Electrode assembly with flexible gas baffle conductor

Abstract

An electrode assembly is disclosed which includes a common electrode riser and two opposed working faces. A movable, electrically conductive, downwardly opening gas baffle is provided between the faces to connect the faces to the riser and to bias the faces away from one another. The baffle also directs flow of electrically produced gases between the faces from an upward to a primarily sideways direction parallel to said faces. A diaphragm can surround the electrode assembly, if desired. A method of assembling a diaphragm-type electrolytic cell is disclosed. The method includes placing a low friction protective sheet over an outer end of one of a plurality of electrode units and forcibly interleaving the protected electrode units with a plurality of other electrode units so as to contact the other electrode units by compressive forces applied to the other electrode units through the protective sheet and then removing the protective sheet so as to allow the other electrode units to expand against the formerly protected electrode unit. Further disclosed is an expandable electrode assembly having at least two opposed working faces and a biasing device attached to each of the working faces for biasing the faces away from each other so as to expansively bias the assembly. An adjustable contraction device is attached to the bias device in order to contract the bias device and move the faces toward each other into a first position spaced a selected distance from one another. A releasable restraint device is also provided in order to hold the faces in the first position and selectively release the faces to move from the first position to a second position spaced a greater distance from onw another than the selected distance. The restraint means can be a member which will corrode responsive to the presence of a corrosive medium thereabout.