Preheating connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015114833-A1
Application number	US-201314391916-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2013
Priority date	Apr 24, 2012
Publication date	Apr 30, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

This preheating connector for electrically connecting an anode stern to an anode frame of an electrolytic cell during the warm-up phase of the electrolytic cell, includes means of fixing to the anode frame, and bearing means designed to exert pressure on the anode stem in order to keep it pressed up against the anode frame, the fixing means and bearing means being configured and arranged so as to add on the preheating connector onto a so-called permanent connector for electrical and mechanical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame during the continuous operating mode of the cell.

First claim

1 . Preheating connector for electrically connecting an anode stem to an anode frame of an electrolytic cell during the warm-up phase of the electrolytic cell, characterized in that the preheating connector includes means of fixing to the anode frame, and bearing means designed to exert pressure on the anode stem in order to keep the anode stem pressed up against the anode frame, the fixing means and bearing means being configured and arranged so as to add on the preheating connector onto a permanent connector for electrical and mechanical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame during a continuous operating mode of the cell.

2 . Preheating connector according to claim 1 , characterized in that the fixing means and bearing means are configured and arranged to superpose the preheating connector onto the permanent connector.

3 . Preheating connector according to claim 1 , characterized in that the fixing means include a hook.

4 . Preheating connector according to claim 1 , characterized in that the bearing means include two levers hinged about an axle and means for connecting and tightening levers, each lever supporting at least one bearing surface designed to bear against the anode stem.

5 . Preheating connector according to claim 4 , characterized in that each bearing surface is a wall of a rotary roller.

6 . Preheating connector according to claim 4 , characterized in that the levers each include two flanges spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other by at least one crosspiece.

7 . Preheating connector according to claim 6 , characterized in that the at least one crosspiece support the at least one bearing surface.

8 . Preheating connector according to claim 4 , characterized in that the connecting and tightening means of the levers include two jaws each designed to be assembled to one of the levers and a threaded rod connecting the two jaws.

9 . Preheating connector according to claim 8 , characterized in that the jaws each include two grooves and the levers each include two end hooks, the end hooks ( 34 ) and grooves of the jaws working in tandem to assemble the jaws to the levers.

10 . Preheating connector according to claim 4 , characterized in that the preheating connector includes means for visual identification of the two levers.

11 . Preheating connector according to claim 6 , characterized in that at least one of the flanges includes at least one perforation.

12 . Electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum by electrolysis, comprising an anode stem and an anode frame, characterized in that the electrolytic cell simultaneously includes a permanent connector designed for electrical and mechanical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame during continuous operating mode and a preheating connector for electrical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame during preheating of the electrolytic cell.

13 . Electrolytic cell according to claim 12 , characterized in that the preheating connector is superposed onto the permanent connector.

14 . Electrolytic cell according to claim 12 , characterized in that the permanent connector includes an axle supported by the anode frame and in that the preheating connector is fixed to the axle of the permanent connector.

15 . Electrolytic cell according to claim 12 , characterized in that an electrically insulating strip is interposed between a bearing surface of the preheating connector and the anode stem.

16 . Method for electrically connecting an anode stem to an anode frame of an electrolytic cell to preheat the electrolytic cell, characterized in that the method comprises fitting a preheating connector for electrical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame during the preheating phase of the electrolytic cell, in addition to a permanent connector for electrical and mechanical connection of the anode stem to the anode frame in a continuous operating mode.

17 . Method according to claim 16 , characterized in that fitting the preheating connector is preceded by fitting an electrically insulating strip against the anode stem.

18 . Method according to claim 16 , characterized in that fitting the preheating connector includes the superposition of the preheating connector onto the permanent connector.

19 . Method according to claim 16 , characterized in that fitting the preheating connector includes:
fixing a first lever to an axle of the permanent connector, and a second lever to the axle of the permanent connector, assembling a first jaw onto the first lever and a second jaw onto the second lever, and tightening the first lever and the second lever by rotating a threaded rod connecting the first jaw and the second jaw.

20 . Method according to claim 19 , characterized in that fitting the preheating connector includes a prior step of identifying the first lever via visual identification means.

Assignees

• Rio Tinto Alcan Int Ltd

Inventors

• Bon Pierre

Classifications

• B25B5/103 Primary

  with a hinge · CPC title

• H01R43/26

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• C25C3/06

  of aluminium · CPC title

• C25C7/025

  used in cells for the electrolysis of melts · CPC title

• C25C3/12 Primary

  Anodes · CPC title