Device for determining the activity of oxygen in molten metal

Claim 1

A device for determining the activity of oxygen in a molten metal, which device has a reusable portion (A) and an expendable portion (B) which is consumed during each oxygen determination, A. said reusable portion of said device comprising: a first spring collet means for grippinG an electrode wire therein, first electrical connection means for connecting said first spring collet means to an electrical potential measuring device; a second spring collet means having a central axis coaxial with a central axis of said first spring collet means, said second spring collet means for gripping an outer surface of a hollow electrode; second electrical connection means for connecting said second spring collet means to the electrical potential measuring device; a mounting structure means for (a) positioning portions of said first and said second electrical connection means and said second spring collet means with respect to one another about said central axis and for (b) insulating such elements from one another; and a rigid member gripping said mounting structure means thereby supporting all elements held by said mounting structure means; B. said expendable portion of said device comprising: a hollow electrode having an end gripped in said second spring collet means and a free end for immersion in the molten metal; a half cell means for forming an oxygen reference for immersion in the molten metal, said half cell means including an oxygen ion transparent outer structure; an electrode wire having a portion received within said half cell means and another portion thereof gripped in said first spring collet means; insulating, mounting means for mounting said half cell means within said hollow electrode so that said free end of said hollow electrode substantially surrounds and protects a free end of said half cell means; an insulator means for extending along a substantial portion of the length of said hollow electrode and for surrounding the same; a cap means for encircling said insulator means near said free end of said hollow electrode, said cap means also for enclosing said free ends of both said hollow electrode and said half cell means; and an outer, expendable protective, tube means for encircling said reusable portion of said device on one end thereof and for extending along the length of the device to encircle said insulator means of said expendable portion of the device at the other end thereof.

Claim 2

A device for determining the activity of oxygen in a molten metal, which device has a reusable portion (A) and an expendable portion (B) which is consumed during each oxygen determination, A. said reusable portion of said device comprising: a first spring collet means for grippinG an electrode wire therein, first electrical connection means for connecting said first spring collet means to an electrical potential measuring device; a second spring collet means having a central axis coaxial with a central axis of said first spring collet means, said second spring collet means for gripping an outer surface of a hollow electrode; second electrical connection means for connecting said second spring collet means to the electrical potential measuring device; a mounting structure means for (a) positioning portions of said first and said second electrical connection means and said second spring collet means with respect to one another about said central axis and for (b) insulating such elements from one another; and a rigid member gripping said mounting structure means thereby supporting all elements held by said mounting structure means; B. said expendable portion of said device comprising: a hollow electrode having an end gripped in said second spring collet means and a free end for immersion in the molten metal; a half cell means for forming an oxygen reference for immersion in the molten metal, said half cell means including an oxygen ion transparent outer structure; an electrode wire having a portion received within said half cell means and another portion thereof gripped in said first spring collet means; insulating, mounting means for mounting said half cell means within said hollow electrode so that said free end of said hollow electrode substantially surrounds and protects a free end of said half cell means; an insulator means for extending along a substantial portion of the length of said hollow electrode and for surrounding the same; a cap means for encircling said insulator means near said free end of said hollow electrode, said cap means also for enclosing said free ends of both said hollow electrode and said half cell means; and an outer, expendable protective, tube means for encircling said reusable portion of said device on one end thereof and for extending along the length of the device to encircle said insulator means of said expendable portion of the device at the other end thereof.

Claim 6

A device for determining the activity of oxygen in a molten metal, Which device has a reusable portion (A) and an expendable portion (B) which is consumed during each oxygen determination, A. said reusable portion of said device comprising: a first spring collet means encircling a central axis, said first spring collet means for gripping the outside diameter of an electrode wire therein, first lead means for connecting said first spring collet means to a terminal, said first lead means including a rigid structure portion connected to said first spring collet means; first insulator means for electrically insulating said first lead means; a second spring collet means having a central axis coaxial with said central axis of said first spring collet means, said second spring collet means for gripping an outer, circumferential surface of a tubular electrode member; second lead means for connecting said second spring collet means to a terminal, said second lead means including a rigid structure portion connected directly to said second spring collet means, second insulator means for electrically insulating said rigid portion of said second lead means and said rigid portion of said first lead means from one another; a pair of terminals connected respectively to said first lead means and said second lead means; a pair of insulated lead means one each respectively connected to one of said pair of terminals for connecting said terminals to an electrical potential measuring device; a confining means for containing said second insulator means, said second insulator means when so contained also for positioning said rigid portions of said first and said second lead means with respect to one another thereby positioning said first spring collet means and said second spring collet means with respect to one another about said central axis; and a rigid tube member gripping said confining means to support all elements positioned by said second insulator means; B. said expendable portion of said device comprising: a tubular electrode member having an end gripped in said second spring collet means and a free end for providing a contact for immersion in the molten metal; a half cell means for forming an oxygen reference for immersion in the molten metal, said half cell means including an oxygen ion transparent structure, an electrode wire having one end received within said half cell means and the other end thereof gripped in said first spring collet means; insulating mounting means for mounting said half cell means within said tubular electrode so that said free end of said tubular electrode substantially surrounds and protects a free end of said half cell means; an insulator extending along a substantial portion of the length of said tubular electrode member and in surrounding relationship thereto; a cap means for encircling said insulator near said free end of said tubular electrode and for enclosing said free ends of both said tubular electrode and said half cell means; and an outer, expendable protective, tube means for encircling said reusable portion of said device on one end thereof and for extending along the length of the device to encircle said insulator of said expendable portion of the device at the other end thereof.

Claim 7

A device for determining the activity of oxygen in a molten metal, Which device has a reusable portion (A) and an expendable portion (B) which is consumed during each oxygen determination, A. said reusable portion of said device comprising: a first spring collet means encircling a central axis, said first spring collet means for gripping the outside diameter of an electrode wire therein, first lead means for connecting said first spring collet means to a terminal, said first lead means including a rigid structure portion connected to said first spring collet means; first insulator means for electrically insulating said first lead means; a second spring collet means having a central axis coaxial with said central axis of said first spring collet means, said second spring collet means for gripping an outer, circumferential surface of a tubular electrode member; second lead means for connecting said second spring collet means to a terminal, said second lead means including a rigid structure portion connected directly to said second spring collet means, second insulator means for electrically insulating said rigid portion of said second lead means and said rigid portion of said first lead means from one another; a pair of terminals connected respectively to said first lead means and said second lead means; a pair of insulated lead means one each respectively connected to one of said pair of terminals for connecting said terminals to an electrical potential measuring device; a confining means for containing said second insulator means, said second insulator means when so contained also for positioning said rigid portions of said first and said second lead means with respect to one another thereby positioning said first spring collet means and said second spring collet means with respect to one another about said central axis; and a rigid tube member gripping said confining means to support all elements positioned by said second insulator means; B. said expendable portion of said device comprising: a tubular electrode member having an end gripped in said second spring collet means and a free end for providing a contact for immersion in the molten metal; a half cell means for forming an oxygen reference for immersion in the molten metal, said half cell means including an oxygen ion transparent structure, an electrode wire having one end received within said half cell means and the other end thereof gripped in said first spring collet means; insulating mounting means for mounting said half cell means within said tubular electrode so that said free end of said tubular electrode substantially surrounds and protects a free end of said half cell means; an insulator extending along a substantial portion of the length of said tubular electrode member and in surrounding relationship thereto; a cap means for encircling said insulator near said free end of said tubular electrode and for enclosing said free ends of both said tubular electrode and said half cell means; and an outer, expendable protective, tube means for encircling said reusable portion of said device on one end thereof and for extending along the length of the device to encircle said insulator of said expendable portion of the device at the other end thereof.