US-20260125244-A1 - TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLACEMENT OF AN ELECTROLYTIC VESSEL

US20260125244A1US 20260125244 A1US20260125244 A1US 20260125244A1US-20260125244-A1

Abstract

An anchor system is proposed for securing to an electrolytic vessel to render the electrolytic vessel liftable upon coupling with the lifting device. The anchor system includes a plurality of strap assemblies being secured to respective anchor sections of the vessel and each strap assembly includes a strap and at least one anchor configured to provide anchorage to a lifting accessory of the lifting device. The system can further include at least one additional strengthener that can be positioned onto respective lower strap sections of the straps, or along an inner or outer surface of a base core wall of a core of the electrolytic vessel. A lifting system including the anchor system and the lifting device, liftable assembly including the anchor system and the electrolytic vessel, and a method for lifting and displacing the electrolytic vessel are further provided.

Inventors

Robert Dufresne

Assignees

PULTRUSION TECHNIQUE INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231006

Claims (20)

1 . An anchor system for allowing an electrolytic vessel having a core shaped to hold an electrolytic liquid to be lifted by a lifting device, the anchor system comprising: a plurality of straps comprising at least two straps being secured to respective surfaces of at least two opposed core walls of the core of the electrolytic vessel, wherein each strap of the plurality of straps comprises: a lower strap section coupled to the surface of the core wall; and an upper strap section extending above the core; and a plurality of anchors comprising at least two anchors configured to provide anchorage to a lifting accessory of the lifting device, wherein each anchor of the plurality of anchors is connected to the upper strap section of the respective straps.
2 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the lower strap sections of the plurality of straps are coupled to an inner surface of the respective opposed core walls.
3 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the lower strap sections of the plurality of straps are coupled to an outer surface of the respective opposed core walls.
4 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of straps is coupled to an inner surface of the respective opposed core walls and another portion of the plurality of straps is coupled to an outer surface of the respective opposed core walls.
5 . (canceled)
6 . (canceled)
7 . The anchor system of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of chemical fixation securing each one of the plurality of straps to the surface of the respective opposed core walls.
8 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the straps are coupled to opposed end core walls.
9 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the straps are coupled to opposed lateral side core walls.
10 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the layer of chemical fixation comprises an adhesive sub-layer.
11 . (canceled)
12 . (canceled)
13 . The anchor system of claim 10 , wherein the layer of chemical fixation comprises another sub-layer of adherent primer between the respective lower strap sections and the adhesive sub-layer.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein each anchor comprises a main component connected to respective upper strap sections of the straps and a connector connected to the lifting accessory of the lifting device.
16 . The anchor system of claim 15 , wherein each anchor is selected among the group consisting of a D-hook, a 90°D-hook, a C-hook, and a T-hook.
17 . The anchor system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of overlay battens comprising at least two overlay battens being secured to respective opposed core walls and covering at least a portion of respective lower strap sections in a transverse direction with respect to a direction of the straps.
18 . The anchor system of claim 17 , wherein the overlay battens are chemically fixed to at least one of the respective straps or core walls.
19 . The anchor system of claim 17 , wherein each overlay batten is secured to a portion of an outer side surface of the lower strap section of the respective straps and a corresponding portion of the respective core walls via chemical fixation.
20 . The anchor system of claim 17 , wherein each overlay batten is sized to extend over and across at least two lower strap sections of adjacent straps.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present technology relates to lifting techniques for an electrolytic vessel, and more particularly to the use of anchor assemblies and related lifting equipment to perform such lifting and further displacement. BACKGROUND Electrolytic vessels for hydrometallurgical refining of metals are conventionally provided adjacent to one another, often in side-to-side relation. Adjacent cells may be glued to each other to form a single row of cells. The size, materials and configuration of adjacent electrolytic vessels, render the maintenance or replacement of a vessel an arduous operation. An electrolytic vessel is usually lifted for such operation, thereby submitting the vessel to dynamic loads which can lead to damaging and cracking the electrolytic cavity of the vessel, usually made of concrete. When an electrolytic vessel has to be replaced, maintained or cleaned, there may be also insufficient space in between adjacent electrolytic vessels to pass the desired cables, straps, slings, curtains or other equipment. There is a number of challenges related to handling electrolytic cells that are located or positioned in close proximity to each other or with respect to walls or other hindrances. SUMMARY In some implementations, there is provided an anchor system for allowing an electrolytic vessel having a core shaped to hold an electrolytic liquid to be lifted by a lifting device, the anchor system comprising: a plurality of straps comprising at least two straps being secured to respective surfaces of at least two opposed core walls of the core of the electrolytic vessel, each strap of the plurality of straps comprising: a lower strap section coupled to the surface of the core wall; andan upper strap section extending above the core; and a plurality of anchors comprising at least two anchors configured to provide anchorage to a lifting accessory of the lifting device, each anchor of the plurality of anchors being connected to the upper strap section of the respective straps. In some implementations, the lower strap sections of the plurality of straps are coupled to an inner surface of the respective opposed core walls. In some implementations, the lower strap sections of the plurality of straps are coupled to an outer surface of the respective opposed core walls. In some implementations, a portion of the plurality of straps is coupled to an inner surface of the respective opposed core walls and another portion of the plurality of straps is coupled to an outer surface of the respective opposed core walls. In some implementations, the plurality of straps comprises four straps, with two straps being coupled to each of two opposed core walls of the core of the electrolytic vessel. In some implementations, the plurality of straps comprises four pairs of adjacent straps, with two pairs of adjacent straps being coupled to each of two opposed core walls of the core of the electrolytic vessel. In some implementations, the system also includes a layer of chemical fixation securing each one of the plurality of straps to the surface of the respective opposed core walls. In some implementations, the straps are coupled to opposed end core walls. In some implementations, the straps are coupled to opposed lateral side core walls. In some implementations, the layer of chemical fixation comprises an adhesive sub-layer. In some implementations, the plurality of straps can comprise at least eight straps in total. In some implementations, the adhesive sub-layer comprises an epoxy resin. In some implementations, the layer of chemical fixation comprises another sub-layer of adherent primer between the respective lower strap sections and the adhesive sub-layer. In some implementations, the adherent primer comprises silane, siloxane or a combination thereof. In some implementations, each anchor comprises a main component connected to respective upper strap sections of the straps and a connector connected to the lifting accessory of the lifting device. In some implementations, each anchor is a D-hook, a C-hook, D-hook 90°, T-hook. In some implementations, the system includes a plurality of overlay battens comprising at least two overlay battens being secured to respective opposed core walls and covering at least a portion of respective lower strap sections in a transverse direction with respect to a direction of the straps. In some implementations, the overlay battens are chemically fixed to the respective straps and/or core walls. In some implementations, each overlay batten is secured to a portion of an outer side surface of the lower strap section of the respective straps and a corresponding portion of the respective core walls via chemical fixation. In some implementations, each overlay batten is sized to extend over and across at least two lower strap sections of adjacent straps. In some implementations, the system includes a plurality underlay batten segments being secured to the respective core walls, the underlay ba