GB813323A - Method of and apparatus for assembling electrolytic cells - Google Patents

Abstract

813,323. Making electrolytic cells. ETHYL CORPORATION. March 8, 1956 [March 9, 1955], No. 7360/56. Class 83 (2). A method of assembling an electrolytic cell of the kind having a housing, consisting of a cell base with lower and upper cell shell portions and a cell lining, a plurality of anodes each surrounded by a cylindrical aperture of a cathode, and a foraminous diaphragm disposed in the annular space between. each anode and its surrounding cathode aperture and supported from above by a collector and collector support frame, comprises mounting a plurality of anodes 131 on a cell base using a first jig C, adding a lower cell shell portion 148, part of the cell lining and the cathode 141 using a second jig D, and adding an upper cell shell portion 175 using a third jig E to complete a first sub-assembly; separately assembling a collector 14 and its support frame 51 using a fourth jig A and then adding a set of foraminous diaphragms 99 using a fifth jig B to complete a second sub-assembly; finally combining the two sub-assemblies in a sixth jig F to complete the cell. In the construction of the cell the jig A is also used for gauging the collector 41 which has four cylindrical ports 44<SP>1</SP>-44<SP>4</SP>, Fig. 4, opening in the lower face thereof and centred on the corners of a square. The jig comprises a horizontal plate 23, Fig. 2, for supporting the collector and having mounted thereon a first set of locators 241, 24<SP>2</SP>, each comprising two spaced bosses, movable in unison but in opposite directions along a straight fixed line and adapted, when moved apart, to engage the walls of opposite ports 443, 442, and a second set of similar locators 341, 34<SP>2</SP>, movable apart along a second straight line to engage the other opposite ports 44<SP>4</SP>, 44<SP>1</SP>. The said first and second lines are nominally at right angles with their mid-points in alignment, but the second straight line is movable angularly in a horizontal plane relatively to the first line. Means are provided for indicating any deviation of the two lines from a right angle and any deviation of their mid-points when a collector is assembled thereon. These means comprise a fixed element 32 indicating the fixed mid-point of the first line and a movable element 33 indicating the midpoint of the second line. When the two elements are in alignment thus indicating that the collector ports are within the prescribed tolerance, a pin 31 can be inserted through aligned holes of the two elements. The locators 24 are operated by a hand wheel 25 through bevel gearing 29, Fig. 7 (not shown), and the locators 34 by a hand wheel 35. Each locator contact has a domed head 62 and a body 66 rotatable on a vertical pivot, Fig. 3 (not shown). When a correctly gauged collector is assembled in the jig A, a collector-support frame 51 is placed on the top 13 of the jig, located against registration marks 16, 17 and secured to the collector by rods 46 and nuts, Fig. 5 (not shown). The diagrams 99 are assembled to the collector by a jig B, Fig. 8, comprising four vertical dummy anodes 83 each having an outer cylindrical shell 87 vertically movable by a hand wheel 95 and having a frusto-conical lower support 88 for the diaphragm and four radially movable upper supports 116 therefor, Fig. 10 (not shown), operated bv a hand wheel 96. The collector and frame sub-assembly is mounted on the frame 75 of jig B, aligned against registration marks 77 and the diaphragms 99 are then raised and secured to the collector 41 by bolts 122, Fig. 11 (not shown), with the interposition, if necessary, of taper washers. A jig C, Fig. 12 (not shown), is used for aligning four graphite anodes 131 on a cell base to which they are secured by a refractory material. A jig D, Fig. 13 (not shown), having four depending sleeves 143, locates the anodes whilst a cathode assembly 141 is secured relatively thereto in a lower shell 148 having a refractory lining. An upper cell shell 175 is then attached to the lower shell using a jig E, Fig. 14 (not shown), and registration marks are scribed on the flange of the upper shell. A jig F, Fig. 15, comprising a shell 181 with an internal vertically movable carriage 180 slidable on guide rods 186, is used to convey a collector-framediaphragm assembly 41, 51, 99, secured by clamps 191 to the underside of the carriage 180, to the anode-base sub-assembly. The shell 181 is located and levelled by screws 193 on the outer cell casing 175 and the carriage 180 is then lowered by a crane hook 190 to lower the collector assembly on to the outer casing. The two assemblies are located by registration marks on the frame 51 and on the outer casing. U.S.A. Specification 1,501,756 is referred to.