US3901787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alumina feeder for electrolytic cells
Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Co Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract For feeding alumina into electrolytic cells for producing aluminum, an inclined supply trough is disposed above the electrolytic cell extending in the lengthwise direction thereof, a plurality of suitably spaced distribution pipes direct alumina from the supply trough into metering receptacles each provided at its lower end with a suitable alumina discharging means feeding through a lateral passage into a discharge pipe emptying into the cell. Operation can be automatic if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinya Niizeki
- 👤 Tohru Watanabe
- 👤 Shoji Yamamoto
- 👤 Akihiro Takeuchi
- 👤 Toichi Kubota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:07
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
MECHANISM FORFEEDING ALUMINA FROM A SUPPLY SOURCE TO AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR MAKING ALUMINUM COMPRISING AN INCLIND GENERALLY V-SHAPED FEEDING THROUGH RECEIVING ALUMINA FROM SAID SOURCW, SAID TROUGH EXTENDING OVER THE LENGTH OF SAID CELL, A PLURALITY OF DISTRIBUTION CONDUITS CONNECTEDTO THE BOTTOM OF SAID TROUGH AT SPACED POINTS ALONG ITS LENGTH AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, A MEETING RECEPTACLE AT THE LOWER END OF EACH SUCH CONDUIT FOR COLLECTING ALUMINA GRAVITATING DOWN SUCH CONDUIT, AND DISCHARGE MEANS FOR EACH RECEPTACLE OPERABLE TO EMPTY ALUMINA COLLECTED THEREIN INTO SAID CELL AND COMPRISING MEANS FOR FLUIDIZING THE ALUMINA IN SAID RECEPTABLE ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF AND FOR DELIVERING THE FLUIDIZED ALUMINA INTO SAID CELL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
MECHANISM FORFEEDING ALUMINA FROM A SUPPLY SOURCE TO AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR MAKING ALUMINUM COMPRISING AN INCLIND GENERALLY V-SHAPED FEEDING THROUGH RECEIVING ALUMINA FROM SAID SOURCW, SAID TROUGH EXTENDING OVER THE LENGTH OF SAID CELL, A PLURALITY OF DISTRIBUTION CONDUITS CONNECTEDTO THE BOTTOM OF SAID TROUGH AT SPACED POINTS ALONG ITS LENGTH AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, A MEETING RECEPTACLE AT THE LOWER END OF EACH SUCH CONDUIT FOR COLLECTING ALUMINA GRAVITATING DOWN SUCH CONDUIT, AND DISCHARGE MEANS FOR EACH RECEPTACLE OPERABLE TO EMPTY ALUMINA COLLECTED THEREIN INTO SAID CELL AND COMPRISING MEANS FOR FLUIDIZING THE ALUMINA IN SAID RECEPTABLE ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF AND FOR DELIVERING THE FLUIDIZED ALUMINA INTO SAID CELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said metering receptacles collect said alumina until all are filled and including means for detecting when the last receptacle along said trough is filled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said discharging means are operated substantially simultaneously in response to said detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Mechanism as in claim 1 including means for adjusting the volume of each of said receptacles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Mechanism as in claim 4 wherein said distributing conduits extend telescopically into said receptacles and the receptacle volume is adjusted by varying the length of the portion of each conduit in each receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Mechanism as in claim 1 including means for fluidizing the alumina in said trough to facilitate gravitation of the alumina in said trough into said distribution conduits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Mechanism as in claim 1 wherein each said receptacle has an open lateral passage in communication at one end with the receptacle interior at the bottom end thereof and at the other end with a delivery pipe opening within said cell, said lateral passage being longer than the vertical projection of the angle of repose of the alumina therein, whereby alumina in said receptacle does not normally flow through said passage, and means for fluidizing the alumina in said lateral passage and conveying the same into said delivery pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |