A cobalt hydroxide preparation device and a preparation process thereof

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of chemical product preparation, in particular to a cobalt hydroxide preparation device and a preparation process thereof. The cobalt hydroxide preparation device comprises a reaction kettle provided with a manhole, the manhole is provided with a manhole cover, the manhole cover comprises a lower seat and a fixing assembly, a support is hinged to the lower seat, a connecting seat is arranged on the support, an upper cover is arranged on the connecting seat, the upper cover is used for controlling the opening and closing of the manhole, a sealing ring is arranged between the lower seat and the upper cover, the fixing assembly is used for fixing the lower seat and the upper cover, the upper cover can rotate around a second axis, the direction of the gravity of the connecting seat and the upper cover and the second axis are coplanar, when the manhole is opened through the upper cover, the lower end surface of the upper cover and the upper end surface of the lower seat are kept parallel in a short time, and then the damage of the sealing ring caused by uneven stress is avoided, the connecting seat can rotate around a first axis, the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular, the upper cover has the freedom of two rotating directions, and the damage of the sealing ring is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of chemical product preparation technology, and in particular to a cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus and its preparation process. Background Technology

[0002] Cobalt hydroxide, as an important inorganic compound, has shown wide application value in many industrial fields such as new energy batteries, catalysts, and magnetic materials due to its unique physicochemical properties.

[0003] In the industrial production of cobalt hydroxide, the reactor, as a core piece of equipment, undertakes important processes such as material mixing and reaction. Its performance and stability directly affect product quality and production efficiency. Reactors are typically equipped with manhole covers. During production, the manhole covers facilitate material discharge and real-time monitoring of the reaction process by operators. Furthermore, in case of reactor malfunction or the need for periodic maintenance, operators can enter the reactor through the manhole covers for inspection and repair.

[0004] In related technologies, such as Chinese patent CN221334089U, a reactor manhole cover structure is disclosed. This reactor manhole cover structure is formed by setting a lower ear and an upper ear to connect to the manhole mounting ring and the manhole cover body respectively. Then, a hole is drilled between the two upper ears and the two lower ears respectively, and the upper ears and lower ears are connected with nuts and bolts that are slightly smaller than the holes, thereby forming a manhole cover. In this way, when the manhole cover is opened, the manhole cover body will also rotate around the bolt as the axis.

[0005] However, existing manhole covers also have some problems in actual use: during the opening and closing of the manhole cover, due to the characteristics of its rotating structure, the movement trajectory and force distribution of the part of the manhole cover near the rotating shaft differ from that of the part away from the rotating shaft. This results in the part near the rotating shaft pressing the sealing ring earlier and with greater force during the closing process, while the part away from the rotating shaft presses the sealing ring later and with less force. During long-term, high-frequency use, this uneven pressing state will cause uneven force distribution on different parts of the sealing ring, excessive wear in some areas, and eventually damage. Once the sealing ring is damaged, the sealing performance of the reactor will be severely affected, and external air and impurities may enter the reactor, interfering with the normal reaction process of cobalt hydroxide, leading to a decrease in product purity, an increase in impurity content, and ultimately affecting the production quality of cobalt hydroxide. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a cobalt hydroxide preparation device and its preparation process to address the problem of poor production quality in the current cobalt hydroxide production process.

[0007] The above objectives are achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0008] A cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus includes a reaction vessel with a manhole. A manhole cover is provided at the manhole, the manhole cover including a lower seat and a fixing assembly. The lower seat is fixedly mounted on the reaction vessel, and a bracket is hinged to the lower seat via a hinge shaft. A connecting seat is provided on the bracket, and the connecting seat is rotatable about a first axis. An upper cover is provided on the connecting seat, and the upper cover is rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The upper cover is configured to control the opening and closing of the manhole. When the manhole cover is closed, the direction of the gravity acting on the connecting seat and the upper cover as a whole is coplanar with the second axis. A sealing ring is provided between the lower seat and the upper cover. The fixing assembly is configured to seal and fix the lower seat and the upper cover in a fixed connection.

[0009] Furthermore, the lower seat is provided with at least one pair of ear plates, and the two ear plates of the same pair are arranged circumferentially at intervals; the fixing assembly includes a locking bolt, which is hinged together between the two ear plates of the same pair, and a locking member and a locking nut are sleeved on the locking bolt. The locking nut is located above the locking member and forms a threaded engagement with the locking bolt; the locking member can simultaneously form a stop engagement with the locking nut and the upper cover.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper cover is provided with a slot; the locking member is provided with a protrusion, which is fixedly inserted into the slot.

[0011] Furthermore, a handwheel is provided on the locking nut.

[0012] Furthermore, the manhole cover also includes a transmission assembly; a mounting base is hinged to the hinge shaft; the bracket is disposed on the mounting base, and under the action of the transmission assembly, when the upper cover opens the manhole, the bracket can drive the connecting base and the upper cover to move closer to the hinge shaft.

[0013] Furthermore, the transmission assembly includes a first gear, which is fixedly sleeved on the hinge shaft; a rack is provided on the connecting seat, which extends in the radial direction; a second gear and a third gear are coaxially and synchronously arranged on the mounting seat, the second gear meshing with the first gear and the third gear meshing with the rack.

[0014] Furthermore, the hinge axis is horizontally positioned.

[0015] Furthermore, the lower end face of the upper cover is concave to form a spherical surface.

[0016] Furthermore, a guide ring is fixedly provided on the lower end surface of the upper cover. The axis of the guide ring coincides with the center of the lower spherical surface of the upper cover. The guide ring has a structure that is larger at the upper end and smaller at the lower end.

[0017] The present invention also provides a process for preparing cobalt hydroxide, employing a cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus, the process comprising the following steps:

[0018] S1. Add the prepared cobalt salt solution and alkaline solution to the reaction vessel according to the preset ratio to carry out the reaction;

[0019] S2. After the reaction is complete, remove the cobalt hydroxide produced in the reaction and clean the reaction vessel;

[0020] S3. Open the manhole through the top cover and manually maintain the inside of the reactor through the manhole.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0022] This invention relates to a cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus and its preparation process. By setting the upper cover to rotate around a second axis, and the direction of gravity on the connecting seat and the upper cover as a whole being coplanar with the second axis, when the manhole is opened through the upper cover, the force characteristics and structural characteristics ensure that the lower end face of the upper cover and the upper end face of the lower seat remain parallel for a short time, thereby avoiding damage to the sealing ring due to uneven force. Furthermore, by setting the connecting seat to rotate around a first axis, and the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis, the upper cover has two additional degrees of freedom in the rotational directions. During the process of closing the manhole through the upper cover, the side of the upper cover that first contacts the sealing ring will push the upper cover in the opposite direction, allowing the other side of the upper cover to contact the sealing ring as quickly as possible, thereby reducing damage to the sealing ring caused by uneven force. This not only helps to extend the service life of the sealing ring, but also ensures the sealing performance of the reactor and improves the production quality of cobalt hydroxide.

[0023] Furthermore, by setting up a transmission assembly and a mounting base, and utilizing the structural characteristics of the mounting base being hinged to the hinge shaft and the connecting base being set on the mounting base, when the manhole is opened through the top cover, the bracket, connecting base, and top cover as a whole can move towards the hinge shaft under the action of the transmission assembly, thereby reducing the resistance arm, reducing the amount of power, and improving the labor-saving performance.

[0024] Furthermore, by setting the hinge shaft horizontally, during the process of opening and closing the manhole through the top cover, since the direction of the gravity on the bracket, connecting seat, and top cover as a whole is perpendicular to the hinge shaft, the problem of uneven wear caused by the angle between the direction of the gravity on the bracket, connecting seat, and top cover as a whole and the hinge shaft can be avoided, which helps to extend the service life of the hinge shaft.

[0025] Furthermore, by setting the lower end face of the top cover to be concave to form a spherical surface, during the reaction process in the reactor, its structural characteristics allow the floating gas and the condensed liquid to flow back, thereby reducing corrosion of the sealing ring and ensuring its sealing performance. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point Y in the middle;

[0028] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the manhole cover of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention when closed. Figure 1 ;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view along the AA direction;

[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point Z in the middle;

[0031] Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the manhole cover of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention when closed. Figure 2 ;

[0032] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Sectional view along the BB direction;

[0033] Figure 8 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the manhole cover of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention when it is open. Figure 1 ;

[0034] Figure 9 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the manhole cover of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention when it is open. Figure 2 ;

[0035] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the manhole cover of the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] in:

[0037] 1. Reactor;

[0038] 2. Manhole cover; 201. Lower seat; 2011. Ear plate; 202. Fixing assembly; 2021. Locking bolt; 2022. Locking element; 2023. Locking nut; 20231. Handwheel; 2024. Slot; 2025. Insert protrusion; 203. Hinge shaft; 204. Bracket; 2041. Connecting column; 2042. Connecting piece; 205. Connecting seat; 2051. Fixing seat; 2052. Rotating rod; 2053. Slide groove; 206. Top cover; 2061. Connecting rod; 2062. Guide ring; 207. Sealing ring; 208. Transmission assembly; 2081. First gear; 2082. Rack; 2083. Second gear; 2084. Third gear; 209. Mounting seat; 2091. Guide rod; 2092. Rotating shaft; 210. Fixing nut; 211. Slider. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0040] The component designations used in this document, such as "first" and "second," are merely for distinguishing the described objects and do not have any sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage," unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages). In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0041] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0042] The following reference Figures 1 to 10The present invention describes a cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in the embodiments of the invention, which is particularly suitable for the preparation of cobalt hydroxide, and of course, it is also suitable for the preparation of other inorganic compounds.

[0043] Specifically, the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus includes a reactor 1, which is a cylindrical structure and is installed vertically. A manhole is provided through the top circumferential side wall of the reactor 1, which is connected to the interior of the reactor 1 and is circular in shape. A manhole cover 2 is provided at the manhole, which is configured to control the opening and closing of the manhole, facilitating the discharge of materials and real-time monitoring of the reaction process by the operator. At the same time, when the reactor 1 malfunctions or requires regular maintenance, the operator can enter the reactor 1 through the manhole cover 2 to carry out inspection and maintenance work.

[0044] In the existing field of orifice covers used in reactor 1, the orifice cover is generally connected to reactor 1 by a single-sided hinge. During the opening and closing operation of the orifice cover, its structural characteristic of rotating around the hinge point leads to inherent defects in mechanical motion: the motion trajectory of the particles on the side near the hinge point and the side far from the hinge point shows significant differences: the area near the hinge point has a smaller radius of rotation and a lower linear velocity, while the area far from the hinge point has a larger radius of rotation and a higher linear velocity. This kinematic difference directly leads to the differentiation of dynamic characteristics. During the closing process, the sealing surface on the side near the hinge point contacts the sealing ring first, and at this time, the area has begun to apply the clamping force, while the sealing surface on the side far from the hinge point has not yet completed the contact due to the lag in motion, resulting in a time difference in the clamping action on both sides.

[0045] This non-uniform loading condition causes continuous fatigue damage to the sealing ring: the sealing ring near the hinge point is subjected to overload pressure for a long time, causing plastic deformation of the rubber material in this area and a decrease in elastic modulus; while the sealing ring away from the hinge point is prone to micro-gap formation at the sealing interface due to insufficient contact pressure. Under high-frequency opening and closing cycles, the sealing ring exhibits typical "uneven wear failure" characteristics: cracks appear on the lip near the hinge point, and wrinkles and deformation occur on the sealing surface away from the hinge point, ultimately leading to an increase in the leakage rate of the sealing interface. This sealing failure has a systematic impact on the cobalt hydroxide preparation process: after external air enters reactor 1, it will trigger the oxidation side reaction of cobalt ions, resulting in excessive trivalent cobalt content in the product; dust particles in the air will act as impurity nuclei mixed into the cobalt hydroxide crystals, reducing the purity of the product; at the same time, the condensate generated in the alkaline environment inside reactor 1 will corrode the metal parts of the orifice cover through the leakage channel, forming rust products, further contaminating the reaction system.

[0046] Based on this, in the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention, the manhole cover 2 is configured to include a lower seat 201, a hinge shaft 203, an upper cover 206, and a fixing assembly 202. The lower seat 201 is a cylindrical structure with open top and bottom ends, and is fixedly mounted on the top circumferential side wall of the reactor 1, and is coaxially arranged with the manhole. The hinge shaft 203 is fixed to the lower seat 201 during installation. The upper cover 206 is a disc-shaped structure and is hinged to the lower seat 201 via the hinge shaft 203 during installation. When the upper cover 206 is away from the lower seat 201, the manhole cover 2 is in an open state, allowing the reactor 1 to communicate with the external environment through the manhole, facilitating operation. The operator performs the relevant operations; a sealing ring 207 is inserted into the top surface of the lower seat 201. When the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 are in contact with each other, the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 are coaxially arranged, the manhole cover 2 is in the closed state, and the fixing component 202 is configured to seal and fix the lower seat 201 and the upper cover 206. The sealing ring 207 undergoes elastic deformation, which isolates the reactor 1 from the external environment, thereby sealing the gap between the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201, thus ensuring the sealing performance of the reactor 1, preventing external air, impurities, etc. from entering the reactor 1, avoiding interference with the normal reaction process of cobalt hydroxide, and ensuring the production quality of cobalt hydroxide.

[0047] A bracket 204 is hinged to the lower base 201 via a hinge shaft 203. The bracket 204 has a strip-like structure, and its main body is mounted on the top of the upper cover 206. A connecting seat 205 is provided on the bracket 204. Both the upper and lower end faces of the connecting seat 205 are spherical, and the center of the sphere of the connecting seat 205 coincides with the axis of the lower base 201. The connecting seat 205 can rotate around a first axis. Two fixed seats 2051 are symmetrically arranged on the top of the connecting seat 205. The fixed seats 2051 have a C-like structure, are horizontally positioned, and have their openings facing inward. Each fixed seat 2051 and the bracket 206 are connected. Rotating rods 2052 are horizontally inserted between the main parts of 04. Threaded protrusions are provided on the circumferential sidewalls of the rotating rods 2052. During installation, the rotating rods 2052 are threadedly connected to the main parts of the bracket 204 through the threaded protrusions. A locking protrusion is provided at the outer end of the rotating rod 2052, which stops against the main parts of the bracket 204 during installation. Supported by the two rotating rods 2052, the connecting seat 205 has a definite position and can rotate relative to the rotating rods 2052 around the axis of the rotating rods 2052. The first axis coincides with the axis of the rotating rods 2052.

