US2897129A - Electrode handling and storing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1959 E. D. DlLLlNG ELECTRODE HANDLING AND STORING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l L m F INVENTOR. ELMER D. DILLING AGENT July 28, 1959 v E. D. DIL LING 3 ELECTRODE HANDLING AND STORING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

ELMER D. DILLING United States @Patenr @fifice 2,897,129 Patented July 28, 1959 ELECTRODE HANDLING AND STORING APPARATUS Elmer D. Dilling, Las Vegas, Nev., assignor to Titanium Metals Corporation of America, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1957, Serial No. 643,788

Claims. (Cl. 204-225) This invention relates to apparatus for handling and storing electrodes produced or employed in electrolytic cells operated for the production of metals. More particularly, it relates to apparatus permitting the discharging of an electrode from an electrolytic cell and temporarily storing it, and the recharging of the, cell with a new electrode from temporary storage.

Certain metals, such as titanium and zirconium, may be produced by electrolytic methods. These metals are readily oxidized when exposed to air, particularly at the elevated temperatures at which they may be discharged as or on cathodes from an electrolytic cell. A serious need, therefore, exists for apparatus capable of handling loaded cathode assemblies and removing them from the cell, and to make possible the recharging of the cell with an empty cathode assembly, all to be accomplished without allowing the cathodes or the cell interior to come in contact with the atmosphere.

it is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an improved electrode changing and storing apparatus. Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for changing and storing empty and charged cathodes to and from an electrolytic cell without exposure to the atmosphere. These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof, and from the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a central vertical section of apparatus embodying features of this invention; Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2; Fig. 3 shows an end section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3; Fig. 4 shows a detail of the crossbar guide roller assemblies; Fig. 5 shows in more detail, the electrode locking mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus comprises a hollow shell 10, which may, if desired, be provided with wall cooling means, such as attached pipes 11, through which cooling water may be circulated. Inside the shell and attached to the Walls thereof by brackets 12 are a pair of spaced-apart, Y-shaped channel members 13, composed of upper arms 14 and legs 15. These channel members are arranged in correspond ing spaced-apart and interiorly facing relationship. The bottoms of the legs 15 of the channel members 13 are located over an aperture 16 in the bottom of the shell 10.

Flexible means are provided for hoisting and lowering an electrode through aperture 16 up and down the path described by the vertical legs of the guide members to and from storage positions out toward the ends of the arms of the guide members. In the embodiment illustrated such means comprise endless chains 17 which are arranged to travel a path up the vertical legs 15, out in the arms 14 and back from the outer ends of the arms 14 to the bottom of the legs 15. It will be apparent that there are four of these chains, two organized with each of the pair of channel members 13. Each corresponding pair of chains is bridged and connected by a horizontal crossbar 18 whose ends are fixedly attached to the chains.

The crossbar ends are provided with fixtures more particularly shown in detail in Fig. 4 and which each comprise a substitute chain link 19 which is provided with laterally extending hubs 20, which form between them groove 21. Around one of the hubs 20 is provided freely rotatable roller 22 adapted to engage the flanges of the channel members 13, and of diameter slightly less than the distance between these flanges thereby to guide the chains in their prescribed paths. The grooves 21 provide clearance for the other chain when either cross bar is moving up or down the vertical leg of channel members 13. Depending from crossbars 18 are electrode attaching means in the form of hangers 23, which are provided near their lower extremities with lock holes 24.

The chains 17 are additionally guided and actuated along their paths relative to the channel members 13, and from the ends of arms 14 to the bottoms of the legs 15, by provision of lower guide sprockets 25, intermediate guide rolls 26, which are located at the neck of the Y, and upper sprockets 27. Means are provided for selectively rotating upper sprockets 27 independently which, in the embodiment described, may take the form of horizontal shafts 28 which are keyed to the sprockets 27 in corresponding pairs as will be apparent, one end of each of the shafts 28 projecting externally through the Wall of the shell 10. Rotation of the shafts 28, conveniently accomplished by cranks 29, acting through reduction gears 30, will provide actuation of the chains 17 in their designed paths as described. The aperture 16, at the bottom of shell 10, is opened and closed by provision of slide gate 31, which is provided with aperture 32 of dimensions corresponding to aperture 16 in the bottom of the shell 10. Attached to gate 31, which is shown in open position, is rack 33. Meshing wit-h rack 33 is pinion 34. Actuation of pinion 34 by rotation of its attached and externally projecting shaft 35, by means of crank handle 36, will permit the aperture 16 to be fully opened or firmly closed as desired. In addition, sealing means are provided to prevent entry of contaminating gases around the juncture of slide gate 31 with adjacent portions of the shell 10. These may comprise, as shown, a channel member 37 which completely surrounds the aperture 16, and in which is located inflatabletube 38. One surface of the inflatable tube 38 is sealed to an interior face of channel member 37 .as at 39, another face of the tube 38 being arranged to bear against slide gate 31 when in closed position. Inflation of the .tube. 38 by means of a conventional gas supply such as compressed air (not shown) applied through connectorAO-will form a gas-tight seal between slide gate, 31, inclosed position, and channel 37 which-is attached to shell 10.

At the .base of theshell 10, completely surrounding the aperture 16, is depending flange 41 which forms a compartment open at the bottom and which may communicate with, or be shut oif from, the interior of the shell 10 by alternative actuation of slide gate 31. The bottom of flange 41 is arranged to be detachably sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell with which the device of this invention will be employed. To accomplish this, a channel member 42 surrounds the opening in the ,cell cover through whichan electrode may be withdrawn, and which contains a liquid sealing material 43 composed forexample of a low melting metallic alloy. Such sealing device, which in and of itself forms no part of this I invention, in its most useful aspect and preferred embodiment is more particularly described and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 640,190, filed Feb. 14', 1957, now Patent 2,871,178, dated January 27, 1959.

The top portion or cover 44, of an electrode 45- adapted for handling and storing by means of the apparatus of this invention, is provided with suitable. means for detachably locking onto the electrode attaching hangers 23 as shown in detail in Fig. 5. Such means may be of any applicable type and in the embodiment illustrated, comprise upstanding socket members 46 which are spaced apart and adapted to mate with hangers 23. Socket members 46 are provided with horizontal holes 47 which are alignable with holes 24 in the hangers 23. Locking pins 48, attached to arms 49 which are in turn mounted on cross shaft 50, are adapted to transfix the aligned holes in sockets 46 and hangers 23 when these are in mated position as shown. Cross shaft St) is slidably mounted in support members 51, which are attached to the electrode cover 44, so that the pins 48 may be withdrawn and the electrode attaching means thereby unlocked and detached, when desired. The locking assembly is operated from outside the compartment by provision of rod 52 which pierces the flange 41 and which is provided at its outer end with handle 53 and at its inner end with catch member 54. An end of cross shaft is provided with angle member 55 which with the adjacent arm 49 forms a nook into which catch member 54 may be engaged through operation of rod 52 by handle 53. The cross'shaft 50 may then be slidably actuated from outside the furnace to lock or unlock the electrode 45 onto or from the attaching hangers 23. Catch member 54 may then be positioned close to the flange 4-1 to allow free passage of the electrode cover 44.

The shell 10 is adapted to be evacuated and filled with inert gas by provision of valved pipes 56 and 57 which pierce the walls 10 thereof and which may be connected to conventional and suitable pumping equipment and gas supply (not shown) as required.

In operation of the apparatus of this invention the sealing tube 38 is first deflated by bleeding out contained air through connector 40. The slide gate 31 is then opened and the apparatus placed over an empty cell cathode of the type described. One of the cranks 2.9 is then rotated to bring a cross shaft down the central leg of the Y-shaped member 13, so that the electrode hangers 23 project downwardly through the aperture 16. The hangers 23 are then locked to the empty cathode by manipulation of handle 53 to position locking pins 48 transfixing the sockets 46 and hangers 23. The empty cathode is then transported into the shell by cranking of 29 until the cathode is in position as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Gate 31 is then closed and the aperture 16 sealed by inflating tube 38. The shell 10 is evacuated by connected pipe 57 to a suitable pump and then backfilled with inert gas fed in through pipe 56.

The apparatus, now containing an empty cathode in storage is placed on an electrolytic cell having a cathode ready for discharge. The flange 41 of the apparatus is sealed to the cell cover and the tube 38 is deflated and the slide gate 31 is opened. Then the other cross bar with hangers 23 is lowered over the aperture and the hangers locked to the cell cathode as described in the case of the empty cathode. The loaded cathode is transported into shell 10 in position corresponding to the empty cathode in storage, but in the other side of the apparatus. The empty cathode is then lowered down through the-aperture 16 into the cell as will be obvious and the hangers unlocked by manipulation of handle 53. At this point the empty cathode is in position in the cell and the loaded cathode which it replaced is in storage in the shell 10. The slide gate 31 is then closed and tube 38 is re-inflated thus sealing the shell 10 and the apparatus may then be removed from the electrolytic cell. The loaded cathode may be removed from the apparatus when convenient or appropriate under the particular operating conditions and the shell 10 recharged with an empty cathode as hereinbefore described.

During storage of a hot loaded cathode in shell 10, cooling water may be circulated through pipe 11 to maintain the shell Walls at proper temperature. It may or may not be desirable to cool the loaded cathode to discharge temperature While in storage in the apparatus, but in any event the transfer and incidental or desired cooling is conducted without exposure of the cathode or the cell interior to atmospheric contamination.

I claim:

1. Electrode handling and storing apparatus comprising; a hollow shell having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pair of corresponding Y-shaped guide members, spaced apart in parallel planes and fixedly attached interiorly to the side of said shell, a pair of cross bars with th ir ends movably engaging said guide members and having electrode attaching means suspended therefrom, two corresponding pairs of endless flexible inextensible hoisting and lowering means, each following a path up the leg, out an arm and back from the outer end of the arm to the bottom of a leg of said Y-shaped guide members and being guided in its described path by rotatable elements located at the bottoms of the legs, at the neck and at ends of the arms of said Y-shaped members, each corresponding pair of said flexible inextensible hoisting and lowering means being connected by one of said cross bars, a depending flange surrounding the aperture in the bottom of said shell and forming an open-bottom compartment adapted to be sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell, means operable from outside said compartment for actuating detachable means for locking said electrode attaching means onto an electrode, means operable from outside said shell for selectively actuating each corresponding pair of flexible inextensible hoisting and lowering means whereby an electrode locked to said electrode attaching means may be transported to and from storage in said shell through the aperture in the bottom thereof, and a gate closeable to seal the aperture in the bottom of said shell during storage of an electrode therein.

2. Electrode handling and storing apparatus comprising; a hollow shell having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pair of corresponding Y-shaped guide members, spaced apart 'in parallel planes and fixedly attached in teriorly to the side of said shell, a pair of cross bars with their ends movably engaging said guide members and having electrode attaching means suspended therefrom, two corresponding pairso f endless chains, each following a path up a leg, out an arm and back from the outerend of the arm to the bottom of a leg of said V-shaped guide members and being guided in its described path by rotatable elements located at the bottoms of the legs, at the necks and at ends of the arms of said Y-shaped unembers, each corresponding pair of said chains being connected by one of said cross bars, a depending flange surrounding the aperture in the bottom of said shell and forming an open-bottom compartment adapted to be sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell, means operable from outside said compartment for actuating detachable means for locking said electrode attaching means onto an electrode, means operable from outside said shell for selectively actuating each corresponding pair of chains whereby an electrode locked to said electrode attaching rneans may be transported to and from storage in said shell through the aperture in the bottom thereof, and a gate closeable to seal the aperture in the bottom of said shell during storage of an electrode therein.

3. Electrode handling and storing apparatus comprising; a hollow shell having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pair of corresponding Y-shaped, internally facing channel members spaced apart in parallel planes and fixedly attached interiorly to the side of said shell, a pair of cross bars with their ends terminating in rollers which movably engage said channel members and having electrode attaching means suspended therefrom, two corresponding pairs of endless chains, each following a path up a leg, out an arm and back from the outer end of the arm to the bottom of a leg of said Y-shaped channel members and being guided in its described path by rotatable elements located at the bottoms of the legs, at the necks and at ends of the arms of said Y-shaped channel tnembers, each corresponding pair of said chains being connected by one of said cross bars, a depending flange surrounding the aperture in the bottom of said shell and forming an open-bottom compartment adapted to be sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell, means operable from outside said compartment for actuating detachable means for locking said electrode attaching means onto an electrode, means operable from outside said shell for selectively actuating each corresponding pair of chains whereby an electrode locked to said electrode attaching means may be transported to and from storage in said shell through the aperture in the bottom thereof, and a gate closeable to seal the aperture in the bottom of said shell during storage of an electrode therein.

4. Electrode handling and storing apparatus comprising; a hollow shell having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pair of corresponding Y-shaped, internally facing channel members spaced apart in parallel planes and fixedly attached interiorly to the side of said shell, a pair of cross bars with their ends terminating in rollers which movably engage said channel members and having electrode attaching means suspended therefrom, two corresponding pairs of endless chains, each following a path up a leg, out an arm, and back from the outer end of the arm to the bottom of a leg of said Y-shaped channel members and being guided in its described path by a rotatable sprocket located at the bottom of a leg, a roller at the neck and a sprocket at an end of an arm of said Y-shaped channel members, each corresponding pair of said chains being connected by one of said cross bars, a depending flange surrounding the aperture in the bottom of said shell and forming an open-bottom compartment adapted to be sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell, means operable from outside said compartment for actuating detachable means for locking said electrode attaching means onto an electrode, means operable from outside said shell for selectively actuating each corresponding pair of chains by rotation of sprockets by which they are also guided, whereby an electrode locked to said electrode attaching means may be transported 4 to and from storage in said shell through the aperture in the bottom thereof, and a gate closeable to seal the aperture in the bottom of said shell during storage of an electrode therein. g

5. Electrode handling and storing apparatus comprising; a hollow shell having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pair of corresponding Y-shaped, internally facing channel members spaced apart in parallel planes and fixedly attached interiorly to the side of said shell, a pair of cross bars with their ends terminating in rollers which movably engage said channel members, and having electrode attaching means suspended therefrom, two corresponding pairs of endless chains, each following a path up a leg, out an arm and back from the outer end of the arm to the bottom of a leg of said Y-shaped channel members and being guided in its described path by a rotatable sprocket located at the bottom of a leg, a roller at the neck and a sprocket at an end of an arm of said Y-shaped channel members, each corresponding pair of said chains being connected by one of said cross bars, a depending flange surrounding the aperture in the bottom of said shell and forming an open-bottom compartment adapted to be sealed to the top of an electrolytic cell, means operable from outside said compartrnent for actuating detachable means for locking said electrode attaching means onto an electrode, means operable from outside said shell for selectively actuating each corresponding pair of chains by rotation of sprockets by which they are also guided, whereby an electrode locked to said electrode attaching means may be transported to and from storage in said shell through the aperture in the bottom thereof, and a slide gate bearing against inflatable sealing means to seal the aperture in the bottom of shell during storage of an electrode therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,117 Osthofi June 10, 1924 1,786,398 Fink et al. Dec. 23, 1930 2,627,943 Hastings Feb. 10, 1953

Claims (1)

1. ELECTRODE HANDLING AND STAORING APPARATUS COMPRISUNG; A HOLLOW SHELL HAVING AN APERTURE IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, A PAIR OF CORRESPONDING Y-SHAPED GUIDE MEMBERS, SPACED APART IN PARALLEL PLANES AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED INTERIORLY TO THE SIDE OF SAID SHELL, A PAIR OF CROSS BARS WITH THEIR ENDS MOVABLY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AND HAVING ELECTRODE ATTACHING MEANS SUSPENDED THEREFROM, TWO CORRESPONDING PAIRS OF ENDLESS FLEXIBLE INEXTENSIBLE HOISTING AND LOWERING MEANS, EACH FOLLOWING PATH UP THE LEG, OUT AN ARM BACK FROM THE OUTER END OF THE ARM TO THE BOTTOM OF LEG OF SAID Y-SHAPED GUIDE MEMBERS AND BEING GUIDED IN ITS DESCRIBED PATH BY ROTABLE ELEMENTS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOMS OF THE LEGS, AT THE NECK AND AT ENDS OF THE ARMS OF SAID Y-SHAPED MEMBERS, EACH CORRESPONDING PAIR OF SAID FLEXIBLE INEXTENSIBLE HOISTING AND LOWERING MEANS BEING CONNECTED BY ONE OF SAID CROSS BARS, A DEPENDING FLANGE SURROUNDING THE APERTURE IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELL AND FORMING AN OPEN-BOTTOM COMPARTMENT ADAPTED TO BE SEALED TO THE TOP OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL, MEANS OPERABLE FROM OUTSIDE SAID COMPARTMENT FOR ACTUATING DETACHABLE MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID ELECTROATTACHING MEANS ONTO AN ELECTRODE, MEANS OPERABLE FROM OUTSIDE SAID SHELL FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING EACH CORRESPONDING PAIR OF FLEXIBLE INEXTENSIBLE HOISTING AND LOWERING MEANS WHEREBY AN ELECTRODE LOCKED TO SAID ELECTRODE ATTACHING MEANS WHEREBY AN ELECTRODE LOCKED TO SAID ELECTRODE IN SAID SHELL THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE BOTTOMM THEREOF, AND A GATE CLOSEABLE TO SELF THE APERTURE IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELL DURING STORAGE OF AN ELECTRODE THEREIN.

Images