USRE16054E - Electric - Google Patents

Description

plil 28, 1925. v Re 16 054 w. E. MOORE ELECTRIC FURNACE Original Filed June ll, 1917 6 ShetSl-Shet l 2 EELL T un a ummm-lynn Ap' 28, 1925. W. E. MOORE ELECTRIC F'URNACE original Filed June 11. 1917 6 Shetsl-Sheet 2 April 2s, 1925. Re. 16,054

W. E. MOORE ELECTRIC FURNACE original Filed June 11, 1917 e sheets-sheet s April 28, '1925.'

Re. 6 shetlsheet 4 w. E. MOORE ELECTRIC FURNACE original Filed June 11, 1917 '41 '65. ELE-.lll

Q oi:

W. E. MOORE ELECTRIC FURNACE April 28,1925. I R.16,o54

OriginalV Filed June 11, 1917 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lApril 2s, 1925. Re, 16,054

`w. E. MOORE ELECTRIC FURNACE Original Filed June l1, 1917 5 shetSLsheet 6 Eil.. 162 i,

45 l E l 772 r Y., an H 775.

1 i 92 775 ,I v /76 a 9 i Q5 69 Reissued Apr. 1925.

UNITED ISTATI-js'l p Re. 16,054 PATENT OFFICE;

wILLIAME.

Original No. 1,304,350, dated To all whom it may concern."

' Be .it knowncthat'ILWILLIAm E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have in lvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Furnaces, of which the follow.-

ing is a specification. Y l

` The primary object of this inventionisto naces. w l, .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 ofthe lining fioating up, the bottom plate generally buckles up, causing still' further breaking of the refractory, and the refractories not being arched in are, if thus loosened,"easily floated up by the metal. These disadvantagesfI overcome by means of a sphericall bottom vso arranged that the spot heated Ibulges out and away from thel refractories, thus preventing them from being cracked. vThe refractory brick lagers nextto the bottom form an inverted arc so that, if they should be loosened land the metal find its way underneath the refracto` ries by reason ofthe inverted spherical arch,v they are better able to resist-such floating tendency. Y 1

Heretofore it hasV been customar to mount rolling furnaces on rockersattac ed to the furnace bottom and rocking on parallel horizontal tracks, the furnace being rocked by v :means'of a screw underneatha the bottom ofv the furnace on lthe side opposite to the spout or b means of-connectng rods coupled to the'fiirnacebottom in the same position and leading down to thecrank shaft located underneath the furnace. The movement of the spout in a horizontal direction when the furnace is being rocked makes it difficult todirect the metal stream into the ladle or mold and the location ofthe tilting gear underneath the furnace opposite the spout practically prohibits'the lnstallation of a slag buggy or track running underneath the chargin' latform which is the natural po. stion. erefore, thearrangement which I have adopted of mounting the furnace sol that its rockers rest on stationary traction rollers with the gears and .tilting motor to improve the construction'nd generalzeii-Q ciency of arc-type electric metallurgical fur- ELECTRIC FUBNACE.

Hay 20, 1919, Serial No. 174,010, lerd .Tune 11, 1917. Application'for reissue Med September-. 13, 1921.

Serial No. 500,431

one side ofthe furnace, wherev they do not lnterfere either with the pouring of the metal or the slagging operation is better. The

'l screwjtiltmg mechanism involves the necessity for some device preventingl lits overtravel which renders the furnace unsafe. With my furnace, this is readily means of the bumper blocks mounted on the rockers which ride u on the, traction rollers at the limits of trave so that the rollers cannot furthentilt the furnace, even if they continued torevolveythus makingy a cheap and convenient safety device. v

It is true that metallurgical furnaces have heretofore been mounted to'tilt on stationary rollers so as to eliminate the objectionable spout ltravel ofthe rock-,over type, but in such cases auxiliary devices have been added attained by to'tilt the furnace which are more complithe hot furnace roof, which is an unhealthy and dangerous operation. These fixedelectrode'arms also `,greatlylinterfere with the operation of chan ing the roof, which from time to time must e 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 vwith by reason of the fixed electrode arms and holders. lfVhereas, with my furnace, these parts-being rotatable in a horizontal plane maybe swung-toene side after the. electrodes are lifted so, as to clear the. furnace roof, and alsowhere the electrodes maybe convenientlyworked at by the attendantl when standing upon a suitable platform or step-ladder. Y Iam aware that furnaces withconduct-ing bottoms have been manufactured, but such bottoms have frequently involved the' comorfhave'fhad electrodesof such size as to inf terfere with the laying of the'brick layers kinl .the bottom of the furnace or, if metal projections fromthe bottom of the furnace lplications oflarge .water-cooled electrodes f up into the refractories have been elimi# nated bythe use of graphite mixed into the mortar, it frequent y the furnace shell which -they rock over with and where they are subject to heat, fumes and dirt, all detrimentahelements to the life of the motor, or have been located to one side and connected bymeansof overhead cables so that the height of the electrodes is greatly disa-rrang'edand interfered with at the' time of tiltm the furnace. This I overcome by combining the rcables on pulleys so arranged that the electrodes -are held in substantially thesame 'position with reference to the furnace when the latter is tilted,

as when it is upright. In other words, my improved arrangement is such that the cables are of substantially thef same effective lengthin the tilted position of the rfurnace asin its upright position: Specificall I accomplish this by bringing the cab es to a point near lthe tilting center ofv the furnace, Aand leading them from this point to the motor Winches carrled on a fixedl support. Preferably these ymotor Winches are located .in a suitable chamber underneath the platform where they are protected from objectionable elements.

l holders have been made of one piece with a splitjoint, the joint being drawn together or bent apart b means of a screw or screws. Owing to the lrregularities ofthe electrode sizes, such construction throws a severe strain uponthe electrode holder, bending' it and causing severe work onthe part of Athe attendant to open up or close the clamp.

It also prevents'the proper contact off` the clamp `with the carbon. According to my invention, lthe electrode clamp is easily loosened and the loose sidesthereof compensate for the. variable Ldimensions of electrodesv 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 o r spout of the furnace. My furnace permits happens that, when the furnace is cold,the bottom is of such smoke and gases. In many electric furnaces, the electrode the use of the skimmer arch and greatly hel sto hold back the slag from mixing wit the metal in the ladle when pouring7 the furnace.- v v Inv 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, and also great heat losses. My construction, which per'- mits the lapping of refractories of the door with the furnace lining, avoids these diiiculties and preserves the metal work and retains the furnace heat.

There rhas also been great `diiiculty 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 hold-l ing the door against the furnace shell'only' at'the lower portion of itsA stroke eliminate" these difficulties.

In electric furnaces, 'it has heretofore been customary to have a metal'arm which isvgrounded 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 insulation being immediately 'over the electrode opening 1n the roof is subject to intensev heat, smoke and gases.

bein 'insulated from the slides by means of.' vinsu ation which, being located .to one sidey of the lfurnace-roof, is less exposed to heat,

Heretofore, it has been customary to rivet or bolt the furnace pouring spout to the fshell.B jAs the refractory lining of therspout is rapidly worn or washed away by vthe intensely ot metal', the sprouts` must frei quently be changed or relined, which in the oldy furnaceewasf'slow work, andif relined while onth'e hot furnace made oor linings of short life. I have overcome t ese difficulties by means' of du licate spouts quickly intrcilliangeable ooking on the furnaceV s e ings have been subjected` to excessive heating. This Ifhave overcome largely by means of ribs forl radiating `theheat from scri tion, the novel features being more pari ticu arly pointed out 1n the accompanying claims. I

In order to more fullyvdescrlbe my mven In my struc/V ture, Imount the electrode holders onV the Heretoforetlie door frames and doorcast- Y tracks, transformers and ladles.

-6 and 7' of angleiron, the inner periphery of 16,-osa

tion, reference' will be had vto the accompanying drawings Ain whichf- Figure 1 isfa vertical central sectional view, partly in elevation, of one embodi ment of my 'improved furnace;

Fig. 1-is a detail top plan view fof-the driving gearing'. of the traction rollersfor tilting the furnace;

Fig. 2 is a section of lsaid furnacetaken onthe line 2" -2" of Fig. 1;

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

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

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

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

Fig. 7 is a. semi-diagrammatic fragmentary elevation toshow the dis ition of the electrode hoisting cables vlea ing from the cranes to the hoisting drums;

Fig. 8. is a detail section on. the *line v 83--8x of Fig. 6;

rovided with a pouring depression 13n eadingto-the pouring opening, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. This layer (13) of the furnace bottom may consist. of magneslte, dolomite, chromite, ganister or otherl refractory material which becomes' electrically conducting, at. high temperatures.1

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail 'views 'in yele'- vation of one of` the .furnace doors and parts immediately associated therewith;

Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, arefdetails of the spout;

Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive, are details of one ofthe electrode holders; Fig.v 17 is a fragmentary detail vertical section of-one of the 'electrode glands;

Fig. 1 8 is a.V vertical sectionalv elevation showlngthe' general arrangement of a furnace umt of a plant according tov myivention; and,

Fig. 19 is@ diagram' showing 'the mueve arrangement in top 1an of several furnaces 1n a row to the c arging and slagging The furnace proper here shown consists, amon other-parts, of a c lindrical shell and ining usually of basic brick 1 and acid brick 2, inclosed ina metal casing 3 conductivity The layer 12 may be-composed of carbon,

graphite, or other suitable conducting material, and the 'mixture is so constituted 75 that the strata or layer 12 is of increasing 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 withconducting mortar which S0 may be of the same material `as t-he liningl 10. A multiplicity of metal strips or fins 14 are welded or otherwise' attached to the metal plates 9 and Yextend 'upward between bricks '11, through layer 12. and into the 85 layer 13. The inverted arch of one or more layers of magnesite brick laid in between conducting strips 14 resists vthe floating up of the bottom 1n case the granular refractories overlying theusame break up or give f90.

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. 95. lVith" this construction, when hot spots'/ 1 occur, the expansion is always outward and away from the refractories, tending to prevent bulging or breaking of the latter.

Located 180 apartl and extending through 100 the cylindrical side walls of the furnace .tory lines and an arched roof 4.of acid brick or other' refractory material, sup

rted by an acid brick skewback ring 5 he d within two rings which in turn. engage a metal ring 8.

The furnacebottom is composed, among other parts', of an outer metalc'asing 9, the

upper edges of whichareoverlapp'ed and engaged by the cylindricalcalsing; alining 10.nex t to the'casing 9 consisting of conducting vmortar composed of graphite 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 con'ducting only at high temperature. The layer 13 is' retort are two openings 15 and 16, the former constituting the charging opening and the latter the pouring openlng. These open# ings are vertically sliding doors 17 and 18, the latter in its lowermost position resting u-pon a refractory ledge or fore-.plate 1Q out- 'side of the charging opening and supported upon ana le iron sill or fore-plate 20. The 110 door of t e pouring opening in its lowermost position may restupon a slag skimmer arch or dam-21 of refractory material extending across the pouring opening. The doors 17- and 18 slide vertically tl1rougl1 1l 5 fixed yokes or lintels 22 and 23, respectively, fast to the furnace shell and to angle iron sectors or straps 24 and 25 around the outer and upper portions of the cylindrical shell of the furnace (see Fig. 3).v These yokes 12,0

and straps vform a retaining band for the furnace shell across the door openings where the furnace shell is cut away. The furnace shell is notonly cut away to the width of door openings through the refractories 1'3" the thereof, but cut -widerfto allow the refractory door linings lto lap'the refractory lining of the shell, and also cut away' above thc door openings sc that the white hot refractory doorvlinings-will not bulge and burn rovxded, respectively, with refracthe furnace shell when vthe doors are raised; this arrangement allowing the4 refractory door linings to project beyond the face of the door castings so as to close directly against the varches over the doors and the furnace lining at the sides of the doors.

The doors 17 and 18 are identical in construction, andthe detail description of one will suflice for both. The door of the pouringopening (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 sidefianges29H and 30 adapted to travel in grooves or ways 31 and 32m two vertical guides 33 and V34 fast to the outside of the furnace. The ,ribs 28 on these doors facilitate cooling, and are placed atvpoints thereon which require the greatest cooling. For lightness, the door frame is provided with three openings 35, 36 andl37'. 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 archedlbottom adapted to conform tothe spout-shaped a'rc of the refractory insert or lining 38 in the foreplate or door sill casting 39 fast to the outside of the furnace shelll v For the purpose of jamming the Vdoor against the rear walls of the guides 33 and 34 to hold the sameftightly closed, thereaare provided two resilient metal strips 46` 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 doortravels. These jamming strips may be adjusted to take .care of the varying expansions in the door and furnace shell. Eac side flange 29 and, 3()V ofl the vdoor frame .is provided with a raised portion 30 adapted to be engaged by the vrespective members and 41.

For the purpose of raising and lowering I the vfurnace'doors, the following is provided for each door: The door is attached at itsv top to the lower end of a chaip44, the other end of which is attachedglto asector 45 formed on one end of a ley/c1146 ,fulcrumed upon the upper endgof asupporting'collar- 4 rigidly mounted'upon the yoke or lintel 22 of the furnace shell. a The furnace door is counterbalanced by a; weight 48' attached to ythe lever 46 through an arm 49, said 'weight being guided in its vertical move- I ment by a stationary rod 50. This weight is preferably made hollow so that additional weights may be inserted therein to beremoved as the refractory lining of the door burns away so as to compensate for decreasing weight of the door. The counterweight 48 may be rovided with a handle 51 for I raising and owering the same.

ytu

The furnace is provided with a detachable pouring or charging openin s, thereby rendering the furnace reversib e. This spout comprises, among other parts (see particularly Figs. 10 t'0 13, inclusive), a metal frame or castingi, having a trough-shaped bottom 53, an upwardly extending forward fiange 54, anda rear flange or apron 55 arched to fit the c lindrical contour of the furnace shell. This spout is linedfwith suitable refractory material 56 .(see Fig. 2), and is supported upon the furnace b hooks 57 and 58 fast to each door rame, and in which restextensions 59 and 60 of the spout casing.f The spout is held in position against the furnaceby a bolt 61 and nut 62, the bolt being mounted to swing on a rod 63 carried by two flanges 64 and 65 f 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 caslng.

