Coupler for electric furnace electrodes

A device for coupling a new furnace electrode section to an electrode previously operatively associated with said furnace comprising:

• support means mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the axis of said electrode,
• said support means including translatable means advanceable and retractable relative to said electrode axis and first drive means for selectively moving said translatable means,
• electrode engaging means for releasably engaging said electrode section and being mounted on said translatable means for movement therewith whereby the electrode section engaged thereby may be moved into axial alignment with said electrode,
• and second drive means coupled to said electrode engaging means for moving the same in a path around the axis of said electrode for rotating said electrode section into coupling engagement with said electrode.

An electric furnace assembly comprising:

• a. a furnace,
• b. an elongated electrode extending from the outside to the inside of said furnace the end portion of said electrode inside of said furnace being consumable,
• c. an electrode support means coupled to said electrode and for supporting the same,
• d. coupling means for coupling a new electrode section to said electrode endwise thereof and outside of said furnace, said electrode and said section being constructed and arranged such that they may be coupled in an endwise relation by relative rotation about a common axis,
• e. said coupling means comprising first means for releasably engaging the periphery of said electrode section, second means for moving said first means into gripping engagement with said section, and third means for translating said first means about the axis of said section for securing the same to said electrode,
• f. pivot means,
• g. support means mounted on said pivot means for movement toward and away from said electrode in a line substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrode, said coupling means being mounted on said support means for movement therewith into operative engagement with said electrode, and
• h. bidirectional drive means supported on said pivot means and means coupling said drive means to said support means for advancing and retracting said support means to facilitate aligning said electrode section with said electrode.

An electric furnace assembly comprising:

• a. a furnace,
• b. an elongated electrode extending from the outside to the inside of said furnace, the end portion of said electrode inside of said furnace being consumable,
• c. an electrode support means coupled to said electrode and for supporting the same,
• d. coupling means for coupling a new electrode section to said electrode endwise thereof and outside of said furnace, said electrode and said section being constructed and arranged such that they may be coupled in an endwise relation by relative rotation about a common axis,
• e. said coupling means comprising first means for releasably engaging the periphery of said electrode section, second means for moving said first means into gripping engagement with said section, and third means for translating said first means about the axis of said section for securing the same to said electrode,
• f. said first means comprising a flexible means for being formed into a loop to enclose said electrode section and to dispose at least a portion of said flexible means in gripping engagement with at least a portion of the periphery of said electrode section, and
• g. said third means comprising means for translating said flexible means to effect turning of said electrode section when said flexible means is in gripping engagement therewith.