US3617596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonconsumable electrode vacuum arc furnace for steel, zirconium, titanium and other metals
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-27
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1989-08-27
Abstract
Abstract Within a vacuum chamber or skull furnace having opening thereinto a closeable passage for a removable ingot mold there is a furnace structure not occupying the entire vacuum chamber for producing a pool of molten metal from which the ingot is to be poured, the furnace apparatus including at least one electrode with a fluid-cooled arcing surface and a magnetic field coil for substantially continuously moving the arc around the arcing surface. The skull furnace includes means for feeding material to the molten pool.
Inventors
- 👤 Serafino M Decorso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:08
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/02; H05B6/34; F; F27; F27D; F27D11/00; F27D11/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for heat-treating a metal for removing impurities therefrom and forming an ingot-comprising means forming a vacuum chamber, furnace means disposed within the chamber, vacuum pump means operatively connected to the interior of the chamber for producing at least a partial vacuum therein, at least one nonconsumable electrode extending through the wall of the vacuumchamber-forming means and insulated therefrom, said nonconsumable electrode including means forming a fluid-cooled arcing surface and a magnetic field coil disposed near the arcing surface for producing a magnetic field which substantially continuously moves the arc thereover, the arcing surface of the electrode being located at a position near the metal in the furnace means, said metal being at least partially conductive, the electrode and said metal in the furnace means being adapted to be electrically connected to terminals of opposite polarity of a source of potenTial to produce and sustain an arc from the nonconsumable electrode to the metal in the furnace means, the movement of the arc over the arcing surface causing the arc to be moved substantially continuously over a substantial portion of the surface of the metal to be melted thereby increasing heating efficiency, said vacuum-chamber-forming means including passageway means connected thereto, lock means at a predetermined position therein for hermetically sealing the passageway in the passageway-forming means, ladle means normally disposed in the passageway and adapted to be moved into the vacuum chamber and to have molten metal transferred from the furnace means to the ladle means, the ladle means being adapted to be thereafter removed through the lock means into the passageway, impurities in the molten metal in the furnace means having a vapor pressure at substantially the temperature of the molten metal greater than the pressure within the vacuum chamber being removed by the vacuum pump means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for heat-treating a metal for removing impurities therefrom and forming an ingot-comprising means forming a vacuum chamber, furnace means disposed within the chamber, vacuum pump means operatively connected to the interior of the chamber for producing at least a partial vacuum therein, at least one nonconsumable electrode extending through the wall of the vacuumchamber-forming means and insulated therefrom, said nonconsumable electrode including means forming a fluid-cooled arcing surface and a magnetic field coil disposed near the arcing surface for producing a magnetic field which substantially continuously moves the arc thereover, the arcing surface of the electrode being located at a position near the metal in the furnace means, said metal being at least partially conductive, the electrode and said metal in the furnace means being adapted to be electrically connected to terminals of opposite polarity of a source of potenTial to produce and sustain an arc from the nonconsumable electrode to the metal in the furnace means, the movement of the arc over the arcing surface causing the arc to be moved substantially continuously over a substantial portion of the surface of the metal to be melted thereby increasing heating efficiency, said vacuum-chamber-forming means including passageway means connected thereto, lock means at a predetermined position therein for hermetically sealing the passageway in the passageway-forming means, ladle means normally disposed in the passageway and adapted to be moved into the vacuum chamber and to have molten metal transferred from the furnace means to the ladle means, the ladle means being adapted to be thereafter removed through the lock means into the passageway, impurities in the molten metal in the furnace means having a vapor pressure at substantially the temperature of the molten metal greater than the pressure within the vacuum chamber being removed by the vacuum pump means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Vacuum-chamber-forming means according to claim 1 including in addition other passageway-forming means and other locking means adapted for feeding material into the furnace means in the vacuum-chamber-forming means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the nonconsumable electrode is additionally characterized as having an axial passageway therethrough, charge material being fed to the furnace means through said axial passageway, and means for closing said passageway to maintain the vacuum within the vacuum-chamber-forming means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |