Removable spout for a hopper

Abstract

A spout ( 10 ) is removably mounted to a hopper ( 1 ) of an electrolytic cell by a coupling ( 28 ) allowing the spout ( 10 ) to rock relative to the spout when jarred. A handler ( 40 ) is provided for the mounting of the spout ( 10 ) onto the hopper ( 1 ) without an operator entering into the electrolytic cell.

1 . A removable spout for feeding a particulate from an outlet of a hopper to an aluminium electrolytic cell, the spout comprising:
 a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface,
 the inner surface defining a passage for the particulate between an upper inlet and a lower outlet; and 
   a pair of first coupling members located on opposed sides of the spout adjacent the upper inlet for removably connecting the spout to a corresponding pair of second coupling members on the hopper, wherein the first coupling members and the second coupling members engage to form a linkage with a fit that permits the spout to rock around the second coupling members and maintain the linkage.   
     
     
         2 . The spout of  claim 1 , comprising a grip on the outer surface for handling the spout. 
     
     
         3 . The spout of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first coupling members defines a catch between two projecting arms extending from a bearing surface, wherein the catch is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the second coupling members within. 
     
     
         4 . The spout of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first coupling members comprises a ramped surface for guiding the corresponding one of the second coupling members into the catch. 
     
     
         5 . The spout of  claim 4 , wherein markings are provided on the outer surface of the wall of the spout to facilitate alignment of the first coupling members with the second coupling members on the hopper. 
     
     
         6 . The spout of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling members are provided on the inner surface of the wall of the spout. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly for feeding a particulate to an aluminium electrolytic cell, the assembly comprising
 a hopper defining a hopper outlet discharging the particulate;   a spout removably mounted to the hopper, the spout comprising
 a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, 
 the inner surface defining a passage for the particulate between an upper inlet and a lower outlet; 
   an articulation between the hopper and the spout allowing relative movement therebetween, the articulation comprising a pair of first coupling members provided on said spout proximate said upper inlet and a pair of second coupling members provided on the hopper proximate said hopper outlet, wherein the first coupling members and the second coupling members engage to form a linkage with a fit that permits the spout to rock around the second coupling members and maintain the linkage.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , comprising a grip on the outer surface of the spout. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first coupling members defines a catch between two projecting arms extending from a bearing surface, wherein the catch is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the second coupling members within. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first coupling members comprises a ramped surface for guiding the corresponding one of the second coupling members into a catch. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein markings are provided on the outer surface of the spout to facilitate alignment of the first coupling members with the second coupling members on the hopper. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first coupling members are provided on the inner surface of the wall of the spout. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second coupling members are engaged with the first coupling members by a rotational movement of the spout relative to the hopper, the first and second coupling members being provided in the form a bayonet-like mount. 
     
     
         14 . A kit for assembly and disassembly of a spout onto a hopper of an electrolytic cell having an overhead structure; the kit comprising a spout body defining a passage extending between an upper inlet and a lower outlet, the spout body having a grip provided on an outer surface thereof and a pair of first coupling members configured for mating engagement with a corresponding pair of second coupling members on the hopper, a handler for manipulating the spout body from a remote location during assembly and disassembly of the spout body onto the hopper, the handler comprising an elongated pipe having a spout body engaging end portion engageable with the handle, an anchor releasably mountable to the overhead structure of the electrolytic cell, the elongated pipe being suspended from the anchor by a lanyard. 
     
     
         15 . The kit defined in  claim 14 , wherein the elongated pipe is slidably received in a ring provided at a lower end portion of the lanyard. 
     
     
         16 . The kit defined in  claim 14 , wherein said lanyard has an adjustable length. 
     
     
         17 . The kit defined in  claim 14 , wherein said spout body engaging end portion of the pipe comprises a curve surface adapted to embrace a corresponding curved outer surface of the spout body, and a blade engageable in a receiving slot defined between said grip and said curved outer surface of the spout body. 
     
     
         18 . The kit defined in  claim 14 , wherein said first coupling members are provided on an inner surface of the spout body and each include a bottom open ended catch for engagement over the corresponding second coupling members on the hopper. 
     
     
         19 . The kit defined in  claim 18 , wherein said first coupling members face each other from opposed sides of the inner surface of the spout body and are provided with ramp surfaces leading to said bottom open ended catch.