Patents Assigned to Alcan International Limited
  • Patent number: 10113645
    Abstract: A seal arrangement allowing in-line maintenance and replacement of packing, seals and bushings of a rotary shaft driving a tool extending inside a fluid holding tank. The rotary shaft and associated seals are mounted in an extractable cartridge removably insertable in sealing engagement within a housing projecting outwardly from the tank. A secondary seal comprises an isolation valve mounted to the housing outside of the tank for temporarily providing sealing during servicing of the seals in the extracted cartridge. A tertiary seal is provided for protecting the secondary seal from the tank contents when used in scaling environments. Removable parts of said seal arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Deane Labrum, Dean Beltrame, Guy Peloquin, Alain Boivin
  • Patent number: 10000828
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy having an excellent combination of strength, extrudability and corrosion resistance may include in weight percent, about 0.01% or less copper; about 0.15% or less iron; about 0.60 to about 0.90% manganese, where manganese and iron are present in the alloy in a Mn:Fe ratio of at least about 6.6; about 0.02% or less nickel; about 0.08 to about 0.30% silicon; about 0.10 to about 0.20% titanium; and about 0.05 to about 0.20% zinc; the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. Extruded articles and other articles may be formed using the alloy. Methods of forming such articles may include homogenizing a billet of the alloy prior to forming the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Parson, Raynald Guay, Alexandre Maltais
  • Patent number: 9982328
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a cast part with high static mechanical strength, and for fatigue and hot creep, made of aluminum alloy of composition: Si: 3-11%, preferably 5.0-9.0% Fe<0.50%, preferably <0.30%, preferably still <0.19% or even 0.12% Cu: 2.0-5.0%, preferably 2.5-4.2%, preferably still 3.0-4.0% Mn: 0.05-0.50%, preferably 0.08-0.20% Mg: 0.10-0.25%, preferably 0.10-0.20% Zn: <0.30%, preferably <0.10% Ni: <0.30%, preferably <0.10% V: 0.05-0.19%, preferably 0.08-0.19%, preferably still 0.10-0.19% Zr: 0.05-0.25%, preferably 0.08-0.20% Ti: 0.01-0.25%, preferably 0.05-0.20% other elements <0.05% each and 0.15% in total, the rest aluminum. It more particularly relates to cylinder heads for supercharged diesel or petrol internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Michel Garat
  • Patent number: 9970090
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.70-0.85 Si, 0.14-0.25 Fe, 0.25-0.35 Cu, 0.05 max Mn, 0.75-0.90 Mg, 0.12-0.18 Cr, 0.05 max Zn, and 0.04 max Ti, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may be suitable for extruding, and may be formed into an extruded alloy product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Nick C. Parson, Raynald Guay, Alexandre Maltais
  • Patent number: 9958208
    Abstract: Control process for a furnace for baking carbon anodes comprising: longitudinal hollow partitions in each of which a flow of hot baking gas may circulate, hollow partitions together defining cells to receive the anodes to be baked, and a heating system rotating in relation to the hollow partitions comprising an upstream blowing ramp blowing air into the various partitions, a downstream suction ramp sucking gas from the various partitions and at least one heating ramp. This process comprises a natural pre-heating phase of the partitions and anodes which release combustible, volatile matter which burns inside the hollow partitions as a degassing in a natural pre-heating zone of the furnace downstream of the heating ramp. According to the invention, gas flows circulating in the hollow partitions are modified so as to control gas flows passing through a first natural pre-heating zone from gas flows leaving a second natural pre-heating zone to control the location of the degassing front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: François Morales, Alain De La Torre
  • Publication number: 20180087167
    Abstract: An assembly body including a cermet member, a metal member and an intermediate member bonded to the cermet member and the metal member, wherein the cermet member includes an oxide phase and a metal phase, the intermediate member includes at least a first intermediate layer and a second intermediate layer, the first intermediate layer is bonded to the cermet member, the first intermediate layer includes at least a first metal M1, the second intermediate layer includes at least a second metal M2, a melting point of the first metal M1 is lower than the second metal M2, a weight concentration of M1 at the first intermediate layer is higher than the weight concentration of M1 at the second intermediate layer, and the weight concentration of M2 at the second intermediate layer is higher than the weight concentration of M2 at the first intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicants: TDK CORPORATION, RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuhiro YOSHIDOME, Ryoma NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180073109
    Abstract: A cermet material includes as mass percentages, at least: 50% to 90% of a metallic phase containing an alloy of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni), and 10% to 50% of an oxide phase containing at least iron, nickel and oxygen with the following proportion by mass of Ni: 0.2%?Ni?17%. An electrode, preferably an anode, may include this cermet material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Christian BARTHELEMY, Ariane MARMOTTANT, Véronique LAURENT, Sylvie BOUVET, Vincent STABROWSKI
  • Patent number: 9840754
    Abstract: A rotary injector comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an impeller at the distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft and the impeller being collectively rotatable during operation around an axis of the shaft, the rotary injector being hollow and having an internal supply conduit extending along the shaft and across the impeller, the supply conduit having an inlet at the proximal end of the shaft, a main portion extending from the inlet to a discharge portion, the discharge portion extending to an axial outlet, the discharge portion having a narrow end connecting the main portion of the supply conduit and a broader end at the axial outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger
  • Publication number: 20170167039
    Abstract: Anode assembly (100) comprising an anode (3) and an anode support (4) for the production of aluminium, characterized in that the anode assembly (100) comprises an electrical connecting element (1) to electrically connect the anode support (4) with the anode (3), and at least one thermally insulating element (6) arranged to reduct heat transfer between the anode (3) and the anode support (4) during the production of aluminium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Sébastien BECASSE, Jean-François BILODEAU, Denis LAROCHE, Laurent FIOT, Steve LANGLOIS
  • Patent number: 9631879
    Abstract: An extrudable aluminum alloy composition includes, in weight percent, between 0.60 and 0.90 manganese, between 0.45 and 0.75 copper, between 0.05 and 0.24 magnesium, less than 0.30 iron, less than 0.30 silicon, less than 0.05 titanium, less than 0.05 vanadium, and a Cu/Mg ratio higher or equal to 3. It also relates to aluminum alloy heat exchanger extruded or drawn tube and extruded or drawn aluminum alloy tubing having the above-described aluminum alloy composition. It also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of extruded or drawn tube sections having the above-described aluminum alloy composition and a process for manufacturing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Parson
  • Publication number: 20170087510
    Abstract: A dry scrubbing system and process wherein an acid gas comprising at least one pollutant is modified in a humid zone of a duct such that a relative humidity of between 2% and 90% is achieved. The humidified gas is then contacted with chalked lime in a reaction zone. The reaction zone components are subsequently filtered in a filtering zone to provide a filtered gas having reduced concentration of the at least one pollutant when compared to the initial acid gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Jean-Nicolas MALTAIS, Simon LECLERC, Cyril GAUDREAULT
  • Patent number: 9598783
    Abstract: An aluminum smelter comprising: (i) a series of electrolytic cells, designed for the production of aluminum, forming one or more rows, (ii) a supply station designed to supply the series of electrolytic cells with an electrolysis current, the said electricity supply station comprising two poles, (iii) a main electrical circuit through which the electrolysis current flows, having two extremities each connected to one of the poles of the supply station, (iv) at least one secondary electrical circuit comprising an electrical conductor made of superconducting material through which a current flows, running along the row or rows of electrolytic cells, characterized in that the electrical conductor made of superconducting material in the secondary electrical circuit runs along the row or rows of electrolytic cells at least twice in such a way as to make several turns in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Christian Duval, Steeve Renaudier, Benoit Bardet, Olivier Martin, Stéphane Wan Tang Kuan
  • Patent number: 9592551
    Abstract: A trough for cooling and delivering molten metal to a casting station. The trough comprises a refractory portion for holding the molten metal and heat transfer means associated to external walls of the refractory portion for extracting heat from the molten metal. The heat transfer means may comprise a fluidized bed compartment for holding and fluidizing a fluidization material. Also, the heat transfer means may comprise a cooling jacket, an inner wall of the cooling jacket and the external walls of the refractory portion defining the fluidized bed compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: André Larouche, Éric Hébert, Danny Jean, Joseph Langlais, Serge Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20170001129
    Abstract: A settler for decanting mineral slurries includes a tank having a side wall, a bottom and a top, an outlet for a thickened slurry at the bottom of the tank, a first overflow outlet for withdrawing an overflow stream of a clarified liquid, a slurry inlet means for introducing fresh slurry into the tank, the slurry inlet means having a slurry opening through which fresh slurry joins a body of slurry in the tank, and a stirrer having a vertical axis around which the stirrer rotates or reciprocates, in said settler the slurry opening is displaced laterally relative to said vertical axis of the stirrer and said slurry inlet means comprises mixing means. A separation installation includes the above settler and a method for separating a clarified liquid from a thickened slurry of a mineral slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael REID, Guy PELOQUIN, Matthieu ST-LAURENT, Philippe RACINE
  • Publication number: 20160238319
    Abstract: The dual-function impeller can be rotated in molten metal in a direction of rotation, as part of a rotary injector. The impeller can have a body having an axis, a plurality of blades circumferentially interspaced around an axis, and an aperture coinciding with the axis. The blades having both a radially extending portion facing the direction of rotation and collectively generating a radial flow component upon said rotation, and a slanted portion also facing the direction of rotation, inclined relative to a radial plane, and collectively generating an axial flow component directed away from the rotary injector upon said rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger, Martin Beaulieu
  • Publication number: 20160186343
    Abstract: An electrolysis device comprising a pot shell (3) and an inner lining (5) defining an opening (16) through which an anode block (15) suspended from an anode support (13, 17) forming an anode assembly (12) moves vertically by means of an anode receiver (25), said anode receiver being placed outside a space defined by the top of said anode block (15), said anode receiver comprising an anode contact surface (27) working in conjunction with the anode support (13, 17) to establish therewith electrical contact and mechanical contact to moving the anode assembly (12) vertically. An anode assembly (12). An electrolytic cell and an electrolysis installation comprising such an anode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Yves Rochet, Frédéric Brun, Steeve Renaudier
  • Publication number: 20160186344
    Abstract: This cell (1) comprises a pot shell (2) having two longitudinal sides (18) which are symmetrical in relation to a longitudinal median plane (P) of the electrolytic cell (1), an anode assembly which can only move in vertical translation with respect to the pot shell (2), the anode assembly comprising an anode block (100) and a transverse anode support (200) extending at right angles to the longitudinal sides (18) of the pot shell (2), from which support the anode block (100) is suspended. The anode support (200) comprises two connecting portions (202) from which electrolysis current is supplied to the anode support (200), and the cell (1) comprises electrical connection conductors (20) electrically connected to the two connecting portions (202) of the anode support (200), the two connecting portions (202) being located on either side of the plane (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Steeve Renaudier, Benoit Bardet, Yves Rochet, Denis Laroche, Olivier Martin
  • Publication number: 20160138138
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by Mg—Si precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Parson, Pierre Marchand, Jean-Alain Laurin
  • Patent number: 9238184
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a process liquor that includes solids, which apparatus includes a vessel having a base and a side wall that define an internal volume for containing the process liquor and for allowing gravity settling of the solids in the liquor, whereby to produce a refined liquor toward a top of the internal volume and a slurry toward a bottom of the internal volume, the apparatus further includes solids displacement elements disposed within the internal volume for directing settled solids and/or settling solids in the vicinity of the side wall or of the base toward a flow path of the slurry being extracted from the slurry outlet. A processing plant including the above refining apparatus and a method for refining a process liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Guy Peloquin, Alain Larouche, Alain Boivin, Matthieu St-Laurent, Régis Girard, Guy Simard
  • Publication number: 20150344988
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes for recycling spent pot lining carbon by-products (SPLCB) obtained from a caustic leach process. The process provides treating spent pot lining (SPL) or SPLCB with Ca/P-containing stabilizing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Ghislain HAMEL, Raymond BREAULT, Alain MARCOUX