US3319899A - Crust breaking device for electrolysis furnaces - Google Patents

Crust breaking device for electrolysis furnaces Download PDF

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Publication number
US3319899A
US3319899A US348520A US34852064A US3319899A US 3319899 A US3319899 A US 3319899A US 348520 A US348520 A US 348520A US 34852064 A US34852064 A US 34852064A US 3319899 A US3319899 A US 3319899A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
crust
arm
head
furnace
movement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US348520A
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English (en)
Inventor
Strom Johan Nikolai
Heggstad Gudmund
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc
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Alcan Aluminum Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alcan Aluminum Ltd filed Critical Alcan Aluminum Ltd
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Publication of US3319899A publication Critical patent/US3319899A/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
    • C25C3/14—Devices for feeding or crust breaking

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to means for the breaking of the crust which is formed on the top surface of the electrolyte bath during the operation of electrolytic furnaces, for example aluminum extraction furnaces, for the purpose of enabling the supply to the bath of such substances, in particular aluminum oxide, as are required for the operation of the furnaces.
  • the present invention relates to a crust breaking device which is to operate with the least possible manual attendance and which will cause a minimum of noise and dust formation.
  • this aim is achieved by arranging that the device is adapted for continuous movement along a row of furnaces during the crust breaking and comprises an arm which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the row and is pivotally mounted, at the end :remote from the furnaces, about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the length of the row of furnaces, and a head which is situated at the free end of the pivotable arm and is adapted to act upon the furnace crust during the movement of the device.
  • the crust is not broken by any crow bar or chisel action, such as in the case of the conventional crust breakers, but the crust is forced downwardly by the head of the pivotable arm which subject the crust to repeated blows, or may roll on the same.
  • the device is such that the arm, with its head, is given a rhythmically oscillating motion in a vertical plane, so that the head exercises an impact action, as a sledge, against the crust.
  • the head is formed as a wheel, it may be provided with projections spaced along the circumference and may also be caused to perform a positive turning movement about the axis of the pivotable arm. 7
  • the device is also such that the head may roll on the crust.
  • the weight of the head and the arm may be suflicient to develop a suflicient pressure to break down the crust, but it may also be convenient to make provision that the arm with the head is subjeoted to a positive downward pressure for the purpose of securing a sufiicient breaking force of the head against the crust.
  • the pivotable arm For the purpose of taking into consideration a variable hardness of the crust, i.e. a variable resistance met by the head, it is convenient to connect the pivotable arm with its activating means through a spring device.
  • This spring device conveniently, when the head is impacting the crust, i.e. when the arm is exercising a rhythmic oscillating movement, is so made that the device provides softer spring action during upwardly directed arm movements than during downward-1y directed movements, to the end that sharp downwardly directed blows, but less abrupt upward movements, are obtained.
  • the spring action of the arm may also be supplemented with anelastic support in the direction of progression of the device, in order that the arm is not subjected to horizontal breaking forces.
  • the wheel formed head of the pivotr. 3,319,399 Ce Patented May 16, 1967 able arm may roll on and in the crust during its breaking activity. For this reason, the arm is adapted to perform a free or a positive rotational movement about its own axis.
  • the entire device is preferably adapted for automatic operation and, for this purpose, is provided with electrical or other contacts which, in cooperation with stationary contacts, cause starting and stopping of the various movements, such as when the device is passing from one furnace to the next during its movement along the row of furnaces or when changing over from impacting to rolling.
  • the whole crust breaking device is carried by a framework 1, which may be so constructed as to have one leg to either side of ta row of the furnaces 5.
  • the framework 1 is mounted on wheeled trucks 2 driven by means of an electric motor 3, so that the device may be run in both directions along the row.
  • the framework is provided with a current collector (not shown) which in cooperation with conductors in the furnace building provides for current supply to the various drives of the device.
  • An arm 7 is mounted in the frame 1 and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the row of electrolytic furnaces, and the arm 7 is, at its free end, provided with a head 8 in the form of a wheel the circumferential face of which is suitably formed for the breaking of the furnace crust.
  • the head may be provided with ribs, as shown.
  • the arm 7 is pivotably mounted in the frame 1 by means of a universal connection 9, so that the arm may pivot in a vertical plane and, at the same time, rotate about its own axis.
  • the arm 7 is, through a rod system 10, 11, 15, connected with a driving device 12, the rod 11 being conveniently and as shown in the form of a leaf spring unit.
  • the device 12 may be of such a type as to apply a continuous though variable pressure on the arm 7, whereby the head 8 will force the crust downwardly while rolling forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the row of furnaces.
  • the device 12 is in the form of a hydraulic motor which may provide a cont nuous downward pressure or may cause the rod 10 to perform a reciprocal vertical movement, 50 that the arm 7 will perform a rhythmic oscillating movement in a vertical plane and thereby cause the head 8 to deliver sledge blows against the crust for the purpose of breaking the same downwardly into the furnace bath.
  • the leaf spring unit 11 is constituted by a plurality of superimposed leaf springs, so dimensioned that the arm 7 is not subjected to any appreciable resistance when moving upwardly, but is provided with an enhanced force in its downwardly directed movement, the tension of the leaf springs being utilized during the downward movement to provide an additional force in the blow.
  • the lower leaf springs are stiffer and consequently accommodate the pressure from the head 8 when the same is easily penetrating the crust.
  • the upper springs yield so that the rod 10 may accompany the motor 12 during its further rotation along the lower half of the crank circle.
  • the drawing also indicates a silo 4 mounted in the frame 1 to receive oxide or other material which is to be supplied to the furnace through the opening in the crust broken by means of the head 8.
  • the silo 4 ends in a valve or sluice 13 provided with a feed tube 14 extending to the surface of the bath.
  • the device of the invention functions in the following manner:
  • the initial position of the device is at the end of a row of furnaces.
  • an electric switch is manually closed, the device starts to advance towards the first furnace of the row.
  • the arm 7 with the head 8 is then at rest in a raised position.
  • a contact carried by the frame 1 engages a corresponding contact mounted on the furnace closes the circuit for the drive of the hydraulic motor 12 and also actuates a delay device for the temporary stopping of the drive motor 3.
  • the delay device is such that the motor 3 may be stopped instantaneously, but starts after a short interval.
  • the head 8 is now forced downwardly against the crust under the influence of the motor 12 and performs a short series of sharp blows to the crust.
  • the motor 3 is stopped so that the device does not move as a whole.
  • the arm 7 adopts a low position in which it actuates a contact 21 for the purpose of stopping the motor 12 with the crank in its lowermost position.
  • the motor 3 is started and moves the whole device forwardly along the furnace, at the same time as the head 8 is forced against the crust while rolling along the same. If the crust is not broken down, by such rolling, i.e.
  • the rhythmic blow activity is continued during the advance of the device until the contact 21 is closed.
  • the head 8 remains in the lower position while the device advances so that the crust is rolled down as long as it is relatively soft. If the crust becomes harder, the head 8 will climb and the spring 11 will increase the pressure of the head against the crust. If the crust should be so hard that the head 8 climbs to the top surface of the same, the contact 21 is opened and the motor 12 re-started and causes the head 8 to deliver sledge blows on the crust, whereupon the cycle is repeated as described above.
  • the charging of oxide is effected when a contact in the device cooperates with a fixed contact mounted on the furnace, whereby the feed sluice 13 is activated and passes oxide from the silo 4, through the tube 14 into the opening made by the head 8 in the crust of the bath.
  • the contacts of the sluice 13 and the motor 12 are made interdependent, so that the sluice is not open while the head is acting as a sledge, i.e. until an opening is formed.
  • the sluice 13 is closed as the device reaches the end of each furnace. In this manner the device is advanced from one furnace to the next along the Whole row, whereupon the device may be moved over to a second furnace row.
  • the arm 7 When the head 8 is fixed, i.e. not rolling, the arm 7 performs a combined movement, similar to that of an oar during rowing. When the head hits the crust but does not move along the same, while the entire device is advanced along the furnace, the arm 7 is subjected to a horizontal pivotal movement relative to the device as a whole. This horizontal movement is accommodated by a pressure spring mounted to either side of the arm, so that the arm is straightened each time the head is raised from the crust.
  • the device may be adapted for manual control, instead of being provided with the contacts referred to above, and it may also be provided with various instruments and meters for the supervision of the operation.
  • a crust ibreaking device for use with electrolysis furnaces, including means for producing continuous movement of the device alongside the furnace during the crust breaking and comprising an arm which extends transversely to the direction of said movement and is pivoted at the end remote from the furnace for movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the said direction, and a head mounted at the free end of the pivoted arm and adapted to act upon the furnace crust during the movement of the device.
  • a device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for causing the pivoted arm to perform a rhythmic oscillating movement in a vertical plane.
  • a device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for applying a vertically directed pressure to the pivoted arm.
  • a device as claimed in claim 1 comprising spring means associated with the pivoted arm and adapted to exercise a stronger resistance to upwardly than to downwardly directed movements of the arm.
  • a device as claimed in claim 1, comprising drive means adapted to rotate the pivoted arm about its longitudinal axis.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Vertical, Hearth, Or Arc Furnaces (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US348520A 1963-03-04 1964-03-02 Crust breaking device for electrolysis furnaces Expired - Lifetime US3319899A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO14775663 1963-03-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3319899A true US3319899A (en) 1967-05-16

Family

ID=19908762

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US348520A Expired - Lifetime US3319899A (en) 1963-03-04 1964-03-02 Crust breaking device for electrolysis furnaces

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3319899A (fr)
AT (1) AT268708B (fr)
CH (1) CH402423A (fr)
DE (1) DE1235001B (fr)
FR (1) FR1383632A (fr)
GB (1) GB1017163A (fr)
NL (1) NL6402147A (fr)
SE (1) SE314524B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101298683B (zh) * 2008-04-30 2011-09-07 福建省南平铝业有限公司 一种电解槽结构

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE757942A (fr) * 1969-10-24 1971-04-01 Alusuisse Machine mobile pour le piquage des croutes de cuves d'electrolyse
NO135907C (fr) * 1975-08-27 1977-06-22 Ardal Og Sunndal Verk
DE2943292A1 (de) * 1979-09-10 1981-03-19 Schweizerische Aluminium AG, 3965 Chippis Meissel fuer eine einschlagvorrichtung
NO163142C (no) * 1988-01-12 1990-04-18 Norsk Hydro As Fremgangsmaate og anordning ved utskiftning av anoder.
FR2867487B1 (fr) * 2004-03-11 2006-04-07 Ecl Dispositif de fixation d'une goulotte a une tremie d'alimentation en produits pulverulents d'une cellule d'electrolyse

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1888032A (en) * 1930-05-05 1932-11-15 Fischer Johann Georg Means for emptying barrels
US1921503A (en) * 1928-09-22 1933-08-08 John M Calderwood Drilling apparatus
US2731892A (en) * 1956-01-24 simmonds
US2732197A (en) * 1956-01-24 cornett
US2803445A (en) * 1952-09-11 1957-08-20 Orville J Borrowdale Freely swinging rotating antibridging device for bulk material
US3030713A (en) * 1958-10-02 1962-04-24 Eimco Corp Material handling machine
US3038160A (en) * 1959-07-14 1962-06-12 Critchley Thomas Mechanical hammers for portable nailing machines

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL126517C (fr) * 1959-09-03

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2731892A (en) * 1956-01-24 simmonds
US2732197A (en) * 1956-01-24 cornett
US1921503A (en) * 1928-09-22 1933-08-08 John M Calderwood Drilling apparatus
US1888032A (en) * 1930-05-05 1932-11-15 Fischer Johann Georg Means for emptying barrels
US2803445A (en) * 1952-09-11 1957-08-20 Orville J Borrowdale Freely swinging rotating antibridging device for bulk material
US3030713A (en) * 1958-10-02 1962-04-24 Eimco Corp Material handling machine
US3038160A (en) * 1959-07-14 1962-06-12 Critchley Thomas Mechanical hammers for portable nailing machines

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101298683B (zh) * 2008-04-30 2011-09-07 福建省南平铝业有限公司 一种电解槽结构

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT268708B (de) 1969-02-25
DE1235001B (de) 1967-02-23
FR1383632A (fr) 1964-12-24
NL6402147A (fr) 1964-09-07
GB1017163A (en) 1966-01-19
CH402423A (fr) 1965-11-15
SE314524B (fr) 1969-09-08

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