Portable method for filter press cell assembly

Claim 1

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) assembling a plurality of horizontally positioned electrodes in parallel side-by-side relationship, each adjacent pair of electrodes being sandwiched about a separator thereby forming a vertically rising stack, each electrode further having a periphery, the cumulative electrode peripheries thereby defining a periphery for the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state; (f) activating the tightening control means to relieve the compression on the tightening means while the stack is retained in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means, and (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell.

Claim 2

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) assembling a plurality of horizontally positioned electrodes in parallel side-by-side relationship, each adjacent pair of electrodes being sandwiched about a separator thereby forming a vertically rising stack, each electrode further having a periphery, the cumulative electrode peripheries thereby defining a periphery for the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state; (f) activating the tightening control means to relieve the compression on the tightening means while the stack is retained in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means, and (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell.

Claim 8

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of cathodes and anodes in alternating sequence in a stack at an assembly location, each cathode and anode having a periphery which taken cumulatively defines the periphery of the stack, each cathode and anode further being sandwiched about a separator such that there is one more cathode than anode in the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state via retaining means; (f) deactivating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously relieve the compression exerted via the tightening means while the retaining means continues to secure the stack in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means; and (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell.

Claim 9

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of cathodes and anodes in alternating sequence in a stack at an assembly location, each cathode and anode having a periphery which taken cumulatively defines the periphery of the stack, each cathode and anode further being sandwiched about a separator such that there is one more cathode than anode in the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state via retaining means; (f) deactivating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously relieve the compression exerted via the tightening means while the retaining means continues to secure the stack in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means; and (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell.

Claim 12

The method according to claims 8 or 9 further comprising assembling end cathodes as the first and last cathodes in the plurality of cathodes in the stack.

Claim 14

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) assembling a plurality of horizontally positioned electrodes in parallel side-by-side relationship; each adjacent pair of electrodes being sandwiched about a separator thereby forming a vertically rising stack, each electrode further having a periphery which cumulatively taken defines the periphery of the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state; (f) deactivating the tightening control means to relieve the compression exerted via the tightening means while the stack is secured in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means; (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell; (i) rotating the compressed vertical stack so that the horizontally positioned electrodes and the separators are positioned vertically in an assembled cell; (j) connecting the vertically positioned assembled cell into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (k) electrolytically operating the vertically positioned assembled cell.

Claim 15

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) assembling a plurality of horizontally positioned electrodes in parallel side-by-side relationship; each adjacent pair of electrodes being sandwiched about a separator thereby forming a vertically rising stack, each electrode further having a periphery which cumulatively taken defines the periphery of the stack; (b) placing a plurality of tightening means at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (d) activating the tightening control means to substantially simultaneously and substantially uniformly compress the stack via the tightening means at the selected locations; (e) securing the compressed stack in its compressed state; (f) deactivating the tightening control means to relieve the compression exerted via the tightening means while the stack is secured in its compressed state; (g) disconnecting the tightening control means from the tightening means; (h) removing the tightening means from the selected locations about the periphery of the cell; (i) rotating the compressed vertical stack so that the horizontally positioned electrodes and the separators are positioned vertically in an assembled cell; (j) connecting the vertically positioned assembled cell into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (k) electrolytically operating the vertically positioned assembled cell.

Claim 21

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of cathodes and anodes in alternating sequence in a stack at an assembly location, each cathode and anode being circumscribed by a frame to which are attached the opposing respective cathode and anode electrode surfaces, the frames thereby defining a periphery for the stack, each adjacent cathode and anode further being sandwiched about a separator such that there is one more cathode than anode in the stack; (b) inserting a plurality of tie bolts into retainer sleeves on the cell at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) fastening tightening means to at least one of the tie bolts located about the periphery of the stack; (d) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (e) activating the tightening means to compress the stack; (f) securing the compressed stack at the selected tie bolt location; (g) deactivating the tightening control means while the compressed stack continues to be compressed at the selected tie bolt location; (h) unfastening the tightening means from the selected tie bolt and refastening it to another tie bolt; (i) activating the tightening means to compress the stack; (j) securing the compressed stack at the selected tie bolt location; (k) deactivating the tightening control means while the compressed stack continues to be compressed at the selected tie bolt location; (l) unfastening the tightening means from the selected tie bolt and refastening it to another tie bolt; and (m) repeating steps i-l a predetermined number of times until the entire stack is compressed and secured about its entire periphery.

Claim 22

A method of assembling a filter press type of electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of cathodes and anodes in alternating sequence in a stack at an assembly location, each cathode and anode being circumscribed by a frame to which are attached the opposing respective cathode and anode electrode surfaces, the frames thereby defining a periphery for the stack, each adjacent cathode and anode further being sandwiched about a separator such that there is one more cathode than anode in the stack; (b) inserting a plurality of tie bolts into retainer sleeves on the cell at selected locations about the periphery of the stack; (c) fastening tightening means to at least one of the tie bolts located about the periphery of the stack; (d) connecting the tightening means to a tightening control means; (e) activating the tightening means to compress the stack; (f) securing the compressed stack at the selected tie bolt location; (g) deactivating the tightening control means while the compressed stack continues to be compressed at the selected tie bolt location; (h) unfastening the tightening means from the selected tie bolt and refastening it to another tie bolt; (i) activating the tightening means to compress the stack; (j) securing the compressed stack at the selected tie bolt location; (k) deactivating the tightening control means while the compressed stack continues to be compressed at the selected tie bolt location; (l) unfastening the tightening means from the selected tie bolt and refastening it to another tie bolt; and (m) repeating steps i-l a predetermined number of times until the entire stack is compressed and secured about its entire periphery.