Improvements in or connected with Electric Melting-apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Melting-apparatus.
I, MARTIN SCHINDLER, of Neuhausen, Switzerland, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for decomposing by means
of the electric current, compounds that can be melted only with difficulty and at
very high temperatures.
In such apparatus there takes place a disproportionately rapid destruction or
wear of those parts-such for instance, as the electrode sockets or holders-which
are not fireproof and are exposed to the heat with the result that it is necessary to
repair these parts, or to substitute new ones therefor, very frequently. Electrodes
composed of carbon burn away inside their sockets or holders, so that the contact
between the carbon and the metal becomes impaired, and appreciable loss of current
is thereby caused. In some cases, bottom electrodes, situated in the furnace and
composed of carbon with metal cores or backings, are affected by the heat to such
an extent that their metal sockets melt and the supply of current is completely
interrupted. In order to obviate this drawback and to enable the apparatus to work
continuously, the parts in question must be kept as cool as possible and according
to this invention apparatus of the kind referred to are provided with electrode-
cooling devices, the holders or sockets of the electrodes to be cooled being provided
with internal passages or pipes for the flow therethrough of a cooling-agent, such
for example, as atmospheric air, or water &c.
According to requirements and to the special circumstances of the case, the
cooling action may obviously be applied either to the socket or that part of the
electrode that is exposed to the greatest heat only, or to both the electrodes and
their sockets.
Both cases are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan, of an apparatus with means for
cooling both electrodes,
Fig. 3 is a plan of the holder for the bottom electrode.
Fig. 4 shows an apparatus with a special device for cooling the top electrode
alone, and
Fig. 5 is a plan of the holder of the said top electrode.
The details of the apparatus and the construction and general arrangement of
the several parts are not material to the invention.
In the drawings, the upper electrodes are marked A and the lower A', the former
being represented as positive and the latter as negative.
In the construction and arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the holder B
for the upper electrode comprises two cheeks or parts b which are held together
by means of bolts s and whose lower ends, which are formed to correspond to the
particular form of the electrode used, hold the electrode A, which in the present
case is angular, whilst to the outer ends of the holder the current-conducting cables
are attached by means of suitable clamps. Each of these cheeks b has longitudinal
internal conduits-in the present case cylindrical conduits c, each consisting of two
parallel arms, which communicate with each other in order to enable the cooling-
agent to be circulated or passed through each separate cheek in the way indicated
by arrows in Fig. 2, the pipes and serving respectively for the supply and
escape of the cooling-agent. The holder B' for the lower negative electrode is

page_text: a block-like metal body with a part 6', which has an upwardly tapering conical
recess into which there is stamped a well conducting block of carbon constituting
the lower electrode. The holder B', to. which, like the holder B, the corresponding
cables are connected by suitable clamps near its ends that project out through
the enclosing wall, is also provided with internal conduits c, which in this case
rise helically and are arranged to form a circulation-way, the inlet and outlet pipes
for which are marked and 3 respectively.
In the construction of the apparatus represented in Fig. 4, the cooling is
restricted to the upper electrode, the lower being so arranged that it requires
no cooling. It has, in fact, no proper holder, but is lodged directly in the lower
wall of the furnace and rests on a simple cast plate P to which the conducting
cables are attached. The upper electrode, on the contrary, is mounted in a metal
holder Bo, which may also serve partially as a cover for the apparatus.
The
holder Bo comprises a cylindrical part 60, which projects into the apparatus and
has a bore for the electrode (shown as round in the present case) and an arm bx
on which are placed the clamps for the corresponding cables. The conduit co
is arranged in a manner similar to that of the conduit c of the holder B'
(Fig. 3) it passes first along the one side of the arm 6x, then downwards, helically
and concentrically to the electrode, through the cylindrical part 6º, then upwards,
and finally along the other side of the arm 6x in such a manner as again to form
a circulation-way, for which the pipe forms the inlet-conduit and the outlet-
conduit, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5.
All the ways or conduits c, el co serve for the passage of a cooling-agent-
preferably cooled atmospheric air,-which can be passed through the electrode-
holders at the places indicated, or in the indicated way or even reversely.
The electrodes are subjected by this means to considerable cooling, which
prevents their being excessively heated at the places where they are in contact
with the metal, and their consequent burning or their destruction of their holders.
It is advisable that the cooling-agent be supplied continuously during the working
of the apparatus. The cooling-agent may, after being heated by the circulation,
be used for preparatorily heating the material to be treated with the current.
With regard to the apparatus itself, it may be further stated that for certain
purposes, such as the production of carbide, the poles can be changed, as in such
cases experiments have proved that it is immaterial whether the upper pole be the
anode and the lower the cathode or, vice versa, the upper the cathode and the lower
the anode. The current passes from the lower holder B' or from the plate P through
the electrode A', and forms an arc between the two electrodes; the product that
is formed by decomposition or by combination during the course of the process and
which, as a good conductor plays the part of the lower electrode, can be drawn off
through a suitable tapping-hole, as, for example, the opening d, Figure 1.
D:
1000
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, MARTIN SCHINDLER, of Neuhausen, Switzerland, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for decomposing, by means
of the electric current, compounds that can be melted only with difficulty and at
very high temperatures.

page_text: In such apparatus there takes place a disproportionately rapid destruction or
wear of those parts-such, for instance, as the electrode sockets or holders-which
are not fireproof and are exposed to the heat, with the result that it is necessary to
repair these parts, or to substitute new ones therefor, very frequently. Electrodes
composed of carbon burn away inside their sockets or holders, so that the contact
between the carbon and the metal becomes impaired, and appreciable loss of current
is thereby caused. In some cases, bottom electrodes, situated in the furnace and'
composed of carbon with metal cores or backings, are affected by the heat to such
an extent that their metal sockets melt and the supply of current is completely
interrupted. In order to obviate this drawback and to enable the apparatus to
work continuously, the parts in question must be kept as cool as possible aud
according to this invention apparatus of the kind referred to are provided with
electrode-cooling devices, the holders or sockets of the electrodes to be cooled
being provided with internal passages or pipes for the flow therethrough of a.
cooling-agent, such, for example, as atmospheric air or water.
According to requirements and to the special circumstances of the case, the
cooling action may obviously be applied either only to the electrode exposed to
the greatest heat or the socket or holder thereof, or to both of the electrodes and
their sockets or holders.
Both cases are illustrated in the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,.
in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan, of an apparatus with means for
cooling both electrodes,
Fig. 3 is a plan of the holder for the bottom electrode.
Fig. 4 shows an apparatus with a special device for cooling the top electrode-
alone, and
Fig. is a plan of the holder of the said top electrode.
The details of the apparatus and the construction and general arrangement of
the several parts are not material to the invention.
In the drawings, the upper electrodes are marked A and the lower A', the former-
being represented as positive and the latter as negative.
In the construction and arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the holder B
for the upper electrode comprises two cheeks or parts b which are held together
by means of bolts s and whose inner and lower ends, which are formed to
correspond to the particular form of the electrodes used, hold the electrode A,.
which in the present case is angular, whilst to the outer ends of the holder the
Each of
current-conducting cables are attached by means of suitable clamps.
these cheeks has longitudinal internal conduits-in the present case conduits c
of circular cross section-each consisting of two parallel portions, which
communicate with each other in order to euable the cooling-agent to be circulated
or passed through each separate cheek in the way indicated by arrows in Fig. 2,
the pipes and serving respectively for the supply and escape of the cooling-
agent. The holder B' for the lower negative electrode is a block-like metal body
with a part b', which has an upwardly tapering conical recess 62 into which there is.
stamped a well conducting block of carbon constituting the lower electrode, and a
flat shank or lateral extension which projects through the enclosing wall of the
apparatus. The said holder B', to which, like the holder B, the corresponding
cables are connected by suitable clamps near the outer end of its shank, is also.
provided with internal conduits c', which in this case rise helically and are
arranged to form a circulation-way, the inlet and outlet pipes for which are
marked 2 and respectively.
In the construction of the apparatus represented in Fig. 4, the cooling is
restricted to the upper electrode, the lower being so arranged that it requires no
cooling. It has, in fact, no proper holder, but is lodged directly in the lower wall
of the furnace and rests on a simple cast metal plate P to which the conducting
cables are attached. The upper electrode, on the contrary, is mounted in a metal
holder Bo, which may also serve partially as a cover for the apparatus. The

page_text: holder B comprises a cylindrical part b°, which projects into the apparatus and
has a bore for the electrode (shown as round in the present case), and an arm bx
on which are placed the clamps for the corresponding cables. The conduit cis
arranged in a manner similar to that of the conduit el of the holder B' (Fig. 3): it
passes first along the one side of the arm b*, then downwards, helically and con-
centrically to the electrode, through the cylindrical part 10, then upwards, and
finally along the other side of the arm 6* in such a manner as again to form a
circulation-way for which the pipe forms the inlet-conduit and the outlet-
conduit, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5.
All the ways or conduits c, c¹ co serve for the passage of a cooling-agent-
preferably cooled atmospheric air, which can be passed through the electrode-
holders at the places indicated, or in the indicated way, or even reversely.
The holders in each case are made to surround the electrodes tightly and
firmly.
By the means described, the electrodes are subjected to considerable cooling
which prevents their being excessively heated at the places where they are in
contact with their metal holders, and the consequent burning or the destruction of
such holders. It is advisable that the cooling-agent be supplied continuously
during the working of the apparatus. The cooling-agent may, after being heated
by the circulation be used for preparatorily heating the material to be treated with
the current.
With regard to the apparatus itself, it may be further stated that for certain
purposes, such as the production of carbide, the poles can be interchanged, as in
such cases experiments have proved that it is immaterial whether the upper pole
be the anode and the lower the cathode or, vice versa, the upper the cathode and
the lower the anode. The current passes from the lower holder B', or from the
plate P, through the electrode A¹, and forins an arc between the two electrodes;
the product that is formed by decomposition or by combination during the course
of the process and which, as a good conductor, plays the part of the lower
electrode, can be drawn off through a suitable tapping-hole, as, for example, the
opening & shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus of the kind referred to, a holder for the upper electrode
comprising two independent sections, each provided with a half seat or bearing for
the electrode and with a continuous circulation channel or passage having an inlet
and an outlet, and bolts for holding the said sections together, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
2. In apparatus of the kind referred to, a holder for the lower electrode
consisting of a block of metal having an upwardly tapering recess for the electrode
a shank or extension and an internal continuous channel or passage extending
around the said recess and having its inlet and outlet at the end of the said
shank or lateral extension substantially as hereinbefore described for the purpose
set forth.
3. The improved electric melting-apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of February 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.