US3857764A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical processing of inner surfaces of large vessels
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A portable electrode assembly is disclosed for passage through restricted openings and convenient set-up within relatively large vessels for the purpose of electrochemically processing or treating the inner surface of the vessel without removing the vessel from its associated permanent support structure. In preferred embodiments, high density electrolyte solutions are used with electrode assemblies which include means for displacing substantial quantities of the electrolyte while providing support for the electrode elements.
Inventors
- 👤 J Jumer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:00
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D7/00; C25D7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A METHOD OF ELECTROPROCESSING THE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INTERIOR SURFACE OF A STATIONARY LARGE CAPACITY UPRIGHT VESSEL OF UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE TOP AND ONE BOTTOM OPENING THEREIN WHICH OPENING S ARE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE GIRTH OF SAID VESSEL, COMPRISING: SECURED ANCHOR MEANS IN SAID BOTTOM OPENING; ATTACHING TO SAID ANCHOR MEANS INFLATABLE BUOYANT ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS HAVING A UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE WHEN INFLATED CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO THAT OF THE INTERIOR SIDE WALL OF SAID VESSEL BUT HAVING A HEIGHT WHEN INFLATED THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN THE HEIGHT OF SAID VESSEL AND INFLATING SAID DISSHPLACER MEANS UNTIL THE EXTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE THEREOF IS ADJACENT TO SAID INTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE WITH APPROXIMATELY UNIFORM SPACE THEREBETWEEN; COVERING THE EXTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE OF SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS WITH AN ENDLESS ELECTRODE, OPERATIVELY CONNECTING POSITION CONTROL MEANS WITH SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS SO AS TO PERMIT RAISING AND/OR LOWERING THEREOF THROUGH AT LEAST ONE SAID TOP OPENING; INTRODUCING AND MAINTAINING AN ELECTROLYTE IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SPACE SEPARATING SAID EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS FROM SAID INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID VESSEL, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF ELECTROLYTE IN SAID VESSEL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE CAPACITY THEREOF, AND THE COMBINED VOLUMES OF SAID ELECTROLYTE AND SAID SUBMERGED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID VESSEL CAPACITY; PASSING AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH SAID ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID INTERIOR SURFACE; AND, RAISING AND/OR LOWERING SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS TO ELECTROPROCESS ALL OF SAID INTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
255 words
A METHOD OF ELECTROPROCESSING THE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INTERIOR SURFACE OF A STATIONARY LARGE CAPACITY UPRIGHT VESSEL OF UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE TOP AND ONE BOTTOM OPENING THEREIN WHICH OPENING S ARE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE GIRTH OF SAID VESSEL, COMPRISING: SECURED ANCHOR MEANS IN SAID BOTTOM OPENING; ATTACHING TO SAID ANCHOR MEANS INFLATABLE BUOYANT ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS HAVING A UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE WHEN INFLATED CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO THAT OF THE INTERIOR SIDE WALL OF SAID VESSEL BUT HAVING A HEIGHT WHEN INFLATED THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN THE HEIGHT OF SAID VESSEL AND INFLATING SAID DISSHPLACER MEANS UNTIL THE EXTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE THEREOF IS ADJACENT TO SAID INTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE WITH APPROXIMATELY UNIFORM SPACE THEREBETWEEN; COVERING THE EXTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE OF SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS WITH AN ENDLESS ELECTRODE, OPERATIVELY CONNECTING POSITION CONTROL MEANS WITH SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS SO AS TO PERMIT RAISING AND/OR LOWERING THEREOF THROUGH AT LEAST ONE SAID TOP OPENING; INTRODUCING AND MAINTAINING AN ELECTROLYTE IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SPACE SEPARATING SAID EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS FROM SAID INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID VESSEL, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF ELECTROLYTE IN SAID VESSEL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE CAPACITY THEREOF, AND THE COMBINED VOLUMES OF SAID ELECTROLYTE AND SAID SUBMERGED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID VESSEL CAPACITY; PASSING AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH SAID ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID INTERIOR SURFACE; AND, RAISING AND/OR LOWERING SAID INFLATED ELECTROLYTE DISPLACER MEANS TO ELECTROPROCESS ALL OF SAID INTERIOR SIDE WALL SURFACE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method called for in claim 1 wherein the shape of the exterior bottom surface of said electrolyte displacer means when inflated is substantially the same as that of the inner surface of the bottom of said vessel, covering said bottom surface of said inflated displacer means with an electrode, and passing an electrical current through said electrolyte between said bottom electrode and said inner bottom surface of said vessel when said inflated electrolyte displacer means is in its lowermost operating position so as to also electroprocess said inner bottom surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method called for in claim 2 wherein the shape of the exterior top surface of said electrolyte displacer means when inflated is substantially the same as that of the inner surface of the top of said vessel, covering said top surface of said inflated displacer means with an electrode, and passing an electrical current through said electrolyte between said top electrode and said inner top surface of said vessel when said inflated electrolyte displacer means is in its uppermost operating position so as to also electroprocess said inner top surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |