Patent US4984458A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3878073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxygen exchange with liquid metals
Assignee: Ohio State University Research Foundation
•
Filing: 1972-07-14
•
Granted: 1975-04-15
•
Expires: 1992-07-14
Abstract
Abstract Oxygen, which is dissolved in liquid metals, is rapidly withdrawn by electrochemical pumping through a solid electrolyte cell while the melt is turbulently circulated past the electrolyte wall. Heating and stirring of the melt by induction or other means additionally permit a further increased deoxidation rate by allowing application of pumping voltages in excess of the electrolyte decomposition voltage for stagnant melts. A programmed reduction of pumping voltage as oxygen is withdrawn optimizes the deoxidation rate. Oxygen may similarly be pumped into the melt.
Inventors
- 👤 William M Boorstein
- 👤 Lawrence M Friedman
- 👤 Robert A Rapp
- 👤 Karl E Oberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:10
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
AN APPARATUS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF OXYGEN WITH A LIQUID METAL, THE APPARATUS COMPRISING: A. A SOLID ELECTROLYTE CELL FORMED BY A SOLID, OXYGEN ION CONDUCTING ELECTROLYTE WALL HAVING A FIRST SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID METAL AND ITS OPPOSITE SURFACE EXPOSED TO AN OXYGEN TRANSPORTING PHASE AND HAVING AN OXYGEN TRANSMITTING ELECTRODE ON SAID OPPOSITE SURFACE, SAID LIQUID METAL OPERATING AS THE OTHER ELECTRODE OF SAID CELL; B. ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION MEANS FOR TURBULENTLY STIRRING SAID LIQUID METAL PAST SAID ELECTROLYTE; AND
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
AN APPARATUS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF OXYGEN WITH A LIQUID METAL, THE APPARATUS COMPRISING: A. A SOLID ELECTROLYTE CELL FORMED BY A SOLID, OXYGEN ION CONDUCTING ELECTROLYTE WALL HAVING A FIRST SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID METAL AND ITS OPPOSITE SURFACE EXPOSED TO AN OXYGEN TRANSPORTING PHASE AND HAVING AN OXYGEN TRANSMITTING ELECTRODE ON SAID OPPOSITE SURFACE, SAID LIQUID METAL OPERATING AS THE OTHER ELECTRODE OF SAID CELL; B. ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION MEANS FOR TURBULENTLY STIRRING SAID LIQUID METAL PAST SAID ELECTROLYTE; AND
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid metal is contained in a receptacle and a control means is connected to said DC power supply for reducing the applied potential at a selected performance of the deoxidation process of said liquid metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the negative terminal of said power supply is applied to said liquid metal to pump oxygen out of said metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a. metering means is connected to said liquid metal for metering the oxygen concentration in said liquid metal and providing an output signal corresponding to said concentration; and b. a computing and control circuit is connected to the output of said metering means and said DC power supply for maintaining said applied potential less than that known to induce electrolyte decomposition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid metal is contained in a receptacle and said electrolyte wall forms at least a portion of said receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a. a conduit is provided for containing a stream of said liquid metal; b. means is provided for causing said liquid metal to flow through said conduit; and c. said cell comprises at least one tubular cell in said stream to form an oxygen pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said flow inducing means comprises an induction heater for stirring and heating said liquid metal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for the deoxidiation of a liquid metal comprising: a. electromagnetically inducing said liquid metal to turbulently circulate past an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte pumping cell; and b. simultaneously applying a pumping voltage to said pumping cell for electrochemically pumping oxygen out of said liquid metal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for the deoxidiation of a liquid metal comprising: a. electromagnetically inducing said liquid metal to turbulently circulate past an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte pumping cell; and b. simultaneously applying a pumping voltage to said pumping cell for electrochemically pumping oxygen out of said liquid metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said pumping voltage is reduced as oxygen is removed from said liquid metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the applied pumping voltage is greater than the maximum breakdown voltage at which electrolyte would otherwise begin to dissociate if insufficient oxygen were available in the adjacent boundary layer of said liquid metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said pumping voltage is initially high but is subsequently reduced as oxygen is removed from said liquid metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1822539A
Cited
US1943802A
Cited
US1983242A
Cited
US3297551A
Cited
US3378478A
Cited
US3400054A
Cited
US3478156A
Cited
US3650934A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |