# US 9,521,706 B2 · Liquid cooled glass melt electrode

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- Number: US 9,521,706 B2
- Document ID: US9521706B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/259,800
- Filed: 2014-04-23
- Published: 2014-09-25
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-10
- Assignees: H.C. Starck GmbH
- Applicants: Joseph Hirt; John Eiler
- Inventors: Joseph Hirt; John Eiler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521706B2

## CPC

- H05B 3/03: Electrodes
- C03B 5/027: by passing an electric current between electrodes immersed in the glass bath, i.e. by direct resistance heating
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES

## Abstract

In various embodiments, an electrode has a shaft extending from an electrode head and a cooling passage extending from an open end disposed at an attachment end of the shaft to a closed end disposed within the electrode head. The electrode head has an approximately teardrop shape with a smoothly rounded outer contour.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrode for immersion in a molten medium, the electrode comprising:
an elongated shaft;
an electrode head (i) having an approximately teardrop shape with a smoothly rounded outer contour, and (ii) being disposed at an end of the shaft opposite an attachment end of the shaft; and
a cooling passage extending from an open end disposed at the attachment end of the shaft to a closed end disposed within the electrode head,
wherein (i) the outer contour of the electrode head is defined by a radial profile rotated about a centerline of the shaft, (ii) the radial profile has a center disposed at the closed end of the cooling passage and on the centerline of the shaft, (iii) the radial profile exhibits a maximum value at an angle θ from a perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft, and (iv) the maximum value of the radial profile falls within a middle portion of the radial profile extending from an angle of 30° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft to an angle of −30° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the cooling passage extends at least approximately halfway into the electrode head.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the closed end has a double “U” shape in cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the shaft and the electrode head are constructed from a refractory metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electrode of claim 4, wherein the refractory metal is molybdenum.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electrode of claim 4, wherein the refractory metal is a molybdenum alloy.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the angle θ is approximately 15°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein (i) the radial profile has first and second ends disposed outside the middle portion of the radial profile, and (ii) the radial profile is positively curved at the first and second ends.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electrode of claim 8, wherein the first end of the radial profile is disposed at an angle of approximately 90° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electrode of claim 9, wherein the second end of the radial profile is disposed an angle of approximately −75° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The electrode of claim 8, wherein the second end of the radial profile is disposed an angle of approximately −75° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode head and the shaft are constructed out of one piece of material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the radial profile is negatively curved.

### Claim 14

An electrode for immersion in a molten medium, the electrode comprising:
an elongated shaft;
an electrode head (i) having an approximately teardrop shape with a smoothly rounded outer contour, and (ii) being disposed at an end of the shaft opposite an attachment end of the shaft; and
a cooling passage extending from an open end disposed at the attachment end of the shaft to a closed end disposed within the electrode head,
wherein (i) the outer contour of the electrode head is defined by a radial profile rotated about a centerline of the shaft, (ii) the radial profile has a center disposed at the closed end of the cooling passage and on the centerline of the shaft, (iii) the radial profile has a middle portion of the radial profile extending from an angle of 30° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft to an angle of −30° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft, and (iv) the middle portion of the radial profile is negatively curved.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein the radial profile exhibits a maximum value at an angle θ from a perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The electrode of claim 15, wherein the angle θ is approximately 15°.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein the cooling passage extends at least approximately halfway into the electrode head.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein the closed end has a double “U” shape in cross-section.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein the shaft and the electrode head are constructed from a refractory metal.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The electrode of claim 19, wherein the refractory metal is molybdenum.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The electrode of claim 19, wherein the refractory metal is a molybdenum alloy.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein the electrode head and the shaft are constructed out of one piece of material.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The electrode of claim 14, wherein (i) the radial profile has first and second ends disposed outside the middle portion of the radial profile, and (ii) the radial profile is positively curved at the first and second ends.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The electrode of claim 23, wherein the first end of the radial profile is disposed at an angle of approximately 90° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The electrode of claim 24, wherein the second end of the radial profile is disposed an angle of approximately −75° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The electrode of claim 23, wherein the second end of the radial profile is disposed an angle of approximately −75° from the perpendicular to the centerline of the shaft.