion of an electrode, said first clamping member having spaced generally L- shaped arm members forming a T-siot therebetween, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, a second clamping member connected to and spaced from the first clamping members, and second clamp means on the second clamping member for clam ing an and or tion of an electrode spaced from said electrode extreme end portion. v

12. Electrode holder const-ruetion for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, an engagement member threadaljly connected to the pipe means,- other connection means between the engagement member and pipe means, said other connection means transmit-ting substari" ly' all of any loadcarried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode, said clamping member having spaced generally L-shaped arms forming a T-slot therebetwcen, the engagement member being engaged in said T-slot, and said clampiiig member having face plate means detachably secured thereto; \yhe'r'e'y said face plate means may be selectively detached from said clamping n c. or and replaced by a second face plate means of ditierent configuration for adapting the clamping member to electrodes of different configurations.

l3. Electrode holder c 'nstruction for supporting an electrode in Vertical posit :1 includingcooling and supporting pipe means having an endportion, an engage merit member threadably connected to the pipe i'rlcan's end portion, a plug mounted in the pipe means end pertion, a fastening screw engaged with the engagement member and thread' bly engaged in the plug, said fastening screw and ping transmitting stibstantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a first clamping riri-g member for clamping an extreme end portion at an electrode, said first clamping ring member having spaced generally L-shaped arms forming a T-slot therebetween, said first clamping ring member having a fastening screw slot formed therein intermediate the generally L-shap'ed arms, the engagemerit member being engaged in said T-slot with a' portion of the fastening screw received in the fastening screw slot, a second clamping ring member connected to and spaced from the first clamping ring member for clamping an end portion of an electrode spaced from said extrerne end portion, the first clamping ring member having a series of circumferentially radially extending clamping screws threadably received thercthrough, and the second clamping ring member being formed of a series of connected arcuate segments.

14. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means having an end portion, an engagement member threadably connected to the pipe means end portion, a plug mounted in the pipe means end portion, a fastening screw engaged with the engagement member and threadably engaged in the plug, said fastening screw and plug transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement member directly to said pipe means, a clamping member having spaced generally L-shaped arms forming a T-slot therebetween, the engagement being engaged in said T-slo-t, a pair of spaced face plates detachably mounted on the clamping member, each or said face plates having an inwardly opening slot formed therein, and spaced clamping bolts received through the end plates for engaging the face plates with an end portion of an electrode and with a portion of said electrode engaged in said face plate slots; whereby said face plates may be selectively detached from said i s clamping member and replacedby a second set of face plates of different configuration for adapting the clamping member to electrodes of difieren'tconfigurations.

l5. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means having an end portion, an engagement portion threadably connected to the pipe means end portion, a plug mounted in the pipe means end portion with a part thereof extending from said pipe means, said plug extending part having a slot formed therein, a split washer engaged in said plug slot and engaged with the engagement portion, said plug and split washer transmitting substantially all of any load carried by the engagement portion directly to said pipe means, a first cramping ring connected to the engagement portion for clamping an extreme end portion of an electrode, a second clamping ring connected to and spaced from the first clamping ring for clamping an end portion of an electrode spaced from said extreme end portion, the first clamping ring having a series of circumferentially spaced radially extending clamping screws threadably received therethrough, and the second clamping ring being formed of at least two connected arcuate segments.

16. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, engagement means welded to said pipe means transmitting substantially all of the load carried by the engagement means directly to said pipe means, the engagement means being provided with transverse shoulder means, a clamping member having a transverse shouldercd engagement slot formed therein, the engagement means shoulder being engaged in said shouldered slot, and clamp means on the clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode.

17. Electrode holder construction for supporting an electrode in vertical position including cooling and supporting pipe means, engagement means including plug means welded to said pipe means transmitting substantially all of the load carried by the engagement means directly to said pipe means, the engagement means also including an engagement member removably connected with said plug means, the engagement member being proyided with transverse shoulder means, a clamping memher having a transverse shouldered engagement slot formed therein, the engagement member shoulder being engaged in said shouldered slot, and clamp means on the clamping member for clamping an end portion of an electrode.

18. The electrode holder construction defined in claim 17 in which the clamp means on the clamping member includes upper radially-engageable circumferentiallylocated electrode clamp members, and lower arcuatesegment electrode clamp members spaced from the radially-engageable members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,218 Morani "a. May 27, 1902 824,153 Seward June 26, 1906 1,735,936 Sem et al. Nov. 19, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,712 France Sept. 4, 1909 Wan-

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