Apparatus for electrolytic production of a metal product from fused salts

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR PRODUCING METAL PRODUCTS WHICH ARE LESS DENSE THAN THE FUSED ELECTROLYTE THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT POROUS CATHODE ADAPTED TO BE SATURATED WITH LIQUID METAL PRODUCT; AN ANODE HAVING THE SHAPE OF A GRID OR SCREEN PERMITTING GASEOUS BY-PRODUCTS FORMED ON THE ANODE TO PASS THERETHROUGH; SAID ANODE AND SAID CATHODE EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANES IMMERSED IN THE ELECTROLYTE, THE ANODE BEING LOCATED OVER SAID CATHODE; A SUCTION CHAMBER TIGHTLY ATTACHED TO THE CATHODE IN OPPOSITE RELATION TO THE ANODE, THE CATHODE FORMING THE TOP COVER OF SAID CHAMBER; A SUCTION PIPING ATTACHED TO SAID SUCTION CHAMBER TO SUCK LIQUID METAL PRODUCT DEPOSITED ON AND SATURATING THE POROUS CATHODE INTO AND FROM SAID CHAMBER; MEANS TO CREATE AND TO CONTROL THE SUCTION ACTION; AND RECEIVING MEANS COLLECTING THE SUCKED LIQUID METAL PRODUCT APART FROM THE ELECTROLYTE AND THE GASEOUS HALIDE PRODUCTS.