Cathode assembly for electrolytic cells

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A REFRACTORY METAL, SAID CELL HAVING A CHAMBER FOR CONTAINING A FUSED SALT BATH, ANODE AND CATHODE COMPARTMENTS IN SAID CHAMBER, AN ANODE IN SAID ANODE COMPARTMENT SAID A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT CONNECTED TO SAID ANODE; A CATHODE ASSEMBLY IN SAID CATHODE COMPARTMENT, SAID CATHODE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TUBULAR CATHODE HAVING OPEN ENDS AND A CATHODIC BASKET ATTACHED THERETO HAVING PERFORANTED SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL; FEED MEANS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER OPEN END OF SAID TUBULAR CATHODE FOR FEEDING A REFRACTORY METAL HALIDE INTO SAID FUSED SALT BATH; SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT CONNECTED TO SAID CATHODE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTROLYZING SAID FUSED SALT BATH, THEREBY TO REDUCE SAID REFRACTORY METAL HALIDE TO METAL, SAID CATHODIC BASKET HAVING A PERFORANTED TUBE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND TERMINATED BY AN IMPERFORATE END WALL BELOW THE BOTTOM OPEN END OF SAID TUBULAR CATHODE TO MAINTAIN A CONCENTRATION DIFFERENTIAL OF REDUCE REFRACTORY METAL HALIDES IN SAID FUSED SALT BATH WITHIN SAID CATHODIC BASKET DURING THE REDUCTION OF SAID REFRACTORY METAL HALIDE TO METAL; AND AN IMPREFORATE CATHODIC METALLIC HOOD CONNECTED TO ANS ARANGED TO CIRCUMSCRIBE THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CATHODIC BASKET, THEREBY TO CONFINE SAID METAL TO SAID CATHODIC BASKET.