TETE DE CONTACT POUR PORTE-ELECTRODES DE FOURS A ARC ELECTRIQUE

An electrode holder comprises a carrier body, a plurality of inserts (1) releasably engaging with the carrier body and having contact faces (4) which are engageable with the outer surface of an electrode (16) to supply electrical power thereto, and mounting means connected to the inserts (1) so as mechanically to maintain the inserts in releasable engagement with the carrier body. The mounting means has bus-bars connected thereto to convey electrical power to the inserts (1), and coolant supply pipes (15) are also coupled with the mounting means to supply coolant to the inserts (1). Coolant ducts are arranged along the rear faces of the inserts (1) and receive coolant from the supply pipes (15) in order to cool the inserts. The coolant ducts are thus arranged away from the regions of transmission of electrical power from the contact faces (4) to the electrode (16). This minimises the risk of rupture of the coolant ducts during any spark generation between the contact faces and the electrode.