TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for use with a cathode plate in a process for utilisation of metal, for example copper, by way of electrolysis as defined in the preamble of the independent patent claim 1.

BACKGROUND

Copper is most often found in chalcopyrite and sulfide ores. Silicate, sulfate and carbonate ores also contain copper. Due to the low content of copper in these ores, it is necessary to concentrate them before electrolysis. The methods that are used for concentrating copper ore include heating in oven or reacting them with sulfuric acid.

Electrolysis improves the properties of copper as an electrical conductor. Electric equipment often contains electrolytic copper. Copper is also easy to pull and shape into pipes. Electrolytic copper has undergone refining or purification by means of electrolysis. Purification by means of electrolysis is the simplest way of obtaining pure copper.

In electrolysis, a power source is used for driving a redox reaction in a, for the electrodes, joint electrolytic solution, a solution that can conduct current. The electrolytic solution for example includes cupric sulfate, copper mixed with sulfuric acid. Electrons are added through the cathode, the negative pole. The cathode for example includes stainless steel, pure copper or titanium or a similar agent that is not affected by the current. Here positive ions wander that are reduced by meeting electrons from the surface of the cathode, whereby pure copper sticks to the cathode. Correspondingly, at the anode, which includes impure copper and is the positive pole, oxidation occurs as the negative ions drop off electrons there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention further relates to a device for use in electrolysis of copper to prevent the copper solution that sticks to the cathode plate from growing around the edges of the plate. An edge protection is arranged at the free sides of the cathode plate to prevent growth of a copper layer around the edge portions and facilitate

release of copper from the cathode plate

A prior art device includes an edge list with a groove between two lips, the one side of which is adapted to the thickness of the cathode plate. The other side of the list is provided with a groove for an expanding or splitting list. After the edge list has been placed on the edge of the cathode plate, the splitting list is pressed fixedly onto the list. The splitting list presses the lips of the edge list against the sides of the cathode plate, whereby the edge list is kept in place.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures, of which

Fig. 1 schematically shows a cathode plate immersed in an electrolyte bath Figs 2-4 show different variants of edge lists,

Fig. 5 shows an alternative edge list,

Figs 6a and 6B show another variant of an edge list

Figs 7A-7D show a variant of an edge list with alternative fixing

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The cathode plate 1 shown in the figures comprises an outspread plate formation. Fig. 1 schematically shows a cathode plate 1 immersed in an electrolyte bath 2 for production of copper in a known way. The cathode plate 1 can be made of for example titanium, stainless steel or copper. A suspension device 4 is arranged onto one edge 3 of the cathode plate, in which the cathode plate can be suspended to assume an upright position. The cathode plate's other edges 5, 6, the side edges viewed from an upright position, are arranged with edge protection or edge lists 7. The bottom edge 8 can also be arranged with an edge list, but this edge can also be provided with a parting agent, for example wax or a similar agent. The edge protections 7 are configured so that they comprise and encase the cathode plate's edge surfaces 9 and extend at least around the side edges 10 of the cathode plate, which in an active state are placed in the electrolyte bath to prevent copper from sticking and building up around and over the edge 9 of the cathode plate 1.

According to the figures, the edge protection 7 comprises two portions, a first 1 1 respectively a second 12 portion. In this configuration, the first portion/portions 1 1 comprise a first formation 1 1.1 and the second portion/portions 12 comprise a second formation 1 1.2, where the formations, when the edge protection 7 is in an active operating state, are in locked engagement with each other. The first formation and the second formation are elongated and travel along the first portion/portions 1 1 respectively the second portion/portions 12. The first formation 11.1 comprises grooves 13 and the second formation 1 1.2 comprises wedge formations 14, or vice versa, which after mounting and in interaction with each other in use of the edge protection 7 are in a locking blocked engagement/interaction with each other. The groove 13 and the wedge formation 14 each includes a first surface 15 respectively a second surface 16, where the first surface and the second surface abut against each other when the edge protection is in an operating state and prevents the second portion from being displaced from the first portion, and by means of the clamping force that is obtained/arises between the first portion and the cathode plate in a tightening way prevents copper solution that sticks to the cathode plate from growing around the edges of the cathode plate. The clamping force can be of such magnitude that a mounting tool, hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanically effective in any other way, must be used for mounting the edge protection.

The edge protection includes said first elongated portion 11 mounted onto the cathode plate 1 as well as a second elongated portion 12 that covers the cathode edge 5,6 at a surface area on each side 5,6 of the cathode plate 1. The first portion 11 includes an elongated list, which with its one longitudinal edge 17 is provided with a hole 33 and affixed in the cathode plate 1 by bolts/screws 18 through holes 32 accommodated in the cathode plate 1 , in connection with the cathode plate edge 5,6. It should hereby appear that a first portion 1 1 is mounted on both sides 19 and 20, respectively, of the cathode plate 1 , which is a mirroring from the opposite side according to Figs 2-6. The elongated list 1 1 is bent viewed in its longitudinal direction so that its other edge 17b is at a distance from the cathode plate.

The edge protection's second portion 12 comprises a material, which advantageously is not electrically conductive, for example various plastic materials, rubber or composite or a combination of these. The material must be dimensionally stable, but allow for a certain springiness, elasticity, to facilitate mounting and to facilitate loosening of the copper layer. When the copper layer is to be loosened, the cathode plate 1 is deformed, and therefore the second portion 12 of the edge protection must follow the deformation of the cathode plate.

A variant of protection edge is shown in Figs 2-4. In this variant, the first elongated portion includes a stop boss in the form of a hook formation 21 or projection formed in its other edge 17b. The hook formation has a projecting portion, a bulge 22 or a barb 23, which is intended to enter into blocking engagement with the edge protection's second portion 12. The second portion 12 of the edge protection is configured with a groove 24 between two wedge formations 14, which protrude from a main portion 25. The wedge formations 14 have been given a shape corresponding to the space that is formed between the hook formation 21 and the side 19,20 of the cathode plate. The wedge formation 14 is forced into the space to its active state by the hook formation 21 being able to spring outwards, away from the side 19,20 of the cathode plate. When the wedge 14 has passed the hook formation 21 and this has sprung backwards, the wedge 14 is retained by means of the hook formation 21 , which enters into blocking engagement with said wedge 14, whereby the second portion 12 is prevented from coming loose from the edge 9 of the cathode plate 1.

In yet another variant, which is shown in Fig. 5, the first elongated portion 1 1 is fastened with screws in holes 32,33 accommodated in the cathode's side faces 19,20 respectively the first portion 1 1 and forms grooves 13 between the free edge 17b of the first portion and the cathode plate's side faces 19,20, into which the second elongated portion 12 can be inserted. The second portion has a main portion 25, from which a pair of wedge formations 14 protrude. The wedge formations 14 and the grooves 13 substantially have the same shape. The second portion is mounted by the wedge formations being fitted against the grooves 13 at the first elongated portion's end, which is located in connection with the bottom edge 8 of the cathode plate and is inserted or drawn along the entire length of the cathode plate until the entire second portion is accommodated by the first portion. The structure shown in Fig.

5 also implies that the second portion can be mounted in the same manner as described above according to Figs 2-4.

