Cominco, Ltd.

Other

Robert D Willans

Eric L Mawer

Robert E Manwell

Martin Vanderminnen

Dale L McRae

Edward G Baggio

Michael Graham

Harry T Redhead

Harold K Harper

George H Reeves

A system for casting electrodes includes a row of stationary, adjacent, plate casting molds flanked by a launder containing molten metal and a walking beam conveyor. One or two travelling carriages straddle the molds, launder and conveyor. A travelling carriage comprises a pair of rotary dippers, a pair of tipping/dispensers and electrode lifting device. Each dipper scoops a predetermined amount of molten metal from the launder and, while rotating, discharges it into a dispenser. When filled, the dispensers simultaneously tip to fill a mold from both sides of a mold center line over substantially the full length of parallel sidewall portions of the mold, whereby wave action is dampened and molten metal solidifies with even thickness and without flash. The bottom of the mold is water-cooled during casting. While an electrode is cast in one mold, the lifting device lifts anelectrode from an adjacent mold and transfers it onto the conveyor which then moves electrodes over a distance equal to that between electrode center lines. The operation of the travelling carriage, dippers, dispensers, water sprays, lifting device and conveyor are carefully timed, sequenced and concurrent where possible.

Electrode casting system

Molten metals or alloys are poured into a stationary plate mold from at least one elongated pouring device such that melt overflows the length of the mold. The pouring energy is dissipated by flowing the elongated flow from one stationary device against an energy dissipating plate adjacent the pouring device in proximity to either one of the mold center lines such that the flow forms two balanced streams on the bottom of the mold. Alternatively, an elongated flow is poured from each of two stationary pouring devices positioned in opposing directions along the opposite sidewalls of the mold. Alternatively, the two pouring devices may move from one of the mold center lines towards the sidewalls while pouring molten metal. The pouring energy is dissipated by flowing two of the balanced streams formed on the bottom of the mold towards each other. The dissipation of pouring energy results in the substantial elimination of wave action and flash whereby castings with an even thickness are produced. Apparatus for carrying out the method is described. The plate mold preferably has a layer of flexible insulating material, that may be at least partly molded, attached to its substantially vertical sidewall.

Method and apparatus for the casting of metals

Method and apparatus for the agitation of base metal on alloy melts, and for the agitation and alloying of base metal melts with at least one alloying metal. A rotatable device is suspended in a melt of base metal and the device is rotated to draw at least a partial vortex in the melt. The device comprises a hollow cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom. An array of openings in the cylinder side wall is adapted to allow melt of the base metal to pass through. In the agitation of a base metal or alloy melt, the amount of dross formed on the melt is reduced. In alloying, the at least one alloying metal may be added directly to the melt or may be added in particulate form into the vortex in the device, the latter being particularly useful when the melting point of the alloying metal is higher than that of the base metal or alloy. When added into the device, the openings in the cylindrical wall are adapted to retain the particulates in the device to be washed with base metal until the particulates are substantially dissolved. Alloys produced using the device have narrow standard deviations from their specification. The alloying proceeds more efficiently with formation of less dross and less off-specification material, proceeds faster and in less time than heretofore possible, and allows production on a continuous basis.

Method for agitating metals and producing alloys

A rotatable device is suspended in a melt of zinc and the device is rotated to draw a vortex in the melt. The device comprises a hollow cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom. An array of openings in the cylinder side wall is adapted to allow zinc melt to pass through. Nickel is added in particulate form into the vortex in the device. The openings in the cylindrical wall are adapted to retain the nickel particulates in the device to be washed with molten zinc until the particulates are substantially dissolved. The temperature is kept at a minimal value, i.e., no superheat is required to dissolve the nickel homogeneously throughout the zinc melt. After the nickel is dissolved, the nickel-zinc melt is solidified in zinc slabs. The zinc slabs containing nickel have narrow standard deviations from their specification. The dissolving proceeds more efficiently with formation of less dross and less off-specification material, proceeds faster and in less time than heretofore possible, and allows production on a continuous basis.

Method and apparatus for dissolving nickel in molten zinc

A dry method and apparatus for the removal of at least a portion of a removable layer of adhering impurity substances from at least one surface of an essentially electrode used in the electrolytic deposition of metals, which method comprises contacting the electrode surface with at least one cleaning means consisting of a rotating member which has attached thereto a plurality of radially projecting flexible fingers having a length to diameter ratio of about 3.56:1 and wherein the axis of rotation of the member is substantially parallel to the surface of the electrode. The rotating member may be cylindrical member having fingers attached thereto, or may be a shaft having a number of arms radially attached, the arms having attached thereto the fingers which contact the electrode. The method and apparatus of this invention afford better control of the amount of material removed, minimize electrode surface damage, and eliminate the need to process water containing removed solids.

Method for cleaning electrodes

A method and apparatus for conveying and stripping electro-deposited metal sheets from cathode plates. A plurality of stations including a feed station, initial horizontal parting station, main vertical stripping station, replacement station, and discharge station are sequentially arranged within the stripping apparatus and cathode plates having metal sheet deposits thereon are conveyed through the apparatus by means of a reciprocating transfer carriage in combination with supporting slide bars and indexing means. Metal sheet deposits are stripped in a fast, simple and efficient manner by using closed entry horizontal knives to effect initial parting of each deposit and vertical stripping knives to remove the deposits from the two sides of the cathode plate without clamping of the cathode plate while controlling cathode plate sway. Liberated metal sheets are quickly removed from the apparatus and stripped cathode plates are conveyed from the apparatus at a discharge station.

Method and apparatus for stripping cathodes

A method and an apparatus for brushing electrodes such as cathodes used in the electrowinning of zinc and copper wherein opposite surfaces of laterally moving electrodes are cleaned in the area of solution lines with a first pair of stationary, opposed, rotating auxiliary brushes and immediately thereafter the opposite surfaces of stationary electrodes are cleaned below the solution line and between edge sticks with a second pair of vertically moving, opposed, rotating main brushes. The main brushes are pivotally mounted on a pair of vertically-reciprocal carriages having means to center an electrode therebetween.

Electrode brushing apparatus

An apparatus for recovering electrodeposited metal in the form of a metal layer comprising: (a) means for supporting in a vertical position at least one basis metal cathode plate having adhering to at least part of at least one surface an electrodeposited metal layer wherein a boundary edge of the metal layer and the basis cathode plate metal each define one side wall of a V-shaped groove and the angle between the side walls of the groove is less than 90.degree.; and (b) at least one unitary stripping means comprising a first stripping means integral with a second stripping means wherein the first stripping means comprises a wedge adapted to be inserted into the V-shaped groove to initiate separation of electrodeposited metal from the basis cathode plate and the second stripping means comprises a blade adapted to propagate said separation. A typical use of this apparatus is the separation of electrodeposited zinc from an aluminum basis metal cathode.

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Trail, Canada

Robert D Willans