US4007533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for stripping an anode block from an anode assembly
Assignee: Jervis B Webb Co
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Filing: 1975-11-24
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Granted: 1977-02-15
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Expires: 1995-11-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for stripping an anode block, or butt, from an anode assembly used in aluminum smelting includes a conveyor having a carrier from which the anode assembly is suspended and a stripping station on the path of travel of the conveyor. At the stripping station, the support of the anode assembly is transferred from the carrier to an anvil which is mounted in the path of movement of the anode assembly so as to be engageable by the yoke portion thereof. The transfer is accomplished by lowering the carrier and anode assembly on a lift section of the conveyor, stabilizing the anode assembly against longitudinal and transverse swinging movements, and forwarding the carrier and the anode assembly along the lift section to a stripping position by a feeding device, the yoke of the anode assembly engaging an upwardly inclined ramp surface on the anvil during this forwarding movement and thereby transferring the weight of the anode assembly from the carrier to the anvil. A pair of pivoted stripping heads then move downwardly against the upper face of the anode block, stripping it from the yoke, and any portion of the anode block which still remains attached to the yoke is stripped therefrom by the anvil as the lift section is raised.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross H. Brandon
- 👤 Peter P. Zeffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:32
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C3/08; C25C3/12; C25C3/125; B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49819; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53274; Y10T29/53796; Y10T29/5383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for stripping an anode block from an anode assembly which consists of said anode block, a yoke attached thereto, and a rod having one end secured to the yoke, said apparatus comprising: an anode assembly conveyor including a carrier track, a carrier supported thereon, and means for propelling the carrier along the carrier track; suspension means attaching the other end of the rod of the anode assembly to the carrier; a stripping station located along the path of carrier travel on the carrier track; said stripping station including a fixedly mounted anvil located below the carrier track and having supporting means for engaging the yoke of the anode assembly, transfer means for transferring the support of the anode assembly from the conveyor carrier to said supporting means, stripping means mounted adjacent to the anvil for movement relative thereto, and means for moving the stripping means into engagement with the anode block of the anode assembly supported by said supporting means to strip the anode block from the yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for stripping an anode block from an anode assembly which consists of said anode block, a yoke attached thereto, and a rod having one end secured to the yoke, said apparatus comprising: an anode assembly conveyor including a carrier track, a carrier supported thereon, and means for propelling the carrier along the carrier track; suspension means attaching the other end of the rod of the anode assembly to the carrier; a stripping station located along the path of carrier travel on the carrier track; said stripping station including a fixedly mounted anvil located below the carrier track and having supporting means for engaging the yoke of the anode assembly, transfer means for transferring the support of the anode assembly from the conveyor carrier to said supporting means, stripping means mounted adjacent to the anvil for movement relative thereto, and means for moving the stripping means into engagement with the anode block of the anode assembly supported by said supporting means to strip the anode block from the yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes a lift section in the carrier track movable between a raised position of horizontal alignment therewith and a lowered position in which the yoke of the anode assembly is engageable with the supporting means of the anvil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said transfer means further includes feeding means for advancing the carrier and the anode assembly suspended therefrom along the lift section from an initial position in which the anode assembly is in advance of the anvil to a stripping position in which the yoke of the anode assembly is engaged with and supported by the anvil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the anvil comprises a member extending longitudinally of the path of carrier travel, said member having an upper surface forming said supporting means, said upper surface including an upwardly inclined entry portion engageable by the yoke of the anode assembly during the advancing movement thereof by said feeding means to raise the yoke of the anode assembly and thereby transfer the support of the anode assembly to said supporting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means for stabilizing the anode assembly during the advancing movement thereof by said feeding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of guide rails extending parallel to the path of carrier travel and engageable by the rod of the anode assembly to restrain movement thereof transversely of the path of travel, and a rod engaging yoke movably carried by the feeding means to restrain movement of the anode assembly parallel to the path of travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises feeding means for advancing the carrier and the anode assembly suspended therefrom along the carrier track from an initial position in which the anode assembly is in advance of the anvil to a stripping position in which the yoke of the anode assembly is engaged with and supported by the anvil, the anvil supporting means including a yoke engaging surface having an entry portion which is inclined upwardly so as to raise the anode assembly and thereby transfer the support thereof to said supporting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further including means for stabilizing the anode assembly against swinging movement during operation of said feeding and stripping means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the anvil includes an abutment engageable by the yoke of an anode assembly to locate the anode block relative to said stripping means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the yoke of the anode assembly has a base portion secured to said rod, and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the base portion into attachment with the upper face of the anode block at locations thereon spaced transversely relative to the path of carrier travel; and wherein the anvil comprises a cantilever mounted member whose free end projects upstream relative to the direction of carrier travel, said anvil member having an upper surface providing said supporting means and engageable by the base portion of the yoke, and said anvil member having a lower surface opposed to that portion of the upper face of the anode block between the legs of the yoke.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the upper surface of the anvil member includes an entry portion which is inclined upwardly in the direction of carrier travel and which forms part of said transfer means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for moving the rod and yoke of the anode assembly relative to the anvil member subsequently to movement of the stripping means whereby any portion of the anode block remaining between the legs of the yoke is stripped by engagement with the lower surface of the anvil member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for moving the rod and yoke of the anode assembly relative to the anvil member comprises a lift section in the carrier track, said lift section forming part of said transfer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said lift section is movable between a raised position of horizontal alignment with the carrier track and a lowered position in which the upper surface of the anvil member is engageable by the base portion of the yoke.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
For use with an anode assembly including a rod, a yoke secured to one end of the rod and an anode block having an upper face attached to the yoke, apparatus for stripping the anode block from the yoke comprising: an anvil having supporting means for engaging the yoke of the anode assembly, the anvil having a lower surface opposed to at least a portion of the upper face of the anode block; stripping means for engaging the anode block of an anode assembly whose yoke is engaged with the supporting means of the anvil; and, means for moving the rod and yoke of the anode assembly relative to the anvil subsequently to the engagement of the anode block by said stripping means whereby any remaining portion of the anode block opposed to the lower surface of the anvil is stripped by said lower surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
For use with an anode assembly including a rod, a yoke secured to one end of the rod and an anode block having an upper face attached to the yoke, apparatus for stripping the anode block from the yoke comprising: an anvil having supporting means for engaging the yoke of the anode assembly, the anvil having a lower surface opposed to at least a portion of the upper face of the anode block; stripping means for engaging the anode block of an anode assembly whose yoke is engaged with the supporting means of the anvil; and, means for moving the rod and yoke of the anode assembly relative to the anvil subsequently to the engagement of the anode block by said stripping means whereby any remaining portion of the anode block opposed to the lower surface of the anvil is stripped by said lower surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3326139A
Cited
US3708128A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-15 | 1980-08-16 | 1981-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-15 | 1984-08-16 | 1985-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-15 | 1988-08-16 | 1989-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |