(19) |
|
|
(11) |
EP 1 672 099 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
01.05.2013 Bulletin 2013/18 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 14.12.2005 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
(54) |
Device for careful separation of anodes from their anode bars
Vorrichtung zur Trennung den Anoden von ihren Anodenträgern
Dispositif de séparation des anodes de leur barre d'anode
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
FR IS NL |
(30) |
Priority: |
17.12.2004 DE 102004060823
|
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
21.06.2006 Bulletin 2006/25 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Outotec Oyj |
|
02200 Espoo (FI) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Nagel, Hardy
50321 Brühl (DE)
- Anklam, Roland
53859 Niederkassel (DE)
|
(74) |
Representative: KEIL & SCHAAFHAUSEN
Patentanwälte |
|
Cronstettenstraße 66 60322 Frankfurt am Main 60322 Frankfurt am Main (DE) |
(56) |
References cited: :
DE-A1- 1 783 018 DE-A1- 2 832 520 US-A- 2 604 071
|
DE-A1- 2 652 343 DE-A1- 4 128 522
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
[0001] The invention is directed to a method and a device for the careful separation of
anode blocks from their anode rods in the line of molten phase electrolysis for the
production of aluminium. During that operation the anode blocks are suspended with
their fastening holes formed in the upper side by means of annular gap filling metal
bushes to their bottom stub-like anode rod ends that have been formed to a yoke.
[0002] To prepare anode blocks for their use in molten phase electrolysis for the production
of aluminium the anode blocks have to be firmly joined to power supply rods and/or
the so-called anode rods. To that end the bottom ends of the anode rods which mostly
have the form of a yoke with two, three or four adjacently arranged rod ends are introduced
from above into correspondingly pre-shaped recesses of the anode block and the remaining
gaps and/or cavities in the recesses are then filled with molten iron. During that
operation bushes are formed around the anode rod ends - also known as stubs - which
ensure not only mechanical stability of the connection between anode rod/anode block
but also a good electric conductivity from the anode rod to the anode block. After
solidification of the cast metal a firm bonding is established between the bush and
the anode rod end as well as between the bush and the anode block.
[0003] These anode blocks which are produced in so-called anode plants from calcined petroleum
coke and normally pitch as binder in vibrating compactors by compaction of grainy
raw materials and which are then baked feature very large dimensions and a correspondingly
high weight. Reference is made in this respect to e.g. the catalogue 10-715e published
by KHD Humboldt Wedag AG showing photographs of new and not yet consumed anode blocks
on pages 2 and 3. After anode consumption anode butts and the bushes remain at the
anode rods which have to be removed from the bottom anode rod ends normally by cracking
off or withdrawing before a new anode block is fastened to the anode rod.
[0004] DE 28 32 520 A1 describes an apparatus for removing anode residue from the metallic projections of
an anode with moveable stripper members or jaws. During this operation, a breakage
of one of the projection can occur, which is why an inductive sensor is mounted on
each stripper member. In cause of projection damage, a signal is provided whereby
the apparatus is stopped.
[0005] DE 41 28 522 A1 discloses an apparatus for removing anode residue from the metallic projections of
an anode. A number of projections hold the anode residue. For removing this residue,
horizontally and vertically moveable stripper members or jaws are used. Therefore,
the stripper members are arranged on a thrust bearing supporting the anode rod during
the stripping of the residue. The stripping members and the thrust bearing are moveable
to each other in the direction of the anode rod.
[0006] In case imperfections occur when moulding the iron bushes it may become necessary
to separate the properly speaking serviceable anode block from its anode rod. If withdrawal
presses known so far were used for that separation process, i.e. for withdrawing anode
butts and bushes from the anode rods by the application of high withdrawing forces,
the actually usable anode block would in an unwanted manner be damaged or broken completely
and its reuse at any rate become impossible.
[0007] The problem to be solved by the invention is to create a device by which not yet
consumed anode blocks can be mechanically separated from the yoke ends of their anode
rods after the occurrence of imperfect bushes, i.e. by such careful manner that both
the anode block and the anode rod each remain undamaged and can be used again.
[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a device comprising the features
of claim 1 and a method according to claim 7. Advantageous embodiments of the invention
have been specified in the dependent claims.
[0009] The careful separation of anode blocks from their anode rod yoke end is achieved
according to the invention by means of a device with an impact fork featuring bottom
prongs which can be introduced into the gaps between the anode rod yoke and the upper
side of the anode block suspended from the yoke. The fork prongs have been arranged
at the bottom side of at least one impact fork mass body which can be moved vertically
upward and downward with a certain stroke above the anode rod yoke. This impact stroke
of the impact fork corresponds to the distance between the fork prongs and the yoke
bottom side (bottom position of the impact fork) and/or the distance between the upper
side of the yoke and the bottom side of the impact fork mass body (top position of
the impact fork). The impact stroke length has been adjusted such that upon the downward
stroke the fork prongs just do not touch the upper side of the anode block suspended
from the anode rod yoke.
[0010] The impact fork is periodically lifted by the impact stroke length mentioned above
with the aid of a lifting cylinder of the device according to the invention and dropped
by the effect of gravity. During the upward movement the impact fork strikes the anode
rod yoke from below and during the downward movement from above while the anode block
remains positioned on the base formed as support of the device according to the invention.
Following a specified number of impact strokes and/or load changes the stubs of the
anode rod yoke are loosened in the fastening holes of the anode block. During this
loosening procedure they project more and more from the fastening holes of the anode
block until the anode rod with its yoke which was no more than loosely retained during
that operation has been completely separated from the anode block so that both the
anode rod and, in particular, the anode block that remained undamaged can be used
again after removal of the metal bushes.
[0011] The invention and its further features and advantages are explained in more detail
by the typical embodiment shown schematically in the figures. The figures show the
following:
- Fig. 1
- the vertical section of the device according to the invention along line B-B in Fig.
2,
- Fig. 2
- a vertical section along line A-A in Fig. 1 and
- Fig. 3
- the section of Fig. 2 in a position of the anode rod yoke which has already been separated
from the anode block suspended from it.
[0012] Fig. 1 shows an anode block 10 with three fastening holes formed in its upper side
in which correspondingly three stubs 11, 12, 13 of the bottom end of an anode rod
15 formed to a yoke 14 have been introduced. The annular-shaped gaps between the stubs
and the fastening holes have been filled with molten iron to obtain metal bushes 16.
In case the metal bushes 16 are imperfect the device according to the invention offers
the possibility to have the anode block 10 carefully separated from the anode rod
yoke 14.
[0013] The device according to the invention features a frame 17 with a lower base 18 and
an upper cross beam 19. Anode 10 with its anode rod 15 is placed on base 18. An impact
fork that can be moved upward and downward in the device engages with its two bottom
prongs 20, 21 shown in the typical configuration in the gaps between yoke 14 and the
upper side of anode block 10. The fork prongs 20, 21 have been arranged at the bottom
side of an impact fork mass body 22 which can be moved upward and downward above the
anode rod yoke 14 by a lifting cylinder 23 engaging the upper side of the impact fork
mass body 22 which cylinder has been linked with its upper end to the top cross beam
19 of machine frame 17. This means that the impact fork can be periodically lifted
by means of the lifting cylinder and the impact fork dropped simply by gravity after
every lifting cycle.
[0014] During that operation impact stroke 24 of the impact fork corresponds to the distance
between fork prongs 20, 21 and the underside of yoke 14 (bottom position of the impact
fork) and/or the distance between the upper side of yoke 14 and the bottom side of
the impact fork mass body 22 (top position of the impact fork as shown in Figs. 1
to 3). In other words, the impact fork strikes anode rod yoke 14 during the upward
stroke from below and during the downward stroke from above. The impact intensity
of lifting cylinder 23 can even be adjusted such that the impact intensity of the
impact fork is greater during the upward stroke than during the downward stroke.
[0015] At any rate stubs 11, 12, 13 are loosened in their fastening holes after a specific
number of load changes, yoke 14 projects more and more from anode block 10 until as
shown in Fig. 3 anode rod 15 with yoke 14 and bushes 16 have been completely separated
from the anode block that remained undamaged. The anode block 10 placed on base 18
is not lifted during that operation.
[0016] Fig. 1 shows in addition that the impact fork mass body 22 is vertically guided in
machine frame 17, e.g. along roller guides 25, 26. The impact fork mass body 22 features
a central passage by which it encompasses anode rod 15. Furthermore, swiveling clamps
27 for loosely enclosing, i.e. for loosely retaining anode rod 15, have been linked
to upper cross-beam 19 of machine frame 17.
1. Device for the careful separation of anode blocks (10) from their anode rods (15)
in the line of molten phase electrolysis for the production of aluminum, comprising
a) an impact fork for engaging with its bottom prongs (20, 21) in the gaps between
the bottom stub-like anode-rod ends that have been formed to a yoke (14) and the upper
side of an anode block (10);
b) at least one impact fork mass body (22) which can be moved upward and downward
above the anode rod yoke (14), wherein the fork prongs (20, 21) are arranged at the
bottom side of the impact fork mass body (22);
wherein an impact stroke (24) of the impact fork corresponds to the distance between
the fork prongs (20, 21) and the underside of the yoke (14) and/or the distance between
the upper side of the yoke (14) and the bottom side of the impact fork mass body (22),
and
wherein the impact stroke length is adjusted such that upon the downward stroke the
fork prongs (20, 21) just do not touch the upper side of the anode block (10) suspended
from the anode rod yoke (14).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a base (18) on which the anode block (10) including anode rod
(15) can be placed.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one impact fork mass body (22) is guided along vertical guide units
(25, 26) of the machine frame (17).
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lifting cylinder acts at the upper side of the impact fork mass body (22) which
has been linked with its top end to an upper cross beam (19) of machine frame (17)
and by which the impact fork (20, 21, 22) can be periodically lifted, wherein following
the lifting cycles the impact fork is dropped by the effect of gravity.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that swiveling clamps (27) for loosely retaining anode rod (15) have been linked to the
upper cross beam (19) of machine frame (17).
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impact fork mass body (22) arranged above the anode rod yoke (14) comprises a
passage by which it encompasses the anode rod (15).
7. Method for the careful separation of anode blocks from their anode rods (15) in the
line of molten phase electrolysis for the production of aluminum with a device according
to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anode blocks (10) have been suspended
with their fastening holes formed on the upper side by means of annual gap filling
metal bushes (16) from the bottom stub-like anode-rod ends that have been formed to
a yoke (14),
characterized by the following steps:
a) an impact fork is engaged with its bottom prongs (20, 21) in the gaps between the
anode rod yoke (14) and the upper side of anode block (10), wherein the fork prongs
(20, 21) have been arranged at the bottom side of at least one impact fork mass body
(22) which can be moved upward and downward above the anode rod yoke (14) and;
b) the impact fork is periodically moved up and down to strike the anode rod yoke
(14) during the upward stroke from below and during the downward stroke from above.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that a lifting cylinder acts at the upper side of the impact fork mass body (22) which
has been linked with its top end to an upper cross beam (19) of machine frame (17)
and by which the impact fork (20, 21, 22) is periodically lifted, wherein following
the lifting cycles the impact fork is dropped by the effect of gravity.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the impact intensity of lifting cylinder (23) and, consequently, of the impact fork
is greater during the upward stroke than during the downward stroke.
1. Vorrichtung zur schonenden Trennung von Blockanoden (10) von ihren Anodenstangen (15)
im Bereich der Schmelzflusselektrolyse für die Herstellung von Aluminium, umfassend:
a) eine Schlaggabel für den Eingriff mit ihren Gabelzinken (20, 21) in die Lücken
zwischen den zapfenartigen Bodenanodenstangenenden, die zu einem Joch (14) geformt
wurden, und der Oberseite der Blockanode (10);
b) wenigstens einem Schlaggabel-Massekörper (22), der oberhalb des Anodenstangenjoches
(14) nach oben und nach unten bewegbar ist, wobei die Gabelzinken (20, 21) an der
Bodenseite des Schlaggabel-Massekörpers (22) angeordnet sind;
wobei ein Schlaghub (24) der Schlaggabel dem Abstand zwischen den Gabelzinken (20,
21) und der Unterseite des Joches (14) und/oder dem Abstand zwischen der Oberseite
des Joches (14) und der Bodenseite des Schlaggabel-Massekörpers (22) entspricht, und
wobei die Schlaghublänge so eingestellt ist, dass beim Abwärtshub die Gabelzinken
(20, 21) die Oberseite der Blockanode (10), die an dem Anodenstangenjoch (14) hängt,
gerade nicht berührt.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung eine Basis (18) aufweist, auf welcher die Blockanode (10) einschließlich
der Anodenstange (15) angeordnet werden kann.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der wenigstens eine Schlaggabel-Massekörper (22) entlang vertikaler Führungseinheiten
(25, 26) des Maschinenrahmens (17) geführt wird.
4. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an der Oberseite des Schlaggabel-Massekörpers (22) ein Hubzylinder (23) angreift,
der mit seinem oberen Ende an einer oberen Quertraverse (19) des Maschinenrahmens
(17) angelenkt ist und durch den die Schlaggabel (20, 21, 22) periodisch anhebbar
ist, wobei die Schlaggabel nach den Anhebezyklen durch Schwerkraftwirkung fallen gelassen
wird.
5. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an der oberen Quertraverse (19) des Maschinenrahmens (17) Schwenkklammern (27) zum
losen Umschließen der Anodenstange (15) angelenkt sind.
6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der oberhalb des Anodenstangenjochs (14) angeordnete Schlaggabel-Massekörper (22)
eine Durchgangsöffnung aufweist, mittels der er die Anodenstange (15) umgibt.
7. Verfahren zur schonenden Trennung von Blockanoden von ihren Anodenstangen (15) im
Bereich der Schmelzflusselektrolyse zur Herstellung von Aluminium mit einer Vorrichtung
nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Blockanoden (10) mit ihren an der
Oberseite ausgebildeten Befestigungslöchern mittels ringspaltfüllender Metallgusshülsen
(16) an den zu einem Joch (14) ausgebildeten unteren zapfenartigen Anodenstangenenden
angehängt sind,
gekennzeichnet durch folgende Schritte;
a) eine Schlaggabel greift mit ihren unteren Zinken (20, 21) in die Lücken zwischen
dem Anodenstangenjoch (14) und der Oberseite der Blockanode (10) ein, wobei die Gabelzinken
(20, 21) an der Unterseite wenigstens eines Schlaggabel-Massekörpers (22) angeordnet
sind, der oberhalb des Anodenstangenjochs (14) auf- und abwärts bewegbar ist;
b) die Schlaggabel wird periodisch auf und ab bewegt, um das Anodenstangenjoch (14)
während des Aufwärtshubes von unten und während des Abwärtshubes von oben zu schlagen.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an der Oberseite des Schlaggabel-Massekörpers (22) ein Hubzylinder wirkt, der mit
seinem oberen Ende an einer oberen Quertraverse (19) des Maschinenrahmens (17) angelenkt
ist, und durch welchen die Schlaggabel (20, 21, 22) periodisch angehoben wird, wobei
im Anschluss an die Anhebezyklen die Schlaggabel durch die Wirkung der Schwerkraft
fallengelassen wird.
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schlagintensität des Hubzylinders (23) und dementsprechend der Schlaggabel während
des Aufwärtshubes größer ist als während des Abwärtshubes.
1. Dispositif pour la séparation soignée de blocs anodiques (10) de leurs tiges anodiques
(15) lors d'une électrolyse en phase liquide pour la production d'aluminium,
comprenant
a) une paroi d'impact à insérer, avec ses fourches inférieures (20, 21), dans les
espaces entre les extrémités inférieures de la tige anodique en forme de plaque qui
ont été formés sur une culasse (14) et la face supérieure d'un bloc anodique (10)
;
b) au moins un bloc de paroi d'impact (22) pouvant être déplacé vers le haut et le
bas au-dessus de la culasse de la tige anodique (14), où les fourches de la paroi
(20, 21) sont disposés sur la face inférieure du bloc de paroi d'impact (22) ;
où un trait d'impact (24) de la paroi d'impact correspond à la distance entre les
fourches de la paroi (20, 21) et la face inférieure de la culasse (14) et / ou la
distance entre la face supérieure de la culasse (14) et la face inférieure du bloc
de paroi d'impact (22), et
où la longueur du trait d'impact est ajustée de telle sorte que, sur la course vers
le bas, les fourches de la paroi (20, 21) ne sont pas en contact avec la face supérieure
du bloc anodique (10) suspendue sur la culasse de la tige anodique (14).
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif comprend une base (18) sur laquelle le bloc anodique (10) comprenant
la tige anodique (15) peut être placé.
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que l'au moins un bloc de paroi d'impact (22) est guidé le long des unités de guidage
verticales (25, 26) du châssis de la machine (17).
4. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un vérin hydraulique agit sur la face supérieure du bloc de paroi d'impact (22) lié
par son extrémité supérieure à une poutre transversale supérieure (19) du châssis
de la machine (17) et par lequel la paroi d'impact (20, 21, 22) peut être soulevée
périodiquement ; où, après les cycles de levage, la paroi d'impact tombe sous l'effet
de la gravité.
5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que des pinces pivotantes (27) retenant de manière lâche la tige d'anode (15) ont été
reliées à la poutre transversale supérieure (19) du châssis de la machine (17).
6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le bloc de paroi d'impact (22) disposé au-dessus de la culasse de la tige anodique
(14) contient un passage par lequel il recouvre la tige anodique (15).
7. Procédé pour la séparation soignée de blocs anodiques de leurs tiges anodiques (15)
lors d'une électrolyse en phase liquide pour la production d'aluminium avec un dispositif
selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où les blocs anodiques (10)
sont suspendus par leur des trous de fixation formés sur la face supérieure au moyen
de douilles métalliques remplissant un espace annuel (16) à partir des extrémités
inférieures de la tige anodique en forme de plaque formées sur une culasse (14),
caractérisée par les étapes suivantes :
a) une paroi d'impact à insérer, avec ses fourches inférieures (20, 21), dans les
espaces entre les extrémités inférieures de la tige anodique en forme de plaque qui
ont été formés sur une culasse (14) et la face supérieure d'un bloc anodique (10),
où les fourches de la paroi (20, 21) ont été disposés sur la face inférieure d'au
moins un bloc de paroi d'impact (22) pouvant être déplacé vers le haut et le bas au-dessus
de la culasse de la tige anodique (14) et ;
b) la paroi d'impact est périodiquement déplacée de haut en bas pour frapper la culasse
de la tige anodique (14) pendant la course vers le haut et pendant la course vers
le bas.
8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'un vérin hydraulique agit sur la face supérieure du bloc de paroi d'impact (22) lié
par son extrémité supérieure à une poutre transversale supérieure (19) du châssis
de la machine (17) et par lequel la paroi d'impact (20, 21, 22) peut être soulevée
périodiquement ; où, après les cycles de levage, la paroi d'impact tombe sous l'effet
de la gravité.
9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que l'intensité de l'impact des vérins hydrauliques (23) et, par conséquent, celle de
la paroi d'impact est plus élevée pendant la course vers le haut que pendant la course
vers le bas.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description