Abstract: An assembly provides electrical current to molten glass in a glass melting tank. The assembly includes a structure having an electrode that is in contact with the molten glass, and a fluid-cooled connection apparatus. The fluid-cooled connection apparatus includes a first connection element electrically connected to a current source and a second connection element electrically connected to the current source, where the first and second connection elements are spaced apart from each other; and an electrical cross-connect strut having a first end secured to the first connection element and a second end secured to the second connection element. The assembly also includes a bus bar electrically connected to the fluid-cooled connection apparatus and to an electrode. The current source provides a current to the molten glass via the structure and the electrode for heating the molten glass through resistive heating.

Abstract: Apparatuses for interfacing with an electrode provided with a melting furnace including a vessel and an electrode. In some embodiments, a support assembly (50) supports the electrode outside of the vessel, and includes a cart (102) or similar apparatus that permits or facilitates selective vertical movement of the electrode and selective transverse movement of the electrode. In some embodiments, a push assembly (52) interfaces with a rear face of the electrode outside of the vessel, and is operable to apply a pushing force onto the rear face. The push assembly can include one or more tracks (e.g., threaded screw) that supports a body between opposing arms of a fixed frame. The body can translate along the tracks to apply a pushing force onto the electrode.

Abstract: A main energizing/heating unit has an outer electrode and an inner electrode, and energizes a fool material to be gelatinized by heating and continuously heat-treats it while it is conveyed in a food flow channel. The food flow channel in which the food material flows is formed between the both electrodes. Fed to the food material flowing in the food flow channel by a power supply section is a current in a direction traversing a flow direction of the food material. An inner cooling flow channel is formed in the inner electrode, and cooling liquid is fed to the inner cooling flow channel through a piping.

Abstract: An electrical heating device electrically heats a material to be heated by supplying an electric current flowing between a plurality of electrodes. The electrical heating device includes a temperature detection device which detects temperature information of a plurality of areas of the material to be heated, a supplemental heating device which heats each of the plurality of areas of the material to be heated, and a controller for controlling heating of the material to be heated. During the electrical heating, the controller controls, based on the temperature of each of the plurality of areas of the material to be heated detected by the temperature detection device, the supplemental heating device so that the supplemental heating device heats at least one area or all of areas having a temperature lower than the temperature of an area having a highest temperature among the plurality of areas.

Abstract: An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.

Abstract: A sealing device is arranged around a rod electrode extending vertically through an aperture made in the ceiling of an arc furnace and being vertically movable inside the furnace to prevent the access of gases from the furnace through the aperture to the atmosphere, and on the other hand to prevent air from flowing from the atmosphere into the furnace. The sealing device comprises a gas distribution chamber provided with an inlet channel for feeding essentially passive gas, such as nitrogen or air, into the gas distribution chamber. The sealing device also includes a slit nozzle encasing the electrode, through which nozzle a gas jet is arranged to be discharged from the gas distribution chamber towards the electrode in a direction that is at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane and has a slightly upwards inclined orientation, and that is, with respect to the furnace interior, pointed outwardly, so that the sealing is carried out owing to the effect of the created stagnation pressure.

Abstract: The use of blocks (1, 2, 3, 4) based on sintered tin oxide for producing the throat of a glass furnace.

Abstract: A system for melting and delivering glass to a work area such as spinners for making fiberglass includes a melter with heaters so arranged that the "hot spot" in the molten glass is located away from the walls and corrosion sensitive parts so that the various elements of the melter wear out at substantially the same time. The system is further provided with a dual exhaust arrangement when the melter, conditioner and forehearth are located on the same floor of the plant, the first exhaust being at the juncture of the melter and conditioner, and the second being an alternating replacement for one of the heating/cooling orifices and mechanisms in the conditioner, so as to effectively limit the amount of corrosive volatiles reaching the forehearth.

Abstract: A heater mechanism for a crystal pulling apparatus is disclosed. Electrodes made of copper or the like and disposed under a heater are connected to the heater via graphite members. A cover member is attached to each graphite member, so that the downwardly extending portion of the cover member surrounds the outer surface of the graphite member. Accordingly, a leak or splash of a melt is prevented from contacting the electrodes. The length of each graphite member is equal to or greater than the distance between the bottom surface of the heater and the top surface of a melt spill tray which distance is measured when the heater mechanism is raised The cover member is vertically slidable along the outer surface of each graphite member. Thus, even when a material melt leaks out from a crucible, the electrodes of the heater mechanism can be protected from a fusion damage or the like which would be otherwise caused by the leak of the melt.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for glass tank furnaces comprises a rod electrode inserted in a cylindrical electrode holder, through which it can be advanced. Along at least part of its length the said electrode holder is fitted with a device for forced cooling and is installed in an electrode block in the furnace. In order to dispense with and in order to operate the electrode holder at a constant temperature the holder is inserted with the bottom face below a filling level determined by the design of the furnace, and provided with a seal between it and the electrode above the filling level. Preferably the electrode holder has an outer tube and an inner tube, which create an annular gap between them for a cooling medium, whereby the inner tube protrudes out of the upper end of the outer tube and a sealing unit is provided between the inner tube and the electrode.