[0048] The top surface of the upper cover 206 consists of an annular surface and a convex spherical surface. The annular surface is located on the outer periphery of the spherical surface, and the axis of the annular surface coincides with the center of the spherical surface. The center of the spherical surface of the upper cover 206 coincides with the center of the spherical surface of the connecting seat 205. When installed, the spherical surface of the upper cover 206 coincides with the lower spherical annular surface of the connecting seat 205 and can rotate around the second axis. A sliding groove 2053 is provided on the upper spherical annular surface of the connecting seat 205. The sliding groove 2053 has an arc-shaped structure, and its center coincides with the center of the spherical surface of the connecting seat 205 and is located at the fixing seat 2051. A connecting rod 2061 is fixedly installed on the top spherical surface of the upper cover 206. The extension direction of the connecting rod 2061 passes through the center of the top spherical surface of the upper cover 206 and passes through the sliding groove 2053 during installation, and can slide along the sliding groove 2053. The connecting rod 2061 has a square structure. Due to the restriction of the square structure, the upper cover 206 cannot rotate around the connecting rod. The connecting rod 2061 rotates to prevent misalignment between the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201. A fixing nut 210 and a slider 211 are fitted onto the connecting rod 2061. The fixing nut 210 is located above the slider 211 and forms a threaded engagement with the connecting rod 2061, and can stop on the slider 211. The slider 211 has a ring structure, and its lower ring surface is spherical, which coincides with the upper spherical ring surface of the connecting seat 205, thereby connecting the upper cover 206 to the connecting seat 205. The lower ring surface of the slider 211 and the upper spherical ring surface of the connecting seat 205 have smooth contact, which helps to reduce the resistance encountered by the upper cover 206 when rotating around the second axis. The second axis coincides with the center of the groove 2053, is parallel to the ring surface of the upper cover 206, and is perpendicular to the first axis, so that the upper cover 206 has dual rotational freedom around the first axis and the second axis. When the manhole is closed, if one side of the upper cover 206 contacts the sealing ring 207 first, the reaction force generated by the sealing ring 207 will form a torque through the contact point, forcing the upper cover 206 to rotate around the second axis, pushing the other side to fit synchronously. This dynamic adjustment process can control the contact time difference and contact pressure difference between the two sides within a preset range, fundamentally eliminating the bias problem of traditional single-axis structures. At the same time, when the sealing ring 207 becomes uneven in thickness after long-term use, the multi-degree-of-freedom upper cover 206 can still adapt well to the thickness of the sealing ring 207 at various points, which helps to ensure the uniformity of the sealing effect.

[0049] During use, by setting the direction of the gravity acting on the connecting seat 205 and the upper cover 206 as a whole to be coplanar with the second axis, when the manhole is opened through the upper cover 206, during the rotation of the upper cover 206 around the second axis, the component force G1 of gravity G along the second axis direction cancels out the torque of the rotation axis, while the component force G2 perpendicular to the second axis is transformed into a parallel movement trend through the guide structure of the slide groove 2053. This ensures that the lower end face of the upper cover 206 and the upper end face of the lower seat 201 maintain parallelism within a preset range during the opening process, avoiding one-sided tearing of the sealing ring 207 due to the tilt angle.

[0050] The fixing component 202 can be configured to include a first boss, a second boss, bolts, and nuts. The first boss is fixedly disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the lower seat 201, and there can be multiple first bosses evenly distributed circumferentially. The second boss is fixedly disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the upper cover 206, and there can be multiple second bosses evenly distributed circumferentially. The second boss and the first boss are correspondingly disposed. Mounting holes are provided on both the first boss and the second boss. When installing, the bolt passes through the mounting holes on the first boss and the second boss respectively, and is fixedly connected by nuts. Thus, the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 are fixedly connected together by the sealing ring 207.

[0051] In other embodiments, the lower seat 201 is provided with at least one pair of ear plates 2011, and the two ear plates 2011 of the same pair are arranged circumferentially at intervals; the fixing component 202 may also be provided with a locking bolt 2021, the locking bolt 2021 is a T-shaped structure, and during installation, the large end is simultaneously rotated and inserted into the two ear plates 2011 of the same pair to form a hinged fit, the small end is suspended, and a threaded protrusion is provided on the circumferential sidewall of the small end; a locking member 2022 and a locking nut 2023 are sleeved on the locking bolt 2021, the locking member 2022 is located below the locking nut 2023 and is a ring-shaped structure, and a third boss is provided on the outer surface of the locking member 2022, the third boss can form a stop fit with the upper ring surface of the upper cover 206; the locking nut 2023 forms a threaded fit with the locking bolt 2021 through the threaded protrusion. During the closing of the upper cover 206, the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 are first brought into contact with each other. Then, the locking bolt 2021 is rotated so that the small end of the locking bolt 2021 faces upward. Then, the locking nut 2023 is rotated, and the locking nut 2023 moves downward simultaneously, pressing against the locking member 2022. At the same time, the third boss is pressed against the upper ring surface of the upper cover 206. As the locking nut 2023 continues to rotate, the locking nut 2023 simultaneously presses the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 together through the locking member 2022 and the third boss. The sealing ring 207 undergoes elastic deformation simultaneously, isolating the reactor 1 from the external environment, thereby sealing the gap between the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201. When it is necessary to open the upper cover 206, the above process is repeated in reverse, which can disengage the third boss from the upper cover 206, and then move the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 away from each other.

