RICHARD W COOK
Vehicle Board in Pittsburgh, PA

6038246, Mar 14, 2000

Feb 26, 1997

8/806204

Hiroshi Shimizu - Wexford PA
Joseph L. Hake - New Castle PA
Richard L. Cook - Pittsburgh PA

NKK Steel Engineering, Inc. - Mars PA

F27D 2300

373 78

A direct current electric arc furnace for melting or heating raw material or molten material. The furnace includes a refractory lined vessel for holding raw or molten material. The vessel has at least an old furnace shell having a bottom electrode which is replaceable with a new furnace shell having a bottom electrode such that the new furnace shell is placed in an operating position and replaces the old furnace shell. The furnace includes at least a first top electrode. The furnace includes at least a first bottom electrode mounted in the bottom of the vessel and in electrical contact with the raw or molten material in the vessel. The furnace includes an electrical power supply mechanism which electrically connects to the top electrode and the bottom electrode in order to input electrical energy into the materials through the top and bottom electrode and the form of an arc. The bottom electrode has opposite electrical polarity to the electrical polarity of the top electrode. The furnace also includes a repair area to receive the old furnace shell.

6137822, Oct 24, 2000

Feb 27, 1998

9/032442

Joseph L. Hake - New Castle PA
Richard L. Cook - Pittsburgh PA

NKK Steel Engineering, Inc. - Mars PA

F27D 100

373 72

A direct current electric arc furnace for melting or heating raw material or molten material includes a refractory lined vessel for holding raw or molten material in its interior. The furnace includes at least a first top electrode. The first top electrode enters the vessel interior above the raw or molten material. The furnace includes at least a first bottom electrode mounted in the bottom of the vessel and in electrical contact with the raw or molten material in the vessel. The furnace includes an electrical power supply mechanism which electrically connects to the top electrode and the bottom electrode in order to input electrical energy into the material through the top and bottom electrodes in the form of an arc. The bottom electrode has opposite electrical polarity to the electrical polarity of the top electrode. The furnace also includes a mechanism for cooling the first bottom electrode with a spray of water and air that contacts the first bottom electrode.

5956366, Sep 21, 1999

Feb 26, 1997

8/807803

Hiroshi Shimizu - Wexford PA
Joseph L. Hake - New Castle PA
Richard L. Cook - Pittsburgh PA

NKK Steel Engineering, Inc. - Mars PA

H05B 7144

373108

A direct current electric arc furnace for melting or heating raw material or molten material. The furnace includes a refractory lined vessel for holding raw or molten material in its interior. The furnace includes at least a first top electrode. The first top electrode enters the vessel interior above the raw or molten material. The furnace includes at least a first bottom electrode mounted in the bottom of the vessel and in electrical contact with the raw or molten material in the vessel. The furnace also includes an electrical power supply mechanism which electrically connects to the top electrode and the bottom electrode in order to input electrical energy into the material through the top and bottom electrodes in the form of an arc. The bottom electrode has an opposite electrical polarity to the electrical polarity of the top electrode. The furnace includes a mechanism for stirring the molten material in the vessel and guiding the arc in the vessel.

2001004, Nov 22, 2001

Feb 26, 1997

08/806848

HIROSHI SHIMIZU - WEXFORD PA, US
JOSEPH L. HAKE - NEW CASTLE PA, US
RICHARD L. COOK - PITTSBURGH PA, US

ANSEL M. SCHWARTZ

H05B007/144, F27D003/00

373/108000, 373/081000

The present invention pertains to a direct current electric arc furnace for melting or heating raw materials or molten material. The furnace comprises a refractory lined vessel for holding raw or molten metal material. The furnace also comprises a first top electrode and at least a second top electrode. Each of the top electrodes enters the vessel above the raw or molten material and has a position in the vessel. The furnace comprises at least one bottom electrode mounted in the bottom of the vessel and in electrical contact with the raw or molten material in the vessel. Additionally, the furnace comprises an electrical power supply mechanism with conductors to electrically connect to the top electrodes and the bottom electrode in order to input electrical energy into the material through the top and bottom electrodes in the form of arcs which deflect toward each other and define a hot area. The first and second top electrodes have the same electrical polarity while the bottom electrode has an opposite electrical polarity to the electrical polarity of the top electrodes. The present invention pertains to a method for heating raw material. The method comprises the steps of providing direct current to a first top electrode and a second top electrode having the same electrical polarity, and to a bottom electrode having opposite polarity to the top electrodes in a vessel. Next, there is the step of creating a first electric arc in the vessel from the first top electrode which contacts the material. Then, there is the step of creating a second electrical arc in the vessel from the second top electrode which contacts the material and is deflected toward the first electric arc to create a hot area.