Device designed for collecting solid debris in an electrolysis cell for the production of aluminium

A collection unit designed to collect solid debris and mud in liquid media of a cell for producing aluminum, comprising:

• a) a means of fixing to fix said collection unit onto a mobile support able to move said collection unit above a zone to be cleaned;
• b) a connection actuated by a first actuator which causes said connection to move in relation to said mobile support in a vertical direction;
• c) a frame interdependent of said connection;
• d) at least one articulated bucket, swiveling around a substantially horizontal axis, fitted to said frame, with a substantially horizontal blade, said bucket being actuated by a second actuator, interdependent with said frame, causing said bucket to adopt a rotary movement around said substantially horizontal axis,
• characterized in that said first actuator is connected to a programmable control system able to:
• i) determine, directly or indirectly, the altitude of said substantially horizontal axis and a difference in altitude between said blade of said bucket and said substantially horizontal axis;
• ii) define, from the altitude and the difference in altitude determined in i), a vertical movement which must be applied to said connection so that an altitude of said blade remains at least equal to a predetermined value;
• iii) define and transmit to said first actuator a suitable control flow, so that the first actuator can apply said vertical movement to said connection.