Edge protector strips for electrolytic-cell electrodes

Details Edge protector strips for electrolytic-cell electrodes Edge protector strips for electrolytic-cell electrodes

1999-02-05

2001-02-27

Bell, Bruce F. (Department: 1741)

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy

Apparatus

Electrolytic

C204S279000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06193862

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to improvements to edge strip protection for electrode plates used electrolytic-cells typically for the production of non-ferrous metals by deposition thereon.
To simplify removal of deposited metal from the electrode plate after the deposition process, it is desirable to protect the side and bottom edges of the plate with edge strip protectors. The edge strip protectors may be plastics material strip mouldings or wax coatings or a combination of both to prevent the build up of deposited metal on the edge portions of the electrode plate. This ultimately assists with removal of the deposited metal from the electrode plates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,928 discloses an edge strip protector configuration of the above-mentioned type. This specification illustrates a U-shaped channel section adapted to fit generally around the edge zone of the electrode plate to be protected, where the U-section is made from a relatively rigid plastics material and the tip or free edges of the arms of the U-section are made from a more resilient plastics material that is co-extruded with the rigid plastics material to form the desired channel section. The resilient lips of the channel section are intended to provide a seal on the electrode plate whereby the edge zones of the plate will not have metal deposited thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,801 also discloses a similar edge strip protector having a U-shaped configuration with spaced arms of relatively rigid plastics material joined by a hinge portion of more resilient plastics material. Free ends of the spaced arms also carry seal pads of relatively resilient material such that the rigid plastics material and the resilient plastic material hinge and seal pads are co-extruded in a single manufacturing stage. The seal pads may be urged towards one another in use against an electrode plate by a suitable separate wedging member to provide an increased sealing force against the electrode past edge zones.
While the aforementioned arrangements are used and work satisfactorily for a period of time, it has been found that the resilient lips or sealing pads will quickly harden upon exposure to electrolyte solution and heat, and consequently may delaminate from the rigid plastics material of the protector strips. Moreover, a co-extrusion process of production does have certain disadvantages in that the plastics material used for the resilient portions must be compatible or have similar properties to that of the more rigid portions of the protector strip. This severely limits the range of materials that can be employed in the co-extrusion process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to provide a novel electrode plate edge zone protector strip which will overcome or minimise at least some of the aforementioned difficulties with the prior art arrangements.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a protector strip for an edge zone of an electrode plate, said protector strip including a first channel shaped member of relatively resilient material adapted, in use, to engage over the edge zone of the electrode plate, and a second channel shaped member of relatively more rigid material separate to said first channel shaped member adapted, in use to engage over the first channel shaped member to press at least a portion of said first channel shaped member into sealing engagement with the edge zone of the electrode plate.
Preferably said first channel shaped member has a pair of generally parallel legs and a base web joining said legs at one end. At or adjacent each free end of said legs is an inwardly directed projection or thickening adapted in use to provide a primary seal against the edge zone of the electrode plate. Conveniently, at or adjacent each said free end of said legs is a flange portion extending outwardly from the legs or oppositely to said inwardly directed projection or thickening. Preferably the second channel shaped member includes an inner groove formation extending there along, said groove formation having a depth equal to or greater than the depth of the first channel shaped member. Conveniently when the first channel shaped member is fully inserted into the groove formation of the second channel shaped member, a space exists between the base wall of the first channel shaped member and a base surface of the groove formation in the second channel shaped member.
In a further preferred arrangement, the second channel shaped members may be formed from channel shaped sections connected by joint means, the joint means enabling a said channel shaped section to be selectively removed laterally from an assembly of a plurality of such sections but preventing substantial movement relative to adjacent said sections longitudinally of the protector strip.
By providing an arrangement as aforesaid, the present invention is not reliant upon a chemical bond between rigid and resilient components thereby eliminating the risk of delamination while maintaining an effective and long term seal of the edge zone of the electrode plate. Moreover, since co-extrusion is not required, and more particularly at least the outer or second channel shaped member sections can be produced by injection moulding techniques, it is possible to use a much larger and more effective range of thermoplastic and thermoset materials for the component parts of the edge protector strip.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protector strip for an edge zone of an electrode plate, said protector strip being formed by modular sections adapted to be successively joined by a joint arrangement, each said modular section having a channel shaped formation defining an inner groove adapted in use to fit over the edge zone of the electrode plate, said joint arrangement permitting one or more of said modular sections to be removed and replaced without needing to replace all of the protector strip. Such an arrangement has the significant advantage that should localised mechanical damage occur to the protector strip, only the damaged portion can be removed and replaced.
Conveniently the joint arrangement is integrally formed with the modular sections and prevents longitudinal movement between adjacent said modular sections but allows one or more said modular sections to be moved laterally from the protector strip. Preferably the joint arrangement comprises a male-female interlock.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4406769 (1983-09-01), Berger

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