AU659288B2 - Apparatus or plant for processing anode assembly components - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S F Ref: 234600 Name and Address of Applicant;

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Westfalia Becorit Industrietechnik GmbH Industriestrasse 1 D-4670 Lunen

GERMANY

0 04 o1"o D O o a a D ooJ o ?6 8 «a4 Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Paul Wisniewski, Fritz Borgschulte, Ulrich Bieber and Urich Pizzera Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Apparatus or Plant for Processing Anode Assembly Components Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845/3 I I i i- 1.2

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1 APPARATUS OR PLANT FOR PROCESSING ANODE ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS The present invention relates to apparatus or plant for processing components used in forming anode assemblies for use in electrolytic smelting, such as aluminium smelting. It is usual to form such anode assemblies from rectangular carbon blocks joined to a metallic anode connector or holder. The holder is usually composed of a rod with a carrier or end piece at lo one end from which a number of nipples project. These nipples are then placed into holes in the anode blocks and a malt of a suitable metal is poured into the holes to bond the nipples therein. In mass production plant the anode connectors and the anode blocks are conveyed in succession through a working station whereat the nipples of the anode connectors are introduced into the block holes and the melt is poured. It is desirable to connect each anode connector and its associated block or blocks together in such a way that the zrd of the o0 connector is substantially perpendicular to the block and particularly the underside of the block with minimal tolerance. If this is not the case there is a variation in the arc struck during use which causes uneven i ~i~II- 2 consumption of the anode blocks. Hitherto it has not been easy to avoid some deviation in the upstanding position of the anode rod relative to the underside of the anode block or blocks with which it is connected.

main difficulty is caused by holes of different depth in the anode blocks.

US Patent specification 4480381 describes an arrangement for joining anode blocks to anode connectors wherein the anode connectors are suspended and conveyed \oalong over a lifting platform which raises anode blocks up to the nipples of the connectors. The connectors are orientated with the aid of funnel-like centering pieces o* which are engaged in the holes in the anode blocks before the anode block and the connector are moved together.

5'The centering pieces ensure the nipples are guided into the holes as is desired. This known arrangement is useful but does not ensure that the rod of the connector is precisely perpendicular to the underside of the anode block. It is an object of the present invention to 0 provide an improvements in the known arrangements and plant.

J In one aspect the invention provides a device for aligning and locating a suspended anode connector and one or more anode blocks therebeneath, the anode connector having a rod with an end piece with projections and the or each anode block having holes for receiving the projections; said device comprising a pair of tong-like implements disposed one above another, a common carrier for supporting the implements, the carrier being guided for movement in a direction in which the anode connectors are transported in succession, each implement comprising a pair of openable and closable jaws means for actuating the jaws of the implements in unison to cause the jaws to engage on the rod of the anode connector.

By grasping the rod at two different height locations with the jaws operating in unison a reasonably accurate positioning of the rod can take place so that the nipples or projections of the anode connector can be bonded into the holes in the anode block with the rod substantially perpendicular to the underside of the anode block within permissible tolerances.

It may be sufficient to have the implements or tongs engage on faces of the rods of the anode connectors which are transverse to the conveying direction especially if the rods have been passed through a guide which constrains the rods within a small path of deviation perpendicular Lo the conveying direction.

However, if desired the device can be configured also to align and position the rods in the sense transverse to the conveying direction. One way of achieving this is to have additional pivotal levers on the jaws which act on 0 40

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ci 4 04i Ic. 0 4 4 4 4 c i cc C 4 c ct 4 the faces of the rods parallel to the conveying direction.

The implements can be supported by a common carrier which is suspended from a guideway for movement the direction of conveying of the anode connectors.

Preferably all the jaws are moved in unison by a common actuator, say a piston and cylinder unit, operating on Sthe jaws via toggle levers. It is useful to have each pair of superimposed jaws of the upper and lower 7 10 implements mounted on a common pivot axis. This axis can be defined by a pivot shaft, fixed to the jaws and rotatably mounted with bearings on the carrier.

The device for alignment of the anode rods can be located at a working station of a plant where the anode connectors are aligned and then united with the anode blocks. Thus, after alignment with the device, the anode connector and the anode block or blocks therebeneath can be bought together by raising the block or blocks or by lowering the connector to bring the nipples or projections of the latter into blind holes in the anode block. A molten metal is then poured into the holes to cast the projections in place and unite the connector with the block or blocks.

The greater the spacing between the implements of the device the greater the accuracy in aligning the rods and a perfectly acceptable arrangement has the spacing in the range one-third to one-half of the length of the rod between the end piece and the suspended end.

It is desirable to have the carrier mounted in a floating manner on the guide extending in the conveying direction so the carrier can automatically adjust the device as the jaws close to engage on the rod of an anode connector. The free'movement of the device is preferably /O10 relatively small typically 40 to 60 mm.

0 0 It is possible that even with a more or less accurate orientation of the anode rod the lower undersurface of the anode block or blocks connected thereto is not perpendicular to the axis of the rod. It 15" is therefore advisable additionally to provide a device with a tool designed to machine the undersides of the anode blocks. The tool which can be a milling cutter or boring head which can be moved back and forth on a guide beneath the anode blocks.

aO The invention may be understood more readily, and various aspects and features of the invention may become Sapparent, from consideration of the following description.

An embodiment of the invention will now be 6 described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of an alignment and pouring station of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of the alignment device taken on a somewhat larger scale to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line III-III of Figure 1; 10 Figures 4 and 5 are part-sectional views of a modified form of the alignment device in different operating positions; and 00 0 Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a device alignment usable for machining the undersides of the I5 anode blocks.

As shown in Figure 1, a plant processes anode assembly components in the form of rectangular anode t carbon blocks 8 and anode connectors 2, 9, 10. Framework 1 defines an alignment/pouring station whereat ?0 projections or nipples 10 of the anode connectors are located in holes in the anode blocks 8 and a suitable melt is poured into the holes to bond the projections ox nipples 10 therein. The anode connectors are each composed of an upstanding rod 2 which adjoins an end i_ piece 9 from which the projections 10 extend.

The connectors are suspended from a conveyor 3 and are transported in succession through the station for joining to the separate anode blocks 8. The conveyor 3 take the form of an elevated track supporting carriages each of which is used to suspend one of the anode connectors with the aid of a chain or cable 4.

Below the conveyor 3 there is a guide 6 formed by V two parallel guide rails 7 which lie on opposite sides of i lo the rods 2 of the suspended anode connectors. Another conveyor, conveniently a roller conveyor 43, is disposed S' in the lower region of the framework 1. This conveyor 43 serves to transport the anode blocks 8. As illustrated two individual blocks 8 are disposed side-by-side and the rod 2 of the associated anode connector adjoins an end piece 9 equipped with two rows each composed of three projections or nipples 10. Each anode block 8 has three blind holes which receive the projections 10 of one of the rows and the single anode connector is thus united with two anode blocks 8.

The transport direction in which the anode blocks Sj 8 and the anode connections are moved is represented by one of the arrows X while a transverse direction to the directions X is represented by the arrows Y.

c. u--l L- -i When one of the anode connectors is positioned above the anode blocks 8 these components can be moved together to bring the projections 10 of the connector into the blind holes of the anode blocks 8. This movement can be accomplished by raising the anode blocks 8 or more preferably Ly lowering the anode connectors.

With the projections 10 correctly engaged in the blind bores molten metal is poured into the blind holes to cast and bond the anode blocks 8 to the anode connector. When 04 the anode connector is positioned the rod 2 thereof can °H have its longitudinal axis inclined in any of the 4 directions of the arrows X and/or Y particularly if the bases of the blind bores are rot set at the same height in one horizontal plane but are offset from one another.

0.oo I To overcome this difficulty there is provided an oo a alignment device which will now be described.

o As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the alignment device 13 is disposed beneath the guide rails 7. The device 13 o°'o has a pair of implements 14 disposed one above the other o in the vicinity of the rods 2 of the anode connectors.

The device 13 is supporter with a carrier 15 suspended from a slide block 16 which is slidably mounted on a pair of parallel guide rods 17. The rods 17 are rigidly fixed 9 to the framework 1 at one side of the guide 6. The device 13 can be displaced along the guide rods 17 in the directions X and the play of the slide block 16 on the rods 17 is generally about 40 to 60nmm. This permits the device 13 to adjust to a maximum angle of inclination of the anode rods 2. The implements or tongs 14 are identical and each has a pair of clamping jaws 18. The superimposed pairs of jaws 18 are fixed to vertical shafts 19 which are rotatably supported by bearings oS'S 10 fixed to the carrier 15. The jaws 18 are swung about the S" vertical axes of the shafts 19 with the aid of a common o S° actuator in the form of a double-acting hydraulic piston 00 0 :0 and cylinder unit 21. Figure 3 shows the jaws 18 in the fully open position in chain-dotted outline and in the /5 closed position in full outline. In the closed position 0 o the jaws 18 engage on the front and rear faces 2 of the o anode rod 2 relative to the conveying direction X.

0 *0°0 The carrier 15 is itself composed of a rigid frame with a pair of parallel vertical beams 22 interconnected 000t 0 So with a horizontal plate 23 strut members 24 are fixed to o a the beams 22 and a cross-piece 25 interconnects the members 24 remote from the beams 22. A pivot bearing 26 is provided on the cross-piece 25 to support the cylinder of the unit 21. The unit 21 adopts a horizontal i disposition and has its piston rod fitted to a head piece 27. The head piece 27 has a vertical pin 29 which slidably locates in a slot 28 in the plate 23. The head piece 27 is connected with a pivot joint 29 to toggle levers 30 which are connected at their opposite ends to the jaws 18 via pivot joints 31. As the unit 21 is retracted the headpiece 27 displaces the levers 30 to open the jaws 18 in synchronism and when the unit 21 is extended the headpiece 27 displaces the levers 30 in the o°S" /0 opposite sense to close the jaws 18 against the faces 2' 00o of the anode rod 2.

o° 6a During operation, the rods 2 of the anode o9 o 9; connectors progress in the conveying direction X and each rod 2 enters the vicinity of the opened jaws 18 (Figure The jaws 18 are then operated to close against the 0*a0 o, faces 2' of the rod 2 to bring the rod 2 into a vertical position relative to the conveying direction X. The accuracy of orientation achieved by the device 15 is dependent on the vertical spacing between the implements S ?0 14 and ideally the spacing should be at least a third to one half of the length of the rod 2 between the end piece 9 and the opposite upper free end.

The anode rod 2 passes through the guide 6 with a certain freedom of movement in the transverse directions S11 Y. Thus if the rod 2 is inclined in either direction Y it will only be within the limit defined by the guide 6.

If higher accuracy of orientation in the Y directions is desired then the modified alignment device shown in g Figures 4 and 5 can be adopted.

In this arrangement the jaws 18 have abutment faces A designed to engage the inner face 2" of the rod 2. Further adjustable angled levers 32 are supported by pivot pins 33 near the free ends of the jaws 18. One arm 1o 34 of each lever 32 extends into the gap between the jaws o 18 and has an arcuate face 35 opposite the associated o,o abutment face A. The other arm 36 of each lever 32 is r* o subjected to the force of a compression spring 37. Each spring 37 is mounted on a lever 38 also pivotably O',Oo /supported on the associated pin 33 and this lever 38 carries a cam 39 which engages through an opening 40 in the associated jaw 18. Each cam 39 is fastened to a ,4 plate 41 which rests against the inner face of the associated jaw 18 and is subjected to the force of a t i t 20 spring 24 on a plunger. These springs 42 together with the springs 37 keep the levers 38 and the cams 39 in the position shown in Figure 4 when the device is open.

Figure 4 shows the implement 14 before it reaches its closed position with the cams 39 engaged on the side 1 L- II 12 faces 2' of the rod 2 but without contact between the faces A, 35 and the side faces 2" of the rod 2. The levers 38 are held in position by the springs 42 but as the jaws 18 move further inwardly the cams 39 are pressed into the openings 40 against the forces of the springs 42 until the jaws 18 make contact with the faces 2' with their clamping faces denoted B. When the cam 39 move inwardly of the openings 40 they displace the levers 38 about the pins 33 in the arrowed directions and the i Io /O faces 35 of the levers 38 engage on the outer face 2" of 00 a O 0 the rod 2 to bring the opposed faces 2" against the 00000 0 abutment faces A and against the faces 35. In this way 00 0 0 the rod 2 is made vertical in the Y directions. The forces needed to orientate the rod 2 is proportional to /5-the forces of the springs 37 and is largely independent o090 of deviations in the cross-section of the rod 2.

It is often advisable to machine the undersurface o0, of the blocks 8 to produce a surface perpendicular to the 0900 rod 2 of the anode connector. Figure 6 shows a device 0000 9 RO for this purpose which may also be located at the alignment and pouring station or at some subsequent machining station for machining the blocks 8 after the anode connectors have been "tted. The device shown in Figure 6 is positioned beneath an anode assembly 8, 2 13 suspended with a coupling 5 from an elevated conveyor.

An alignment device 13 of the type described hereinbefore is used to align the assembly 8, 2, with the rod 2 upright. An additional mechanism with jaws 44 serves to the block 8 in the upright position. The machining device has a frame 45 with a horizontal guide 46 e.g.

with rails for guiding a tool 47 in the form of a milling or boring head. The tool 47 is displaceable, e.g. with an hydraulic drive 48, back and forth along the guide 46.

a /OThe cylinder of the drive 48 is mounted on a lower part °a of the frame 45 and its piston rod 49 is fitted to the g O tool 47 as at 50. The frame 45 has a receiving and discharging conveyor 51 such as a belt, which transfers the carbon machined from the block 8 by the tool 47 away o l/ 5"from the machining device.

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Claims (24)

1. A device for aligning and locating a suspended anode connector and one or more anode blocks therebeneath, the anode connector having a rod with an end piece with projections and the or each anode block having holes for receiving the projections; said device comprising a pair of tong-like implements disposed one above another, a- common carrier for supporting the implements, the carrier being guided for movement in a direction in which the anode connectors are transported in succession, each implement comprising a pair of openable and closable jaws and means for actuating the jaws of the implements in unison to cause the jaws to engage on the rod of the anode connector.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the jaws have planar surfaces for making face-to-face contact with opposed surfaces of the anode rods.

3. A device according to Claim 1 -r 2, wherein the carrier is suspended from a pair of rods forming a guide.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3", wherein the superimposed jaws of the implements are mounted for movement on the same commnon vertical axis.

A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, I04 1 r Kilt t t t t1 t cc S i O 0 I I i wherein the actuating means is a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the unit is coupled to the jaws with the aid of toggle levers.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the spacing between the implements is in the range of one third to a one half of the length of the rod between the end piece and the suspended end.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein a series of anode connectors are conveyed in succession in a conveying direction and the device is located at a working station.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the device serves to bring the anode rod of each connector into a vertical disposition with respect to the conveying direction. I

10. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the device Sserves to bring the anode rod of each connector into a I vertical disposition with respect to the conveying direction and a direction transverse to the conveying direction.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein the jaws are engageable with opposed first faces of the anode rods disposed generally transverse to the conveying direction T A L 4 i 16 and the jaws carry further pivotable levers which serve to engage on second faces of the anode rods disposed generally parallel to the conveying direction.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the jaws have abutment faces which engage with third faces of the anode rods opposite the second faces engaged by the pivotable levers.

13. A device according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the pivotable levers are actuated by cams supported by the jaws and displaceable as the jaws engage on the first faces of the anode rods.

14. A device according to Claim 11, 12 and 13, wherein the levers are spring-loaded.

A device according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the levers are angled each with one arm having a clamping o O face engageable with one of the second faces of the anode rods and another arm subjected to the action of an actuator which pivots the lever as the jaws are pressed against the first faces of the anode rods.

16. 'A plant for processing anode assembly components 000, employing at least one device according to any one of the proceeding claims. 0

17. A plant according to Claim 16, wherein the device is located at an alignment and pouring station whereat t ~0 I- 17 melt is poured into the holes in the anode blocks to bond Sthe projections of the anode connectors thereto.

18. A plant according to Claim 17, and further comprising a device for machining the undersides of the anode blocks after the anode connectors have been assembled, said machining device comprising a tool which is displaceable along a guide beneath the anode blocks.

19. A plant according to Claim 18, wherein there is another alignment device for holding the anode rods of each assembly in a vertical disposition and a device for Sclamping the anode blocks whilst the machining device is in operation.

A plant according to Claim 18 or 19, wherein there is provided drive means for moving the tool along the guide. :J o°

21. A plant according to Claim 20, wherein the drive 0 0 means is a hydraulic drive means.

22. A plant according to any one of Claims 16, 19, or 21, wherein there is further provided means for receiving and transporting material removed from the anode blocks by the machining device.

23. An alignment device substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. Iti ii i 1 'i I~ 18

24. A plant for processing anode assembly components incorporating the alignment device of Claim 24 in combination with a machining device substantially as .ribed with reference to and as illustrated in, Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this Fourteenth Day of February 1995 Westfalia Becorit Industrietechnik GMBH Patent Attorneys for the Applicant Spruson Ferguson si I 4$ II *I I. I( o 44 o 4 0 *r 4 044 4 44,,o 4 4* r4 4 C-r~: L i c--i~i APPARATUS OR PLANT FOR PROCESSING ANODE ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS Abstract A plant for processing anode assembly components employs at a working station an alignment device (13) with a pair of superimposed tong--like implements (14) with jaws (18) which are opened and closed with a piston and cylinder unit The implements (14) are supported by a common carrier (15) which is suspended and guided on a pair of guide rods As anode connectors Swith elongate rods are conveyed in a path parallel to "o the guide rods (17) the jaws (18) are eng.oed on each rod QOOO: in succession to bring the rod into a vertical disposition so nipples (10) at the lower end of the rod can be introduced into holes in one or more anode blocks. Figures 1 and 2. 6o 0 0 S i