For supporting the furnace for tilting motion, and for operating it to effect this m'otion, the following mechanism is provided Rigidly fastened to the metal casing of the bottom are two rockers 68 and 69 having runways or longitudinally grooved tread portions 70 and 71. The grooved treads of these rockers rest, respectively,- upon pairs of traction rollers 72-73 and 74-7 5. The roller 74 does not appearin two the vdrawings but is located opposite the f roller 72. These rollers are supported upon shafts journaled in suitable bearings mountico ed on the masonry foundation 76, as shown. A

`platfoi'1n86 (see Fig. 1.8), where it is out 115 of the Vway during the charging and slagging-operations, thus permittinga slagear `87. .to run beneath the rear doors 18 ofa'line of furnaces for catching thev sla'g for which there is preferably provided a chute 87a. .120

The tilting motor is also outyof the way of ladle 88 when set underthe pouringopening. The travel of the furnace in 'tilting is 1limited in both directions by stops 89 and i 90 fast to the rockers 70 and 71, and adapt- 125 ed to engage with the traction rollers.

In 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 fast on, the shafts lll) vthe sake of greater clearness in showing the construction of the retort proper. llt will be understood, however,v that the l1ne'92 (Fig. 2) indicates the approximateivr slag level. i

The present furnace is provided with three ancing electrodes 93, 94 and95 supvported 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,

.i respectively,fjof refractory material fitted -these 'three arms.

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 rlngs 96, 97 and 9 These glands are similar in construction so that the description of one will suffice for all. One of these glands is shown in detail in Fig. 17,v from whichy it will be seen that, the wall adjacent the" electrode passage .is provided With a series of annular grooves 102 I,which restrict the circulation of gas vand promote th'el deposit of-soot t'o make a better fit around the electrode. There is also formed on the top of thegland'an arm or flange- 103 which forms a recess or cavity 104 on top of the gland, which'cavity may be filled with asbestos orvother suitable maf terial to form a vseal around the electrode. The* casting of this gland is cored to form an annular water circulating chamber 105 arranged for connection with vinlet and outy let pipes 106 and 107 disposed tangential to the Waterv circulation chambergas shown most clearly in 7 Fig. 3. The water pipes enter at the top of the jacket annulus so that the enteringvelocity 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 accumula# tion of steam or gases such asmight nullify Athe 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 ma be raised and lowered or swung in a horlzontal pla-ne. In the accompanying -drawings, 108, 109 and 110 represent the three velectrode arms, and 111, 112 and 113the electrode clamps carried respectively by Each of these electrode arms is in the form of a rectangular tube or vbon composed of flat side members 114 and 11'5 and top and bottom members 116 electrical conducting material. The side inserted 1between and attached to the side members to form rectangular tubes or boxin'g mechanically stili' against `torsion or bending stresses, and the whole made of members 114 and 115 extendforwardly and rearwardly of the top and bottom members of the box to form straps between which are held, respectively, the electrode clamp at one end of the arm and a supporting slide or casting 117 at the other end of the arm, said block having a sleeve 118 adapted to make a sliding fit with one of three'verticalcoliunns and constituting a part ofthe electrode crane hereinafter' more particularly described. vThe side members 114 and 115 of each electrode arm are rigidlyattached tothe slide117 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 thisl Way, the conducting material .of thel electrode arms is thoroughly insulated from its crane column and lfrom the shell of the l y The electrical conducting 'sldes of said electrode arms pass furnace proper.

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

sol

One ofthe electrode clamps vis. shown inl ldetail in Figs. 14 to16, inclusive. Each ofthese clamps comprises three metal electrode engaging sections, a fixed section 122 and two hinged sections 123 and'124. The u' fixed section 122 has an extension 125v bolted rlgldly between the side members v114 and o f the electrodel arm so asv to make .a

good electrical connection therewith.- Thetwo sections 123 and 124 'are adapted 4to swing-on hingesv 126 and 127 and are I clamped around the electrode by a bolt 128l pivotally attached to a 'section' 124 `and carrying a nut 129 adapted to be screwed n I against a slotted lug-130 on the section 123. 'The pins onyhinges l126--127 are of -I copper, `slightly oval in section,

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 1n the hinges and free when unclam ed to open without galling' or binding- 1n' :the

'bores ofthe hinge leads. Each electrode clamp is double water jacketed, for which purpose each clamping member is rovided with two water circulating chambers 131 and 132 connected to inlet and outlet pipes 133 and 134 and provided with bridging the hinged joints swiveled unions 135 and 136.

For the .purpose of forming a moreperfect electricalF connection between hinged sections 123 and 124 and fixed .section 122, the former arev electrically connected to 'the latter through flexible braided cables or bonds 137 brazed or otherwise connected to and havingA the clamp sections around and shunting the hinged ]o1nts, as shown. In the accompanying draw1ngs,-.I have indicated butthrce such bonds for each hinge,

` it being understood, however,

that in actual pracbeing 1'05- i I tice ahgreaternumber may 'be' em loyed if hereinafter described, In the accompanying drawings, 139,140 and 141 represent the three crane columns, each of whlch ex-V tends at its, lower end into an individual j opening in a supporting bracket 142 fastJ to the exterior of the furnace shell. i

As hereinbefore stated, the sleeves 118 of l the respective electrode arms make a sliding iit with' their respectivev crane columns. Throughouta greater portion ofthe 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 upperI limit of their travel.: This 1s effected by means of a feather 143 on the. crane column engaging with a slot in the collar 118.0f that column.

Each crane jib 138 is-iixed at one end to a swivel cap 144 rotatable on the upper end of its supporting column. The wthree - electrode arms 108, 109 and 110 are supported, respectively, by lpairs of cables 145-146, 147-148 and 149-150 connected at their lower ends, respectively, to pairs of hooks 151-152, 153-154 and 155-156 attached tol the three electrode arms vand insulated therefrom by tubes157 and washers 158 of insulating material. Each crane jib carries two pulleys 159 .and 160, over which the individual supporting chains or cables j of the respective jibs ass to ntwo pulleys 161 and 162`mounted 1n a bracket 163 on the to of the swivel cap (see Fig. 2) thence into t e hollow column of that crane.v The cables passing through -the , outer columns 139 and 141 pass atthe lowerends of said columns over pulleys 164 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 v168l and 169."A

, the tiltin The cables of the center column pass straight down between the pulleys 166 and 167 to a winding drum 170. The .pointv between pulleys `166 and 167. to which the drums (see Fig. 7) approximately coinci es with axis of the furnace.. so that the tilting o 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. 1411s a counterweight 140" attached to t'he hoisting cables extending vthrough the respective columns and adapted to .i travel vertically therein. Each of these weights is of suiicient mass to counterbalance its corresponding electrode. arm without the electrode secured thereto so that, when an electrode is detached from its arm, the latter will be counterbalanced.

The hoisting drums 168, 169 and 170 are equipped with means for operating them either by electric or other powervor manually, thelatter being used when the electric power is off or when it-is desired to raise o`r lower t'he `electrodes a small amount only as in adjusting the arcs. In Fig. 6,

171 indicates the electric motor for this' electrode larms by cable clamps consistin `each of a pair of plates (see Fig. 3) bo tedbetween and in good electrical contact with extensions of the side conducting members of the Vrespective electrode arms. The pairs ofplates composin these cable clamps are ,provided on their interior faces with matched grooves adapted to receive the cables and extending diagonally vof the hori- -zontal axis of the electrode arms so that the cables will pass to said arms on a slant or at an angle, as shown in Figs. v1 and 18. These cable clamps avoid soldering or brazing .of the cables where they connect to the electrode arms, at which points they are subject to breakage by constant bendin With the cable clamps shown, all that 1s necessary when a cable becomes broken or fra ed at this point is to loosen the clamp, sli e the cable in it, and tighten the clamp again. l The cable connections from the furnace to the transformers and the general layout of the plantfare shown in Fig. 18. From this view, it will be seen that the transformers 176 (only one of which is shown) are lo`- cated in a pit'to one side of the furnace and preferably beneath the charging platform 86, the cables 174 being brought up therefrom to a clamp .176l substantialy in line with the tilting axis of the furnace and connected to the electrode, arms so as to permit proper sliding and horizontal rotat on of the electrode arms and, at the same time, allowing of a'maximum iiexibility for forwardand backward tilting movements of the furnace. It will also be seen that the hoisting motors 171/and their drums and gearing are located in a pit below the charging platform S0 8,5 t0 be entirely out of the way of the heat and dust, The'niotor 85 for tilting` the rfurnace, as liereinbefore pointed out, is also located in such position as to in no way in,

terfere with the charging, slagging, or other 5 operations.

The instrument tree .177, with motor controllers 178 Aand switches 179 are placed on the charging platform to one side of the furnace in a position for the operator to l -conveniently observe the pouring spout.. In

thefurnacehere shown, an electric connec-l vtion is eifected from the furnace bottom to a terminal or terminals in the transformer E system through cables 180. .In connection 1'5 with Fig. 18, it might here be stated thatV It might also lbe stated that the electrodes.

' here shown are built up -of longitudinal Sections' joined together according to'common practice.

In Fig. 1.9, I have shown in top plan diagranimatfcally, the layout of several fur-I naces in a row, showing the charging track 181 extending .along the rear `of and common to the series of furnaces and on .which y travels the charging car 182. Parallel with this track and beneath it is the track 183.

of the slagging car 87. i The transformers 176 are located between, the furnaces, .as shown. The whole arrangementis such as to e'ect the greatest economy in space and facility of operation.

' one specific embodiment'ofmy invention, it should be understood that various .modications thereof` may be made Without departing from -the spirit' of the invention.

` Having'v 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, rockersv on which said retort is mounted, tractionv rollersv supporting said A 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 plat- '5 i form, of a. metallurgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically, mea-ns to tiltingly mount' said furnace belo w said platform, a motor connected to tilt said furnace and located below said platform vand to one side of the furnace, and means ex- .65 a retort -having a shellprovided with a tending above the platform for-controlling the motor.

3. A metallurgical furnace having means towheat the same electrically and comprising IVhile I have herein shown and described of brick.

spherically shapedbot'tom, and an inverted arcli-shaped refractory lining.

4. A metallurgical furnace having means l to heat the same electrically and comprising alretort having a shell provided with a spherical bottom, and van inverted l archs aped refractory lining made up of a plurality of layers.

5. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort havinga spherically shapedbottom composed ofa plurality of layers o f refractor material, and electrically conducting strips extending through one or more of said layers.

6. AA metallurgical furnace comprising a retortgha'ving abottom composed of 'a layer.

of granularrefractory material normally'of.

low electrica-1 conductivity but which becomes a betterelectric conductorwhen heated, a layerl of granular or amorphous refractory material of normall trical conductivity than the fi7 higher elecrstmentioned layer and beneath the same, a metal outer` casing, a layer of granular electrical-com' ducting material forming a :lining for said casing, anv inverted arch of refractory brick interposed bet-ween the second-mentioned layer and said lining ofthe 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.

retort, the bottom of which coiiprises strata 7. A metallurgical furnace comprising a' -.of amorphous-or granular material, alayer ofA brick interposed between said strata, andv electrically conducting strips extending from one of said strata of granular material to another of said strata through said `layer 8. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of -which comprisesstrata of granularmateriah a layer of refractory material comprising van inverted arch interposed between said strata, and electrically vconducting' strips extending .from one of said strata of ranular material to another oflsaid strata through said arch.

9. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises vstrata of amor hous or other granular material, an invertedp'spherically shaped brickv arch interposed between said strata, and electrically conducting anchor plates extending from one ofsaidr strata of granular material to anolher of said .strata through' saidv brick arc f 10.v Aymetallurgical furnace comprising a retort, the bottom of which comprises strata of granular' material, an vinvertedl spherically shaped brick arch inter os'ed betweenbetween said strata, Ielectrically anchor 'plates extending from one of said strata of granular material to anotheriof 'conducting 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 furnacecomprising a retort, the, bottom of which comprises strata of pyro-conductin material, an inverted spherically shape `brick arch interposed betwen said strata, electrically conductin anchor plates extending .from one of sai strata i through said brick. arch, an outer metal casing, and anchor strips secured to said casing and extending throu h said brick arch and through one of sai 'strata into the other. y

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 compris-pv ing a retort having ajpouring opening, a skimmer arch extending across said opening, a tap-hole below said arch, anda charging opening o posite said opening.

14. A metal urgical furnace having means to heat the same electrically and having a slidable door comprising an exteriorlj,l ribbed metal frame, and a refractory linin and means to jam the door against the si e of the furnace in closingthe 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 sa1d door against the side of said furnace in Vclosing thefdoor, said jamming means being adjustable to compensate for the burnin `away of the refractory lining or warping o the door or frame.

16. A metallurgical furnace having means to heat the saine electrically and having a sliding door provided with a refractory lining and resilient means enga ing the doorV to force the latter against the side of the furnace when the door is closed, said resilient means acting to compensate for the burningr away of the refractory lining or warping of the door or frame.

