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US4941149A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of melting and/or refining metals and cooling device for the graphite electrode used for the same

Assignee: Nippon Carbon Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-06-24
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2007-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract A method for melting and/or refining metals and a cooling device for the graphite electrode used for the same are disclosed. Melting and/or refining of metal such as steel-making are performed in an electric arc furnace by energizing three graphite electrode sets each corresponding to each phase of a three-phase AC power source and consisting of a vertical succession of graphite electrodes as typically shown at 10 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, connected to one another via nipples. During the melting and/or refining of metal, a cooling liquid 11, substantially consisting of water for instance, is continuously blown against the outer periphery 10a of at least one of each set of graphite electrodes, specifically a graphite electrode 10 extending between an electrode holder and a furnace top cover. The liquid coolant 11 is jet not in the horizontal direction but in a downwardly or upwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10° to 35° C. with respect to the horizontal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yakka Nakamoto
  • 👤 Toshihiko Mori

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:06
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/02; H05B7/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of melting and/or refining metal by using an electric arc furnace having a vessel for melting and/or refining said metal, a furnace cover covering an upper open portion of said vessel, a vertical succession of graphite electrodes extending into said vessel through said furnace cover and an electrode holder for holding an upper end portion of an upper electrode of said vertical succession of graphite electrodes, said method comprising: jetting a liquid coolant against an outer peripheral portion of said upper electrode extending between said furnace cover and said electrode holder while directing the jetted liquid coolant in a downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of melting and/or refining metal by using an electric arc furnace having a vessel for melting and/or refining said metal, a furnace cover covering an upper open portion of said vessel, a vertical succession of graphite electrodes extending into said vessel through said furnace cover and an electrode holder for holding an upper end portion of an upper electrode of said vertical succession of graphite electrodes, said method comprising: jetting a liquid coolant against an outer peripheral portion of said upper electrode extending between said furnace cover and said electrode holder while directing the jetted liquid coolant in a downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid coolant is water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid coolant contains an oxidation resistant agent with the remainder being substantially water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid coolant is jetted under a jet pressure of 0.5 to 3 kg/cm 2 and at a jet rate of 0.8 to 6.0 l/min.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of melting and/or refining metal by using an electic arc furnace including a vessel for melting and/or refining said metal, a furnace cover covering an open upper portion of said vessel, a vertical succession of graphite electrodes extending into said vessel through said furnace cover and an electrode holder for holding an upper end portion of an upper electrode of said vertical succession of said graphite electrodes, said method comprising: jetting a liquid coolant against an outer peripheral portion of said upper electrode extending between said furnace cover and said electrode holder with said liquid coolant being jetted in an upwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of melting and/or refining metal by using an electic arc furnace including a vessel for melting and/or refining said metal, a furnace cover covering an open upper portion of said vessel, a vertical succession of graphite electrodes extending into said vessel through said furnace cover and an electrode holder for holding an upper end portion of an upper electrode of said vertical succession of said graphite electrodes, said method comprising: jetting a liquid coolant against an outer peripheral portion of said upper electrode extending between said furnace cover and said electrode holder with said liquid coolant being jetted in an upwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said liquid coolant is water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said liquid coolant contains an oxidation resistant agent with the remainder being substantially water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said liquid coolant is jetted under a jet pressure of 0.5 to 3 kg/cm 2 at a jet rate of 0.8 to 6.0 l/min.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 143 words
A device for cooling a graphite electrode of an electric arc furnace for melting and/or refining metal comprising: a cover for said electrode arc furnace having an opening through which the graphite electrode extends, an electrode holder holding an upper end portion of the graphite electrode and surrounding the outer periphery of said upper end portion, said cooling ductline extending substantially about the electrode with closed ends being spaced apart to form a gap with said cooling ductline being provided with at least one jet nozzle directed toward the axis of said graphite electrode in a downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal and supply means for supplying a liquid coolant to said cooling ductline under pressure so that the liquid coolant will be jetted from said cooling ductline against the outer periphery of said graphite electrode.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 143 words
A device for cooling a graphite electrode of an electric arc furnace for melting and/or refining metal comprising: a cover for said electrode arc furnace having an opening through which the graphite electrode extends, an electrode holder holding an upper end portion of the graphite electrode and surrounding the outer periphery of said upper end portion, said cooling ductline extending substantially about the electrode with closed ends being spaced apart to form a gap with said cooling ductline being provided with at least one jet nozzle directed toward the axis of said graphite electrode in a downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal and supply means for supplying a liquid coolant to said cooling ductline under pressure so that the liquid coolant will be jetted from said cooling ductline against the outer periphery of said graphite electrode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 143 words
A device for cooling a graphite electrode of an electric arc furnace for melting and/or refining metal comprising: a cover for said electrode arc furnace having an opening through which the graphite electrode extends, an electrode holder holding an upper end portion of the graphite electrode and surrounding the outer periphery of said upper end portion, said cooling ductline extending substantially about the electrode with closed ends being spaced apart to form a gap with said cooling ductline being provided with at least one jet nozzle directed toward the axis of said graphite electrode in a upwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal and supply means for supplying a liquid coolant to said cooling ductline under pressure so that the liquid coolant will be jetted from said cooling ductline against the outer periphery of said graphite electrode.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 143 words
A device for cooling a graphite electrode of an electric arc furnace for melting and/or refining metal comprising: a cover for said electrode arc furnace having an opening through which the graphite electrode extends, an electrode holder holding an upper end portion of the graphite electrode and surrounding the outer periphery of said upper end portion, said cooling ductline extending substantially about the electrode with closed ends being spaced apart to form a gap with said cooling ductline being provided with at least one jet nozzle directed toward the axis of said graphite electrode in a upwardly inclined direction at an angle of 10°-35° with respect to the horizontal and supply means for supplying a liquid coolant to said cooling ductline under pressure so that the liquid coolant will be jetted from said cooling ductline against the outer periphery of said graphite electrode.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE1167992B Cited
SU1035838A1 Cited
JPS5951496A Cited
JPS59101198A Cited
SU1125787A1 Cited
DD220776A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-07-09 1994-01-08 1994-07-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-07-09 1998-01-08 1998-07-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-07-09 2002-01-08 2002-07-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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