Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Electrical device making
Patent
1997-10-31
1999-09-28
Arbes, Carl J.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Electrical device making
204245, 2042472, 205389, H01R 4300
Patent
active
059568429
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the removal of anode butts or anode remnants and stripping thimbles from anodes such as those used in the electrolytic smelting of aluminiums.
In the electrolytic smelting of metals such as aluminium, the cathode is located in the bottom and lower side regions of the cell and a carbon anode block is suspended or supported by yoke stubs attached to the anode rod. The yoke stubs have cast iron thimbles fitted at their lowermost end and the thimbles are cast within recesses in the carbon anode block. During operation of the smelting cell the carbon anode is consumed requiring regular replacement of the anode block.
To replace the anode block, it is necessary to remove the anode remnants or butts and the cast iron thimbles from the anode yoke stubs. For the economics of the smelting operation, it is highly desirable that the anode butts are removed, crushed and the carbon reclaimed for use in replacement carbon anode blocks.
In the prior art, the thimbles and anode butts are removed by a downwardly acting stripper. Since the main support for the anode rod and anode butt is the overhead transport crane; additional clamping device have been employed to resist the downward forces required to strip the anode butt and thimble from the anode yoke stubs.
In GB 1269809, an anode stripping apparatus is disclosed in which the anode rod is clamped in a clamping device consisting of two hydraulically operated pistons. Hydraulic strippers act vertically downwardly on the anode butt to strip the butt from the stub. Scrappers are provided on the downwardly acting strippers to remove the thimble from the stub.
During the downward operation of the stripper, the anode rod is held in position and supported by the clamping device acting laterally on the rod. Since a large force needs to be applied by the clamping device to resist the downward forces of the stripper, damage to the anode rod and a shortened operating life is inevitable.
The apparatus as disclosed in EP 191,954 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,593 also rely on downwardly acting hydraulic rams to break the anode butt from the anode stub.
Australian Patent No. 565330 and GB 2,108,530 relate to holding device for an anode stub to secure the anode in position during cleaning of the anode.
In other prior art methods, the steps of anode block removal and thimble stripping have been carried out in separate operations, on separate apparatus and at separate locations thereby increasing the space required for the operations and the capital cost of equipment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for the removal of the anode butt and thimble from the anode yoke stab without some of the problems of the prior art.
The invention provides an apparatus for breaking the anode butt and stripping the thimbles from the stubs of an anode including a support frame, a fixed plate assembly substantially secured to said support frame, and a ram assembly extendible towards said fixed plate assembly for contacting and breaking the anode butt and stripping the thimbles, said fixed plate assembly comprising a substantially rigid fixed plate and having recesses to receive the anode stubs of said anode, said thimbles abutting said fixed plate assembly during the extension of said ram assembly to contact and break said anode butt.
By securing the substantially rigid fixed plate to the support frame in line with the ram assembly, the fixed plate becomes the load bearing surface and, substantially all of the loads applied by said ram assembly are transferred to the fixed plate and support frame during the breaking and stripping operation.
The ram assembly may comprise an hydraulic ram with stripping means to protrude into the anode butt during the movement of the hydraulic ram and thereby break the anode butt. The stripping means is preferably also able to strip the thimbles from the yoke stub after the bulk of the anode butt has been removed from the thimb
REFERENCES:
patent: 4119505 (1978-10-01), Baillot et al.
patent: 4510033 (1985-04-01), Martin et al.
patent: 4514873 (1985-05-01), Golla
patent: 4701249 (1987-10-01), Wisniewski et al.
Arbes Carl J.
Comalco Aluminium Limited
LandOfFree
Butt and thimble press does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Butt and thimble press, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Butt and thimble press will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-690940