US2220982A - Cleaning anode - Google Patents

Description

`l recognized, and, when it haso'ccurred, ithas been "Patented Nov. 12,

This `invention .relates "to, apparatus for "hanf-Hv `dling materials inthe formv of sheets,such, for y example,V as metal `electrodes employed inyelec` trolytic processes.` A particular object of the in,- 5 vention is to provideanfimprovedapparatusfor cleaning anodes to remove slime therefrom. t In the electrolytic treatment of metals inthe form `of soluble anodes for refining purposes, `it not infrequently happens that, as -theeletrolysis proceeds, adherent slimev formsupon thesurfaces` f fof the anodes," This s lifrnel generally iselectrically, non-condutive,and.ii it buildsup toany conlsiderable extend, the power Veillciencylof the elec- `trolysis drops appreciably. evil `liarsdgeeriv `customary periodically to remove theanodes from the electrolytiecell and `wash or` `scrub them to` remove the slime,` ,after which the Fanodes" have `been `rer'nlacedinthe cell and the electrolysisfhas beemcontinued A i The Washing operatiomgps heretofore conl ducted, has been primarily, manual. l The brushes "usually employedy in thewashing operation `have on occasion been power driven, but the 4'handling of the anodes themselves, afterreniovalfrom the y cell, has kbeen almost whol1yb'y,hand. In `even `'small commercial electrolytic rening operations, large numbers of anodesare undergoing treat;- ment;l simultaneously, and if visllmeis `forming upon each anodeand must;` periodically be removed, the. labor costshavebeen very consider- "il IffsQQflyiSlllftmn eme. Infact, subjecting theglnmies` toA a WalshT f, the iPvsmPwyfam ing operation more than .once in each twentyf l four hours heretofore hasbeen regarded aslrnf` the 'Pair 0f SUDPO practical foreconomic reasons.

'40 `volvefairlyrapidformation,of an adherent slim" H 111129 COiti? With the `WEiSh' uponrthe anodesjwhich would necessitatewashing i at frequent` intervals,'rit `hasheen deemed, neces-y" i sar'y to :alterthe conditions "prevailing`during` the" ,electrolysis to retardfslime formation, i ,to i "change the, character-of `the yslimeso that/it4 no llongeradheres to" the anodeyofr tovseek other l means" of accomplislling` the -1 6nd"desired.` Recently, ay process `vivas developedf at.` thel, East chiagogplant `o'ffthe Anacondread Products taining considerableqiiantiti' I f In "the course onf", the operatie an "adherent, bismuth-containing s lime formed *oiitliesurfac's vofthe ariodes at such a rapidfrate tliatlt'o,se` cure ajreasonable power etlicency, "it yvasneces may be lifted from the supporting means, advanced therealong, and lowered again thereto.

The elevator is operativelyv positioned with respect to the'beams forming the supporting means for anodes to provide means for introducing the anodes into operative relationship with the washing means. To this end short midportion sections ofthe supporting beamsare separate from the main vportions of these beams and areassociated withv verticalemembers adapted to be lowered and raised by suitable elevator-operating means.

in normal operation, with anodes placed upon ivthe supporting means, the apparatus operates as follows: The walking beam yis set `in'motion to advance anodes along the supporting means to its operation is suspended while the walking'beaxn again passes through its cycle. This alternate 'operation of walkingbeamsl i and f elevators oontinues until each anode'placed upon the supporting means has had itsturn upon the elevator and has been introduced into operative relationship with the washing means.

' The invention will be understood more clearly dit yis

Afrom the'following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in Whicht l k l l isfanelevation of an anode washing machine constructed in `accordance with the invention;

2 is, a view looking down upon the machine showninrie.1;` f f Fig. 3 is an enlarged'cross-sectin through the machine taken substantially along the line 3-3 Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the machine, showing theielevator andV its relationship with respect tothe washing means, taken substantially along theline 4-4 ofFig.1;and

Fig. 5 is 'an elevation showing the mounting of the rotating brushes.

The anode washing machine shown in' Figs.

1 to 4 comprises substantially parallel anode sup4 porting beams I0 and II forming arack adapted to support a plurality of anodes bythe supporting ears or lugs thereof and supportedV themselves by'frame members I2 and `I3 mounted upon'suitf able posts or pillars I4'.l The spacing of the beams" I0 and Il issuch that an anode I5'(Fig. 3) may easily-be receivedbe'tween them and `be supported on them bythe ears or lugs I6 with which anodes are generally provided for hangingthem in electroiytic eens, with the ears of the anode'prpjectf A ing outwardly beyond the outer surfaces Aof the beams. Notches I'I are'providedA in thev upper surfaces of vthe beams I0 and II.l .The width of the notches Il issuch that each lnotch will easily receive an earv of an anode. The notches serve to insure proper spacing of anodes supported 'by tliebeams I0 and II. 'h d y Walking' beams 20 and 2| are eccentrically mounted adjacent the supporting'beams I0 and other.

I I so as to be movable in a substantially circular path of travel with respect to the supporting beams. The mounting of the walking beams is as follows: Bearings 22 are rigidly secured to the outer surfaces of the Walking beams and a cam 23 is housed within each bearing. The cams are secured eccentrlcally to rotatable shafts 24 which are suitably journaled in bearings 25 supported by a frame member 26. The shafts 24 and the bearings 25 in which they are journaled .thus support the walking beams through the cams 23 and the bearings 22 secured to the walking beams.

The shafts 24 advantageously form a part of reduction gears 21, each comprising a worm gear 28 mounted upon the shaft 24 and engaging with a worm 29. The worm 29 of each reduction gear is mounted on one of two line shafts 30 and 3| flanking the walking beams 20 and 2I respectively.` A drive shaft 32 is connected tc each of the line shafts -30 and `3| through reduction gears 33 and 34. A motor 35` provides means for driving thedrive shaft v32 through a belt 36` engaging a pulley 31 mounted on the drive shaft.

' When the motor 35 is running, it drives each of the line shafts 30 and 3| through the drive shaft 32, and through the line shafts and the worms 29 mounted thereon a. turning moment is'applied to the shafts 24 supportingthe Walking beams'. The cams 23 arethereby rotated in their bearings 22, and owing to the eccentric mounting of the cams, the walking beams 20 and 2Imove in such a manner that any point 4on the beamsl travels in acircle of diameter equal to the throw of the cam, each rotation of the shaft 24 and the cam 23 secured thereto actuating the walking beams through a completeV cycle. The position of the walking beams with respect to the supporting. beams I0 andr II is such that when a line drawn through the center of any shaft 24 and the true center of the cam23 mounted thereon is horizontal, the top surface of the walking beam is even with the bottom surfaces ofthe notches I'I in the supporting beams I0 and II.v Hence during half of each cycle of the walking beams, the top surfaces thereof rise above the `^bottom`of the notches I1 and the beams move forward (say from left toY right in Fig. 1) and during the other'half of the cycle the top surfaces of the walking beams fall below the bottom of the notches and the beams move backward- (i. e. from'right to left in Fig. 1). lThe center to center distance between'successive notches Il is sub stantially equal to the throwof the eccentrics actuating the walking beams; hence it will be seen that with each cycle, the walking beams come up under the projecting ears I6 of Ianodes slung between the supporting beams I0 and II, lift the entire burden of anodes, carry it forward ajdistance of one notch, lower it again to the supporting beams, and then retreat into position to repeat the cycle. VIf vno other yaction intervened, the anodes would simply be advanced, one notch with each cycle of the walking beams, from one end of the supporting beams to the It will be` noted. however, that short sections 4I! Y, and 4I of the supporting beams I0 and II `adjacent the mid-portions thereof are separate from the main portions of the supporting beams. Each of these short sections 40 and 4I is of a width to include one of the notches I'I formed in the supporting beams I0 and II, and, when in the position shown in Fig. 1 (except for the fact that they are separated from the mainL portions of simply portions"` of thef' supporting `beams* over which andes maybe advanced `by the" walking` beams zo `and 2|-,

movement, the guides `themselves beingheld im--lv vheseshort sections" andH-are mounted upon theupper end portions of verticalmembers 42 and 43. Each of thevertical'members "rand` 43 tssnuglybetween a -par of guides 44?- and* 45 which permit down and up.` movement ofthe vertical members but restrain them" from 4lateral movable by adjacent'frame members. rackl 46 is mounted lupon` each of "ther verticalrnernbers 42 and 43',"an`d`a pinion 41` engages Withweachl` rack.1he pinions 41 aremounted'on the shaftsf n extending from worm reduction? ge'arsflI and;

and the reduction gears are connected" withV *al gears 48 and` 5D to thepinions 41"facts`lupon"the` racks 46 `to lotve'rther vertical"members42`and 43, and Where the motor is driven l'irr theo'ppo# site direction; lthe turninfg movementtrarisinittedr to theplp'inions 4"4"! is ysiich thatthe vertical rnern` bers areraisedf `The abovefdescribedassembly of" shortsections4l]` and 4 I ,"fverti'al `Ifnernbfers 42` and 43, racks ,46 and'oriving'mechanisrn "ther or 3 ,p l Washingbor scrubbingjmeans:comprisingafpair of rotary'brushes 53 islpositonedfwith respect to the n elevator `s`o` that anl ,anode on1 the@ elevator may be lowered betweenthe brushesj .Each of(- the brushes is mounted flor rotation onalbrush" shaft se [nis desirable that the `brushes te mov-` able toward and away from ,eachothertogaecom-y t, mpdate anodes ofvariousthicknesses;` nd to this end the `brushsllaft`s, `are'journalecllirrfbearingsj '55Qs1idabl`y ,mounted on a. frame" `member 56;

is referre'dto herein as anfelevator.A

I slide toward and away from Aeach othergthereby l tween them, `anduto `,this end pantographarms` permittingthe brushes 53 mounted on thbrush'l 3 n shaits 54 journaled in the bearings to` s deto- 45` i `It `is desirable thatthe` brushes 'est with es of anobject introduc ward or-away :from-each other. i

forceonropposite sid 51 are journaledl on the ends" ofthe brushfshafts tloally slotted member 56. 4I,Springs 51 are Y virtue of the engaging gears 62 andy6f2"",1

\ means of" the belts andfn pulleysj: mounted on one of "the brush dr shaftlil is mountedrin suitableafbearings" 54, projecting. beyond the slidable4 bearingsY 5K5. p

The pantograph, arms` are" pivotallyfoonnected at their lower ends by alpvoft ping projecting throughlthem andintol engagernent"` 1t ve brush isforrced`r` toward o1-"away fiom fthfothergv theother ,brushy moves correspondinglyftwardf" A y `a magneti ally "ope `lilachofv the-brush shafts54l1is provided pulley 60; for driving purposes. l A brush1 carries a-gear 62 `engaging a correspon 62'gmounted `on a second` brush drive Apulley 63 .is'mounted oneacht ofthe with the `pulleys 60` on thetbrushvshaftsu djby the brushes are driven in opposite directions" `:by

Alipulley ,65

n n t n n 2,220,982@ the supportingbeam'swl andyI-I) #they comprisev nanodevwithjthem. As the"anodetisloweredlty t passes between the revolving1brushes@53,Qtvhiclr1` anduthe brushes wduringtthelwashingoperation` washed from the anodes, and t is,

n shield the 1 -various frbeiarifngs l, andfge op sa (as: shown `byfthe dotted missin p stopped and the elevator comes tofrest `the motor 52 driven' downwardlycarrying suitablyf connected toa motorwnot shown for* driving ,thetbrushes -It willlzbe observe 'lthat" `with the `brushesmounted as describedfithey may be lmovedz'towardorfaway from each other,within` p reasonable lirnitstas` set byllsuitably placed fs' evenfwhile rotatingwithout -aiectingtheir When an anode 66 hasbeen advanced along the" supporting beams 1 I0 and il |`l into tithe notches provided l in the shortlsections" l 40 andx141l t thereof;` themotor 52's setinkoperation and the ` vrtical members 42 and 43 `arerslowered,14 carx'ying`,fthe4 are drawn against itfbythe xacupnvofqtn tspring-[11i` 51a,` and the :slime is l thereby t scrubbed n romit. K .To facilitate the washing operation; 14 Weterjlor4 4a; n

suitablei cleaningsolution is sprayed thezanode -l elevator istin" operation??` `IA-sump `may videdfbelow :the brushestto.,collectl machine from the*` slime and zwashi'rlg`n;v

t f PTOWQ? `underlying portionsof th xnac'hineLl "When" [substantially ,the {gentire' lengthf" t anode 66 hasbeenfloweredrbetweefrthe` bru hes motor sz is reversed andthee1evatorgw1t th; anoder supported upon" Original* position, where pon the" niet ears Y tween; thefsupporting "beamsql an anjfer of each, anode ei `entire"burden of anode's isfto one;n sid lo the cleaned anode from the elevator and advancing it one notch to the right and advancing an anode tc cleaned into the notches on thel 'H mounted on an end member 12 of the machine frame to stop the machine.

f It will be apparent from the foregoing description.L that means must be provided to correlate the functioning of the walking beams and-elevator if operation'of the machineis to be wholly automatic. Toy this end a drum controller 13 is geared Ato the walking. beam drive shaft 32 so that it passes through one complete cycle with eachv cycleof the walking gbealns.V A seconddrum controller'xllis similarlyv geared to the elevator driveashaftil to passthrough a complete cycle with each cycle of the elevator. y The apparatus may be operated as follows: The walking beam motor 35 is energized, starting the .cycle of. thefwalking beams 20 and 2|.V The drum controller A'13, geared to the walking beam drive shaft 32,`vis so arranged that with the completion of the walking beam cycle, power is cut oi from-the Amotor 35 and a magnetic brake is set to hold the walking beams from moving. As this cycleis completed, the drum controller 13 acts/to energize the elevator motor 52, which starts the elevator in operation. When the motor 252 is energized, the pinions 41 are operated through the drive` shaft 5I and reduction gears 48 and 50, driving theracks 46 mounted on each of the vertical members 42 and 43, the upper ends of which form the short sections 40 and 4I of the supporting beams IU andl Ii. tion ofnthe pinions 4ll on the racks 4,6 causes the elevator to jdescend, and to. rise when the motor 52 is reversedby action' Vof the drumk controller 1.4, which takes place whenthe elevator reaches substantially the bottom of its travel. It is advantageous to include -a timing relay in the control circuit to determine the length of time the ele.

vatorstays at-or near the bottom of its travel lbefore starting to move. up, as this allows for adjustment V'by thefoperator of the amount by which the elevator drifts, assuring complete Ascrubbing of the anodes, and it also prevents .brake releasedl as long as the motor 52 is energized. I'he magnetically operatedY valve 68 preferablyA is connected tothe `brake so that thevalve v|58 remains openswhile ythe brake is off but closes whenthe brake sets. Thisprevents Waste of the fluid while the walking beamv mechanism is motion. ,When the elevator stops .at the upper limit of its travel, thus completing its cycle, the drum controller 14 so acts as to energize the walking beam motor 35, thus startingthe complete cycle over again.

.l A separate motor is used to drive the washing brushes 53. vThe brushes are rotated continuously throughout the performance and for that reason no particular control apparatus is necesv sary for their separate motor'.

It is understood that various modifications may be made in the construction of the machine The acv described above and in its operation. For example, by suitably altering the control circuit, the elevator can be made to pass through two or more complete cycles between each cycle of the walking beams. This may be advantageous when a particularly adherent slime is'to be removed from anodes. Furthermore, the elevator may be designed to carry two or more anodes at a time, and the walking beam may in such case be so designedas to advance the anodes two notches along the walking beam witheachcycle.

In the foregoing description, particular reference has been made to electrical operation and control of the machine. In generalthis is preferred, but if desired, mechanical operation and control may be employed.' Thus, for example,

the elevator may be operated hydraulically instead of electrically.

The machine described above is particularly well suited to cleaning anodes, but it may be adapted to other uses aswell. For example, it may be employed in paintingl or pickling metal sheets or plates by eliminating the brushes and krolls on the platens of a hydraulic press and the machine may be used to straighten metal sheets or plates. Other .modifications of the machine to adapt it. to other uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

As pointed outv above, use of the machine described above for washing anodes, makes possible lifting a plurality of anodes simultaneously from an electrolytic cell, automatically passing them successively in operative relation with washing means. and lreturning the anodes en masse to the cell without substantially altering their spatial arrangement with respect to one another. It will be .apparent from the foregoing description how the, anodes may beautomatically passed successively in operative relationship with washingmachines. v

Inlemploying the apparatus ofthe invention, a plurality of anodes ypreferably are lifted simultaneously from an electrolytic cell Without disturbing lto any substantial extent their spatial relationship with respect to one another, and are then' automatically passed in operative relationship with washing means, for example by Vdepositingthem upon the supporting members of the ariodejwashingI machine described above (the n'otches on the supporting members being such that thespatial relationship of the anodeswith respect to oneanother which on'the machine is substantially the same as-'in the electrolytic cell); Thereafter the anodes are returned cleaned to the cell, still without substantially altering their spatial relationship, and are replaced en masse in the cell. The slime washed from the anodes may, if it is f value, be collected and subjected to suitable treatment.

In accordance with the invention it is possible to wash anodes more economically and much more hspeedily than has heretoforebeen possible. Electrolytic refining processes involving the rapid formation of an adherent lslime on the .anodes maybe dealt with 'expediently by means ofthe invention, -and at a cost that'may well fall below the'costs entailed heretofore, even whenwashing at relatively infrequent intervals, in washing operations involvingv a'substantial amount of hand whereby anodes thereon are moved downwardly has `been moved into contact ,v vithrthel washing into contact with the washing meansbelow the supporting beams, and to return the shortbeam sections to 1 their positions'of alignment with the anode supportingibeamsfthe elevator operating means andthe meansf'ffor moving'anodes only after an anode supported on 'theelevator 4meansand the-short beam sections havebeen returned to their positions "of alignment with 'the supporting beams. f

7. In apparatus yof the class describedrincluding a stationary support comprising two pairs of xed, substantially horizontally disposed supporting beamsfmounted in end-to-end vertical and horizontal alignment with a space therebetween, the beams of each pair being provided vwith grooves intheir uppensurfaces 'for the reception of ears projecting beyond the side edges `oranodes and of such length4 andspaced apart sufliciently to permit a plurality of anodes to be supported thereon by` meansv of ears projecting from the side edges of the anodes with such projecting ears disposed in the grooves and with the bodies of the anodesextending downwardly be,- tween the beams,-and washing means disposed below the pairs of beams in vvertical alignment with the space therebetween, the combination of Y'an elevator disposed in the space' between' the ipairs of beams comprising a pair of short beam `sections provided with grooves in their upper surfaces-and spaced apart and disposed in vertical and' horizontal alignment withv the pairs of anode supporting beams, means for advancing lanodesl from groove to groove along one pair of supporting beams to the elevator to place the anode ears in the grooves inthe upper surfaces of the'short beam sections and from the elevator from groove to groove along the other pair of supporting beams, and means for operating the elevaor to'move; the short beam sections downwardlywhereby' anodes thereon aremoved downwardly into contact with the washing means below the supporting beams, and to return the short beam sections to their positions of alignment withv the anode supporting beams, the elevator operating means and themeans-for moving anodes along the supporting beams being arranged to'function alternately, -whereby anodes are moved alongthe supporting beams intermit- Ygtently and only after an anode supported on the elevator has been moved 'intocontact with the -washing means and the short beam sections have been returnedto' their positions of alignment withthe supporting beam f e 8. In f an anode washing machine comprisingn two'pairs of xed, substantially horizontally disposed supporting beams`mounted in end-toend vertical alignment with a spacetherebetween, the beams of each pair being provided with sub-v stantially equally spacedgrooves in their upper surfaces: for the reception of ears projecting be- 1 yond the side edges of anodes andsuiciently spaced apartVY andof such length as to permit a pluralityof Vanodes to be supported thereon with their projecting ears disposedin the grooves and with theiry bodies extending `downwardly between the. beams, washing means `iricludin`g'- a pair of rotatably mounted vbrushesy disposed below the pairsof beams in vertical alignment'with the space therebetween, and meansior rot'atinlgther brushes, the combination of twopairsof parallel porting beams during the course of theirmovel ment andv so` mounted on paralleleccentrics that their top surfaces will coincide with-the bottoms of tliegrooves of the supporting'beamswhen the throws of the eccentrics are in their horizontal in vthe groovesof the'ano'de supporting beams 'may be 'lifted `simultaneously from the grooves,

carriedforward and re-deposited in the next ad- VVjacent grooves through the upper half revolution lpositions and Will remainsubstantially parallel to the supporting beams during revolution of the "eccentrics so that a plurality of anodes supported 'of the eccentrics, means vfor revolvingthe eccenk trics, a lowering and raising device comprising a pair of parallel rack members mounted for vertical movementin the space betweenthe pairs oflsupportingbeams in vertical alignment with the supporting beams, said' rack members being provided at their upper ends with grooves corresponding'to and in horizontal alignment with the grooves of the supporting beams, wherebycontinuity of spacing of grooves is provided between the pairs' of l supporting beams and whereby anodes in theirgroove-to-groove travel along the supporting beams will be deposited successively ron the raising and lowering device with their ears in the 'grooves of the rack members, pinions engaging the teeth. of said rack members, a reversible electric motor for operating the pinions, and means vfor controlling the operation of the motor automatically so that at predetermined times during the revolutions of the eccentrics the rack members will be lowered and raised and anodes supported in the grooves Aof the rack members Iwill be lowered into contact with the brushes ofthe washing means and will be returned again to a position of alignmentwith anodes supported in the grooves of the anode supporting beams." f 'f 9. In apparatus of the class described including a stationary support comprising two pairs of fixed, substantially parallel and substantiallv horizontally disposed supporting beams mounted in endz-to-end vertical and horizontal alignment with a space therebetween, the beams of each pair being of such length and spaced apart sufficiently topermit a plurality of anodes to be supported thereon by'means of ears projecting from vthe side edges of the anodes with the ears in contactwith the upper surfaces of the beams and with `the bodies ofl the anodes extending downwardly between the beams,l and washing means disposedadjacent the pairs of beams in substantially vertical alignment with the space therebe-l tween, the combination of'an elevator disposed in the space between the pairs of beams comprisinga pair of short beam lsections spaced apart and disposed in verticaland vhorizontal alignment with the pairs of anodesupporting beams, means for advancing anodes along one pair of supporting beams to the elevator to place the anode'ears in contact with the short beam sections and from'theelevator along the other pair of supporting beams, and means for operating the elevator to move the' short `beam sections downwardly, wherebythe anodes thereon -aremoved into contact with the washing means adjacent the .supporting beams, an'd'to return the short beam'sections to theirpositions of alignment with the supporting beams. l 10. In apparatus loilth'e class described including astationary support comprising two pairs of fandV oi' such length and spaced apart suieiently' to permitaplurality of anodes to be "supported" thereon with their projecting-ears disposed in i '10 the grooves and with their bodiesextending down`` iixed, substantially horizontally disposed supporti H combination` of anode-carrying elevator `means ing beams mounted in end-to-end vertical and horizontal alignment with a space therebetween, the ,beams of each pair being provided with grooves in their upper surfaces for the reception of ears projecting beyond the side edges of anodes l `wardly between the beams; and `l`w`ashin`g"means `disposed adjacent the pairs of beamsin substan`` tially `verticalalignment with thezspace there? v contact with the washing means adjacentfthe supporting beams,'and to returnthe short beam sections to their positions of alignment with they` supporting beams.

between, the combination of anelevator disposed in the space between the pairs of beams compris-` inga pair of short beam sections provided with;` 'grooves in their upper surfaces andispaced apart and disposed in vertical and horizontal alignment f 4 A j a `pair "ofl stationary anode-supporting with the pairs of anodesupportingbeamsynieans for advancing anodes from groove to groove along one pair of supporting beams to the elevator to place the anode ears in the grooves in the upper:

surfaces of the short beam sections and `from the elevatorfrom groove to groove along theother" pair of supporting beams, and means for oper; ating the elevator tomove the short `beam sections, whereby the anodes thereon are moved'into 11. In an anode washing machine comprising a'stationary rack adapted to support a plurality of anodes,"said rack' comprising a pair ofsub` stantially parallelsupporting beams spaced apart sufficiently to receive the body of an anode theref` w between and depending therebelow but beingsufr ciently close together to receive ears projecting from the sides ofthe anode and to support such j anode by its ears, and washing means arranged below one end of said rack, the combination of anode-carrying elevator means mounted adjafor removing anodes fromsaid elevatormeans;

cent the end of said rack over said washing means and comprisingshort beam sections spaced correspondingly to the beams of the rack in a manner to receive the ears of an anode and support the anode thereby, means for advancing anodes along said rack and onto said elevator means and rack being adapted to'support a` plurality ofg anodes by the earsthereof and each rack being provided with a plurality of substantially equally spaced notches for receiving the ears of 1 the anodes vin a manner to maintain Vsubstantially equal spacing between adjacent anodes on the racks, and washingvmeans arranged below the by anistance substantianyfequfai touthevdistahee A tothe elevator means [and Vffrom the elevatorQ spaced adjacent ends of thefupport r r the "combination voile ianodecarrying elevator means mounted btWeeithe1 spaced, adjacent ends of the supportlnglracks, saidelevatoricom j `prising short beam` sectio stationary rack adapteditollsupport"apluralityj r l stantially paralleli r supporting beamsfspaced r the beams of the j rack inl "a Vmannen to recelv spacedadjacent ends ofthesupportingraels,th` j jacentg notches of the *anodesupportin acks` i between the notches formed `on `the racks, means"` for advancing anodes along one supporting?l rack means ralong the other]supportingr"raclhand` means `for lowering and raising 4the `l vator"r means `withanode thereon 1intoand`fr` ing positionlin said `washingtrnean`s.`

13e In an an'ode {washingi machine" ".kcemprisingf mountedisubstantially in end-torend relati r r having their adjacent endsspaced` apart, eachqof said `racks comprising aspairllof substantiall allelfsupporting bearnswspalced apartsuflic r to receive thebodyof` an anodeftherebetween "n depending therebelowjbut being suftlfcifentlyi close together r to receive ears projecting-fromthe` sides*` of;theanodeandtofsuppothlsuch anod Sb 'A ears, and l washing meansp)` arranged "be o spaced correspond ingly tothe beams ofthe rackiin a rifiaririer;t` receive` the ears of ana deand `suppo` anode" thereby, means, if r "g r alongone supporting racktosaid "elevator" mea and frorngthe elevator `means"`alongfthetothe supporting rack, and` means frorigloweringqan raising .the .A elevator `means .with anode thereon j into and from washing t "n said washin meansV j 14. Ind apparatus of the character L deseribed of anodes,` said rack comprisingjha `pair ofjsub-"` apart suiiiciently to receivethe` bodyeof an anode `therebetween and depending" therebelowbut be ing sufficientlyclosetogetherf l jecting from thesides"ofthe`lanodean t sup portsuch anode by its earsineans formativltncin` anodes along said rock`,y,anelevator adaptedt receiverone anode at" a Jtirnejand comprisin short A beam sections r spaced correspondingly it the ears of an anodeandfsupport"the anode'there r by,` said short bnarrrL actionsi being inontedffin" l substantial'alignmentwithfthebeamsof ther-ack,` l means for lowering"` and raising said elevator with" anode thereon,` ,and anodeiwashing means fposi tioned belowthe rack in `thepath of travellofja anode supported onandirnoved by saidelevator. e

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