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  Actuator for displacing an anode frame of an electrolysis cell for the production of aluminiumUSPTO Application #: 20060137972Title: Actuator for displacing an anode frame of an electrolysis cell for the production of aluminium Abstract: The invention relates to jacks used for the displacement of anode frames of electrolytic cells designed for the production of aluminium. According to the invention, the jack (100, 100′) comprises a sleeve (120) provided with an opening (121), an actuation rod (140) comprising an axial cavity (141) and a thread (142) and capable of moving in the said opening, a drive screw (130) inserted in the said axial cavity and capable of cooperating with the said thread so as to displace the said rod (140) in the sleeve (120) and in the said opening (121), a toothed drive wheel (150) coupled to the drive screw (130), and a worm screw that can be connected to the shaft of a drive motor (200) and that can cooperate with the drive wheel (150) so as to rotate it, and is characterised in that the centre-to-centre distance E between the axis R of the drive wheel and the axis V of the worm screw is between 100 and 350 mm, and in that the reduction ratio RR between the worm screw and the drive wheel is between 300:1 and 80:1. This jack is capable of simultaneously achieving relatively high powers and pull forces, while remaining within a relatively limited volume. (end of abstract) Agent: Dennison, Schultz, Dougherty & Macdonald - Alexandria, VA, US Inventors: Alain Van Acker, Alain Fernandez De Grado USPTO Applicaton #: 20060137972 - Class: 204194000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060137972. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to aluminium production by fused bath electrolysis using the Hall-Heroult process. It is more particularly related to devices for the attachment and the displacement of the anodes of electrolytic cells to be used for aluminium production. STATE OF THE ART [0002] Aluminium metal is produced industrially by fused bath electrolysis, namely by electrolysis of alumina in solution in a molten cryolite bath called an electrolyte bath, using the well-known Hall-Heroult process. The electrolyte bath is contained in pots called "electrolytic pots" comprising a steel shell lined with refractory and/or insulating materials on the inside, and a cathode assembly at the bottom of the pot. Anodes, typically made of a carbonaceous material, are fixed to a superstructure provided with means of displacing them vertically during the electrolysis process. The assembly formed by an electrolytic pot, its anodes and the electrolyte bath is called an electrolytic cell. [0003] Several devices have been proposed to enable attachment and displacement of anodes with respect to the pot. This invention particularly relates to attachment and displacement devices including fixed structural elements, a frame (called the anode frame) designed for simultaneously lifting and lowering anodes fixed to the said frame and means of displacing the said frame comprising one or more jacks. French patents FR 1 440 005 (corresponding to American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,786) and FR 2 517 704 (corresponding to American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,578) describe such devices. [0004] The development of electrolytic cells with an increasingly high nominal current, as well as the increase in the current of existing electrolytic cells, increase the weight of assemblies formed by an anode frame and anodes fixed to the anode frame. This increase requires jacks capable of developing higher and higher powers in order to satisfactorily displace the said assemblies. [0005] Therefore, the applicant searched for jacks capable of developing high forces, capable of being inserted in limited and congested spaces in the superstructures of electrolytic cells, and capable of operating close to high current electrolytic cells. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0006] An object of the invention is a jack comprising a sleeve fitted with an opening, an actuation rod comprising an axial cavity and a thread and capable of moving in the said opening, a drive screw inserted in the said axial cavity and capable of cooperating with the said thread so as to displace the said rod in the sleeve and in the said opening, a toothed drive wheel coupled to the drive screw, and a worm screw that can be connected to the shaft of a motor and that can cooperate with the drive wheel so as to rotate it, and characterised in that the centre-to-centre distance E between the axis R of the drive wheel and the axis V of the worm screw is between 100 and 350 mm, and in that the reduction ratio RR between the worm screw and the drive wheel is between 300:1 and 80:1. [0007] The applicant found it possible to design a jack capable of simultaneously achieving relatively high powers and pull forces, while remaining within a relatively limited volume, due to the combined characteristics of the jack according to the invention. [0008] The invention can also be used to make an irreversible jack, in other words a jack for which the actuation rod only moves slightly under load, which avoids the need for a built-in brake. [0009] The jack according to the invention is most particularly suitable for the displacement of anode frames of electrolytic cells designed for the production of aluminium. [0010] The invention will be better understood after reading the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, that are described below and that are illustrated using the attached figures. [0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective, truncated view of a typical electrolytic cell. [0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a typical superstructure of an electrolytic cell. [0013] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a jack according to the invention. [0014] FIG. 4 shows a cross section along plane C-C in FIG. 3 through a jack according to the invention. [0015] The electrolytic cells (1) in a fused bath electrolysis aluminium production plant comprise a pot (2) capable of containing the liquid metal and the electrolyte bath, a superstructure (10) and a series of anodes (3). The superstructure (10) comprises a fixed frame (11) and a mobile metallic anode frame (12). The anodes (3) are provided with a metallic rod (4) to be used for attachment and electrical connection of the anodes (3) to the anode frame (12). The superstructure (10) also comprises at least one jack (100, 100') coupled to the anode frame (12) by connecting rods (20, 21, 22, 21', 22') and levers (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 31', 32', 33', 34'). The anode frame (12) is moved vertically (upwards or downwards) by the action of the jack(s) (100, 100'). [0016] According to the invention, the jack (100, 100') comprises: [0017] a sleeve (120) provided with an opening (121), [0018] an actuation rod (140) comprising an axial cavity (141) and a thread (142) and capable of moving in the said opening (121), [0019] a drive screw (130) inserted in the said axial cavity (141) and capable of cooperating with the said thread (142) so as to displace the said rod (140) in the said sleeve (120) and in the said opening (121), [0020] a toothed drive wheel (150) coupled to the drive screw (130), [0021] a worm screw (160) that can be connected to the shaft (210) of a drive motor (200) and that can cooperate with the drive wheel (150) so as to rotate it, Continue reading... 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