Apparatus for continuous electrolytic treatment of metal strip and sealing structure for electrolytic cell therefor

An electrolytic treatment apparatus comprising:

• a rotary drum having an outer periphery on which a metal strip is wrapped;
• means defining an electrolytic cell in the vicinity said outer periphery of said rotary drum, through which said metal strip is fed, said electrolytic cell defining an inlet opening through which said metal strip enters into said cell and an outlet opening through which said metal strip is fed out of said cell;
• means for discharging electrolyte at a controlled pressure into said electrolytic cell, said electrolyte discharging means being so oriented as to establish a flow of electrolyte in a direction opposite to the feed direction of said metal strip;
• means for sealing said inlet and outlet openings of said electrolytic cell, said sealing means comprising an elastic sealing member opposing said metal strip surface to be electrolytically treated and biased thereonto for establishing sealing contact, and a flow resistance member located upstream of said electrolyte discharging means and defining a static pressure chamber having an electrolyte pressure which is equal to or greater than the pressure of electrolyte discharged from said electrolyte discharging means, for deterring such discharged electrolyte from leaking through said outlet.

An electrolytic treatment apparatus comprising:

• a rotary drum having an outer periphery on which a continuous metal strip is wrapped;
• means for defining a electrolytic cell in the vicinity of said outer periphery of said rotary drum, through which said metal strip is fed, said electrolytic cell defining an inlet opening through which said metal strip enters into said cell and an outlet opening through which said metal strip is fed out of said cell;
• means for discharging electrolyte at a controlled pressure into said electrolytic cell, said electrolyte discharging means being so oriented as to establish a counter flow of electrolyte in a direction opposite to the feed direction of said metal strip;
• means for sealing said inlet and outlet openings of said electrolytic cell, said sealing means comprising a seal roll having an elastic roll body and an electrically conductive section connected to an electric power source, said electrically conductive section having a surface to contact with the surface of said metal strip for supplying electric power therethrough.

An electrolytic treatment apparatus comprising:

• a rotary drum having an outer periphery on which a metal strip is wrapped;
• means defining an electrolytic cell in the vicinity of said outer periphery of said rotary drum, through which said metal strip is fed, said electrolytic cell defining an inlet opening through which said metal strip enters into said cell and an outlet opening through which said metal strip is fed out of said cell;
• means for discharging electrolyte at a controlled pressure into said electrolytic cell, said electrolyte discharging means being so oriented as to establish a counter flow of electrolyte in a direction opposite to the feed direction of said metal strip;
• means for sealing said inlet and outlet openings of said electrolytic cell, said sealing means comprising a seal roll opposing said metal strip surface to be electrolytically treated and biased thereagainst for establishing sealing contact therewith, a sealing lip member arranged to sealingly contact said seal roll surface for establishing a liquid tight seal with said seal roll, and a flow resistance means oriented upstream of said electrolyte discharging means and defining a static pressure chamber to establish therein a static pressure resisting flow of electrolyte into said static pressure chamber in order to deter electrolyte flow in said feeding direction of said metal strip.

An electrolytic treatment apparatus comprising:

• a rotary drum having an outer periphery on which a metal strip is wrapped;
• means defining an electrolytic cell in the vicinity of said outer periphery of said rotary drum, through which said metal strip is fed, said electrolytic cell defining an inlet opening through which said metal strip enters into said cell and an outlet opening through which said metal strip is fed out of said cell;
• means for discharging electrolyte at a controlled pressure into said electrolytic cell, said electrolyte discharging means being so oriented as to establish a counter flow of electrolyte in a direction opposite to the feed direction of said metal strip;
• means for sealing said inlet and outlet openings of said electrolytic cell, said sealing means comprising a seal roll opposing said metal strip surface to be electrolytically treated and biased thereagainst for establishing sealing contact therewith, a sealing lip member arranged to sealingly contact said roll surface for establishing a liquid tight seal with said seal roll, and a flow resistance means comprising means defining a static pressure chamber at an orientation upstream of said electrolyte discharging means to establish therein a static pressure resisting flow of electrolyte into said static pressure chamber in order to deter electrolyte flow in said feeding direction of said metal strip, and means defining a path between said electrolyte discharging means and said static pressure chamber and active upon the electrolyte flowing therethrough for decelerating its flow velocity.

An electrolytic treatment apparatus comprising:

• a rotary drum having an outer periphery on which a metal strip is wrapped;
• means defining an electrolytic cell in the vicinity of said outer periphery of said rotary drum, through which said metal strip is fed, said electrolytic cell defining an inlet opening through which said metal strip enters into said cell and an outlet opening through which said metal strip is fed out of said cell;
• means for discharging electrolyte at a controlled pressure into said electrolytic cell, said electrolyte discharging means being so oriented as to establish a counter flow of electrolyte in a direction opposite to the feed direction of said metal strip;
• means for sealing said inlet and outlet openings of said electrolytic cell, said sealing means comprising a seal roll opposing said metal strip surface to be electrolytically treated and biased thereagainst for establishing sealing contact therewith, a sealing lip member arranged to sealingly contact said seal roll surface for establishing a liquid tight seal with said seal roll, and a flow resistance static pressure chamber upstream of said electrolyte discharging means to establish therein a static pressure resisting flow of electrolyte into said static pressure chamber in order to prevent electrolyte flow in said feeding direction of said metal strip, and means forming labyrinth seal between said electrolyte discharging means and said static pressure chamber and active upon the electrolytic flowing therethrough for decelerating its flow velocity.