Track assembly and container for electrolytic process
AssigneeCorrosion Technology International, Inc.
InventorsPhillip L. Andreas, Eric Voss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track assembly and electrolytic container for the electro-refining and electrowinning of metals is disclosed. The container of this invention has mirror image integrally cast lip and trough sections in each interior side wall of the container for accepting a track assembly. The track assembly has a track means for engaging and guiding a separating member and a track retainer means for frictionally engaging and securing the track means to both of the interior side walls. The track assembly and electrolytic container of the instant invention facilitates the removal of unwanted slimes from the electrolytic container while keeping the electrolytic process operational during the removal period.
Claims12
A container for use in an electrolytic process comprising:
- (a) a cured polymer concrete shell having a floor, a pair of tapered interior side walls wherein said taper provides a greater width at the top of said shell relative to said floor of said shell, and a pair of opposed interior end walls, wherein each of said interior side walls include a lip and trough section, said lip having a negative return surface that is integrally cast on the interior of said interior side wall of said shell wherein said lip is located above said trough section, said trough section is integrally cast at the bottom portion of said interior side wall of said shell, and wherein said trough section is in juxtaposition to and in communication with said floor, and wherein said lip and said trough section form an area in said interior side wall having a cavity, wherein said lip and said trough section extend in a substantially horizontal path along the length of each of said interior side walls, and wherein said floor has a first end, a second end, and a middle section disposed between said first end and said second end, wherein said first end of said floor has an arcuate shape, and that bows upwardly relative to said middle section of said floor such that said first end of said floor communicates with one of said end walls of said shell, and wherein said lip and said trough section continue from said horizontal path along said length of said interior side wall to form a curved elbow transition section on said interior side wall having a radius of curvature that is substantially similar to the radius of curvature of said arcuate shape of said first end of said floor, and wherein said lip and said trough section continue to extend in a vertical path on said interior side wall from said curved elbow transition section to the top of said shell, wherein any one point of reference along said lip and said trough section of one of said interior side wall is equidistant relative to a mirror-image corresponding point of reference of said lip and said trough section of the other said interior side wall throughout said horizontal paths, said curved elbow transition sections and said vertical paths;
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- (b) at least two track assemblies each having (i) track means for mechanically engaging and guiding a bendable separating member wherein said track means is in juxtaposition to and in communication with at least a portion of said cavity of said interior side wall formed by said trough section and said lip, and (ii) retainer means for frictionally engaging said track means and said negative return surface of said lip of said interior side wall for securing said track means to said interior side wall of said shell, wherein said retainer means is in communication with and is positioned above said track means and below said negative return surface of said lip, and wherein one track assembly is in juxtaposition to and in communication with one of said interior side walls, and wherein the other track assembly is in juxtaposition to and in communication with said other interior side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.