EP1558062A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for monitoring wear of an electrode
Assignee: ArcelorMittal Belval and Differdange SA
•
Filing: 2004-01-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2024-01-20
Abstract
Abstract A method for monitoring wear of an electrode in an electric arc furnace comprising the steps of: taking a digital picture of the still incandescent tip of the electrode; applying a numerical edge detection filter to the digital picture so as to obtain a filtered image wherein abrupt changes in light intensity are represented as contour lines; and analysing the contour lines to determine the shape of the electrode tip and the presence of cracks.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Baumert
- 👤 Jean-Claude Thibaut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/02; F; F27; F27B; F27B3/00; F27B3/10; F27B3/28; F27D; F27D19/00; F27D21/00; F27D21/02; F27D2021/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for monitoring wear of an electrode in an electric arc furnace
comprising the steps of: taking a digital picture of the still incandescent tip of said electrode; applying to said digital picture a numerical edge detection filter algorithm so
as to obtain a filtered image wherein abrupt changes in light intensity are
represented as contour lines; and analysing said contour lines to determine the shape of the electrode tip and
the presence of cracks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a threshold filter is applied to said filtered image prior to analysing said
contour lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising the step of: removing light grains by means of a numerical filter prior to analysing said
contour lines.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
65 words
The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of
analysing said contour lines to determine the shape of the electrode tip: detecting the lower contour line of the electrode tip and approximating it with
a parabolic curve; detecting the contour line corresponding to each of the flanks of the
electrode tip and approximating it with a straight line.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the
step of: detecting asymmetries in the light intensity of the electrode tip to get aware
of electric arc deviations.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
93 words
The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising the
steps of: a) positioning a camera at the electric arc furnace; b) providing a link between the camera and a process controller of the
electrode; c) activating the camera along with the moving of the electrode, such that
a picture of the electrode can be captured by the camera after the
melting of each scrap basket of the electric arc furnace; and d) providing the captured picture via a further link to a picture storing and
processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of signalling
to the camera the passage of the electrode in front of the camera by means
of the process controller.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in any one of claims 6 and 7, further comprising the
step of storing the captured picture at the picture storing and processing
means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising the
step of comparing the captured pictures of the electrode with the picture of
an unused electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.