US3909375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolytic process for the production of metals in molten halide systems
Assignee: Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-04-09
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1993-04-09
Abstract
Abstract Metals are produced by electrolysis of their respective metal halides wherein the metals are deposited on one of a pair of spaced substantially parallel electrodes, the opposed surfaces of which are inclined at an angle of between 5* and 30* to the vertical, and wherein gas liberated in the inter-electrode space is discharged upwardly into a gas separation chamber disposed above the inter-electrode space.
Inventors
- 👤 Robin David Holliday
- 👤 Peter Mcintosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:16
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C7/00; C25C7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
7 words
C IS THE CURRENT DENSITY IN AMP/CM2
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
7 words
C IS THE CURRENT DENSITY IN AMP/CM2
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
IN THE OPERATION OF AN ELCTROLYTIC CELL FOR USE IN THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF METALS IN MOLTEN HALIDE SYSTEMS, WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF CLOSELY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANAR NON-CONSUMABLE ELECTRODES INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF BETWEEN 7 AND 15 DEGREES TO THE VERTICAL, AN INTERELECTRODE SPACING FOR SAID MOLTEN HALIDE SYSTEM, THE CATHODE SURFACE BEING INCLINED AT A POSITIVE ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL AND THE ANODE SURFACE BEING INCLINED AT A SIMILAR NEGATIVE ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL, THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING BEING LESS THEN TWO INCHES, AND A GAS SEPARATION CHAMBER DISPOSED ABOVE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE INTO WHICH GAS IS DISCHARGED UPWARDLY FROM THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, THE AREA OF THE MELT
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
IN THE OPERATION OF AN ELCTROLYTIC CELL FOR USE IN THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF METALS IN MOLTEN HALIDE SYSTEMS, WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF CLOSELY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANAR NON-CONSUMABLE ELECTRODES INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF BETWEEN 7 AND 15 DEGREES TO THE VERTICAL, AN INTERELECTRODE SPACING FOR SAID MOLTEN HALIDE SYSTEM, THE CATHODE SURFACE BEING INCLINED AT A POSITIVE ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL AND THE ANODE SURFACE BEING INCLINED AT A SIMILAR NEGATIVE ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL, THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING BEING LESS THEN TWO INCHES, AND A GAS SEPARATION CHAMBER DISPOSED ABOVE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE INTO WHICH GAS IS DISCHARGED UPWARDLY FROM THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, THE AREA OF THE MELT
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
7 words
L IS THE CATHODE LENGTH IN INCHES
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
7 words
L IS THE CATHODE LENGTH IN INCHES
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the operation according to claim 1 wherein the width of the melt surface is not greater than the depth of the electrolyte in the gas separation chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
7 words
L is the cathode length in inches
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
7 words
L is the cathode length in inches
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
M IS THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING IN INCHES, AND THE WIDTH OF THE MELT SURFACE AND THE DEPTH OF THE ELECTROLYTE IN THE GAS SEPARATION CHAMBER BEING EACH NOT LESS THAN TWICE THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
M IS THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING IN INCHES, AND THE WIDTH OF THE MELT SURFACE AND THE DEPTH OF THE ELECTROLYTE IN THE GAS SEPARATION CHAMBER BEING EACH NOT LESS THAN TWICE THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACING.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
M is the inter-electrode spacing in inches, and the width of the melt surface and the depth of the electrolyte in the gas separation chamber being each not less than twice the inter-electrode spacing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
M is the inter-electrode spacing in inches, and the width of the melt surface and the depth of the electrolyte in the gas separation chamber being each not less than twice the inter-electrode spacing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 wherein the width of the melt surface and the depth of the electrolyte in the gas separation chamber are each not less than 4 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 wherein the inter-electrode spacing is between 1.2 and 1.8 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 and having a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 wherein a pool of molten metal is formed below the electrodes but said pool does not serve as a cathode on which metal is deposited.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 wherein the electrolysis is carried out at a current density of not less than 1 amp/cm2.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |