GB2108530A

GB2108530A - Anode bar cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2108530A
Application number: GB08229196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heribert Loweg; Paul Wisniewski; Franz Golla; Rolf Trott
Original assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Current assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Priority date: 1981-10-29
Filing date: 1982-10-13
Publication date: 1983-05-18
Also published as: CH650533A5; GB2108530B; DE3142849C2; FR2515692A1; AU552291B2; JPS5881987A; AU8950082A; DE3142849A1; FR2515692B1

Abstract

Anode bar cleaning apparatus comprises a pair of rotatable cleaning tools 29 which can be applied against the opposite sides of an anode bar 37. The cleaning tools may be abrasive wheels or metal brushes. The cleaning tools 29 are suspended from a tool carrier 25 by means of respective arms 28. A hydraulic or pneumatic ram 32 connects the two arms 28, so that the cleaning tools 29 can be applied with a predetermined force against the anode bar 37. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anode bar cleaning apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning anode bars of the type used to carry the anode blocks used in electrolytic smelting apparatus, particularly aluminium smelting baths.

The carbon anodes used in aluminium smelting baths are arranged on anode bars which are provided with projections (nipples) at their lower ends for the retention of the anode blocks. Since the carbon anodes are consumed in operation, it is necessary to removed residual anode material from the anode bars and their projections at specific time intervals. Moreover, for reasons of economy, the anode bars (which are made of aluminium) are reprocessed. During this reprocessing, the soiled contact surfaces of the anode bars are ground down or brushed off.

This can take place with the aid of rotatable cleaning tools such as abrasive wheels or metal brushes.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved form of apparatus for cleaning the contact surfaces of such anode bars.

The present invention provides apparatus for cleaning anode bars of the type used to carry the anode blocks used in electrolytic apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, two cleaning tools and means for applying the cleaning tools against the opposite sides of an anode bar.

Advantageously, each of the cleaning tools is a rotatable abrasive wheel or a rotatable metal brush.

Using this cleaning apparatus, an aluminium anode bar of rectangular cross-section, can be cleaned simultaneously on opposite sides. The surfaces of the anode bar that are cleaned are the contact surfaces that is to say the surfaces to which the electric current is supplied, during electrolysis, by means of contact bars. Thus, it is ensured that the contact surfaces of the anode bar cannot be confused with the other surfaces of the anode bar when the reprocessed anode bar is provided with a new anode block and re-installed in the electrolytic apparatus. Moreover, the reprocessed anode bars can be used with contact bars from either side or from both sides.

Advantageously, the cleaning tools are supported by a tool carrier. Preferably, each of the cleaning tools is arranged on a respective arm, the arms being suspended from the tool carrier by respective pivot joints, the axes of the pivot joints extending, in use, transversely of the axis of the anode bar to be cleaned.

This permits the rotatable cleaning tools to be applied to the anode bar surfaces with the same force.

In a preferred embodiment, said means is constituted by a tool applicator device which connects the arms. Preferably, the tool applicator device is a hydraulic or pneumatic ram.

This ensures that the two cleaning tools can be held against the opposite surfaces of the anode bar with the same force, even when the diameters of the rotatable cleaning tools are reduced owing to wear.

Conveniently, the tool carrier is constituted by a slide which is movable transversely of the axis of the anode bar. The slide enables the cleaning tools to be brought from a rest position, in which easy tool replacement is possible, into a working position, in which the cleaning tools bear against the opposite surfaces of the anode bar. In order that the cleaning tools may be guided along the anode bar, the tool carrier may be arranged on a slide member which is movable in the direction of the axis of the anode bar. Preferably, the slide member is guided on two vertical posts, the vertical posts forming part of the frame of the cleaning apparatus. Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises a guide extending transversely between the posts, the slide being slidably mounted on the guide.

The cleaning apparatus expediently forms one of several processing stations of an anode preparation plant. A conveyor device may be provided for transporting the anode bars from station to station. The conveyor device may be, for example, a chain conveyor which conveys the anode bars in a suspended position.

