Vertical-pass electrotreating cell

Claim 1

In an apparatus for the electrotreating of an extended length of metal strip comprising, two tube-like elecrolyte corridors for the passage of electrolyte therethrough, said tube-like corridors being supported, with their axes substantially vertical, above an electrolyte tank, an ingress roll over which the strip passes prior to its downward passage into the upper portion of one of said corridors, supported in said tank, a sink-roll around which the strip passes prior to its entrance into the lower portion of the second of said corridors, an egress roll over which the strip passes after its passage from the upper portion of said second corridor, means for supplying an electrotreating current to said strip, means for flowing electrolyte into the lower portions of said corridors and overflow means for carrying electrolyte from the upper portions of said corridors back to said electrolyte tank, the improvement, in which said means for supplying an electrotreating current include electrodes inserted into holes in the corridor walls and insertable from the outer surface of said walls, the outer wall surface in proximity to such electrodes being free from contact by the electrolyte, said electrodes (i) having an outer flange portion for exerting a liquid-tight sealing force against the corridor wall outer surface and (ii) an inner portion inserted into said wall holes, such that when so inserted (a) the inner electrode face will be in parallel opposition to a strip face and substantially flush with the corridor wall inner surface and (b) the horizontal electrode surface immediate to said inner electrode face is in liquid-tight engagement with the hole surface surrounding it.