Abstract: An electrode support arm for arc furnaces which is constructed as a hollow section with a wall formed at least partially from current-carrying material of high conductivity. The wall of the hollow section has a coolant guiding system including ducts arranged in the wall so as to be parallel to one another and concentric to the center axis of the support arm. The quantity and dimensions of these ducts enable sufficient cooling without a reduction in the strength of the support arm.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a glass melting furnace has an electrode body supported by two elongated steel tubes. Current is supplied to the electrode body by a current supply tube disposed between the two support arms. A holding fixture joins the two support arms to the electrode body. The tube extends through the holding fixture to connect with the electrode body, thus to provide a firm electrical connection with the tube and good mechanical connection with the support arms.

Abstract: A furnace has side walls and a bottom wall with a refractory lining. To permit mounting of ancillary equipment such as electrode refractory blocks are fitted to the bottom wall of the furnace. To mount each refractory block a hole is bored through the bottom wall from the exterior of the furnace with a large diameter in the outer part of the wall and a smaller diameter in the lining. The refractory block has a stepped construction to fit closely inside the bored holes. A central passageway through the refractory block has a removable plug at its inner end which may be displaced by insertion of an ancillary device such as an electrode.

Abstract: The metallurgical vessel, such as a direct-current arc furnace, comprises a metal housing (1) lined on its inside with refractory material (2), at least one electrode (3) passing through the bottom of the vessel and connected to a terminal of an electrical power supply, the electrode being fastened to the metal housing by a mechanical fastening arrangement and insulated electrically from the housing. A leaktight wall (20) surrounding the fastening zone of the electrode prevents a liquid flowing over the inner surface of the housing from coming into contact with the electrode fastening arrangement, and orifices (26) are provided for discharging the liquid collected out of the housing. The invention is particularly applicable to direct-current arc furnaces and prevents the molten lead originating from the scrap metal of the charge and infiltrating through the refractory from damaging the electrical insulation of the fastening of the electrode.

Abstract: The service life of a bottom electrode for a direct current arc furnace for producing steel is prolonged by using ZrB.sub.2 type sintered bodies for a contacting pins which constitutes a major part of the bottom electrode wherein the ZrB.sub.2 type sintered bodies have a corrosion-resistance to molten steel and slag. Further, the number of contacting pins to be used is reduced by forming each of the pins into a form of pillar with a through hole at the axis, or by assembling a plurality of longitudinally divided pin portions to form a contacting pin, whereby the diameter of the contacting pin can be made large. Then the space between contacting pins is made broad, and brick having good corrosion-resistance are filled in the space so that the service life of the bottom electrode is brought closer to that of the refractory lining of the direct current arc furnace.

Abstract: A sealed connection for a sleeve and jacket for protecting a molybdenum electrode mounted through the wall of an electric glass furnace. Around the electrode in the wall is a stainless steel sleeve coated on the inside with a fused alumina and having an outwardly extending flange at its outer end which engages the outer wall or shoulder in the aperture in the wall through which the electrode extends. The flange has an axially outwardly extending rib of V-shaped radial cross-section which seats and centers in an annular V-shaped groove around the inner end of a water jacket that surrounds the electrode outside the furnace. Refractory sealing gaskets are placed between the flange and the wall of the furnace and in the cooperating grooves and ribs of the sleeve and water jacket. The sealed cylindrical annular space around the electrode between it and the sleeve and the jacket is filled with nitrogen to prevent oxidation of the molybdenum electrode.

Abstract: The electric connection device comprises an electrode (5), a sleeve (19) mounted around a projecting end part (8) of the electrode (5), and an arrangement for cooling the sleeve (19) with a cooling fluid comprising at least one system (20, 20') of nozzles (21) spraying cooling fluid onto the outer surface of the sleeve (19).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating the portion of an electrode protruding from a glass melting furnace is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention describes an electrical resistance heated device. A second embodiment discloses a gas and air fired infrared heater device. Both devices allow the electrode to be heated to an elevated temperature without oxidation of the electrode thereby allowing the electrode to be forced into the furnace without damage to the furnace or the electrode.

Abstract: An electric melting furnace is provided for optimally melting and mixing a non-homogeneous material. The melting furnace includes a vessel having its top portion open to the environment. Three electrodes are supported above the furnace. Each of the electrodes includes a tip for insertion into the material contained in the vessel. The vessel further includes an outlet formed in the bottom wall of the vessel to discharge the material after it has been melted and optimally mixed. Each of the three electrode tips has a generally round configuration. During the melting operation, the three electrode tips are laterally spaced from each other and are positioned in the vessel to be surrounded by molten material but above the bottom wall outlet. Optimum melting and then optimum mixing of the material occurs at selected horizontal spacings of the electrode tips and at selected electrode tip immersions in the molten material.