Continuous renewal of anodes in electrolytic tinning bath - by supplying molten tin at rate controlled to match consumption rate of anode

摘要

The tin anodes for a continuous sheet metal tinning plant are continuously replaced by means of a feed pipe for molten tin attached to the anode mounting head which is in the form of a mould for receiving the molten tin. The anodes are suspended from the mounting head in an electrolytic bath through which the sheet metal is passed. As the electrolytic deposition of tin on the sheet metal takes place, the anode is progressively consumed. The molten tin feed rate is adjusted in accordance with the electrolysis current so that the feed rate balances the consumption rate. The anodes are pref. hung at an angle to the vertical metal sheet so that the face of the anode opposite to the sheet is actually parallel to the sheet. The taper in the anode is due to the fact that the lower tip is the part which has been exposed for the longest period of time to the electrolyte. The molten tin feed pipe is insulated and pref. equipped with a means of heating it, either by passing part of the anode current through it or wrapping it with an electric trace. The arrangement eliminates the manual replacement of anodes and enables the tinning bath to be incorporated into an automatic prodn. unit.