Claims
- 1. Apparatus for adjusting the space between electrodes in an electrolytic cell, said electrodes being comprised of at least one adjustable anode set, at least one conductor feeding current to said anode set, and a liquid cathode in spaced relationship with said anode set, said apparatus comprising in combination:
- a. digital computer means programmed with predetermined standard signal ranges for current signals for each of said conductors,
- b. means for detecting a series of N current signals to each of said conductor over a predetermined period,
- c. means for selecting from said detected signals a set of selected signals generated from one of said conductors to one of said anode sets,
- d. means for supplying said selected signals in digital form to said digital computer means,
- e. means for comparing said selected signals with said predetermined standard signal ranges for said selected conductor from said selected anode set programmed in said digital computer,
- f. means in said digital computer for generating activating electric signals when said selected signals in digital form are outside of said predetermined standard signal ranges, and
- g. motor means operative to raise or lower said selected anode set, said motor means being energized by said activating electric signals when said selected signals are outside said standard signal ranges.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are comprised of a plurality of adjustable anode sets.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 having in combination:
- a. means for reactivating said means b. through f. immediately after said motor means is activated to lower said anode set, and
- b. means for storing the previously detected signals obtained prior to lowering said selected anode set and means for comparing newly selected signals with said previously selected signals.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital computer means is provided with means for comparing each of said selected current signal with the previous current signal in said series and raising said anode when the difference in current is an increase which exceeds a predetermined limit.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital computer means is provided with means for obtaining the average difference in said current measurements in said series of N current signals, means for comparing said average difference with a predetermined average difference limit and means for raising said anode when said average difference exceeds said predetermined average difference limit.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for obtaining said average difference is program means which obtains the difference between each successive current measurement in said N current measurements, squares each difference to obtain a product, adds each resulting product and divides the resulting sum by N to obtain said average difference.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital computer means is provided with means for increasing said anode-cathode spacing when the difference in current increases in each successive measurement in said N current signals throughout said predetermined period.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital computer means is provided with a means for increasing said anode-cathode spacing when the difference between any two current signals in said N series exceeds a predetermined limit during said predetermined period.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital computer means is provided with means for counting the frequency of change in each anode-cathode spacing for each anode set for a predetermined period and when said frequency exceeds a predetermined number, means for raising the anode set and removing it from automatic control.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said frequency of change is from about 20 to about 80 changes over a 24 hour period.
- 11. The apparatus of claims 1-10 wherein temperature compensating means is secured to each of said conductors to adjust said current signals for temperature variations.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said temperature compensation means is a thermistor circuit.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 605,582, filed Aug. 18, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,666, which was a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 489,647, filed July 18, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,373, issued Aug. 19, 1975, which was a continuation-in-part of abandoned application Ser. No. 272,240, filed July 17, 1972.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3558454 |
Schafer et al. |
Jan 1971 |
|
3689398 |
Caleffi |
Sep 1972 |
|
3734848 |
Bertoni et al. |
May 1973 |
|
3763024 |
Engelmann et al. |
Oct 1973 |
|
Continuation in Parts (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
605582 |
Aug 1975 |
|
Parent |
489647 |
Jul 1974 |
|
Parent |
272240 |
Jul 1972 |
|