US5032245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reticulate electrode bus connection
Assignee: Eltech Systems Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-04
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2010-01-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention resides in a guide for a reticulate electrode bus connector. The guide comprises a body portion having an upper surface. A pair of spaced apart legs depend downwardly from a body portion and define with the body portion a guide longitudinal dimension. The legs define a longitudinally extending slot dimensioned to accommodate the reticulate electrode. The legs comprise planar, facing inner surfaces adapted to press against opposite sides of the electrode. A longitudinally extending ductway extends from the body portion upper surface to a slot. The ductway is aligned with a center line of the slot intermediate the planar facing inner surfaces. A plurality of openings extend through each of the legs communicating with the slot. The openings expose a substantial portion of the surface area of the reticulate electrode within the confines of the slot and are substantially uniformly disposed along the legs.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfiero Gemelli
- 👤 Yves Pellet
- 👤 James J. Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:59
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B9/00; C25B9/60; C25B9/65; C25C; C25C7/00; C25C7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A guide for a reticulate electrode and a rigid wire bus connector therefor comprising: a body portion comprising an upper edge and spaced-apart sides; a pair of spaced-apart downwardly extending guide legs depending from said body portion, said legs defining a slot adapted to accommodate a reticulate electrode, said legs pressing against opposite sides of said spaced apart electrode; a ductway intermediate said sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector; and a plurality of horizontally extending openings in said legs communicating with said slot adapted to allow electrolyte to flow into said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A guide for a reticulate electrode and a rigid wire bus connector therefor comprising: a body portion comprising an upper edge and spaced-apart sides; a pair of spaced-apart downwardly extending guide legs depending from said body portion, said legs defining a slot adapted to accommodate a reticulate electrode, said legs pressing against opposite sides of said spaced apart electrode; a ductway intermediate said sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector; and a plurality of horizontally extending openings in said legs communicating with said slot adapted to allow electrolyte to flow into said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guide of claim 1 wherein said openings expose a substantial surface area of said electrode with said slot and are substantially uniformly disposed along said legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The guide of claim 1 wherein said legs comprise facing planar inner surfaces adapted to press against the opposite sides of said electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The guide of claim 1 further comprising an arm extending laterally from said body portion having a terminal edge adapted to be aligned with an edge of said electrode for positioning said guide with respect to said edge of said electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guide of claim 1 separable into halves along a line of separation aligned with said guide slot, further comprising coupling means for coupling separable halves together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A reticulate electrode assembly for electrolytic cells comprising: (a) a flat, reticulate electrode having an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) a rigid wire bus connector adapted to penetrate into said reticulate electrode from said upper edge; (c) a guide for said wire bus connector, said guide comprising: (1) a guide body portion having an upper edge and space-apart sides, (2) a pair of spaced-apart guide legs depending downwardly from said body portion away from said upper edge, said legs defining an elongated guide slot, (3) a ductway intermediate said spaced-apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector, (4) said guide body portion being seated on said electrode upper edge with said elongated slot accommodating said electrode, said legs pressing against opposite electrode sides, and (5) a plurality of apertures in said legs exposing said electrode to electrolyte in electrolytic cells through said legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
A reticulate electrode assembly for electrolytic cells comprising: (a) a flat, reticulate electrode having an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) a rigid wire bus connector adapted to penetrate into said reticulate electrode from said upper edge; (c) a guide for said wire bus connector, said guide comprising: (1) a guide body portion having an upper edge and space-apart sides, (2) a pair of spaced-apart guide legs depending downwardly from said body portion away from said upper edge, said legs defining an elongated guide slot, (3) a ductway intermediate said spaced-apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector, (4) said guide body portion being seated on said electrode upper edge with said elongated slot accommodating said electrode, said legs pressing against opposite electrode sides, and (5) a plurality of apertures in said legs exposing said electrode to electrolyte in electrolytic cells through said legs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 6 wherein said guide apertures expose a substantial surface area of said electrode within said slot and are substantially uniformly disposed along said legs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 6 wherein the wire bus connector penetrates into said reticulate electrode a distance necessary to establish both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection of the wire bus connector with such reticulate electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 8 wherein said guide legs have a length substantially the same as the distance of penetration of the bus connector into the reticulate electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 6 wherein said guide legs comprise facing planar inner surfaces pressing against opposite sides of said electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 6, said guide further comprising an arm extending laterally with respect to said guide slot from said guide body portion, said arm having a terminal edge aligned with an edge of said electrode positioning said guide with respect to the edge of said electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reticulate electrode assembly of claim 6, said guide being separable into halves along a line of separation aligned with said guide slot, further comprising coupling means for coupling said guide halves together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
An electrolytic cell comprising: (a) at least one planar reticulate electrode comprising an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) at least one rigid wire bus connector penetrating into said reticulate electrode from said upper edge; (c) at least one guide for said wire bus connector comprising: (1) a body portion having an upper edge and spaced-apart sides, (2) a pair of spaced apart guide legs depending downwardly from said body portion away from said upper edge, said legs defining an elongated guide slot, (3) a ductway intermediate said spaced apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector, (4) said guide body portion being seated on said electrode upper edge with said elongated slot accommodating said electrode, said legs pressing against said electrode opposite sides, and (5) a plurality of apertures in said legs exposing said electrode to electrolyte in said cell through said legs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
An electrolytic cell comprising: (a) at least one planar reticulate electrode comprising an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) at least one rigid wire bus connector penetrating into said reticulate electrode from said upper edge; (c) at least one guide for said wire bus connector comprising: (1) a body portion having an upper edge and spaced-apart sides, (2) a pair of spaced apart guide legs depending downwardly from said body portion away from said upper edge, said legs defining an elongated guide slot, (3) a ductway intermediate said spaced apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said ductway being dimensioned to accommodate said wire bus connector, (4) said guide body portion being seated on said electrode upper edge with said elongated slot accommodating said electrode, said legs pressing against said electrode opposite sides, and (5) a plurality of apertures in said legs exposing said electrode to electrolyte in said cell through said legs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein said guide apertures expose a substantial surface area of said electrode within said slot and are substantially uniformly disposed along said legs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein the wire bus connector penetrates into said reticulate electrode a distance necessary to establish both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection of the wire bus connector with such reticulate electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 15 wherein said guide legs have a length substantially the same as the distance of penetration of said wire bus connector into the reticulate electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein said guide is plastic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein said guide further comprises an arm extending at right angles from said body portion and having a free edge spaced from said body portion, said free edge being aligned with an edge of said electrode positioning said guide with respect to said electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein said guide legs comprise inside planar facing surfaces pressing against opposite sides of said electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 wherein said guide is separable into two halves, further comprising coupling means coupling said halves together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
135 words
A guide member section for a reticulate electrode and a rigid wire bus connector therefor, said guide member section comprising: a body portion comprising an upper edge and spaced-apart sides; a downwardly extending leg depending from said body portion, said leg serving with an opposing guide member section leg to define a slot adapted to accommodate a reticulate electrode, said leg in use pressing against a side of said electrode; an indentation intermediate said spaced apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said indentation being dimensioned to at least partly accommodate said wire bus connector; a plurality of horizontally extending openings in said leg communicating with said slot adapted to allow electrolyte flow into said slot; and means for coupling said guide member section to the opposing guide member section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
135 words
A guide member section for a reticulate electrode and a rigid wire bus connector therefor, said guide member section comprising: a body portion comprising an upper edge and spaced-apart sides; a downwardly extending leg depending from said body portion, said leg serving with an opposing guide member section leg to define a slot adapted to accommodate a reticulate electrode, said leg in use pressing against a side of said electrode; an indentation intermediate said spaced apart sides extending vertically through said body portion communicating with said slot, said indentation being dimensioned to at least partly accommodate said wire bus connector; a plurality of horizontally extending openings in said leg communicating with said slot adapted to allow electrolyte flow into said slot; and means for coupling said guide member section to the opposing guide member section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A reticulate electrode assembly for electrolytic cells comprising: (a) a flat, reticulate electrode having an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) a guide for a bus connector, said guide comprising an upper body portion and a pair of elongated, spaced-apart legs having a plurality of horizontally extending openings depending downwardly from said body portion; and (c) a rigid wire bus connector having a shank with a tapered end penetrating into said reticulate electrode through said guide
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
A reticulate electrode assembly for electrolytic cells comprising: (a) a flat, reticulate electrode having an upper edge and opposite sides depending from said upper edge; (b) a guide for a bus connector, said guide comprising an upper body portion and a pair of elongated, spaced-apart legs having a plurality of horizontally extending openings depending downwardly from said body portion; and (c) a rigid wire bus connector having a shank with a tapered end penetrating into said reticulate electrode through said guide
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrode assembly of claim 22 wherein said tapered end extends into said reticulate electrode beyond said downwardly depending legs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrode assembly of claim 22 wherein said shank is soldered to said reticulate electrode by electrodeposition of metal contained in electrolyte flowing through perforations in said legs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |