A spacer mechanism which is used to separate electrodes within an electrowinning process. The spacers have a central body portion which defines the distancing between the electrodes and at least four sloping arms extending from the central body. The arms are used to move the electrodes to the top of the central body of the spacer, as the electrodes are being placed next to each other. Each of the arms is ideally narrow so that the "footprint" of the spacer is minimized. The small "footprint" causes minimal disruption of the electrical flow between the electrodes so that the electro-deposition process proceeds in a uniform manner.

The invention discloses a novel structure for an expandable anode to be used in diaphragm cells. This new structure comprises a conductor bar in the form of a copper core provided with a titanium layer having a first and a second pair of flexible expanders fixed thereto. The welding points of the second pair of expanders are positioned orthogonally with respect to the welding points of the first pair of expanders along the circumference of the conductor bar. Also the anode surfaces are connected by welding points to the pairs of expanders. The anode of the invention may be both a new anode and a conventional existing anode having only a first pair of expanders whereto the second pair of expanders is attached. With the device of the present invention the ohmic drop between the conductor bar and the anode surface is substantially decreased and further there is no risk of damaging the interface between the copper core and the titanium coating by an excessive thermal stress, due to the welding procedures.

A novel bipolar electrode module is provided. Such module includes a generally-rectangular, plate-like metallic cathode, a generally-rectangular, plate-like metallic anode, the plate-like metallic cathode and anode being disposed in edge-to-edge butting relationship, thereby to align the plate-like metallic cathode to lie in the same plane as the plate-like metallic anode; and the butting relationship between the plate-like metallic anode and the plate-like metallic cathode being provided by a coextensive joint between the respective abutting edges of the plate-like metallic anode and the plate-like metallic cathode, the joint comprising a mechanical integration fit between a plurality a plurality of male tongues on an edge of one metallic plate and a similar plurality of female grooves in an edge of the other metallic plate. The joint provides: structural rigidity for the module; and electrically-conducting zone of low resistance; and no increase in module thickness. The module of such construction provides assemblies of electrolytic cells of improved operating load factors, compactness and sustained reduced electrical power consumption.

An electrode assembly which will find use such as in electroplating, is made from a hollow and thin walled, elongate and deflectable outer metal electrode member. This member is usually rounded, e.g., typically circular, in cross-section and has major inner and outer faces. Representative of this outer member would be a titanium tube. The electrode assembly also has a removable and elongate, inner metal electrical current distributor member. This inner current distributor member will typically be rectangular in cross-section. Representative of this inner member is a rectangular copper bar. As assembled, this typical assembly can have the edges on the outer face of the copper bar engage the inner face of the titanium tube. In putting together this particular assembly, the hollow tube is compressed, such as from circular to elliptical shape. The copper bar current distributor is inserted into this misshapen tube. When the pressure on the electrode member tube is released, the resulting spring reaction of the tube flexes it back onto the corners of the copper bar. These corners bite into the interior face of the titanium tube. This procedure is reversible when the electrode assembly is in need of refurbishing.