Vacuum induction melting assembly having simultaneously activated cooling and power connections

A vacuum induction melting assembly having a vacuum chamber and lodging a crucible about which is wound an induction coil, said induction coil serving as an induction furnace of said vacuum induction melting assembly, said vacuum induction melting assembly comprising:

• (a) a first bearing located on one side of said furnace;
• (b) a first trunnion rotatably supported on said bearing, said trunnion having a pivot axis about which said crucible of said vacuum induction melting assembly is tiltable;
• (c) a first plurality of connectors rigidly mounted to said assembly and distributed about and inside of said trunnion and within the area bounded by said bearing, said first connectors having conductors for conducting electrical power and carrying liquid coolant to and from said induction furnace of said assembly;
• (d) a housing positioned concentric with said trunnion and rotatable about said pivot axis, said housing carrying a second plurality of connectors for mating with said first plurality of connectors, said second plurality of connectors being interconnected to extensions for coupling to flexible cables which conduct electric power and carry liquid coolant to and from respective supply sources;
• (e) motion control means connected to said housing, said motion control means device when commanded to an actuated state causing the movement of said housing in a first direction toward said trunnion and along the pivot axis of said trunnion so as to engage and apply a clamping force between the first and second plurality of connectors, and said control means when commanded to a deactivated state causing the movement of said housing in a second direction away from said trunnion and along the pivot axis of said trunnion so that said first and second plurality of connectors become disengaged.