Method and devices for monitoring the clamping pressure, originating from an adjusting cylinder and fixing an exchangeable electrode at the electrode-supporting arm

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to prevent a detrimental effect on the operation of electric smelting furnaces. To achieve this, a pressure cell (41), which continuously measures the clamping force, is allocated to the actuating cylinder (21) that is responsible for fixing the interchangeable electrode (31) into the electrode support arm (11), said pressure cell continuously transmitting the measured values to a measured value display that is located at a distance from the furnace. This obviates the need for the previous conventional method of checking the current clamping pressure by placing a clamping pressure gauge in the electrode holder, e.g. when the electrode is replaced, without running the risk of a breakdown caused by the detachment of the electrode, triggered by an uncontrolled drop in the clamping pressure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.