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:
Dec. 11, 1990
Filed:
Oct. 19, 1989
Alcan International Limited, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
Busbar arrangements for aluminum electrolytic cells. In a first aspect, the invention provides at least one generally horizontal collector busbar on each side of the cell and a number of current tapping points along each collector busbar so that current flows along the collector busbar in opposite directions on each side of the taps. This produces changes of sign in the vertical component of the magnetic field acting on the pad in the longitudinal direction and helps to prevent pad instabilities. In a second aspect, the current taps for the collector busbars are vertically disposed so as to convey current well below the level of the metal pad so that adverse magnetic effects caused by further distribution of the current are minimized. In a third aspect, when the cells are arranged in a row, current is conveyed between cells in a round-end under-cell crisscross arrangement with long horizontal runs of the busbars of adjacent cells being positioned close together with currents flowing in opposite directions to counteract adverse magnetic effects. These aspects of the invention allow electrolytic cells to be operated more efficiently and with decreased capital investment costs.