Means for connecting and disconnecting cells from circuit

A jumper system for electrically bypassing one cell of a plurality of chloralkali diaphragm cells connected in an electrical series circuit without interrupting the electrical flow through the other cells in said circuit, where each of said cells has vertical anodes and cathodes oriented parallel to the overall direction of current flow in said circuit, cathode and anode terminals lying transversely between said cells and oriented parallel widthwise to said overall direction, and anode current distributor connecting said anodes to said anode terminal and a cathode current collector connecting said cathodes to said cathode terminal, said jumper system comprising:

• first transverse conductor means, for assuming a position extending parallel to said cathode terminal and contacting in such position the lengthwise center of the cathode terminal of the cell preceding said one cell in said circuit at a location between said one cell and said preceding cell and for conducting current from said terminal in a direction transverse to said overall direction;
• second transverse conductor means for assuming a position extending parallel to said anode terminal and contacting in such a position an anode terminal of the cell following said one cell in said circuit at a location between said one cell and said preceding cell and for conducting current from said terminal in a direction transverse to said overall direction;
• controlled means for remotely moving said first and second conductors into pressurized contact in said parallel position with said cathode terminal of said preceding cell and said anode terminal of said following cell respectively;
• and
• switch means, adapted to be positioned adjacent said one cell, for selectively allowing and preventing electrical current flow from said first transverse conductor means to said second transverse conductor means whereby current bypasses said one cell.