Cathode construction

US6113756A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Comalco Aluminum Limited · AU
• Plasma Technology Scientific and Engineering Centre of E O Paton Electric Welding Institute of Ukraine · UA

Inventors

• Drago D. Juric · Melbourne, AU
• Raymond Walter Shaw · New Gisborne, AU
• Boris Eu Paton · Kyiv, UA
• Victor J. Lakomsky · Rykove, UA
• Alexander Ja Taran · Rykove, UA
• Michael A. Fridman · Rykove, UA

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 1998
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C25C3/16
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An electrolytic reduction cell for production of a metal includes an outer steel shell, a layer of insulating material adjacent the outer steel shell and a carbonaceous layer overlaying the insulating material and protecting the insulating material from an electrolytic bath to be contained in the cell. The carbonaceous layer includes at least one carbonaceous cathode block having an upper surface and a lower surface, with a plurality of electrical contact plugs being mounted in electrical contact with the lower surface of the cathode block. A collector plate is in electrical contact with the electrical contact plugs. The electrical contact plugs are distributed over the lower surface of the cathode block such that in operation of the cell, a substantially isopotential surface is achieved at the top surface of the cathode block.