Abstract: An apparatus for the automated coating of graphite electrodes comprises a carriage shiftable parallel to the coating apparatus between a station in which the graphite electrode is preheated and a station in which the preheated electrode is positioned opposite the coating station onto which the electrode is then gripped between a pair of contacts and rotated at variable speeds while all of the coating and surfaces treatment tools on a carriage flanking the electrode are brought into play successively by reciprocation of the tool carriage alongside the electrode.

Abstract: In an apparatus for coating cylindrical graphite bodies, a pair of shafts are arranged in a closely spaced apart relationship with their respective axes lying close to the horizontal in respective parallel planes and slightly tilted in opposite directions in those planes, so that the shafts cross one another with none of their surfaces being parallel and form between them a guideway for a graphite body to be coated, the rotation of the shafts in the same sense causing the body to advance to a coating station arranged alongside the shafts and electrodes positioned above the guideway to form a coating-bonding electric arc with the body, which is supplied current through the shafts. The rotation of the shafts is reversible for advancing the graphite body back and forth past the coating station for the application of multilayered coatings.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the refining of a ferrous melt makes use of a ladle with a removable cover provided with a porous plug at its bottom through which an inert gas is introduced. A direct current source is connected to a carbon electrode in contact with the melt and at least one electrode above the melt.

Abstract: A pair of cooperable rotatable discs of differing shape are supported in a housing for crushing hard and/or abrasive materials. A first one of the discs is planar in shape and is horizontally supported for rotation about a vertical axis. The cooperating disc is of conical shape, and is movable toward and away from the first disc along a second oblique axis, and is also supported for rotation in the housing about such oblique axis. Material to be crushed is deposited on the horizontal surface of the first disc, and after being crushed between the discs is carried by the first disc to be swept into the bottom of the crusher housing by means of a first rake or comb located above the upper material-bearing surface of the first disc. A second rake affixed to the lower surface of the first disc aids in discharging the crushed material from the bottom of the housing through an outlet chute.

Abstract: A method for steelmaking with direct current in which, during melting in an arc furnace, the contact anodes are connected by contact to the iron material, and the electric arc is formed between the latter and the movable cathodes. After the contact anodes attain the slag, the further burning of the electric arc between the molten metal and the movable cathodes is effected so that the working ends of the contact anodes remain immersed in the slag.

Abstract: A contact clamp for graphite electrodes, which comprises a shaft, the one end of which is shaped as a cone, while the other ends with a neck, onto which there is seated a metal hub shaped as a truncated cone, and to the shaft there is fastened a current-carrying disk, which is in contact with current-supplying brushes.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating graphite electrodes comprises a support having parallel horizontal guideways at one end of which is a fixed headstock whose spindle is coupled by gearing to a lead screw and is driven at a constant speed. At the other end of the guideways is a movable tailstock whose spindle is clamped by an electric motor and slip clutch against an electrode supported between the spindles. The lead screw drives a longitudinal slide which carries a plurality of cross-slides including a cleaning tool, a metal-depositing spray head, an arc-depositing head and a grinding device each on a respective cross-slide. The entire unit is enclosed in an acoustical housing having a lid which can be opened to permit lowering of the electrode into place and a door through which the operator can have access to the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for preheating a charge of raw material, illustratively an alloying charge, with hot gases prior to application of such charge to a ferroalloying kiln or other electric furnace is described. The charge to be preheated is loaded into a main vertically disposed reservoir which communicates at its bottom end with a combustion chamber adapted to generate the hot gases for preheating. A perforated transition cylinder is vertically disposed within the combustion chamber. Hot gases flow into the interior of the transition cylinder through the apertures and are directed upwardly through the charge stored in the main reservoir, thereby effecting the desired preheating action. The gases emerging from the top of the main reservoir enter a smoke chamber, from which they are discharged into suitable scrubbing and ventilating facilities. The preheated charge is selectively introduced into the electric furnace from the main reservoir via the transition cylinder.