Swiss Aluminium Ltd.

Edwin Gut

Hans Friedli

Erwin Arnold

Gottfried Maugweiler

Peter Aeschbach

Thomas Haggenmacher

Carbon anode blocks for use in the fused salt electrolytic process for producing aluminum, are attached to the studs or spades of an anode suspension means by an adhesive mass which is mechanically strong and a good electrical conductor at least at temperatures between 900.degree. and 1000.degree. C. The studs or spades are preheated to 30.degree.-60.degree. C. and/or the anode blocks at least in the region of the holes for the said studs or spades to 25.degree.-40.degree. C. At the latest 60 seconds after inserting the anode suspension means i.e. after immersion of the studs or spades in the cold-poured adhesive mass, the adhesive mass exceeds a temperature of 25.degree. C. The lowering of the studs or the spades is achieved in the shortest possible time by vibrating the anode blocks and/or the anode suspension means. The stabilizing of this arrangement, at least until the adhesive mix has partly hardened, is achieved preferably by spiking or wedging.

Process for attaching anode blocks to an anode suspension means

A chisel for a crust breaking facility for breaking through the solidified crust of electrolyte on an electrolytic cell, in particular a cell for producing aluminum, is such that at least a part of the edge region on the bottom face of the chisel projects out beyond the other regions and is in the form of cutting edges. The bottom face of the chisel features no faces which are inclined outwards and would create outward directed forces as the chisel is forced through the crust. The chisel of the invention allows energy and investment costs to be reduced.

Chisel for a crust breaking facility

Device and method for breaking open the solidified crust of electrolyte on an electrolytic cell, in particular a cell for producing aluminum. At least one projection is provided on the lower part of the shaft of a chisel used on a crust breaker. After breaking through the crust, the chisel is lowered further at least until the lowest projection or projections reaches the lower half of the crust.

Method of using a chisel for a crust breaking facility

The invention relates to a chisel alignment unit for a facility for breaking the crust of solidified electrolyte on an electrolytic cell, in particular on a cell for producing aluminum. A mechanically stable alignment box extends from the under side of the chisel in its non-working position to the piston rod. The chisel features at least one vertical alignment surface which is in contact with at least one alignment roll mounted on the alignment box by means of roller bearings. A wiper for removing electrolyte from the chisel is mounted below the alignment rolls and extends over the full width of the alignment surface or surfaces.

Chisel alignment unit for a crust breaking facility

The invention relates to a device for point feeding an electrolytic cell, in particular a cell for producing aluminum. A point feeder unit comprising a raw materials feeding device and a crust breaking facility releasably mounted on a storage bunker is mounted on a beam, can be freely displaced along and/or across the cell and can be removed in the vertical direction with a crane.

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Steg, Switzerland

Edwin Gut