GB1235342A - Electrolytic cell for the refinement of metal - Google Patents

Abstract

1,235,342. Electrolytic cell for refining metal. EASTMAN KODAK CO. Dec. 6, 1968 [Dec. 11, 1967], No. 58026/68. Heading C7B. [Also in Division H2] An electrolytic cell for refining metal comprises a tank having at least one sloping wall, anode supporting means, a cathode forming at least part of an inner surface of the tank and a scraper which is movable along the cathodic surface and the sloping wall to transport deposited metal out of the tank. Fig. 1 shows a tank having a stainless steel bottom which forms a cathode 12 with a portion 18 thereof sloping upwardly. Anodes 26 of metal to be refined are contained in cloth bags 38 and supported in baskets 20 having bottoms formed by spaced bars 24. A scraper assembly 40 having a scraper blade 46 can be pulled through the tank by means of a cable 52 and drive motor 53 so as to transport deposited metal to a receptacle 54. The Scraper blade is pivoted so that it does not scrape when it is drawn back to its starting position. Each anode 26 is electrically connected by a clamp (36) Fig. 2 (not shown) and the cathode is electrically connected by a bus-bar (28). There is a ventilating hood (64) over the cell to remove any fumes generated thereby. Fig. 3, which is a bottom perspective view of the scraper assembly, shows a scraper blade 46 pivotally mounted between side plate 44 which are connected by a canopy plate 42. Scraper like blades 50 remove metal from corners of the cell bottom. The canopy retains scraped metal beneath it and prevents shorting of the cell. In a modification, the tank has a sloping bottom at both ends and the scraper is not pivoted. Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown) illustrate a modification wherein the cathode is formed by the bottom and sides of the tank and the scraper and canopy Fig. 6 (not shown) are modified to cope with this.