Patent · US Active

Crust breaker and ore dispenser

US7892319B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
13References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2008
Grant dateFeb 22, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC25C3/14
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A crust breaker and ore feeder device for electrolytic aluminum smelting employs an in-line three-position pneumatic cylinder capable of moving the plunger shaft to a fully raised position, to a fully lowered position, and to an intermediate, partly lowered position. The full stroke is used for a conventional combined ore dispensing and a crust breaking operation; a partial stroke between the fully raised position and the intermediate position permits ore dispensing without a crust breaking; and a partial stroke between the intermediate position and the fully lowered position permits crust breaking operation without ore feeding. The cylinder can take form of a tandem cylinder having upper and lower axially aligned cylinder portions, with rods not connected to one another.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.