Advantageously, the cleaning apparatus further comprises positioning devices for aligning the anode bar with respect to the cleaning tools, the positioning devices being mounted on the frame. In this case, the conveyor device may be provided with means for suspending the anode bar in an aligned position with the cleaning tools, the anode bar being held in this position by the positioning devices.

It is advisable to provide each of the cleaning tools with a respective suction hood.

Moreover, the cleaning apparatus may further comprise vibration dampers associated with the cleaning tools. Preferably, the vibration dampers are mutually-crossing damping rams acting on the arms. These vibration dampers guarantee smooth running of the cleaning tools.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning apparatus further comprises a regulator device which keeps the circumferential speed of the rotatable cleaning tools constant irrespective of their variation of diameter caused by wear.

Apparatus for cleaning anode bars, and constructed in accordance with the invention, will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end elevation of the cleaning apparatus; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cleaning apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the cleaning apparatus illustrated has a machine frame 11 standing on a floor 1 0. The frame 11 has two upwardly-extending vertical posts 1 2 which are provided with vertical guides 1 3 for a vertically-movable slide 14. The slide 14 has two vertical beams 1 5 and 1 6 which are interconnected by two cross beams 1 7 and 1 8. Each of the beams 1 5 and 1 6 is slidably guided on a respective guide 1 3. A lifting device 20 is positioned between the posts 1 2 in the lower region of the machine frame 11, the lifting device being mounted, by a pivot joint 21, on a cross beam 19.The lifting device 20 has a telescopically-extensible part which is attached, by a joint 22, to the lower cross beam 18. The lifting device 20 is a spindle driven by a motor 23. Alternatively, the lifting device 20 may be a hydraulic or pneumatic ram. The lifting device 20 is used to raise and lower the slide 1 4 relative to the machine frame 11, the slide being guided on the guides 1 3 attached to the two posts 1 2.

A transverse guide is provided on the upper beam 1 7 of the slide 14, the transverse guide consisting of two parallel guide rails 24. A horizontally-movable slide 25 is slidably guided on the guide rails 24. The slide 25 is, therefore, movable transversely in the horizontal direction between the two posts 1 2. The transverse movement of the slide 25 is controlled by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic ram 26, which is pivotally interposed between the cross beam 1 7 and the slide 25.

Two pendulum arms 28 are pivotally attached, by means of pivot joints 27, to the under side of the slide 25, each of the two pendulum arms carrying a cleaning tool 29 at its lower (free) end. Each of the cleaning tools 29 is an abrasive wheel or a metal brush.

Each of the cleaning tools 29 is rotatable about a horizontal axis which is parallel to the axes of the pivot joints 27. A respective suction hood 30 is provided on each pendulum arm 28, each of the suction hoods partially enclosing the cleaning tool 29 attached to that arm. Each suction hood 30 is connected to a sub-atmospheric pressure source via a respective hose. The suction hoods 30 are effective to suck away the dirt produced during the cleaning operation. The two pendulum arms 28 are connected, beneath the axes of rotation of the cleaning tools 29, by means of a tool applicator device 31. This device 31 is a hydraulic or pneumatic ram whose cylinder 32 is attached, by a pivot joint 33, to one pendulum arm 28, and whose piston rod 34 is attached, by a pivot joint 35, to the other pendulum arm 28.

A pair of crossed damping devices 36 are pivotally interposed between the two pendulum arms 28 and the slide 25. The damping devices 36 may be hydraulic or pneumatic rams, and act to damp the vibrations occurring during the cleaning operation.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an anode bar 37 positioned in the cleaning apparatus, and situated in the processing position. As is usual, the anode bar 37 is made of aluminium, and has a rectangular section. Six metal projections (or nipples) are arranged on the lower end of the anode bar 37, an anode block (not shown) being secured to these projections after the anode bar has been reprocessed. The anode bar 37 is suspended in the position illustrated from, for example, a transport device (not shown) which can be used to introduce the anode bar into the cleaning apparatus, and to remove the anode bar after reprocessing. Positioning devices 39 are provided for orientating the anode bar 37 in the processing position, the positioning devices being located in the central region of the frame 11.

Each of the positioning devices 39 has a pivotally-mounted lever 40 which can be pressed against one of the projections 38 by means of an adjusting screw 41. In this way, the levers 40 orientate the anode bar 37 in the working position, and support it at the lower end in the lateral direction.

After the anode bar 37 has been introduced into the cleaning apparatus and orientated therein, the slide 25 is driven along the transverse guide rails 24 into the processing position. As the slide 25 is driven transversely, the tools 29 (which hang down from the side) are pivoted away from one another by extending the ram 32. When the anode bar 37 is correctly positioned, the ram 32 is retracted so that the tools 29 are pivoted towards one another and are pressed against the two opposite sides of the anode bar 37. The rotatable cleaning tools 29 are pressed against said surfaces of the anode bar with a predetermined pressure which is proportional to the pressure loading of the ram 32. The cleaning tools 29 are then rotated to clean said anode bar surfaces. During the cleaning work, the slide 1 4 is driven at a steady speed along the length of the anode bar 37, so that the anode bar is ground away (or brushed and smoothed) on its two opposite sides over its whole length by the rotating tools 29. The ram 32, which is under a specific pressure loading, presses the rotating tools 29 with constant force against the anode bar surfaces to be cleaned, irrespective of any reduction in the diameters of the tools resuiting from wear. As soon as the cleaning process is terminated, the cleaning tools 29 are moved away from the anode bar 37 by extending the ram 32, whereupon the slide 25 (together with the cleaning tools) is driven back into the rest position by the ram 26.

Then, the cleaned anode bar 37 can be removed from the cleaning apparatus by means of the above-mentioned transport device.

It will be apparent that the applicator device 31 could be constituted by several rams 32, or by other devices, such as a powered spindle or spindles. The apparatus described above could also be provided with means for regulating the speed of rotation of the tools 29. Such means would be designed so that the cicumferential speed of the tools 29 is kept constant as their diameters are reduced as a result of wear.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning anode bars of the type used to carry the anode blocks used in electrolytic apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, two cleaning tools and means for applying the cleaning tools against the opposite sides of an anode bar.

2. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cleaning tools is a rotatable abrasive wheel.

3. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cleaning tools is a rotatable metal brush.

4. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning tools are supported by a tool carrier.

5. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the cleaning tools is arranged on a respective arm, the arms being suspended from the tool carrier by respective pivot joints, the axes of the pivot joints extending, in- use, transversely of the axis of the anode bar to be cleaned.

6. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means is constituted by a tool applicator device which connects the arms.

7. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tool applicator device is a hydraulic or pneumatic ram.

8. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the tool carrier is constituted by a slide which is movable transversely of the axis of the anode bar.

9. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a respective suction hood is associated with each other of the cleaning tools.

10. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising vibration dampers associated with the cleaning tools.

11. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 10 when appendant to claim 5, wherein the vibration dampers are mutually-crossing damping rams acting on the arms.

12. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, or in any one of claims 5 to 11 when appendant to claim 4, wherein the tool carrier is arranged on a slide member which is movable in the direction of the axis of the anode bar.

1 3. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the slide member is guided on two vertical posts, the vertical posts forming part of the frame of the cleaning apparatus.

14. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a guide extending transversely between the posts, the slide being slidably mounted on the guide.

1 5. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising positioning devices for aligning the anode bar with respect to the cleaning tools, the positioning devices being mounted on the frame:

16. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for suspending the anode bar in an aligned position with the cleaning tools, the anode bar being held in this position by the positioning devices.

1 7. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, or in any one of claims 4 to 1 5 when appendant to either claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising a regulator device which keeps the circumferential speed of the rotatable cleaning tools constant irrespective of their variation of diameter caused by wear.

18. Cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.