Clamp for arc furnace electrode

An electrode holder including a plurality of spaced apart clamps each having a clamping surface for engaging the surface of an electrode to support the same, said clamping surfaces being contoured complimentary to a portion of the electrode surface,

• support means mounted on said electrode holder, each clamp being pivotally mounted on said support means for movement toward and away from the electrode,
• a plurality of elongate pressure members, each member being engageable at one end with a different one of said clamps but being disconnected therefrom,
• a pressure assembly for each member, each pressure assembly including a first support portion fixedly mounted on the electrode holder and second and third support portions,
• a coupler connecting each associated second and third support portions and being slidably mounted on the first support portion,
• the second and third support portions of each pressure assembly being disposed on the opposite sides of their associated first support portion and being unsupported except by said coupler,
• said members each being engaged by their respective second support portions, hydraulic means disposed between each first and third support portions and spring means being disposed between the first and second support portions of each pressure assembly,
• said pressure members being slidably mounted longitudinally on said first and second support portions for being urged by the second support portion under the influence of the spring means and into engagement with its associated clamp.