Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Lepish

Joseph A. Lepish 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: 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
  • 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