Claims
- 1. A consumable electrode feed system with connection platform for providing consumable electrodes to a refining system, the consumable electrode feed system comprising:a side feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction; a refining feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction, said refining feed device engaging said fed consumable electrodes both above and below said connection platform; and a connection system that connects fed consumable electrodes to each other, wherein as a sufficient amount of a consunmable electrode has been refined in the refining system, another consumable electrode is positioned above a previously consumable electrode by the side feed device, the connecting system connects a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode and avoids refining operation stoppage for providing consumable electrodes for refining.
- 2. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the connection system comprises a weld connection system.
- 3. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the connection system comprises at least one of weld connection systems, brazing connection systems, soldering connection systems, fusing connection systems, and combinations thereof.
- 4. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the connection system provides a connection that supports the weight of consumable electrodes.
- 5. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the connection system comprises a platform and a weld connection system, the weld connection system being disposed on the platform.
- 6. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the side feed device comprises at least one of:conveyors, cranes, tracks, lifts, and combinations thereof for orienting a consumable electrode in a disposition to be fed to the refining feed device.
- 7. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the refining feed device comprises at least one of:caterpillar devices, treaded devices, belt devices, chain devices, and combinations thereof for controlled movement of the consumable electrode to the refining system.
- 8. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the refining feed device provides controlled movement of consumable electrodes to the refining system.
- 9. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 8, wherein the controlled movement comprises a stepped movement.
- 10. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 1, wherein the refining system comprises an electroslag refining system.
- 11. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 10, wherein the electroslag refining system comprises a cold-induction-guide system.
- 12. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 10, wherein the electroslag refining system comprises a passage that allows a consumable electrode to pass therethrough, the passage preventing contaminants from passing therethrough.
- 13. A method for feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system, the method of feeding comprising:providing a connection platform; feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction, above the platform; feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction below the platform, the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction; engaging said fed consumable electrodes with the refining system both above and below said connection platform; connecting consumable electrodes to each other; and refining the consumable electrode as they are fed to the refining system; whereby as a sufficient amount of a consumable electrode has been refined, feeding another consumable electrode, and connecting a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode for avoiding refining operation stoppage.
- 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of connecting is: comprises connecting by welding, brazing, soldering, fusing, and combinations thereof.
- 15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of connecting provides a connection that supports the weight of consumable electrodes.
- 16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of feeding consumable electrodes in a first direction comprises feeding the consumable electrodes by at least one of:conveyors, cranes, tracks, lifts, and combinations thereof for moving and orienting a consumable electrode to be fed to the refining feed device.
- 17. A method according to claim 13, wherein step of feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system comprises feeding with controlled movement by at least one device selected from:caterpillar devices, treaded devices, belt devices, chain devices, and combinations thereof.
- 18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system comprises controlled movement of consumable electrodes to the refining system.
- 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the controlled movement comprises a stepped movement.
- 20. A consumable electrode feed system with connection platform for providing consumable electrodes to a refining means, the consumable electrode feed system comprising:side feed means for feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction; refining feed means for feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction, said refining feed device engaging said fed consumable electrodes both above and below said connection platform; and means for connecting fed consumable electrodes to each other, wherein as a sufficient amount of a consumable electrode has been refined, another consumable electrode is positioned above a previously consumable electrode by the side feed means, the connecting means connects a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode for avoiding refining stoppage during refining.
- 21. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the means for connecting comprises welding means.
- 22. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the means for connecting comprises at least one of welding means, brazing means, soldering means, fusing means, and combinations thereof.
- 23. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the means for connecting provides a connection that supports the weight of consumable electrodes.
- 24. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the means for connecting comprises a platform and welding means, the welding means being disposed on the platform.
- 25. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the side feed means comprises at least one of:conveyors, cranes, tracks, lifts, and combinations thereof for orienting a consumable electrode in a disposition to be fed to the refining feed means.
- 26. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the refining feed means comprises at least one of:caterpillar devices, treaded devices, belt devices, chain devices, and combinations thereof for controlled movement of the consumable electrode to the refining system.
- 27. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the refining feed means provides controlled movement of consumable electrodes to the refining means.
- 28. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 27, wherein the controlled movement comprises a stepped movement.
- 29. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 20, wherein the refining means comprises passage means for allowing a consumable electrode to pass therethrough, the passage means preventing contaminants from passing therethrough.
- 30. A consumable electrode feed system with connection platform for providing consumable electrodes to an electroslag refining system, the electroslag refining system comprising a cold induction guide, the consumable electrode feed system comprising:a side feed device for feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction, above the platform, the side feed device being selected from at least one of conveyors, cranes, tracks, lifts, and combinations thereof for orienting a consumable electrode in a disposition to be fed to the refining feed device; a refining feed device for feeding consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, the second direction, below the platform, being generally orthogonal to the first direction, the refining feed device being selected from caterpillar devices, treaded devices, belt devices, chain devices, and combinations thereof for controlled movement of the consumable electrode to the refining system, said refining feed device engaging said fed consumable electrodes both above and below said connection platform; and a connection system for connecting fed consumable electrodes to each other, the connection system comprises at least one of weld connection systems, brazing connection systems, soldering connection systems, fusing connection systems, and combinations thereof, wherein as a sufficient amount of a consumable electrode has been refined in the refining system, another consumable electrode is positioned above a previously fed consumable electrode by the side feed device, the connecting system connects a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode and avoids refining operation stoppage for providing consumable electrodes for refining and the connection system provides a connection that supports the weight of consumable electrodes.
- 31. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 30, wherein the controlled movement comprises a stepped movement.
- 32. A casting made by the process according to claim 13.
- 33. A turbine component made by the process according to clam 13.
- 34. A casting made by the system according to claim 1.
- 35. A turbine component made by the process according to claim 1.
- 36. A casting made by the process according to claim 30.
- 37. A turbine component made by the process according to claim 30.
- 38. An electroslag refining system comprising:electroslag refining structure; cold hearth structure; a connection platform; and a consumable electrode feed system for providing consumable electrodes to the electroslag refining system, the consumable electrode feed system comprising: a side feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to the electroslag refining system in a first direction, above the platform; a refining feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to the electroslag refining system in a second direction, below the platform, the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction, said refining feed device engaging said fed consumable electrodes both above and below said connection platform; and a connection system that connects fed consumable electrodes to each other, wherein as a sufficient amount of a consumable electrode has been refined in the electroslag refining system, another consumable electrode is positioned above a previously fed consumable electrode by the side feed device, the connecting system connects a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode and avoids refining operation stoppage for providing consumable electrodes for refining by the electroslag refining system.
- 39. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 38, wherein the electroslag refining system comprises a cold-induction-guide system.
- 40. A consumable electrode feed system according to claim 38, wherein the electroslag refining system comprises a passage that allows a consumable electrode to pass therethrough, the passage preventing contaminants from passing therethrough.
- 41. A casting formed by the electroslag refining system according to claim 38.
- 42. A turbine component formed by the electroslag refining system according to claim 38.
Parent Case Info
This application claims priority of a Provisional Application entitled “Continuous Feed Electroslag Refining Furnace” by Knudsen et al., U.S. Ser. No. 60/121,184, which was filed on Feb. 23, 1999.
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