The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 1989
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1988
Theodore R Beck, Seattle, WA (US);
Richard J Brooks, Seattle, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Alumina is reduced to molten aluminum in an electrolytic cell containing a molten electrolyte bath composed of halide salts and having a density less than alumina and aluminum and a melting point less than aluminum. The cell comprises a plurality of vertically disposed, spaced-apart, non-consumable, dimensionally stable anodes and cathodes. Alumina particles are dispersed in the bath to form a slurry. Current is passed between the electrodes, and oxygen bubbles form at the anodes, and molten aluminum droplets form at the cathodes. The oxygen bubbles agitate the bath and enhance dissolution of the alumina adjacent the anodes and inhibit the alumina particles from settling at the bottom of the bath. The molten aluminum droplets flow downwardly along the cathodes and accumulate at the bottom of the bath.