Suspension device prebaked anodes and bath electrolysis tank with a high yield for implementing the suspension device

摘要

PICT:1032810/C6-C7/1 PICT:1032810/C6-C7/2 An electrolytic bath, e.g. for producing Al from Al2O3 has means for suspending electrodes so that they can be moved vertically as required. Figs. 1 and 2 show a bath 100 for producing Al which has carbon cathodes blocks 119 on Fe bars 118 and movable anodes 120. A hood comprises a fixed central portion 151 and four pivoted portions 152, 153, Fig. 1, and 154, 155, Fig. 2. Baths are connected in series by conductors 130, 140. The movable anodes 120 are suspended by anode rods 121 clamped to a lower fixed frame 210 and also to an upper vertically movable frame 220. To lower the anodes and so adjust the anode-cathode spacing 1) the clamps on the fixed frame are loosened, 2) the movable frame is lowered, 3) the clamps on the fixed frame are tightened and, to return the movable frame to its original position, 4) the clamps on the movable frame are loosened, 5) the movable frame is raised and 6) its clamps are tightened. Electrical connection to the anodes is by clamping the anode rods 121 to bus bars which, as shown, comprise cladding on the sides of the frames. Each clamp 240 (Fig. 9, not shown) includes a movable jaw. 241 acted upon by a resilient force-transmitting mechanism 242,243,245, 244 operated by a control member 248 common to a plurality of clamps carried by one frame, each control member being controlled in turn by a rotary cam (e.g. 262 Figs. 10 to 13 not shown), the or each cam associated with the fixed frame being offset angularly in relation to each cam associated with the movable frame, so that as the cams are rotated, the two clamps associated with each movable electrode are never concurrently unclamped. Details of the mechanism for vertically moving the movable frame are illustrated in Fig. 8 (not shown). At times when it is necessary to add Al2CO3 to the bath to stop an "anode effect" one of the smaller end panels of the load is raised to allow the addition (Fig. 7 not shown).