Aluminum Company of America

Richard W Peterson

Perry A Foster, Jr

Thomas R Hornack

Raymond Kastelic

Richard L Rolf

John W Luffy

L Graydon Carpenter

Donald C Fisher

Donald C Morian

An improved electrode for an electrolytic reduction cell is disclosed which comprises a nonmetallic electrode having a top surface, a central bore in the top surface, a central metal current source comprising a metal shaft or rod in the central bore, and side bores extending from the central bore toward the sides of the electrode having metallic portions therein to provide lateral current distribution from the central current source. In a preferred embodiment, the side bores are filled with metal in situ by pouring molten metal such as cast iron into the central bore to lock the central shaft in place wherein the molten metal will flow, during such filling, into the side bores to provide intimate contact with the sidewalls of side bores to provide improved lateral current distribution from the central current source across said electrode.

Electrode design for increased current distribution

An apparatus and method for measuring bulk density of solid particles. The apparatus is capable of simultaneously rotating and axially advancing a container containing a sample of solid particles past a source emitting a beam of gamma rays. The gamma rays are absorbed by a detector in proportion to the material density of the solid particles. The absorbed radiation is then compared to a preselected reference value to yield a bulk density for the material. This bulk density can then be used to ascertain the quantity of a binder which needs to be added to a homogeneous mass of coke to form a carbon anode useful in an electrolysis of alumina. The method includes the steps of placing a sample quantity of the solid particles in a container, optionally vibrating the container to settle the particles if desired, and then placing the container on the apparatus so as to be measured. The bulk density measurement is compared to a preselected reference value and this value is then visually displayed.

Apparatus and method for measuring bulk density of solid particles

In an electrolytic cell having a floor and a boundary for the floor, the cell having a short side and a long side, the improvement including greater compressibility in the boundary on the short side of the cell, as compared to the long side of the cell, in an amount effective for accommodating longitudinally directed expansion of the floor, to counteract longitudinal cracking of the floor.

Electrolytic cell

A cathode for an electrolytic cell operated at elevated temperature, the cathode comprising a refractory hard metal (RHM) body embedded in a carbonaceous base. The cathode is provided with an intermediate layer of fibrous material between a side wall of a seat in the base and a wall segment of the RHM body. The layer preferably comprises low-density carbon felt, and the layer prevents breakage of the RHM body by providing a cushion against differential thermal expansion and contraction of the base and body, especially during cell start-up.

Intermediate layer for seating RHM tubes in cathode blocks

Apparatus and method for blending together solid particles having different sizes into a homogeneous mass. A weighed quantity of solid particles of different sizes are inserted into a Y-shaped container which is closed off and rotated several times to blend the solid particles into a homogeneous mass. After blending, a scale is inserted into an elongated principal section of the container to determine bulk density of the mass.

Apparatus and method for solid particle bulk density measurements

A method of preparing carbon articles including the steps of mixing binder and carbon aggregate, forming the resulting mixture into an article, measuring the slump of the article at least to hundredths of an inch following the forming and prior to baking, and, if necessary, changing the relative proportions of binder and carbon aggregate in subsequent executions of the mixing step to yield a target amount of slump.

Control of binder content in carbon article manufacture

The method of burning fume, including combustible gases and gas-borne particles, comprising moving the fume in a tube having a blind end and one or more slits in the tube short of the end, while the fume is at least partially at ignition temperature, and emitting the fume into the air, the slit width and the slit total area being chosen such that the fume velocity through the slits will be more than the flame velocity and up to the flame blow-out velocity. The device includes a tube having a closed end and slits having a width between one-eighth and 1 inch and preferably about five-eighths inch, and a length of between one-eighth and one-half of the circumference.

Growing community of inventors

Lower Burrell, PA, United States of America

Richard W Peterson