Improvements in and relating to Electrodes for Use in the Production of the Electric Arc.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electrodes for Use in the
Production of the Electric Arc.
I, JAMES ALBERT DEUTHER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 114 Purchase Street, in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in electrodes, and it has for its object to
construct one or both of the opposite electrodes at the point where the arc is formed
with a section, which, when consumed, can be replaced by a similar section, without
disturbing the other parts of the electrode.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a construction embodying my
invention-
Figure 1 is a view of two opposite electrodes showing the upper electrode in
section.
Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the upper electrode provided with an
additional section.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.
Electrodes at present in general use for forming an electric arc, are consumed in
the operation of forming said arc, and a point is reached, where, on account of said
consumption, the metallic connections making the contact between the electrodes
and current from the electric system, are brought within the influence of the heat
from the formation of said arc; consequently, when the electrodes are more or less
consumed they are discarded before said metallic connections are brought sufficiently
close to the arc formed between the opposite electrodes to be injuriously affected by
the heat resulting from said are.
Referring now to the drawing-
A represents the upper electrode and F the lower electrode, which may, if
desired, be constructed identical with the upper electrode, or may be made entirely
of carbon, or any other suitable material.
D is a metal rod forming the electrical conductor, of which there may be one or
more, and to which are connected the wires E through which the current passes to
the electrode, and said rod extends through the upper section B of the upper
electrode A into the top of the section C, which is a conductor of electricity, and
composed of carbon in any form, more or less pure, but where, should it be found
useful of any material composed of alkaline earths and carbon.
The upper section B of the upper electrode A may be a conductor or not, and
may be made of any material, like magnesia, which will protect the metal rods D
from the heat consequent upon the formation of an arc between the opposite
electrodes, as indicated by the letter G. It is evident that as the section C is a
conductor, that the electrical conductor rod D, which is brought into contact at the
point C¹ with the section C, connects said section C with the electrical system and
renders the metal rod D and also its point at C' practically safe from the effects of
the arc formed between the opposite electrodes. As the section C is consumed, it
may be replaced, without rendering unfit for further use the metal rod D or the
section B of said electrode.

page_text: The section C is preferably replaced before the point C' of the rod is
actually reached, so as to prevent any chance of the heat affecting said metal
rod D.
Referring now to Figure 2-The parts are identical with the electrode shown
in Figure 1, but the upper electrode is provided with an additional carbon section C³,
which is secured to the carbon section C by means of suitable metallic pins C³, or
by any suitable conducting cement or material capable of causing the section C
to adhere to the section C and form the desired contact between the
sections C and C2, both of which are conductors. The carbon section C is
preferably held in place on the section B by means of pins similar to the
pins C³.
This invention is especially adapted for use in electrical furnaces, but it is
also adapted for use in are lighting where the upper electrode preferably, or
both, if desired, would have a removable section of carbon similar to that shown in
the drawing.
It will also be understood that my invention is further adapted to other uses
where electric arcs are formed.
I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may
be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An electrode composed of two sections, and an electrical conductor passing
through one of said sections and having its end extending into and surrounded by
the other section located where the arc is formed and through which the electric
current passes.
2. An electrode composed of two sections, and an electrical conductor passing
through one of said sections and having its end extending into and surrounded by
the other section of carbon located where the arc is formed and through which the
electric current passes.
3. An electrode composed of two sections, and an electrical conductor passing
through one of said sections and having its end in contact with the other section
located where the are is formed and through which the electric current passes.
4. An electrode composed of three sections, an electrical conductor passing
through one of said sections and having its end extending into and surrounded by
the middle section to which the third section where the arc is formed is connected,
and adapted with the middle section, to act as conductors of the electric
current.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C., Patent Agents.