Electric induction melting assembly

A method of operation of an induction melting furnace removably installed in a cradle disposed in a controlled environment within a controlled environment chamber, the induction melting furnace having one or more furnace coil water connections and one or more furnace coil power leads, the one or more furnace coil water connections separated from the one or more furnace coil power leads, the one or more furnace coil power leads connected from one or more furnace induction coils of the induction melting furnace to at least one positive furnace electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one positive furnace electrical spade, and at least one negative furnace electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one negative furnace electrical spade disposed in a furnace spade power port sealably attached to a pressure plate on the induction melting furnace with the at least one positive furnace electrical spade and the at least one negative furnace electrical spade penetrating through the pressure plate, the at least one positive furnace electrical spade, the at least one negative furnace electrical spade and the pressure plate forming a furnace spaced assembly located on at least one side of the induction melting furnace, the method comprising:

• seating the induction melting furnace on the cradle prior to establishing the controlled environment within the controlled environment chamber so that the pressure plate forms a seal over a furnace electrical spades opening in an interior cradle volume of the cradle with the at least one positive furnace electrical spade and the at least one negative furnace electrical spade penetrating into a sealed interior cradle environment in the interior cradle volume, the interior cradle volume containing a cradle spade assembly and a spade clamping assembly;
• forming the controlled environment within the controlled environment chamber subsequent to seating the induction melting furnace on the cradle to isolate the sealed interior cradle environment from the controlled environment;
• and
• moving at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade, and at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade from an opened position to a closed position within the sealed interior cradle environment to complete an electrical circuit between said each of the at least one positive furnace electrical spades protruding through the pressure plate into the sealed interior cradle environment and said each of the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spades associated with the cradle spade assembly, and said each of the at least one negative furnace electrical spades protruding through the pressure plate into the sealed interior cradle environment and said each of the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spades associated with the cradle spade assembly.

A method of operation of an induction melting furnace removably installed in a cradle disposed in a controlled environment within a controlled environment chamber, the induction melting furnace having one or more furnace coil power leads from one or more furnace induction coils of the induction melting furnace to at least one positive furnace electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one positive furnace electrical spade, and at least one negative furnace electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one negative furnace electrical spade disposed in a furnace spade power port sealably attached to a pressure plate on the induction melting furnace with the at least one positive furnace electrical spade and the at least one negative furnace electrical spade penetrating through the pressure plate, the method comprising:

• seating the induction melting furnace on the cradle prior to establishing the controlled environment within the controlled environment chamber and sealing the pressure plate over a furnace electrical spades opening in an interior cradle volume of the cradle by clamping the pressure plate over a top of the furnace electrical spades opening with the at least one positive furnace electrical spade and the at least one negative furnace electrical spade penetrating into a sealed interior cradle environment in the interior cradle volume, the interior cradle volume containing a cradle spade assembly and a spade clamping assembly;
• forming the controlled environment within the controlled environment chamber subsequent to seating the induction melting furnace on the cradle to isolate the sealed interior cradle environment from the controlled environment;
• and
• moving at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade, and at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade comprises a plurality of said at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade from an opened position to a closed position within the sealed interior cradle environment to complete an electrical circuit between (1) said each of the at least one positive furnace electrical spades protruding through the pressure plate into the sealed interior cradle environment and said each of the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spades associated with the cradle spade assembly, said each of the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spades connected to a positive terminal of an external power source located external to the controlled environment and supplied to the sealed interior cradle environment, and (2) said each of the at least one negative furnace electrical spades protruding through the pressure plate into the sealed interior cradle environment and said each of the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spades associated with the cradle spade assembly, said each of the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spades connected to a negative terminal of the external power source, whereby electric power from the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the external power source is provided to the one or more furnace induction coils.