Electric induction melting assembly

An electric induction melting assembly for use in a controlled environment chamber, the electric induction melting assembly comprising:

• an induction melting furnace comprising:
• at least one furnace induction coil power lead from one or more induction coils surrounding a crucible of the induction melting furnace;
• and
• at least one furnace spade assembly, each of the at least one spade assembly comprising:
• a pressure plate attached to the induction melting furnace, the pressure plate having a pressure plate opening to a controlled environment in the controlled environment chamber;
• a furnace spade power port sealing the pressure plate opening;
• and
• at least one positive furnace electrical spade and at least one negative furnace electrical spade protruding through the furnace spade power port, the at least one furnace induction coil power lead connected to the at least one positive furnace electrical spade and the at least one negative furnace electrical spade on a side of the pressure plate in the controlled environment;
• and
• a cradle for seating of the induction melting furnace within the controlled environment chamber, the cradle comprising:
• at least one external electric power port;
• at least one cradle spade assembly, the at least one cradle spade assembly disposed within an interior cradle volume within the cradle, the interior cradle volume having a furnace electrical spades opening, the at least one cradle spade assembly having at least one positive cradle electrical spade and at least one negative cradle electrical spade, the at least one positive and negative electrical spades connected to the at least one external electric power port within the interior cradle volume;
• and
• at least one spade clamping assembly, the at least one spade clamping assembly disposed within the interior cradle volume and having an opened position and a closed position, the at least one spade clamping assembly comprising at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade and at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade, and an actuator for moving the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade and the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade between the opened and closed positions, the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade and the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade disposed respectively on opposing sides of the at least one positive cradle electrical spade and at the least one negative cradle electrical spade so that when the induction melting furnace is seated on the cradle the pressure plate is sealed over the furnace electrical spades opening and the at least one positive and negative furnace electrical spades protrude into the interior cradle volume a sealed cradle environment is formed within the interior cradle volume, the sealed cradle environment isolated from the controlled environment within the controlled environment chamber, whereby when the at least one spade clamping assembly is in the closed position the at least one positive cradle clamping electrical spade and the at least one negative cradle clamping electrical spade respectively complete an electrical circuit between (1) each of the at least one positive furnace electrical spades and each of the at least one positive cradle electrical spades and (2) each of the at least one negative furnace electrical spades and each of the at least one negative cradle electrical spade in the sealed cradle environment.