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:
Feb. 21, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 25, 2003
Jean Pierre Gagné, Chicoutimi, CA;
Gilles Dufour, Québec, CA;
Bertrand St-laurent, Donnacona, CA;
Claude Gauthier, Sainte-Foy, CA;
Jacques Denis, St-Basile de Portneuf, CA;
Robin Boulianne, Jonquiére, CA;
Pierre Bouchard, Chitoutimi, CA;
Jacques Pelletier, Chitoutimi, CA;
Jean Pierre Gagné, Chicoutimi, CA;
Gilles Dufour, Québec, CA;
Bertrand St-Laurent, Donnacona, CA;
Claude Gauthier, Sainte-Foy, CA;
Jacques Denis, St-Basile de Portneuf, CA;
Robin Boulianne, Jonquiére, CA;
Pierre Bouchard, Chitoutimi, CA;
Jacques Pelletier, Chitoutimi, CA;
Alcoa,Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A spent anode is replaced with a new anode in an electrolysis cell having an anode bus bar and an anode rod contacting the bus bar. A desired distance (D) from the bus bar to a reference point on or adjacent to an anode rod for the new anode is calculated, the spent anode is replaced with a new anode so that the reference point on the new anode rod is spaced from the bus bar by an actual distance (D), and the actual distance (D) is measured at least once by means of a vision system. The actual distance (D) is preferably adjusted using a feedback control loop in a computer so that Dapproaches the desired distance (D).