US3872231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for determining electrode length
Assignee: Toroid Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-23
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1994-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for the measurement of lengths of electrodes employed in electric arc furnaces wherein initially approximately accurate-length signals are obtained by adding a weight signal to a current derived buoyancy signal. Then a more accurate measurement is determined by averaging a number of such signals, sampled at times when an electrode has just been selectively elevated responsive to an arc current signal.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Motter
- 👤 Connie A Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/02; H05B7/144; H05B7/148; H05B7/152; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A system for measuring the length of an electrode suspended in an arc furnace comprising: suspension means for suspending a said electrode in a furnace; electrical force indicating means coupled to said suspension means for providing an electrical output representative of the force reflected on said suspension means by said electrode. elevation means for selectively raising and lowering said electrode in said furnace; current sensing means for providing an output signal representative of the current flow through said electrode; summing usumming means responsive to the output of said force indicating means and said current sensing means for providing an output generally indicative of the length of said electrode; analog-to-digital conversion means for periodically providing a signal representative of instantaneous length; accumulating means responsive to the output of said analog-todigital conversion means for sequentially, at selected times, summing instantaneous lengths provided by said analog-todigital conversion means; counting means for providing an accumulated count responsive to the lengths accumulated by said accumulator means; division means responsive to a dividend signal from said accumulating means and a divisor signal from said counting means for providing as a quotient a signal representative of the average lengths of the sample lengths accumulated; and means responsive to said division means for indicating a said average length.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
A system for measuring the length of an electrode suspended in an arc furnace comprising: suspension means for suspending a said electrode in a furnace; electrical force indicating means coupled to said suspension means for providing an electrical output representative of the force reflected on said suspension means by said electrode. elevation means for selectively raising and lowering said electrode in said furnace; current sensing means for providing an output signal representative of the current flow through said electrode; summing usumming means responsive to the output of said force indicating means and said current sensing means for providing an output generally indicative of the length of said electrode; analog-to-digital conversion means for periodically providing a signal representative of instantaneous length; accumulating means responsive to the output of said analog-todigital conversion means for sequentially, at selected times, summing instantaneous lengths provided by said analog-todigital conversion means; counting means for providing an accumulated count responsive to the lengths accumulated by said accumulator means; division means responsive to a dividend signal from said accumulating means and a divisor signal from said counting means for providing as a quotient a signal representative of the average lengths of the sample lengths accumulated; and means responsive to said division means for indicating a said average length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising subtraction means responsive to the output of said division means and said analog-to-digital conversion means for providing a length difference output; and comparator means responsive to reference length signal and the output of said subtraction means for indicating an alarm condition whenever a difference signal from subtractor means exceeds a selected value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 comprising means responsive to said elevation means for selecting outputs from said analog-to-digital conversion means at the conclusion of a cycle of raising of a said electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said elevation means comprises means responsive to a reference level signal and an output of said current sensing means for raising a said electrode whenever said current sensing signal is greater than said reference signal and lowering said electrode when said current sensing signal is less than said reference signal.
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) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |