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. 25, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2000
Claude Gauthier, Sante-Foy, CA;
Claude Fradet, Chicoutimi, CA;
Marc Dupuis, Jonquière, CA;
Daniel Richard, Quebec, CA;
Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A cathode assembly for use in a Hall-Heroult electrolytic cell, the assembly including a cathode block which receives two primary cathode collector bars and one secondary cathode collector bar disposed therebetween. The primary collector bars each have an electrical interface with the cathode block which is sized to be equal to or greater than an electrical interface between the secondary collector bar and the cathode block. The primary collector bars are electrically connected to the cathode block only along an interior portion of the cathode block and the secondary collector bar is fully connected to the cathode block. This arrangement improves current distribution through the cathode assembly by minimizing the amount of current passing through the ends of the cathode block.