Re-Melting Furnace and Universal Joint, in Particular for the Electrode Rod Mounting of a Re-Melting Furnace
AssigneeALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
InventorsIvaylo POPOV, Ralf OEHLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A universal joint suspension system for a re-melting furnace is disclosed. The system is used to hold the electrode rod mounting including the consumable electrode cardanically in relation to the furnace body, thus allowing the mounting to be tipped in any direction. The fundamental concept of the system is that weighing cells are arranged in the bearings of one shaft of the universal joint bearing, the weighing cells determining the weight of the mounting and the parts suspended therein, such that the weight of the consumable electrode can be continuously derived from the determination process.
Claims11
-10. (canceled)
A re-melting furnace, comprising:
- a base frame;
- a casting die disposed in the base frame;
- an electrode rod standing essentially upright and disposed above the casting die, wherein a consumable electrode is attachable to an end of the electrode rod that faces the casting die;
- and
- an electrode rod mounting, wherein the electrode rod is mounted in the electrode rod mounting and wherein the electrode rod mounting is pivotable in all directions relative to the base frame such that a consumable electrode attached to the electrode rod is orientable in the casting die coaxially with a central axis of the casting die;
- wherein the electrode rod mounting has a universal joint bearing with two intersecting cardanic shafts and a weight sensor between the base frame and the electrode rod mounting for determining a weight of a consumable electrode attached to the electrode rod;
- and wherein the weight sensor is disposed in one of the two cardanic shafts.
A universal joint bearing for a pivotable electrode rod mounting of a re-melting furnace, comprising:
- two intersecting cardanic shafts;
- and
- a weight sensor, wherein the weight sensor is disposed in one of the two cardanic shafts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.