US855441A - Cooling-jacket for electric-furnace electrodes. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

E RNAGE ELEGTRODES.

COOLING JACKET POR ELEG .APPLICATION FILED JAN.30, 1906.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK Mf BECKET, OF NIAGARA FALLS,v NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRO METALLURGICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIR- GINIA,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed January 30, 1906. Serial No. 298,622.

To all whom it may con/cern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK M. BECKET, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cooling-Jackets for Electric-Furnace Electrodes, of which the following is a specification.

The electrodes employed to conduct the current into the working zone or chamber of electric furnaces usually consist of rods of amorphous carbon or graphite, the outer ends of which carry metal terminals.

In the operation of many types of electric furnaces, difficulty is experienced in preventing the excessive heatingof the electrodes, especially if their specific heat-conductivity is high. As a result, the carbon rods become red hot and, if unprotected, are rapidly attacked and consumed above the charge by the furnace gases or atmospheric oxygen.

' The metal terminals and conductors are also oxidation of carbon or ously affects their liable to be overheated, and portions of the furnace structure adjacent to the electrodes may be heated to a temperature which seristrength, insulation and other properties. lIt has been proposed to prevent the oxidation of such carbon electrodes by surrounding them with a refractory jacket, for example one of carbon; but there are many cases in which the introduction into the charge Vof the carbon o r other material of the jacket is very objectionable. It has also been proposed to apply cooling means to portions ofthe furnace adjacent to the electrodes, thus keeping the temperature of these parts, and lalso that =of part of the electrodes, below the point at which oxidation will occur.

The present invention is an improved means for cooling vand preventing the rapid raphite electrodes, consisting of a cooling j acIzet or jackets which closely surround the'electrode and aresupported fso as to be longitudinally and independently adjustable upon the electrode and within the furnace.

A suitable construction is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a smelting furnace, showing two depending electrodes and their cooling 2 is a vertical transverse section of a furnace jackets are s jackets; and Fig. the gaseous showing an electrode provided with two superposed cooling jackets.

The furnace shown comprises a iioor and sides 1 and a roof 2 of fire-brick. In the roof are two vertical openings 3 through which pass the cooling jackets 4, preferably of iron, which in turn receive the electrodes 5, 6 of opposite polarity, having terminals and supports 5', 6. To the upper end of each jacket are connected pipes 7, 8, carried by a bracket 9 which is adjustably mounted on a vertical rod 10. The pipes 7, 8 serve both as a means for adjustabiy supporting the jackets 4; independently of the furnace-roof and electrodes and for the supply and discharge of water or other cooling medium.

Fig. 2 shows a modified construction in which the electrode is provided with ,two superposed cooling jackets 3, 3. The lower jacket is/clamped within a ring 1 1 which is carried by arms 12 adjustably supportedlat their outer ends upon vertical rods 10. The upper jacket is preferably split longitudinally on the line 13 and the two sections are clamped together by the ring 14. When the charge may be smelted at a comparatively low temperature and when carbon derived from the electrodes is not prejudicial to the product, a single cooling jacket upon each electrode is generally sufficient. When the smelting operation requires a high temperature, or density of the current carried by the electrodes is high, or the metallic or other product is liable to absorb carbon, it is preferable to employ two or more superposed jackets. The number of jackets Aemployed may also be varied' in accordance wlth the length of the electrodes. One or both of the jackets may be split ormade in sections to enable it to be easily applied to and removed from the electrode. It is desirable that the jackets should fit closely upon the electrodes, to facilitate the cooling, but that they should be freely adjustable'upon the electrodes and within the furnace. The adjustability of the jacket enables its position to be varied in accordance with the height of the charge within the furnace and the length of the electrode. The

jacket may be lowered substantially into contact with the charge, thus preventing the surface of the electrode from being attacked by plroducts of reaction.

own upon vertical electrodes, it

While the IOO will be obvious that they are equally applicable to horizontal or inclined electrodes.

I claim r- 1. In an electric furnace, an electrode, an electrode-support, and a separate cooling jacket surrounding said electrode, said jacket longitudinally and independently adjustable upon the electrode and Within the furnace, as set forth.

2. In an electric furnace, an electrode, an electrode-support, and a plurality of separate cooling jackets surrounding said electrode, said jackets longitudinallyand independently adjustable upon the electrode and Within the furnace, as set forth.

3. In an electric furnace, an electrode, an electrode-support,l and a separate sectional cooling jacket surrounding said electrode, said jacket longitudinally and independently adjustable upon the electrode and within the furnace, as set forth.

4. In an electric furnace, an electrode, an electrode-support, and a plurality of separate sectional cooling jackets surroundingsaid electrode, dependently adjustable upon the electrode and Within the furnace, as set forth,

said jackets longitudinally and in- 5. An electric furnace, comprising a working chamber havin a roof, an opening in the roof, a depending e ectrode within said opening, a separate cooling jacket surrounding said electrode and within said opening, and means for vertically adjusting said jacket independently of said electrode, as set forth.

6. An electric furnace, comprising a Working chamber havin a roof, an opening in the roof, a depending e ectrode Within said opening, separate cooling ackets surrounding said electrode, one of said jackets within said opening, and means for vertically adjusting said j acketsindependently of said electrode, as set forth.

' In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK M. .BECKET Witnesses:

R. L. MACDONALD, CHAs. IIUsARE.

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