Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Carkin

Gerald E. Carkin 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).

  • Patent number: 10377677
    Abstract: Generally, the instant disclosure relates to fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same. More specifically, the instant disclosure relates to blast suppressant and/or blast resistant ammonium nitrate fertilizer compositions, as well as methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Kyle A. Crum, Judodine Nichols, David F. Iwig, Steven C. Orkis, Gerald E. Carkin, Deniz Gencaga, Stephen P. Sunday, Ian Ross Harrison, John R. Smith, Shannon I. Parks, Mikhail Gershenzon
  • Patent number: 9527779
    Abstract: Generally, the instant disclosure relates to fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same. More specifically, the instant disclosure relates to blast suppressant and/or blast resistant ammonium nitrate fertilizer compositions, as well as methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Kyle A. Crum, Judodine Nichols, David F. Iwig, Steven C. Orkis, Gerald E. Carkin, Orhan D. Gencaga, Stephen P. Sunday, Ian Ross Harrison, John R. Smith, Shannon I. Parks, Mikhail Gershenzon
  • Patent number: 9068246
    Abstract: A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall J. Bruno, Gerald E. Carkin, David H. DeYoung, Ronald M. Dunlap, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8406268
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an electrode holder assembly (100) includes a current delivery base (105) having an interface (204) sufficiently designed to distribute an electrical current; a buss plate (200) sufficiently designed to provide the electrical current to the current delivery base (105); a shoe-ring assembly having: a plurality of electrical shoes (120), wherein the electrical current from the current delivery base (105) is distributed to the plurality of electrical shoes (120) for distribution to an electrode (400); a plurality of dual stroke cylinders (190); and a mounting ring (220); and a hydraulic assembly (300) including a grip ring (310) having an opening sufficiently designed to engage an outer surface of the electrode (400); a pressurizing cylinder (320) sufficiently designed to constrict and relax the grip ring (310); and at least one dual stroke cylinder (330) sufficiently designed to control horizontal movement of the grip ring (310) and the electrode (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Carkin, Jarie-Erland Herstad, Joseph Lepish
  • Publication number: 20120140788
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an electrode holder assembly (100) includes a current delivery base (105) having an interface (204) sufficiently designed to distribute an electrical current; a buss plate (200) sufficiently designed to provide the electrical current to the current delivery base (105); a shoe-ring assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical shoes (120), wherein the electrical current from the current delivery base (105) is distributed to the plurality of electrical shoes (120) for distribution to an electrode (400); a plurality of dual stroke cylinders (190); and a mounting ring (220); and a hydraulic assembly (300) comprising a grip ring (310) having an opening sufficiently designed to engage an outer surface of the electrode (400); a pressurizing cylinder (320) sufficiently designed to constrict and relax the grip ring (310); and at least one dual stroke cylinder (330) sufficiently designed to control horizontal movement of the grip ring (310) and the electrode (400).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Gerald E. Carkin, Jarie-Erland Herstad, Joseph Lepish
  • Patent number: 7854783
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignees: Alcoa Inc., Elkem AS
    Inventors: Joseph A. Lepish, Gerald E. Carkin
  • Publication number: 20100162850
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicants: Alcoa Inc., Elkem AS
    Inventors: Joseph A. Lepish, Gerald E. Carkin
  • Publication number: 20100147113
    Abstract: A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall J. Bruno, Gerald E. Carkin, David H. DeYoung, Ronald M. Dunlap, SR.
  • Patent number: 7704443
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: Alcoa, Inc., Elkem AS
    Inventors: Joseph A. Lepish, Gerald E. Carkin
  • Publication number: 20090139371
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Lepish, Gerald E. Carkin
  • Patent number: 6511590
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of bubble-driven flow to enhance the dissolution and distribution of alumina in an aluminum electrolysis cell operating with inert anodes. By harnessing the driving force of bubbles rising along the sides of a sloped anode to induce circulation in a cell and by using a group of anodes to amplify the effect, alumina distribution can be maintained close to or at saturation without formation of muck/sludge. Alumina fed through point feeders at specific locations can be distributed throughout the entire cell rather than sinking to the bottom of the cell below the feed location. For a given circulation pattern, feeder locations can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Troup, Gerald E. Carkin, Don R. Careatti
  • Patent number: 5669436
    Abstract: A composite metallurgical product includes a roll cast aluminum alloy core and a filler material bonded on the core. Assemblies joined by filler material are formed from this product by heating to flow the filler material into joints and subsequent solidification of the filler material in the joints. The composite product is made in several ways, including lamination at roll caster rolls, and lamination or thermal spraying at the exit side of a roll caster. The invention additionally provides for an angulation rolling method for varying percent of cladding on the composite, and a high-manganese aluminum alloy useful as core material in brazing sheet clad with aluminum-silicon brazing alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Kevin S. Papich, Ronald Bachowski, Stephen F. Baumann, Robert A. Cargnel, Gerald E. Carkin, Donald J. Clements, Ronald W. Gunkel, William H. Hoffman, Larry G. McKinney, A. Victor Pajerski, John J. Palko, Edward P. Patrick, Jr., Stephen J. Rennekamp, Philip C. Scheble, William R. Sharkins, Frank P. Swigon, William G. Truckner
  • Patent number: 5476725
    Abstract: A composite metallurgical product includes a roll cast aluminum alloy core and a filler material bonded on the core. Assemblies joined by filler material are formed from this product by heating to flow the filler material into joints and subsequent solidification of the filler material in the joints. The composite product is made in several ways, including lamination at roll caster rolls, and lamination or thermal spraying at the exit side of a roll caster. The invention additionally provides for an angulation rolling method for varying percent of cladding on the composite, and a high-manganese aluminum alloy useful as core material in brazing sheet clad with aluminum-silicon brazing alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Kevin S. Papich, Ronald Bachowski, Stephen F. Baumann, Robert A. Cargnel, Gerald E. Carkin, Donald J. Clements, Ronald W. Gunkel, William W. Hoffman, Larry G. McKinney, A. Victor Pajerski, John P. Palko, Edward P. Patrick, Jr., Stephen J. Rennekamp, Philip C. Scheble, William R. Sharkins, Frank P. Swigon, William G. Truckner
  • Patent number: 5198200
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of metallic aluminum, mixtures of salts, and an aluminum oxide-metallic aluminum product from secondary aluminum dross. The process includes treating the dross with leach water to dissolve the salt content. Magnesium chloride is preferably added to the leach water to maintain the pH in the range of about 7-8.5, thereby reducing ammonia production in the treating step and enhancing recovery of metallic aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Daniel Yerushalmi, Gerald E. Carkin, Jr., Donald L. Stewart, Jr., Jan H. L. Van Linden
  • Patent number: 4830881
    Abstract: A container for a material, said container having a liner comprised of an equilibrated reaction product of the material. Preferably, the material is a molten aluminum-lithium alloy and the reaction product consists essentially of lithium aluminate. A method of making the container comprises shaping a substance into a vessel, said substance having sufficient porosity to react with the material and form a non-wetting reaction product without spalling; and introducing the material to the vessel. A method of making a container liner by applying a substance to the container inner surface and introducing the alloy to the inner surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Aaron J. Becker, G. Edward Graddy, Jr., Stephen C. Libby, Gerald E. Carkin, Jan H. L. van Linden
  • Patent number: 4772320
    Abstract: In a system for treating and managing hot aluminum dross, the dross is compacted and delivered by a pair of "squeeze" rolls in a continuous semi-solid sheet, readily broken up for further treatment or disposal. The rolls may be cooled or heated as required to condition the dross appropriately, for storage or immediate further treatment. Ribs on the rolls and/or a stepped "break" chute downstream of the rolls may be used to break the compacted dross into "patties" for convenient handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Jan H. L. van Linden, David I. Yun, Gerald E. Carkin