Patents by Inventor Delphine Bonnafous

Delphine Bonnafous has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Electrolysis cell for the production of aluminum comprising means to reduce the voltage drop
    Patent number: 8500970
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell is suitable for production of aluminium, and includes at least one collector bar made of first metal and at least one complementary bar made of a second metal having an electrical conductivity greater than the first metal and arranged adjacent to one of the side faces of the collector bar so that the external end of the complementary bar is at a specified distance from a specified end face of the block. The second end terminates so as to limit heat losses from said cell. The cell makes it possible to obtain significantly lower voltage drops while avoiding excessive heat losses through the collector bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Bertrand Allano, Delphine Bonnafous, Jean Camire, Martin Desilets, Laurent Fiot, Pierre Fournier, Yvon Gauthier, Denis Laroche, Oliver Martin, Pascal Thibeault, Serge Bouchard
  • Cathode element for use in an electrolytic cell intended for production of aluminum
    Patent number: 7618519
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cathode element for use in a pot of an electrolytic cell intended for production of aluminum. The cathode element comprises a cathode block and a steel connection bar. The connection bar includes at least one metal insert, whose electrical conductivity is greater than the electrical conductivity of the said steel. The presence of an insert according to the invention can simultaneously result in a very large drop in the global cathode voltage and a very strong reduction in the current density at the head of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Aluminum Pechiney
    Inventors: Delphine Bonnafous, Jean-Luc Basquin, Claude Vanvoren
  • Electrolysis Cell for the Production of Aluminium Comprising Means to Reduce the Voltage Drop
    Publication number: 20080135417
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell is suitable for production of aluminium, and includes at least one collector bar made of first metal and at least one complementary bar made of a second metal having an electrical conductivity greater than the first metal and arranged adjacent to one of the side faces of the collector bar so that the external end of the complementary bar is at a specified distance from a specified end face of the block. The second end terminates so as to limit heat losses from said cell. The cell makes it possible to obtain significantly lower voltage drops while avoiding excessive heat losses through the collector bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Bertrand Allano, Delphine Bonnafous, Jean Camire, Martin Desilets, Laurent Fiot, Pierre Fournier, Yvon Gauthier, Denis Laroche, Olivier Martin, Pascal Thibeault, Serge Bouchard
  • Cathode element for use in an electrolytic cell intended for production of aluminium
    Publication number: 20050218006
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cathode element for use in a pot of an electrolytic cell intended for production of aluminum. The cathode element comprises a cathode block and a steel connection bar. The connection bar includes at least one metal insert, whose electrical conductivity is greater than the electrical conductivity of the said steel. The presence of an insert according to the invention can simultaneously result in a very large drop in the global cathode voltage and a very strong reduction in the current density at the head of the block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Delphine Bonnafous, Jean-Luc Basquin, Claude Vanvoren