[0052] In a further embodiment, to further improve the locking stability of the locking member 2022, a slot 2024 is provided on the upper ring surface of the upper cover 206; a protrusion 2025 is provided on the locking member 2022, which is provided on the lower surface of the third protrusion and is fixedly inserted into the slot 2024 during installation. This configuration, through the snap-fit ​​between the protrusion 2025 and the slot 2024, forms a limiting structure in three-dimensional space: when the locking member 2022 is pressed down by the locking nut 2023, the protrusion 2025 is axially embedded in the slot 2024, and its cross-sectional shape (such as rectangular, trapezoidal, etc.) forms a circumferential stop with the inner wall of the slot 2024. This structure can effectively suppress the relative displacement of the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201 in the radial and tangential directions. The radial displacement is limited by the rigid contact between the side wall of the protrusion 2025 and the wall of the slot 2024, while the tangential rotation is generated by the torque resistance due to the contour matching between the protrusion 2025 and the slot 2024. Thus, the linear clamping force of the traditional threaded connection is extended into a composite force system that includes axial pressure, radial constraint force and tangential anti-torsional torque.

[0053] Meanwhile, in traditional locking structures, the preload of threaded connections is mainly transmitted through axial compression, which can easily lead to uneven circumferential pressure due to thread machining errors. However, the snap-fit ​​engagement of the protrusion 2025 and slot 2024 creates multiple circumferential positioning fulcrums (the number of fulcrums increases accordingly if multiple sets of protrusions 2025 and slots 2024 are used). These fulcrums are coupled with the elastic deformation of the sealing ring 207, limiting the displacement deviation of the upper cover 206 within a small range when it is subjected to axial pressure. Specifically, when the fit clearance between the protrusion 2025 and slot 2024 on one side is small, that fulcrum will preferentially bear part of the preload, prompting the upper cover 206 to automatically adjust its posture through mechanical feedback, ultimately achieving uniform pressure distribution on the surface of the sealing ring 207. This plays a crucial role in improving sealing reliability.

[0054] In a further embodiment, when there are multiple pairs of ear plates 2011, there are correspondingly multiple insertion protrusions 2025, and the slot 2024 can be configured as a ring structure and coaxially arranged with the upper ring surface of the top cover 206.

[0055] In other embodiments, to improve the ease of rotating the locking nut 2023, a handwheel 20231 is fixedly provided on the top of the locking nut 2023. With this configuration, when it is necessary to rotate the locking nut 2023, the locking nut 2023 can be rotated directly by rotating the handwheel 20231.

[0056] In other embodiments, when the flip angle of the top cover 206 remains unchanged, the distance between its center of gravity and the hinge axis 203 is relatively large, resulting in a longer resistance arm. According to the lever balance condition F1*L1=F2*L2, the rotation of the top cover 206 around the hinge axis 203 can be regarded as a lever system—the hinge axis 203 is the fulcrum, and the overall weight G of the bracket 204, connecting seat 205, and top cover 206 is the resistance. The vertical distance from its line of action to the fulcrum (i.e., the resistance arm L2) is determined by the position of the center of gravity. When the center of gravity moves away from the hinge axis 203, L2 increases. If the effort arm L1 (i.e., the distance from the point of force application by the operator to the fulcrum) remains unchanged, then according to the lever principle, the required force F1 increases proportionally to L2. Specifically, the resistance torque generated by gravity is M=G*L2, which increases as L2 extends. To balance this resistance torque, the power F1 needs to satisfy F1=GL2 / L1, which means that the operator needs to apply more force to drive the top cover 206 to flip, which directly manifests as the feeling of effort required during the opening process.

[0057] Based on this, in the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the manhole cover 2 is configured to further include a transmission assembly 208; a mounting base 209 is hinged on the hinge shaft 203; a bracket 204 is disposed on the mounting base 209, and under the action of the transmission assembly 208, when the upper cover 206 opens the manhole, the bracket 204 can drive the connecting base 205 and the upper cover 206 to move towards the hinge shaft 203, thereby reducing the amount of power required and improving the labor-saving performance by reducing the resistance arm.

[0058] Specifically, the transmission assembly 208 includes a first gear 2081, which is fixedly sleeved on the hinge shaft 203. A connecting post 2041 is vertically and fixedly installed on the side wall of the bracket 204 near the hinge shaft 203. Two connecting pieces 2042 are fixedly sleeved on the connecting post 2041. The lower ends of the two connecting pieces 2042 abut against each other and are fixedly connected by a bolt and nut assembly. The upper ends of the two connecting pieces 2042 are spaced apart, and a rack 2082 is inserted between them. Extending radially along the upper cover 206, it is simultaneously fixedly connected to two connecting pieces 2042 via bolt and nut assemblies; a guide rod 2091 is vertically and fixedly installed on the side wall of the mounting base 209 away from the hinge axis 203. The guide rod 2091 is arranged parallel to the rack 2082 and passes through the connecting post 2041 during installation, located below the rack 2082, so as to both support the connecting post 2041 and guide the connecting post 2041 radially. The guide rod 2091 has a square-like structure, thereby limiting... The bracket 204 has a degree of rotational freedom. A rotating shaft 2092 is rotatably mounted on the mounting base 209. The rotating shaft 2092 is parallel to the hinge shaft 203 and is located above the hinge shaft 203. A second gear 2083 and a third gear 2084 are fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft 2092. The second gear 2083 meshes with the first gear 2081, and the third gear 2084 meshes with the rack 2082. When the upper cover 206 is opened, the mounting base 209 rotates around the hinge shaft 203, synchronously driving the rotating shaft 2092. 2. When the second gear 2083 rotates, under the meshing of the second gear 2083 and the first gear 2081, the second gear 2083 synchronously drives the third gear 2084 to rotate through the rotating shaft 2092. Under the meshing of the third gear 2084 and the rack 2082, the rack 2082 synchronously drives the bracket 204, the connecting seat 205 and the upper cover 206 to move as a whole towards the hinge shaft 203 through the connecting piece 2042 and the connecting column 2041, thereby reducing the resistance arm, reducing the amount of power, and improving the labor saving.

[0059] In other embodiments, the conventionally designed hinge shaft 203 is often inclined. In this case, the direction of gravity (vertically downward) of the moving component composed of the bracket 204, connecting seat 205, and upper cover 206 forms a non-zero angle with the axis of the hinge shaft 203. This configuration will cause a significant wear mechanism during mechanical movement: when the hinge shaft 203 is inclined, the gravity G of the moving component can be decomposed into a component force G1 along the axis of the hinge shaft 203 and a component force G2 perpendicular to the axis of the hinge shaft 203, where G2 will exert a wear force on the hinge shaft 203. The yaw moment M = G2 * L (L is the vertical distance from the line of action of gravity to the hinge shaft 203). When the moving component rotates around the hinge shaft 203, this moment drives the moving component to generate a yaw tendency around a plane perpendicular to the hinge shaft 203, causing the lower end of the hinge shaft 203 to be subjected to a continuous radial compressive force. This yaw tendency is not uniformly distributed. During the rotation, the trajectory of the center of gravity of the moving component forms a conical surface, causing the contact stress between the lower end of the hinge shaft 203 and the lower seat 201 to always be biased inward, forming a compressive load in a fixed direction.

[0060] The contact interface between the hinge shaft 203 and the lower seat 201 can be considered as an elastic contact system. Under the action of the yaw moment, the contact stress σin on the inner side of the lower end of the hinge shaft 203 is significantly greater than σout. The difference is determined by the bending stress formula σ=(M*y) / I in mechanics of materials (where y is the distance from the cross section to the neutral axis and I is the moment of inertia of the cross section). During long-term high-frequency rotation, the inner contact area will undergo plastic deformation due to continuous overload, and the surface metal will undergo fatigue hardening, resulting in microcracks. Meanwhile, the outer area, due to insufficient stress, cannot form uniform wear compensation. This asymmetric stress distribution causes the cross section at the lower end of the hinge shaft 203 to gradually wear from a circle to an ellipse, eventually destroying the coaxiality of the rotating pair and triggering a chain of problems such as increased vibration and seal failure.

[0061] Based on this, in the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention, the hinge shaft 203 is configured to be horizontal. With this configuration, when the direction of gravity is perpendicular to the hinge shaft 203, the component of the gravity vector along the axis of the hinge shaft 203 is zero, avoiding the generation of a torque that would cause the hinge shaft 203 to wobble. This ensures that the contact interface between the hinge shaft 203 and the lower seat 201 is subjected to uniform force, eliminating radial off-center loading caused by the component of gravity, and thus avoiding asymmetrical distribution of contact stress. This fundamentally solves the problem of uneven wear caused by the angle between gravity and the hinge shaft 203 in traditional inclined configurations, effectively extending the service life of the hinge shaft 203.

[0062] In other embodiments, when gases (such as ammonia, water vapor, etc.) generated in the alkaline environment inside the reactor 1 impact the manhole cover 2 upwards, they cool and condense on the lower surface of the cover to form alkaline condensate. As this condensate flows along the sealing interface between the upper cover 206 and the lower seat 201, it causes chemical corrosion to the sealing ring 207: the alkaline medium penetrates the gaps between rubber molecular chains, breaking down polymer bonds, leading to a decrease in the elastic modulus of the sealing ring 207 and cracking failure. Simultaneously, the carbonate crystals generated by the reaction of gas molecules (such as CO2) with the alkaline solution generate crystallization stress on the surface of the sealing ring 207, exacerbating microscopic damage to the sealing surface. Furthermore, the turbulence generated by the gas impact accelerates the peeling of the lubricating film on the surface of the sealing ring 207, directly exposing the sealing interface to the corrosive medium, further shortening the service life of the sealing ring 207.

[0063] Based on this, in the cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus provided in this embodiment of the invention, the lower end face of the upper cover 206 is recessed to form a spherical surface. This design, on the one hand, reduces material usage and component mass through the curved thin-walled structure, thereby reducing the inertial resistance torque of rotation around the hinge axis 203 and simplifying opening and closing operations; on the other hand, when the floating gas and condensate in the reactor 1 impact the spherical surface, based on the geometric guiding characteristics of the curved surface, the gas-liquid mixture will converge and flow back towards the center along the tangent direction of the spherical surface, avoiding flow along the sealing interface. This effectively blocks direct contact between corrosive media and the sealing ring 207, reduces the swelling corrosion and crystallization stress damage of the rubber material caused by alkaline condensate, and ensures the reliability of the sealing system from a structural perspective.

[0064] In a further embodiment, to further improve the reflux effect, a guide ring 2062 is fixedly installed on the lower end face of the upper cover 206. The axis of the guide ring 2062 coincides with the center of the lower spherical surface of the upper cover 206, and the guide ring 2062 has a structure with a larger upper end and a smaller lower end. This configuration enhances the reflux effect through geometric synergy: when the floating gas-liquid mixture in the reactor 1 impacts the lower spherical surface, the curved surface of the spherical surface guides the medium to converge towards the center, while the frustum-shaped profile of the guide ring 2062 further exerts radial contraction constraint on the converging fluid. Utilizing the wall adhesion effect of the fluid flowing on the conical surface, the gas-liquid mixture is forced to accelerate backflow towards the center of the reactor 1 along the conical surface of the guide ring 2062. This composite guiding mechanism can effectively block the migration path of the fluid along the edge of the lower end face of the upper cover 206 to the sealing interface, avoid contact between alkaline condensate and the sealing ring 207, structurally eliminate the potential risk of medium corrosion of the sealing surface, and further improve the durability of the sealing system.

[0065] In a further embodiment, the lower annular surface of the guide ring 2062 is rounded to optimize the condensate aggregation and dripping mechanism using surface geometry. Specifically, the rounded corner configuration reduces the abrupt change in surface tension of the condensate at the edge of the annular surface, causing the dispersed liquid film to aggregate into water droplets at the rounded corner due to the minimization of surface energy. When the gravity of the water droplets exceeds the surface adsorption force, they drip into the reactor 1 along the tangent of the rounded corner, preventing them from adhering to the surface of the guide ring 2062 in the form of a thin film. At the same time, the rounded corner weakens the turbulence disturbance when the rising gas flows through the annular surface—when the gas impacts the rounded corner, the streamlines are smoothly transitioned due to the curvature, reducing the generation of eddies and reducing the secondary entrainment effect on the water droplets. This effectively prevents the condensate from being carried back to the surface of the upper cover 206 by the gas, further reducing the probability of its contact with the sealing ring 207 and enhancing the anti-corrosion effect.

[0066] In other embodiments, there are two slide grooves 2053, which are symmetrically arranged about the connecting seat 205; there are two connecting rods 2061, which are respectively inserted into the slide grooves 2053, and the connecting rods 2061 are round rods; each connecting rod 2061 is fitted with a fixing nut 210 and a slider 211; with the cooperation of the two sets of slide grooves 2053 and connecting rods 2061, the connection stability between the upper cover 206 and the connecting seat 205 can be improved, and the rotation of the upper cover 206 along the second axis can be restricted.

[0067] In other embodiments, to enhance the sealing effect of the reactor 1, multiple sealing rings 207 are provided on the top surface of the lower seat 201. The multiple sealing rings 207 have different diameters and are coaxially arranged.

[0068] As an example, the number of sealing rings 207 can be set to two, and they are arranged coaxially.

[0069] In other embodiments, to reduce the resistance encountered by the upper cover 206 when rotating around the second axis, it can also be configured to insert a plurality of freely rolling balls on the lower ring surface of the slider 211, and the balls simultaneously roll against the upper spherical ring surface of the connecting seat 205, thereby changing the friction between the slider 211 and the connecting seat 205 from sliding friction to rolling friction, thereby reducing the resistance encountered by the upper cover 206 when rotating around the second axis by reducing the friction between the slider 211 and the connecting seat 205.

[0070] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a cobalt hydroxide preparation process, employing a cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus, the cobalt hydroxide preparation process comprising the following steps:

[0071] S1. Add the prepared cobalt salt solution and alkaline solution to reactor 1 according to the preset ratio to carry out the reaction;

[0072] Specifically, the cobalt salt solution can be set as a cobalt chloride solution; the alkaline solution can be set as a sodium hydroxide solution.

[0073] More specifically, these raw materials need to undergo pretreatment, such as dissolving, filtering, and acid adjustment, to ensure that their purity and concentration meet the reaction requirements.

