Apparatus for Installation of Cathode Dome with Diaphragm in Electrolytic Cell

1,186,071. Installing diaphragms in electrolytic cells. E.I. ADAEV, A.V. BLINOV, G.M. KAMARIAN, V.A. NOVOSELOV, V. N. SUCHKOV AND L. M. JAKIMENKO. Feb. 23, 1967, No. 8707/67. Heading C7B. Apparatus for the installation of a cathode dome 9 and cylindrical diaphragm 11 in an electrolytic cell, e. g. for the production of sodium by the electrolysis of sodium chloride in a fused halide bath, includes a stand for assembling the dome, diaphragm and a dome supporting frame; an electrolytic cell in which the assembly is to be used; and a transferable hoisting and setting means for transference of the assembly from the assembly stand to the electrolytic cell; the assembly stand and the cell each being provided with a similar locating means which mate with a locating means on the hoisting and setting means, and by means of which the relative positions which will be occupied by the diaphragm and the electrodes when the diaphragm is mounted in the cell, can be determined during assembly of the diaphragm, dome and dome supporting frame with reference to the assembly stand. In the embodiment shown the assembly stand comprises a cylinder 1 mounted on base 2, and a plate 5 mounted on supports 4, the plate 5 being provided with centreing pins 6. Mounted above the electrolytic cell is a similar plate (51) provided with centreing pins (61), see Fig. 3 (not shown), the pins 61 having a similar relationship to the electrodes in the electrolytic cell, as the pins 6 do to the cylinder 1 of the assembly stand shown. The hoisting and setting means shown in position above the plate 5 includes a cylinder 13 provided with flanges 20 in which recesses are formed to accommodate the pins 6 or 61 when positioned above the assembly stand or cell, respectively. Mounting of a diaphragm 11 and cathode dome 9 into the cell comprises assembling the diaphragm 11 and dome 9, and connecting them to the carrying frame 10 via bolts 12, such that the diaphragm/dome assembly is concentric with respect to the cylinder 1, winching the assembly up into the cylinder 13, transfering the cylinder 13 and associated structures to the electrolytic cell by means of, for instance, a gantry crane, engaging the recesses in the flanges 20 of cylinder 13 with the pins (61) of the (51) which is mounted above the cell, and lowering the diaphragm and dome down into the cell and between the electrodes which are arranged concentrically one about the other.