Clamping device for anode rods

Claim 1

In combination with a bus bar assembly having a flat, substantially vertical clamping surface against which one side of a flat-sided anode rod is adapted to be clamped, a pair of substantially horizontal support brackets disposed on opposite sides of said clamping surface in horizontally spaced, straddling relation thereto; first pivot pin means rotatably carried by one of said brackets for pivotal motion about a vertical axis parallel to said clamping surface; elongate clamping means fixed at one end to said first pivot pin means for movement toward and away from a position bridging between said support brackets in outwardly spaced relation to said clamping surface; second pivot pin means rotatably carried by the other support bracket about a vertical axis parallel to that of said first pivot means; cam means fixed to said second pivot pin means for urging said elongate clamping means when in said bridging position thereof, forcibly toward said clamping surface about the axis of said first pivot pin; said clamping means including a second flat clamping surface adapted to engage that side of an anode rod opposite to the side thereof engaged with the clamping surface of the bus bar assembly; and first actuating meanS coaxial with the pivot axis of said first pivot pin means and upstanding from and connected to said first pivot means for rotating said first pivot pin means independently of rotation of said second pivot pin means and second actuating means coaxial with the pivot axis of said second pivot pin means and upstanding from and fixed to said second pivot means for rotating said second pivot pin means independently of rotation of said first pivot pin means, whereby an anode rod may be positionally gripped by operation of said first actuating means while the second actuating means is operated to effect camming and release of said cam means.