Fig. 6A shows a variant of edge protection, where the elongated first portion 1 1 is screwed onto the cathode plate 1 via holes 33A, 33B accommodated in the first portion 1 1. The first portion 1 1 is configured with a bottom 1 1x and a leg 11 y, where the bottom 1 1x abuts against the edge surface 9 and the leg 1 1 y rests with a contact force directed in over the cathode's 1 sides 5, 6 at the cathode edge. The first portion's accommodated holes 33A, 33B provide access to the hole 32 of the cathode plate. One hole 33A is larger than the hole 33B with a view to allowing a bolt or screw with its head to pass through one of the holes 33A, but the portion 1 1x of the first portion 1 1 that abuts against the cathode plate 1 has a smaller hole 33B, with a size that hinders passage of the bolt's 18 or the screw's head. In this manner, it is possible to fasten the elongated first portion 11 with screws. In a variant, the smaller hole 33B can have the shape of a keyhole, as shown in Fig. 6B, which enables mounting the bolt/screw 18 first in the cathode plate’s hole 32, place the first elongated portion's 1 1 keyhole-shaped hole 33B over the bolt/screw head 35,36 to subsequently push the first portion 1 1 in place. Thereafter, the bolt/screw 18 is screwed on to abutment against the cathode plate 11 and in this manner attaches the first portion to the cathode plate 1 , as the screw head 35 and the nut 36 after mounting is located each in their own space A in the first portion 1 1. To further prevent copper from finding passage between the plate and the first portion, the first portion's legs 11y can be equipped with a plastic covering or rubber that is vulcanized fixedly after attaching. This further breaks the conductive contact travel between both side faces of the cathode plate so that copper is prevented from sticking. The mounting tool mentioned above helps preventing plastic or rubber covering from being damaged during mounting of the other portion.

According to the variants shown in Figs 2-6, the first elongated first portion 1 1 is screwed onto the cathode plate 1 via holes 33 accommodated in the first portion 1 1. The cathode plate 1 is provided with through-going holes 32 accommodated along the side edges 10 of the cathode plate 1. The first portion 1 1 is screwed on for example with a screw 18 with a screw head 35 and a nut 36. It should hereby appear that two identical first elongated portions 11 are screwed onto both sides of the cathode plat, on both side faces of the cathode plate.

Another variant of the edge protection is shown in Figs 7A-7D. For this variant, the elongated first portion 11 according to Fig 7C is affixed to the edge surface 9 of the cathode plate, substantially perpendicularly arranged relative to the cathode plate surfaces 19,20. The first portion 1 1 is bent according to Fig. 7C in such a manner that a bottom 1 1 x is formed and from which bottom two legs 1 1y extend along the side faces 19,20 of the cathode plate. The first portion 1 1 is attached to the edge of the cathode plate, but it should appear that said first portion 11 can comprise partial sections that are attached to the cathode plate, which partial sections form an elongated first portion. The cathode plate 1 is provided with hooks 37 accommodated in the edge surface 9 of the cathode plate according to Fig. 7A. The first elongated portion 11 is provided with corresponding notches 1 1 v, whereby the first portion 11 is hooked onto the edge surface 9 of the cathode plate in its hooks 37 shown in Figs 7A and 7B.

The edge protection's second elongated portion according to the variant shown in Figs 7A-7D has been given a form so that it encompasses the edge portion 9 of the cathode plate and at its free edges is provided with grooves 27 and hooks 28 that protrude from a main portion 29, interacting with the free edge 30 of the first portion 1 1. According to this variant, the main portion 29 is configured so that, in its active state and mounted on the cathode plate, a space A is formed between the cathode plate edge 9 and the main portion 29. The space has a size that makes it possible to press the second portion 12 over the cathode plate edge 9, and with the hooks 28 of the second portion further over the free edge 30 of the first portion 1 1. When the hooks 28 of the second portion have passed over the free edges of the first portion 1 1 , the hooks 28 of the second portion 12 are pressed in under the free edge 30 of the first portion 11 in such a manner that the free edge is placed in the second portion's grooves 27 and enter into blocking engagement. Thereafter, the main portion 29 springs out from the edge 9 of the cathode plate. In this way, the second elongated portion is prevented from coming loose from the cathode plate edge.

To further prevent copper from finding passage between the plate and the first portion according to the variant in Figs 6A-7D, the first portion's legs 1 1y can be provided with a plastic covering or rubber that is vulcanized fixedly before or after attaching. This further breaks the conductive contact travel between both side faces of the cathode plate so that copper is prevented from sticking. The mounting tool mentioned above helps preventing plastic or rubber covering from being damaged during mounting of the other portion.

The present invention is not limited to the description above and what is shown in the drawings, but can be amended and modified in a number of different ways within the framework of the intention of the inventive idea set forth in the following claims.