US946434A - Carbon-holder. - Google Patents

Description

H. L. HARTENSTEIN.

CARBON HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED NOV.19, 1906. RENEWED AUG. 20, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

/ 227/16; ay/(11f H. L. HARTENSTEIN.

CARBON HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1906, RENEWED AUG. 20, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" ta 1d 6 ends and the accomplishment of certain other HERMAN L. HARTENSTEIN, 0F

CONSTANTINE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CONTINENTAL INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA,

.a CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

CAi'tBON-HOLD'ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Application filed November 19, 1906, SeriaLNo. 343,989. Renewed August 20, 1909. Serial No. 513,889.

Tb all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERMAN L. HARTEN- STEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Constantine, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Carbon-Holders, of which the following l and exact specification. l

is a full, clear, I

This invention relates more particularly to carbon holders for electric furnaces in which electrodes carrying a plurality of carbons are employed. These carbons are usually of l considerable size and of reat weight and difficulty is experienced in holdingthem firmly together when the electrodes are tilted or shifted into different positions, and also in keeping them in perfect electrical contact with the other parts of the electrodes.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an im roved and efficient form of carbon holder W ich will be capable of effectually clamping one or more carbons and keeping in perfect electrical contact with the same while at the same time holding the clamped carbon against relative movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and simple means for compensating for the expansion of the metallic parts of the holder when subjected to the heat of the furnace and preventing the car- I bons from getting loose as a result thereof.

With a View to the attainment of these objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. In the said drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a carbon holder embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation look ing from the diagonally opposite side to that presented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan section thereof taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fi 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing stil further improvements or a modification. Fig. 5 is a view thereof similar to Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail face view of one of the, clamping plates hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof, and Fig. Sis an understood that ably of the same width as the edge view of one of the wedges employed in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In this particular exemplification of the invention the carbon holder is designed for holding three carbons. These are shown at 1, 2 and 3 respectively, and as before stated, they may be of the usual form which is rectangularin cross section,'but it is, of course, the number of carbons to be employed is entirely immaterial and foreign to the spirit of this invention. The electrical conductors which conduct the current to and from the carbons usually comprise heavy copper strips or bars and in this exemplification of the invention such are employed. They areshown at 4, 5 respectively and in this instance serve to carry the current to all three ofthe carbons 1,2and 3. As shown in Fig. l the extremities of these strips or bars 4, 5 are turned outwardly or have lateral projections 6, 7 just over the ends of the two outer carbons 1 and 3 and bolted to these projections or otherwise suitably secured thereto are two clip or clamp plates 9, 10, two for each of the conductors 4, 5, the upper ends of the plates 9, 10 being turned at an angle toward each other respectively below and above the projections 6, 7 as indicated at 11, 12 and firmly secured to the projections 6, 7 by bolts 13 or other means. These plates or strips9, 10 may be composed of copper or any other suitable conductor and are preferoutside carbons 1, 3, the outside plates 10 lying against the outer faces of the carbons l, 3, and the inside plates 9, lying between these carbons and the intermediate carbon 2.

Copper conductors of the volume sufficient to carry all the current which may be needed with a device of this type are not sufliciently strongto sustain the mechanical stresses incident to the use of a heavy electrode, copper being a ductile and flexible metal, and there is no purpose in using copper conductors of a heavier section. In the present invention therefore the electrode carbons are carried by and supported at the end of a steel or iron arm or beam 14. This beam in the preferred specific embodiment of this invention is an ordinary steel or iron I beam. With a channeled iron of this character suitable copper conductors 4 and 5 may be accommodated within the channels while at the lower end of vmay be subjected this channel bar and on both sides thereof are bolted or otherwise secured two brackets 15, 16 whose lower ends are formed with perforated lugs 17 for the support of two clamping bolts 18, 19. The-lugs 17 aresituated considerably below the u per ends of the carbons and on both ends 0 the bolts 18, 19' are arranged clamping bars 20, 21 through which the threaded ends of the bolts pass and carry nuts 22 by means of which the clamping bars 20,21 may be subjected to strain for forcing the plates 10 inwardly and firmly gripping and clamping all of the parts between them together. By making the clamping bars 20, 21 of a material possessin a slight degree of flexibility or elasticity, t ey to strain until their ends bend inwardly as shown in Fig. 3 and as a consequence, when the bolts 18, 19 elongate in the heat of the furnace the strain under which the clamping bars 20, 21 are thus placed will still keep up the pressure and prevent the carbon ,from working loose. These plates will also prevent the oxidation of the contacting surfaces of the carbons by exclusion of the air therefrom.

A carbon holder thus constructed is effectual in holding the carbons and keeping them in perfect electricalcontact with the conductors where the'use does not require the tipping of the electrodes at an angle to the plane of the clamping bolts 18, 19 but where such tipping is necessary it is desirable to use the form of holder shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive. In this form the construction is substantially the same as that described in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive with the exception that the brackets 15, 16 are offset from the flanges of the I-beam 1 1 by spacing blocks 23, 24: to space away the inner faces of the brackets 15,16 and make room for a number of wedges 25, 26. Two of these wedges are preferably employed on each side of the carbon holder and they are inserted between the inner faces of the brackets 15, 16 and two bearing plates 27 28 which are adapted to be'forced against the face of the carbons thereby. These plates are formed with supporting shoulders 27, 28 respectively which overlap and rest upon the ends of the clamping bars 20, 21 and thus hold the plates 27, 28 against downward movement while the wedges 25, 26 are being driven. The wedges are preferably inserted in av diagonal direction as indicated in Fig. 1 and the outer faces of the plates 27 28 are preferably tapered u wardly or beveled so that the inner face 0 each plate and thelouter face of each wedge will be parallel in all positions of the wedges. By thus providing these bearing plates 27, 28 and the wedges 25, 26 i only firmly held from shifting sidewise of the clamping bars 20, 21 but their upper the carbons are not ends are protected from the atmosphere by the plates 27 28 and thus preserved against the deterioratin influences of the heat which, as is well%& upon the carbons where not exposed to the air.

Lost motion between the carbons and the brackets 15, 16 may be readily taken up from time to time without removing the electrodes from the furnace by simply tapping the upper ends of the wedges, an operation which, of course, is much more feasible and' convenient than would be the manipulation of bolts or clamping screws in the highly heated atmosphere in which devices of this nature are ordinarily employed. In the described device, the carbons are held in line with the steel arm and the compound elec-. trode can be dipped and otherwise handled like a unitary structure. The copper extensions 10 not only 've a good electrical contact with the car ons under the clamping pressure but being or relatively soft metal, they act 'as cushioning devices and enable the employment of relatively high clamping pressures upon the hard carbons.

Electrodes of the present ty e may be usefully employed wherever a reely movable, rigid'and structurally strong electrode is required, and in a com anion application, Serial No. 345,7 52, filed ov. 30, 1906 (now Patent No. 883,110", March 24, 1908) this type of electrode is shown employed in a calcium carbid furnace.

What I claim is 1. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a plurality of carbons, a plurality of conductors, having their ends turned at an angle, two conductor plates for eachof said conductors having their ends turned toward each other and overlapped with and secured to the angle ends of said conductors, said conductor plates being arranged between said carbons and against the outer faces thereof on diametrically opposite sides, and means for clamping said carbons and conductor plates together.

2. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of an arm, brackets provided on said arm on diametrically opposite sidesthereof, conductors supported by said arm between said brackets, carbons arranged between said brackets, conductor plates secured to said conductors and embracing said carbons, clamping bars crossing said conductor plates and clamping bolts engaging said clamping bars and supported by said brackets.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of an arm in the form of a channeled bar, conductors lying between the flanges of such arm and turned ends, conductor plates having ends turned toward each other and secured to the outwardly turned ends of said, conductors, carbons embraced by said conductor plates,

having outwardly nown, has but little effect bars crossing the conductor supported by the brackets and, engaging said clamping bars.

4. In a device for the plates and olts purpose described,

the combination of an arm in the form of a channeled bar, conductors lying between the flanges of said wise thereof, a tion with said supporting said 5. In a the carbon to arm and extending lengthcarbon in electrical connecconductors and means for carbon on said arm.

device for the the combination of bon and means for supporting and clamping said arm,

purpose described, a supporting arm, a carembodying a longitudinally movable wedge.

arm embodying a n a device for the purpose described, the combination of a supporting arm, a carbon and means for clamping carbon to the plate and a longitudinally movable wedge for forcing the plate toward the carbon.

bon, and means f purpose described,

or clamping the carbon to the arm embodying clamping bars engaging diametrically opposite sides of the carbon,

a plate shouldered upon said bars and a carbon.

wedge for forcing the plate toward the 8. In a device for the purpose described,

the combination of a bon, clamping bars opposite sides of the supportlng arm, a car engaging diametrically carbon, means for straining said clamping bars toward each other, means for means from the upon said clamping porting means and carbon and a wedge m terposed between means.

supporting said straining arm, a plate shouldered bars between said supsaid plate and supporting 9'. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a supporting arm, a carbons for clampin bon, clamping bars crossing diametrically opposite faces of the carbon, brackets seon diametrically opposite n and ,wedging devices insaid brackets and the carg the carbons on diametrically opposite sides.

10. In a device the combination for the purpose described, of a supporting arm, a

plurality of carbons, brackets secured to opposite sides of the arm, ranged on diametrically clamping bars aropposite sides of the carbons, plates shouldered upon said clamping bars between bons, and wedges brackets and plates for forcing the plates the brackets and the carinterposed between said toward a the carbons.

11. A dipping electrode comprising an I-beam, a conductor secured in a channel of said beam, a pair 66 flanges of said b of brackets carried by the cam, means for clamping .carbon clamps carried 'means carried by comprising an each flange at below said end, and by said brackets.

13. A dlpping electrode comprising an I-beam, conductor plates carried in the channels of said beam, a bracket on each flange at one end of the beam, said brackets extending somewhat therebclow, auxiliary conductor plates also extending therebelow and said brackets for clan'iping said auxiliary plates against carbon elcctrodeelemen-ts and for securing said elements.

14. In a dipping electrode, a channeled steel beam, a copper conductor element in one of the channels thereof, said conductor elements being continued beyond the end of the beam and clamping means carried by said end, said clamping means being adapt ed to produce a forcible contact between the conductor continuations and carbon electrode elements and 'to hold said electrode elements.

15. In a dipping electrode, a steel beam, clamping means for securing carbon electrode elements at one end of said beam, said means extendingbeyond said end and being adapted to clamp carbon electrode elements in two directions at right angles with each other.

16. In a dipping electrode, a steel beam having a channel, ajcopper conductor in said channel, auxiliary conductors extending beyond the end of said beam, downwardly extending brackets carried by said end, means for clamping said auxiliary conductors to the copper conductors and means carried by said brackets for clamping said auxiliary conductors and carbon electrode elements into a rigid assemblage.

17. In a dipping electrode, a steel channeled bar, brackets at the end of the bar and extending therebelow, clamping tension rods carried by the brackets and clamping plates carried by said rods.

18. In a dipping electrode, a steel channeled bar, brackets at the end of the bar and extending therebelow, clamping tension rods carried by the brackets, clamping plates carried by said rods, auxiliary clamping plates at right angles to the first stated clamping plates and wedging means for pressure between said brackets auxiliary clamping plates.

19. A dipping electrode comprising a steel arm carrying clamping means at one end, said clamping means being adaptedto exert clamping pressure from all sides upon a rectangular carbonelectrode element held thereby, and means for transmitting currentto said electrode element.

and said producing an extension beyond the end 2o. Adippin' accuses comprising a steel arm, a copper conductor carried thereby, clamping means at the end of the aim adapted to exert clamping pi'essu're uponall sides of a rectangular carbo'n electrode element held thereby and means for electrically connect-ing said conductor and said carbon element. s V K 21, A dipping electrode comprising a channeled steel arm, a copper conductor mounted in a channel thereof, and having or the arm, a pair of brackets mounted on said end and carrying tension rods, and a pair of clamping plates mounted on the tension rods and adapted to rigidly hold rectangular carbon electrode elements therebetween and to make contact with said condiictor extension.

22. A dipping electrode comprising a channeled steel arm, 'a co per'condu'ctor mounted in a channel thereo and having an extension beyond the end of the arm, a pair of brackets mounted on said end and carrying tension rods, a pair of clamping plates mounted on the tension rods and adapted to rigidly hold rectangular carbon electrode elements therebetween and to make contact the first stated pair of clampin with said eondli'ctor extension, and a pair of atix'iliary cla'm'pin plates at right angles to to engage, diagonally opposite aces of said rectangular carbon electrode elements there between. l

23. In a dipping electrode, a steel arm and means for rigidly supporting carbon electrode elements n end-to-end engagement therewith and 'in line with said arm.

24. In a dipping electrode, a rigid metal arm carrying a conductor having a platelike copper extension beyond one extremity, means at such extremity to support clamping means in line with said arm and clampin means carried thereby and adapted to exert lateral pressure on a flat-sided carbon electrode element through such plate-like extension.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 17th day of November A. D.'Q1906.

HERMAN L. HARTENSTEIN.

Witnesses:

FRANoIs A; HOPKINS,

CHAS. H. LEEM.

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