Carbon electrode cleaning system and method
AssigneeRaymond J. Dill
InventorRaymond J. Dill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to improved apparatus' for dislodging and abrading cryolite encrustations from carbon anodes spent during aluminum smelting. Both the plow blade and flailing elements of the present invention are constructed and arranged to substantially conform to the shape of the spent carbon butts to facilitate rapid and efficient cleaning of the spent carbon anodes' surfaces. Systems and methods employing the substantially V-shaped plow blade extension and dual directional rotating flailing assemblies are also disclosed.
Claims11
An apparatus for removing an encrustation from a spent carbon anode having at least one carbon block stub extending along a first plane, said apparatus comprising:
- a drive motor;
- a shaft rotatably coupled to said drive motor, said shaft positioned such that it extends along a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane;
- an elongated flailing element attached to said shaft at a location remote from said drive motor, said elongated flailing element constructed and arranged to rotate on said shaft once said shaft is rotated by said drive motor;
- and
- a mechanism cooperating with said shaft to selectively urge said shaft toward and away from the first plane such that said shaft remains substantially orthogonal to the first plane, wherein said flailing element abrades the encrustation from a surface of the spent carbon anode that extends along a third plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane.
The method of cleaning a spent carbon anode, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a spent carbon anode including at least one stub extending along a first plane and a flailing assembly having a shaft and a flailing element positioned with respect to one another such that the shaft extends along a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane;
- rotating said shaft such that the flailing element extends and rotates about said shaft;
- and
- moving said shaft toward and away from the first plane such that the flailing element abrades the encrustation residing on the surface of the spent carbon anode that extends along a third plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.