E.c.l.

Fives Ecl

Alain Van Acker

Ludovic Demeulenaere

Stéphane David

Patrick Delescluse

Benoit Morel

Didier Lescarcelle

Patrick Marchand

Benoîst Morel

A handling device for hoods of an aluminum production cell by fused bath electrolysis, including a positioning device and a hood-gripping device. The positioning device includes a vertical guide device, a mobile support mounted on the guide device so that it can be moved in at least a vertical direction during use, an articulated arm, a first framework mounted on the articulated arm so that it can pivot about a first rotation axis A substantially horizontal during use, a motor to make the first framework pivot about the first rotation axis A, a second framework mounted on the first framework so that it can be moved along the first translation axis B that is substantially horizontal during use, and means of displacing the second framework along the first translation axis B. The hood-gripping system is fixed to the second framework and includes a set of gripping devices designed to grip a set of hoods at a number of fixing points.

Handling device for hoods of a cell for electrolytic aluminium production

A tending module for a series of electrolysis cells designed for the manufacture of aluminum by igneous electrolysis, each cell including a series of anodes provided with a metal rod designed to fix and electrically connect the anodes to a metal anode frame. The tending module includes a frame to be fixed to a mobile component, and at least one anode handling unit connected to the frame. The module also includes, integral with the anode handling unit, an activator that can exert at least one force or impulse on the anode rod, with a force such that, although the stem is firmly maintained in contact against the anode frame, the contact surfaces are moved in relation to each other by an amount sufficient for electrical contact to be improved. Advantageously, the activator is a jack or an impulse generator integral with the anode clamp.

Service module with at least one anode clamp and means for applying a force or a shock on the anode rod

Method for manufacturing anodes used for the production of aluminium by fused bath electrolysis, said anodes comprising an anode stem made of a conducting metal and at least one block made of carbonaceous material called an anode block, said method including at least the following steps:

Method for making anodes for aluminium production by fused-salt electrolysis, resulting anodes and use thereof

This invention relates to pot tending module intended for aluminium production plants by fused bath electrolysis. According to the invention, the turret () of the pot tending module () is equipped with a determined set of tools, in which the tool () is mounted on a telescopic arm () fixed to the turret () through an articulated support () that enables pendular movements of the telescopic arm with respect to a determined articulation point while preventing rotation movements of the telescopic arm about its principal axis. The telescopic arms are connected to each other through a mechanical connecting device () capable of maintaining the relative angular difference between the pendular movements of the telescopic arms within a determined tolerance range. The invention enables the tools to be arranged closer to each other without any risk that they will collide during use.

Compact pot tending module for use in plants for the production of aluminum by electrolysis

A tending module () for a series of electrolytic cells () to be used for the production of aluminum by fused bath electrolysis including a frame () that can be fixed to a trolley () and a turret () fitted on the frame () so as to pivot about a vertical axis A, and equipped with a set of tools including a crust breaker (), a bucket shovel (), at least one first anode clamp () and a hopper () fitted with a retractable duct (), and a balcony or a cab () having controls that will be used to maneuver the module and the tools, and a control station () from which an operator can actuate the controls. The module according to the invention is characterized in that, taking a first plane Pand a second plane Pperpendicular to each other and to the turret () plane Pt and intersecting on the A axis, the center C of the control station () is located at a determined distance Cfrom plane Pand a determined distance Cfrom plane P, the center of the bucket shovel () and the center of the first anode clamp () are located on the opposite side of the plane Pfrom the control station (), and the crust breaker () and the retractable duct () are located between the control station () and the row formed by the bucket shovel () and the first anode clamp ().

Compact service module for use in electrolytic aluminum production plants

A device fixed to a first mast cooperates with a contact area located on the outside face of a second mast sliding substantially coaxially in the first mast. The device includes guide units including a roller mounted free to rotate about an axis orthogonal to the axis of the masts, a pad with a bearing face, and a device for displacing the axis of the roller perpendicular to the contact area of the mast, as a function of forces applied by the mast on the roller. The bearing area of the unit on the mast is thus formed by the roller only, or the roller and the pad.

Guiding device for masts which telescopes within each other

A process for changing an anode of a cell for the production of aluminum by fused bath electrolysis including a plurality of anodes. According to the invention, an anode handling tool is used including a positioning device, a gripping device and a sensor detecting the vertical position of the gripping device, and the position sensor is used to measure the vertical distances traveled by the gripping device with respect to a reference level N. At least one sound or electromagnetic waves beam is then produced in a determined reference line or plane and the passage of the anode in the beam is used to measure the distances. The vertical position of the replacement anode in the cell is determined starting from the values obtained for the traveled distances and the replacement anode is put into this position in the place initially occupied by the spent anode.

Process for changing anodes in an electrolytic aluminum production cell including adjustment of the position of the anode and device for implementing the process

Growing community of inventors

Orchies, France

Alain Van Acker