[0074] More specifically, the pH of the mixed solution of cobalt salt and alkali is typically controlled between 10.20 and 11.60 to promote the formation of cobalt hydroxide. Simultaneously, to promote uniform oxidation of cobalt hydroxide and improve its particle size distribution, an oxidizing gas (such as ozone) can be added to reactor 1. Furthermore, to prevent the oxidation of cobalt hydroxide, nitrogen gas is usually introduced during the reaction for protection.

[0075] S2. After the reaction is complete, remove the cobalt hydroxide produced in the reaction and clean reaction vessel 1;

[0076] Specifically, after the reaction is complete, the resulting cobalt hydroxide precipitate needs to be initially separated using a filter press. The filtered slurry is then washed to remove residual sodium salts or other impurities, ensuring the purity of the product. The washing process is usually carried out when the pH value is stable between 12 and 13. The washed slurry is then placed in an aging tank for further aging to improve the crystallinity and stability of the product.

[0077] More specifically, the aged cobalt hydroxide is centrifuged to remove moisture, and then spray-dried or flash-dried to obtain the final product, cobalt hydroxide.

[0078] S3. Open the manhole through the top cover 206 and manually maintain the inside of the reactor 1 through the manhole.

[0079] Specifically, during the opening of the upper cover 206, by setting the upper cover 206 to rotate around the second axis, the direction of the gravity acting on the connecting seat 205 and the upper cover 206 as a whole is coplanar with the second axis. When the manhole is opened through the upper cover 206, the force characteristics and structural characteristics keep the lower end face of the upper cover 206 and the upper end face of the lower seat 201 parallel for a short time, thereby avoiding damage to the sealing ring 207 due to uneven force. Furthermore, by setting the connecting seat 205 to rotate around the first axis, and the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular, the upper cover 206 has two additional degrees of freedom in the rotational directions. During the closing of the manhole through the upper cover 206, the side of the upper cover 206 that first contacts the sealing ring 207 will push the upper cover 206 in the opposite direction, so that the other side of the upper cover 206 contacts the sealing ring 207 as soon as possible, thereby reducing damage to the sealing ring 207 caused by uneven force. This not only helps to extend the service life of the sealing ring 207, but also ensures the sealing performance of the reactor 1 and improves the production quality of cobalt hydroxide.

[0080] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0081] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing cobalt hydroxide, characterized in that, The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus includes a reactor with a manhole. A manhole cover is provided at the manhole, and the manhole cover includes a lower seat and a fixing assembly. The lower seat is fixedly mounted on the reactor, and a bracket is hinged to the lower seat via a hinge shaft. A connecting seat is provided on the bracket, and the connecting seat is rotatable about a first axis. An upper cover is provided on the connecting seat, and the upper cover is rotatable about a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. The upper cover is configured to control the opening and closing of the manhole. When the manhole cover is closed, the direction of the gravity acting on the connecting seat and the upper cover as a whole is coplanar with the second axis. A sealing ring is provided between the lower seat and the upper cover. The fixing assembly is configured to seal and fix the lower seat and the upper cover in a fixed connection.

2. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower seat is provided with at least one pair of ear plates, and the two ear plates of the same pair are arranged circumferentially at intervals; the fixing component includes a locking bolt, which is hinged together between the two ear plates of the same pair. A locking member and a locking nut are sleeved on the locking bolt. The locking nut is located above the locking member and forms a threaded engagement with the locking bolt; the locking member can simultaneously form a stop engagement with the locking nut and the upper cover.

3. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper cover is provided with a slot; the locking member is provided with a protrusion, which is fixedly inserted into the slot.

4. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, A handwheel is provided on the locking nut.

5. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The manhole cover also includes a transmission assembly; a mounting base is hinged to the hinge shaft; the bracket is disposed on the mounting base, and under the action of the transmission assembly, when the upper cover opens the manhole, the bracket can drive the connecting base and the upper cover to move closer to the hinge shaft.

6. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transmission assembly includes a first gear, which is fixedly sleeved on the hinge shaft; a rack is provided on the connecting seat, which extends in the radial direction; a second gear and a third gear are coaxially and synchronously arranged on the mounting seat, the second gear meshing with the first gear and the third gear meshing with the rack.

7. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge axis is set horizontally.

8. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end face of the upper cover is concave to form a spherical surface.

9. The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, A guide ring is fixedly provided on the lower end surface of the upper cover. The axis of the guide ring coincides with the center of the lower spherical surface of the upper cover. The guide ring has a structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom.

10. A process for preparing cobalt hydroxide, characterized in that, The cobalt hydroxide preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cobalt hydroxide preparation process includes the following steps: S1. Add the prepared cobalt salt solution and alkaline solution to the reaction vessel according to the preset ratio to carry out the reaction; S2. After the reaction is complete, remove the cobalt hydroxide produced in the reaction and clean the reaction vessel; S3. Open the manhole through the top cover and manually maintain the inside of the reactor through the manhole.

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