Abstract: A method and system certifies a joint between a first threaded element having a first shoulder and a second threaded element having a second shoulder and the equipment used to tighten the connection. The method tightens to a first position at which the first shoulder abuts the second shoulder. Marks are made that are aligned across the first element and the second element corresponding to the first position. The connection is loosened and then tightened to a second position complying with a predetermined tightening specification. The distance beyond the marks for the first position is measured to verify that it is within acceptable tolerances. If acceptable the connection and/or the tightening equipment can be certified.

Abstract: An electrode joining apparatus for joining a free electrode to a fixed electrode, the fixed electrode having a top end. The apparatus can include an electrode holder configured to selectively hold the fixed electrode. A torque device can be positioned above the electrode holder, the torque device configured to grip and spin the free electrode to join the free electrode to the fixed electrode. A blowout jet can be oriented to selectively force a stream of gas toward the top end of the fixed electrode when the fixed electrode is held by the electrode holder. As such, the blowout jet can help remove dust, debris, or graphite residue on the top end of the fixed electrode before joining of the free electrode to the fixed electrode. The fixed electrode can include a threaded socket, the blow jet oriented to force the stream of gas toward the threaded socket.

Abstract: A force-applying element for fixing radomes provides an annular flange region. The force-applying element provides at least one fixing region, which extends from the flange region in the direction towards the radome to be fixed, and its outer surfaces are surrounded by the radome in a form-fit manner.

Abstract: A graphite electrode exhibits oxidation resistance by modifying the outer radial surface characteristics. The outer radial surface may be modified by providing a textured portion which improves water flow while minimizing water absorbtion. Alternately, a layer of flexible graphite or plurality of particles of exfoliated graphite may be disposed on the outer radial surface of the electrode body.

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: A graphite electrode exhibits oxidation resistance by modifying the outer radial surface characteristics. The outer radial surface may be modified by providing a textured portion which improves water flow while minimizing water absorbtion. Alternately, a layer of flexible graphite or plurality of particles of exfoliated graphite may be disposed on the outer radial surface of the electrode body.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an electrical contact assembly for a plasma torch tip, and may include an electrical contact portion, a compressible portion in mechanical communication with the contact, and a mounting portion in mechanical communication with the compressible portion. Some embodiments may be adapted to maintain contact with an uneven substrate during translation of the torch tip.

Abstract: A pin for use in connecting graphite electrodes into a joint, where the pin has at least one male tang having a tang factor, defined as the ratio of male tang length to diameter of the electrode into which hit is to be threaded, of at least about 1.0.

Abstract: Carbon electrodes have at least one socket with an internal thread to be mated with a threaded pin having at least one external thread. Also such a threaded pin is provided for connecting to such carbon electrodes. The internal thread or external thread of the carbon electrodes and/or the pins are provided with non-load bearing abutment thread windings.

Abstract: A joint for connecting two carbon members, with at least one carbon member having an asymmetrical coefficient of thermal expansion. The carbon member having the asymmetrical coefficient of thermal expansion also has either a male tang or a female socket with an elliptical cross section selectively oriented to the asymmetrical coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: An electrode joint having first and second complementary elements capable of being joined together to form the joint, wherein one of the threaded elements has at least one slot at least partially along its length; and wherein one of the threaded elements includes a source of a flowable adhesive in fluid communication with the slot.

Abstract: Electrode columns made from carbon and graphite are screwed together from individual elements, for example, the electrodes and nipples. The elements have directionally structured contact surfaces. Such a structure of the contact surfaces gives rise to the elements of a column demonstrating increased resistance to loosening after intensive machine screwing or screwing applied by hand, which, therefore, is often inadequate, whereby a higher level of operational reliability is achieved, in particular, in the case of electrode columns that are screwed together by hand.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for assembling a composite, self-baking electrode for electric arc furnaces. The electrode includes an outer metal ferrule, a central column of prebaked carbon or graphite sections assembled by nipples. New sections are added to the column from carbon paste placed between the ferrule and the central column. The assembling system principally includes a support that is vertically mobile over a length greater than the length of each of the sections. The support suspends the central column. A device is provided for temporarily blocking the column and a clamping device applies a preset torque to a newly added section while the blocking device temporarily blocks the column from movement thereby screwing the newly added section to an adjacently positioned section of the column.

Abstract: In an arc furnace or melter furnace employing concentric graphite inner and outer electrodes, the accumulations of tolerances, distortion and mechanical forces can cause a loss of concentricity leading to reduced performance and eventually to electrode degradation. To avoid that condition, a plurality of insulating spherical or cylindrical spacers are disposed in the annular gap between the inner and outer electrodes. The spacers are held in position by arcuate recesses in the outer surface of the inner electrode or in the inner surface of the outer electrode. The electrodes may be constructed in segments that are assembled by threading one segment into another segment.

Abstract: In order to prevent the rupturing of a graphite electrode comprising electrode sections joined with one another by a socket and a nipple, electrical insulating material is applied on the joined surfaces to decrease the current across the nipple.

Abstract: The self-baking electrode suitable for use in an electric arc furnace comprises an elongated open ended electrically conductive casing for extending generally vertically within the furnace. A central core made of a heat conductive material is disposed within and spaced from the casing. A framework within is securing the central core to an inner surface of the casing for holding centrally the central core within the casing and for preventing an extrusion of the central core downward. The central core is surrounded by a carbonaceous electrode paste devised to cure into a solid electrode upon heating and to bond to the central core. This self-baking electrode allows the production of silicon metal in a Soderberg-type furnace without any modification to the usual slipping system or addition of another slipping system.

Abstract: A device for mounting a self-baking composite electrode for an electric arc furnace, which includes a hollow metallic shell, a central column of graphite or pre-baked carbon comprising a plurality of elements fitted together by means of nipples. A carbonaceous paste is disposed between the shell and the column. The column is suspended from a support which is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the shell, along a length which is greater than the length of each of the elements. The invention is particularly relevant to furnaces for the production of silicon by carbothermic means.

Abstract: Electrode joint for threadably joining two abutting carbon upper and lower electrode sections is provided with a locking pin releasably held in an upper electrode section which when released engages a groove in a lower electrode section.

Abstract: Threaded nipple for joining two electrode sections is provided with an integral ridge intermediate its threads for centering the electrodes in coaxial alignment.

Abstract: The electric furnace operating cycle time is substantially reduced by directing water into the porous pack of carbonaceous material surrounding the electrodes at a water rate adjusted to maximize vaporization of water into steam within the porous pack while allowing the steam to escape without contacting the electrodes.

Abstract: A graphite body which is capable of connecting a plurality of the graphite bodies one by one. The graphite body includes one connecting end surface having a T-shaped mound and the other connecting end surface having an inverted T-shaped groove so that the graphite bodies may be connected by means of the mound and groove. The mound and groove each have a width linearly varied in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: Graphite consumable electrode for electric arc furnaces and the like, which comprises a plurality of essentially similar graphite sections and coupled one to the other by means of threaded connections, wherein each section is provided with cooling conduits formed into it, through which a cooling fluid flows fed only through the upper portion of the electrode from a distributing header with the lower tip portion of the electrode being automatically isolated from the cooling fluid flow.

Abstract: A laminated carbon cathode includes two layers of carbon blocks, i.e. and the upper layer of graphite of graphitised carbon, and a lower layer of a cheaper anthracite carbon. The two layers are so displaced with respect to one another that there are no vertical seams leading straight from the upper surface of the carbon cathode to the its underside. Dividing the cathode into two horizontal layers is combined with the embedding of current-carrying steel conductors in precise grooves between the layers. In order to capitalize on the good electrical conductivity of aluminum, an aluminum extension is friction-welded to each steel conductor as close to a shell enclosing the cathode while at the same time a collar is formed which provides an air-tight seal at the point where the cathode bar enters the side of the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to joined carbon electrodes, each of which has a mark formed on such a part of the circumferential surface of each of the first and second carbon electrodes that upon the coinciding of the marks with one another the ends of the screws essentially coincide with one another.

Abstract: Connection between the sections of a graphite electrode in whose faces a socket is sunk to accommodate a threaded nipple. The socket base has a rotation-symmetrical recess whose principal sections are defined by a second or higher order curves and go over into the socket generating surface continuously differentiably. The annular stress active in the connection zone is reduced in particular by the recess.

Abstract: A water-cooled electrode for an electric arc furnace is fitted with a copper nipple 10, increased surface area through fluting or drilled or threaded passages for vastly improved cooling, joining the water-cooled and graphite portions of the electrode.

Abstract: The probability of thread damage during the joining of carbon or graphite electrodes having tapered threaded projections or sockets is reduced by an improved thread configuration wherein the thread crest angle is less than the taper angle of the threaded projection or socket. In the preferred embodiment the thread crest is essentially parallel to the electrode axis.

Abstract: Carbon losses are reduced in that an operative carbon anode is glued beneath a carbon core in an inert anode top. The operative anode carbon is almost completely consumed. The anode top is then cleaned and a new operative carbon is glued to its underside.

Abstract: Improvements on a DC plasma jet generator for emission spectrochemical analysis wherein two anode blocks and one cathode block are positioned in an inverted Y shape, and each of the anode blocks has a cylinder, a piston, an an anode received by a recess in the end of the piston. Each anode can be secured in the recess at the end of the piston in the corresponding anode block by magnetic force. Each of the anode and cathode blocks is pivotable so that the associated electrode attached to each block can be fixed upright with the free end thereof directed upward. This means that the electrodes can be replaced easily as well as speedily by remote control using manipulators.

Abstract: Graphite electrode for arc furnaces composed of a plurality of graphite electrode parts comprising a plurality of electrode sections connected by threaded graphite nipples, wherein at least one part of a graphite electrode has a plurality of graphite-filament yarn tensionally connected to the electrode part.

Abstract: A water-cooled arc furnace electrode includes a hollow metallic jacket having a cylindrical wall portion supported in spaced relation from a graphite electrode. A shell is spaced from and surrounds the wall portion and has a section extending below the wall portion and upwardly into engagement with the lower end thereof. A baffle is disposed between the wall portion and the shell to define a first cooling fluide passage for water flowed downwardly between the shell and the baffle and a second passage extending upwardly between the baffle and the wall portion. A plurality of spaced electrical contact members are mounted on the lower portion of the shell and are in pressure engagement with the electrode. The shell and the contacts provide a current path around a proportion of the electrode for increased conductivity and to minimize electrode oxidation.

Abstract: An electrode for fusion electrolysis comprising an upper portion (5) of metal and a replaceable lower portion (6) of self-consuming or of slowly self-consuming material which are interconnected by a screw-nipple (1) or the like, whereby the upper portion may have a cooling device with a feed duct (2) and a return duct (3) and the upper portion (5) has at least partially and preferably in its lower region a protective covering, whereby this covering is a detachably surmounted sheath (4) of mechanically resistant material, which is electrically conductive. The sheath can be sub-divided into individual segments, while the design of screw-mounted units with internal recesses for the acceptance of resilient, electrically conductive materials reveals especially favorable properties.

Abstract: Taper thread joints in carbon or graphite electrode columns are protected from thread damage during assembly by use of a consumable centering pin to assure axial alignment of the mating parts, thereby preventing thread damage and resulting thread debris from forming and interfering with the proper fit of the mating parts forming the joint.

Abstract: A steel treatment system includes a ladle having a cover, a heating electrode mounted to extend through an opening in the cover, a casing surrounding the electrode and including lower, intermediate and upper sections, and a seal mounted at the cover about the opening for forming a seal with the lower section of the casing. A clamp device is mounted on the intermediate section of the casing and extends therethrough for clamping the electrode and for fixing the relative axial position of the electrod with respect to the casing. An actuator is fixedly supported at a level above the clamp device and is operatively connected to the casing to move the casing and the electrode downwardly. First guide rollers act on the lower section of the casing, and second guide rollers act on the upper section of the casing for ensuring axial movement of the casing and electrode.

Abstract: The proper assembly of electrode sections is facilitated by placing orientation match-marks on the electrode ends, which marks are lined up at the time of the assembly. Placing of the marks is done with marking gauges and the location is predetermined with reference to the pitch of the socket threads.