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

18. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a retort, a spout therefor having a flanged metal frame or casing Lined with refractory materialV 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 strata of material to another of said rality Aof electrodes, a.pivoted supporting tached to said electrode arms to impart vertical travel thereto, said hoisting cables being brought into proximity-tov each other alon the pivotal axis of said pivoted arms. A2 An electrical metallurgical furnace com rising a retort having an opening in its.

roo an electrode gland mounted on said roof inregister with said opening and means carried by the gland for automatically seal# ing the space between the Walls of the gland andthe surface of the electrode.

21. An electrical metallurgical furnace comprising a retort having an opening in its lroof, 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 andthe 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 clam carried by said arm, said clamp having a xed 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. n

, 24. In a vmetallurgical furnace, a retort, means for tiltingV 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 lower. ing sai arms said means comprising cables secured by the arms, pulleys secured to the support arranged 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 holdingmeans, 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 -arm for each electrode, hoisting cables aton vsaid column, 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 aretort mounted for tilting movement, a vertical column carried by said retort, .an electrode, an electrically insulated arm for supporting-said lelectrode and carrying at o-ne end electrode holding means, a collar to which said arm is secured at its other end, means to raise andvlower Asaid arm, and means to direct the current to neutralize self-induction.

27. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, a column mounted thereon, and con stituting a portion of aora-ne for lifting and supporting an electrode, an electrode arm having a slide adapted to travel on said column, insulated securing means for said arm, cables attached to said securing means, pulleys carried by said crane and over which said cables pass, said securing means, cables and pulleys being sodisposed as to support said arm a ainst vertical angular movement which wou d increase the friction between said slide and column.

'28. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort, a column mounted thereon andl constituting a portion of a crane for lifting and supportmg an electrode, an electrode arm havin a slide adapted to travel onsaid column, olt 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 ver-y 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, means for supporting Said varm Whereb Jit may swing in al plane transverse to the ongitudinal 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 aretort mounted for tilting movement, ,a vertical column carried by saidretort, an electrode, an electrically conducting arm for supportin said electrode and carrying at one' end e ectrode holding means, a collar to which said arm is secured at its other end,

means to raise and lower said arm, a crane tached to Said arm.

each electrode, hoisting cables attached to v said electrode arms to impart vertical travel thereto and brought into proximity to each `other at a point substantially lcoinciding with the pivotal axis of said retort, and hoisting means for operating said cables.

32. A metallurgical lfurnace comprising a retort mounted for tilting movement, an electrode, an electrically conductingvhollow arm of rectangular cross-section forsupporting .said electrode, and a 'cable holder comprising a pair of cable clamping plates at.

33. A metallurgical furnace comprising a retort mounted I for tilting movement, an

electrode, an electrically conducting arm forsupporting 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 arln and adapted to engage individual cables. l'

34. An electrical metallurgical furnace comprising an electrode, and electrically conducting armv for supporting said electrode, an electrically conductin lelectrode clampv carried by said arm and aving one or more hinged sections, and iexible electrical connections around said hinge connections.

35. In an electric metallurgical furnace, y

an electrode clam ycomprising fixed and ymovable water jac eted sections hin ed tovfixed member.

38. In. an electric metallurgical furnace, an electrodeclamp comprisin one or more hinged sections, said hinge inc uding an electrically conducting hinge pin of oval 'crosssection. i

39. In an electric metallurgical furnace,

les

trode clampin an electrode clamp comprisinga fixed elecmember, and two movable clamping mem ers hinged to said fixed member, and a swinging bolt forming a connection between saidmovable members to bind the same a ainst the electrode.

40. An. e ectric metallurgical furnace comprising a retort having an opening in its roof, an electrode gland mounted on said ro'of in register with said opening and having a plurality of interior annular ooves ,or recesses arranged to lie adjacent t e electrode.

41. An electric metallurgical furnace coinprising a retort having an opening'inl its roof, an electrode gland mounted on said roof in register with said opening, and having an annular water jacket, and inlet andoutlet openings therefor'arra'n ed' to direct the ow of water substantial y tangential to the annular Water jacket.

42. The combination with a metallurgical i vertical plane o the tilting axis thereof, and cable holding-'means above said transformer from whichthe cables arecarried to said cable attaching means'of the electrode arm.

44. The combination with an electric metallurgical furnace, of a charging platform therefor, electrode hoisting mechanism comprising a cable ldrum located beneath said platform, and manual means to operate said drum from said platform comprising a shaft geared to said drum 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 arow, and each having door openings at its opposite sides in line with an axis extending transversel to lthe line of furnaces, a charging p atform, andr 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 platform and com-` mon to said series of furnaces, and a slaggng car adapted to travel on the last-mentioned track.

46. A metallurgical furnace having electrical heating means and comprising a retort, rockers on which said retort is mounted, traction rollers supporting said rockers,

means comprising aand vmeans carried by said rockers to limit' the rocking motion thereof on 'said rollers.

47. A metallurgical furnace havingl electrical heating means and comprising a retort mounted for tiltin movement and having charging and casting o nings located on opposite sides of its tilting axis, means. to limit the tilting movement of said retort, and power means for impartin 'tilting movement to said retort and locate to one side thereof in a plane intermediate of said openin 48. trical heating means and comprising a retort mounted for tiltin ing charging and casting o enings located Es metallurgical furnace having elec` movement and hav- 'so l on opposite` sides of its ti ting axis, and

power means for imparting tilting move ment to said retort and located to one side thereof in a plane intermediate of said openings. 49. tric metallurgical furnace, of an electrode Asupporting armV carried on said furnace and havin electric cable attachin means, a trans ormer in line with and be ow 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 vwith the center o f of said cable.

50. An electrical metallur 'cal furnace comprising a retort mounte for tilting movement, an electrode, an electrically conducting horizontal arm for supporting said rotation of the electrode end electrode, and a cable hol/der comprising a pair of cable clamping plates secured to said arm, said plates being provided with interior grooves extending upwardly and outwardly and adapted to engage individual cables.

51. The combination with a metallurgical furnace, of a charging platform therefor a sup rt carried by the furnace, a plurality of e ectrodes carried by said support, and an electrodemhoisting means com rising a motor winch located beneath said p atform' andto one side of said furnace approximately 90 from the spout thereof.

j 52. A metallurgical furnace havin electrical heating means and comprising a retort, lrockers on which said retort is mounted, traction rollers supporting said rockers, means forF driving sai traction rollers for causing a rockngfmotion of the furnace and means carrie by said rockers to limit the rocking motion thereof on said The combination with'av tilting eleciesv lll

iat

comprising a motor mounted on a station- .ary support and ltransmissionmeansbetween the motor and the electrodes adapted to hold the latter in substantially the same ily ,f and-transmiion munis being arranged to position with reference to the furnace when the furnace is tilted las when it is upri ht'.

54." The combination with 'a tiltin v e ectric Afurnace of mechanism for ad]usting `electrodes in 'said furnace', said mechanism comprising a motor mounted on a station- -ary support, and lifting cables. from said motor to the electrodes, said cables being of substantially the same effective length in the tilted position of the furnace and'in its upright position.

55. The combination with a tilting elec-- ytric furnace of-electrode-adjusting mechanism for said furnace, said mechanism comprising a motor mounted independently of t e furnace and transmission means between the motor and electrodes, said motor hold the/electrodes in dsubstantially 4the same pcsitionwith reference to the furnace when the furnace is tilted as when it isl upright.

56. The combination with a tilting elec,

Itric furnace of electrode-adjusting-mechanism for said furnace, said mechanism j ycomprising'a motor mounted independently of the furnace and transmission means between the motor and electrodes, said motor and transmlssion means being arranged to hold the electrodes in substantially the same` v position with reference to the furnace throughout the tilting movement of the furnace. v L v 57. The combination with a tilting elec- L trie furnace of mechanism .for adjusting electrodes in said furnace, said mechanism comprising a motormoimted on a stationary suplport and transmission means between t e motor and the electrodes adapted position with reference to the furnace throughout the tilting .movement of the furnace. f

58. The combination with a tilting electo hold the latter in substantially the samel i tric furnace of electrode' adjusting mechanism for said furnace, 'said mechanism comprising a motor mounted independentlyof t e furnace and a flexible connection extending from said motor to the electrode. one part of said connection extending from the motor-to a membe;` mounted on the furnace and engaging said member at a point which is substantlall furnace is tilted anti7 another part of said connection extending from said point off engagement to the electrode, whereby the latter is held in substantially the same position with reference to the furnace when the furnace is tilted as when it is upri ht.

l59. The combination with a tilting electric furnace of electrode adjusting mechanism for said furnace, sa1d mechanlsm comprising a motor mounted independentlyI of the furnace, a pulley mounted on the furnace and a cable' operated by said motor and extending over said ulley-to its electrede, said pulley being ocated in such a position on the'furnace that as the latter is tilted the electrode is held in substantially the same position with reference to the furnace as when it is upright.

unchanged when the In testimony whereof I aiix my'signature.

WM. E. MOORE.

Images