Device for balancing the forces acting on the electrode in electro-slag furnaces

A device for balancing the forces acting on the electrode in an electroslag furnace comprising:

• a housing centered on an upright axis;
• a vertically displaceable electrode centered on said axis and positioned in said housing with a seal disposed between said electrode and said housing;
• a cross-bar disposed above said electrode and formed with an electrode carrier secured to the upper end of said electrode;
• a pair of double-acting upright pneumatic cylinders flanking said housing and attached thereto at the lower ends thereof;
• means on said cylinders for securing a cable to the pistons thereof, said cable passing over pulleys provided on said cross-bar;
• a first inlet pipe communicating with the interior of said housing for feeding gas from a gas supply thereinto, said first inlet pipe being provided with a first shutoff valve;
• an outlet pipe communicating with the interior of said housing and the upper ends of said cylinders for feeding heated gas from said housing into said cylinders, whereby the pressure in said cylinders is equalized with the pressure in said housing, said outlet pipe being provided with a second shutoff valve;
• a second inlet pipe communicating with the lower ends of said cylinders for feeding gas from said gas supply thereinto, said second inlet pipe being provided with a third shutoff valve;
• a fourth shutoff valve communicating with the upper ends of said cylinders for selectively venting same to ambient atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a fifth shutoff valve communicating with the lower ends of said cylinders for selectively venting same to ambient atmospheric pressure.