Segmented electric furnace
AssigneeNorton Company
InventorMatthew Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric furnace comprising a container having electrically isolated wall segments useful for melting materials, particlularly ceramics, is disclosed. The electric fornace's side walls are constructed from electrically isolated segments, which cause electric current from a plasma torch to be concentrated on the material in the furnace to be melted rather than diverted to the walls of the furnace.
Claims20
An electric furnace for use in melting materials comprising a container having at least one sidewall having a top and bottom attached to a base member at its bottom so as to define a container cavity, said at least one sidewall containing a means being constructed from at least one electrically conductive segment and at least one electrically non-conductive segment for preventing conduction of electric current from the top of the sidewall to the bottom of the sidewall so that in operation, current flows from a plasma torch having a defined polarity disposed above the materials to be melted through the cavity and materials contained therein to portion of the container having a polarity opposite to that of the plasma torch.
An electric furnace for melting material comprising a substantially rectangular container having four sidewalls and a base defining a cavity for housing the material, and a means being constructed from at least one electrically conductive segment and at least one electrically non-conductive segment for preventing the conduction of electric current between each of the side walls and a plasma torch disposed above the material to be melted.
A pour spout for use in an electric furnace used to melt materials, said spout being positioned in the furnace so as to permit material in the furnace to be removed, said spout being constructed from at least one electrically conductive segment and at least one electrically non-conductive segment, said spout being electrically connected to said furnace, by a connection which has an electrical resistance.
An electrode furnace for use in melting materials comprising a container with an open top, said container comprising at least two vertically disposed electrically conductive segments separated by a vertically disposed non-conductive segment which prevents conduction of electricity between the electrically conductive segments, and a plasma torch disposed above the open top of the container, said plasma torch having an electrode of one polarity and said container having a portion thereof of the opposite polarity so that in operation current flows form the plasma torch through the cavity and materials contained therein to the portion of the container of opposite polarity from the plasma torch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.