Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Dynys

Joseph M. Dynys 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).

  • Publication number: 20190032232
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Patent number: 10151039
    Abstract: A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one bath component; and a feed material including the least one bath component to the molten electrolyte bath such that the at least one bath component is within 30% of saturation, wherein, via the feed material, the sidewall is stable in the molten electrolyte bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Jeff Ward, Douglas A. Weirauch, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Jonell Kerkhoff, Robert A. DiMilia
  • Publication number: 20180209056
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Patent number: 9957627
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Patent number: 9771659
    Abstract: A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one bath component; and a feeder system, configured to provide a feed material including the least one bath component to the molten electrolyte bath such that the at least one bath component is within 2% of saturation, wherein, via the feed material, the sidewall is stable in the molten electrolyte bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Douglas A. Weirauch, Jr., Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Jonell Kerkhoff, Robert A. DiMilia
  • Publication number: 20160258072
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Patent number: 9340887
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Publication number: 20160068979
    Abstract: A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one bath component; and a feed material including the least one bath component to the molten electrolyte bath such that the at least one bath component is within 30% of saturation, wherein, via the feed material, the sidewall is stable in the molten electrolyte bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Jeff Ward, Douglas A. Weirauch, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Jonell Kerkhoff, Robert A. DiMilia
  • Publication number: 20160068980
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Publication number: 20140262807
    Abstract: A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one bath component; and a feeder system, configured to provide a feed material including the least one bath component to the molten electrolyte bath such that the at least one bath component is within 2% of saturation, wherein, via the feed material, the sidewall is stable in the molten electrolyte bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Douglas A. Weirauch, JR., Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Jonell Kerkhoff, Robert A. DiMilia
  • Publication number: 20140262808
    Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Jeffrey S. Martello
  • Patent number: 7033469
    Abstract: Ceramic inert anodes useful for the electrolytic production of aluminum are disclosed. The inert anodes comprise oxides of Ni, Fe and Al. The Ni—Fe—Al oxide inert anode materials have sufficient electrical conductivity at operation temperatures of aluminum production cells, and also possess good mechanical stability. The Ni—Fe—Al oxide inert anodes may be used to produce commercial purity aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Weirauch, Jr., Joseph M. Dynys, Robert A. DiMilia, Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps
  • Patent number: 7014881
    Abstract: An inert anode 50, for use in an electrolytic cell 12 for producing metals such as aluminum, is made by providing chemical source materials 100 such as at least two of metal salts, metal particles, or metal oxides and dissolving them to form a solution or a slurry 110, followed by adding a base 120 and adjusting the pH so that a gel 130 is formed which is dried and calcined 150, 160, 190 to provide a blend of metal oxide powder 200 which can be pressed and sintered 220 to form an inert anode 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Siba P. Ray, Alfred F. LaCamera, Douglas A. Weirauch, Mark L. Weaver, Robert A. DiMilia, Kirk J. Malmquist, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys
  • Patent number: 6821312
    Abstract: A method of making cermet inert anodes for the electrolytic production of metals such as aluminum is disclosed. The method includes the step of spray drying a slurry comprising ceramic phase particles and metal phase particles. The resultant spray dried powder, which comprises agglomerates of both the ceramic phase and metal phase particles, may then be consolidated by techniques such as pressing and sintering to produce a cermet inert anode material. The ceramic phase may comprise oxides of Ni, Fe and at least one additional metal selected from Zn, Co, Al, Li, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Ta, W, Mo, Hf and rare earths. The metal phase may comprise Cu, Ag, Pd, Pt, Au, Rh, Ru, Ir and/or Os. The consolidated cermet inert anode material exhibits improved properties such as reduced porosity. The cermet inert anodes may be used in electrolytic reduction cells for the production of commercial purity aluminum as well as other metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Douglas A. Weirauch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6758991
    Abstract: Ceramic inert anodes useful for the electrolytic production of aluminum are disclosed. The inert anodes comprise an oxide of Ni and Fe having a controlled Ni/(Ni+Fe) mole ratio which results in a single-phase structure at the operation temperatures of aluminum production cells. The Ni and Fe oxide material may also have a single-phase structure at the sintering temperature of the material. The single-phase inert anode materials maintain sufficient electrical conductivity at the operating temperatures of the cell, and also possess good mechanical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Douglas A. Weirauch, Jr., Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps
  • Publication number: 20040089558
    Abstract: Ceramic inert anodes useful for the electrolytic production of aluminum are disclosed. The inert anodes comprise oxides of Ni, Fe and Al. The Ni—Fe—Al oxide inert anode materials have sufficient electrical conductivity at operation temperatures of aluminum production cells, and also possess good mechanical stability. The Ni—Fe—Al oxide inert anodes may be used to produce commercial purity aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas A. Weirauch, Joseph M. Dynys, Robert A. DiMilia, Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps
  • Publication number: 20040089852
    Abstract: Ceramic inert anodes useful for the electrolytic production of aluminum are disclosed. The inert anodes comprise an oxide of Ni and Fe having a controlled Ni/(Ni+Fe) mole ratio which results in a single-phase structure at the operation temperatures of aluminum production cells. The Ni and Fe oxide material may also have a single-phase structure at the sintering temperature of the material. The single-phase inert anode materials maintain sufficient electrical conductivity at the operating temperatures of the cells, and also possess good mechanical stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Douglas A. Weirauch,, Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps
  • Publication number: 20030121775
    Abstract: An inert anode 50, for use in an electrolytic cell 12 for producing metals such as aluminum, is made by providing chemical source materials 100 such as at least two of metal salts, metal particles, or metal oxides and dissolving them to form a solution or a slurry 110, followed by adding a base 120 and adjusting the pH so that a gel 130 is formed which is dried and calcined 150, 160, 190 to provide a blend of metal oxide powder 200 which can be pressed and sintered 220 to form an inert anode 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Xinghua Liu, Siba P. Ray, Alfred F. LaCamera, Douglas A. Weirauch, Mark L. Weaver, Robert A. DiMilia, Kirk J. Malmquist, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys
  • Publication number: 20020153627
    Abstract: A method of making cermet inert anodes for the electrolytic production of metals such as aluminum is disclosed. The method includes the step of spray drying a slurry comprising ceramic phase particles and metal phase particles. The resultant spray dried powder, which comprises agglomerates of both the ceramic phase and metal phase particles, may then be consolidated by techniques such as pressing and sintering to produce a cermet inert anode material. The ceramic phase may comprise oxides of Ni, Fe and at least one additional metal selected from Zn, Co, Al, Li, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Ta, W, Mo, Hf and rare earths. The metal phase may comprise Cu, Ag, Pd, Pt, Au, Rh, Ru, Ir and/or Os. The consolidated cermet inert anode material exhibits improved properties such as reduced porosity. The cermet inert anodes may be used in electrolytic reduction cells for the production of commercial purity aluminum as well as other metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Frankie E. Phelps, Joseph M. Dynys, Douglas A. Weirauch
  • Patent number: 6416649
    Abstract: A method of producing commercial purity aluminum in an electrolytic reduction cell comprising ceramic inert anodes is disclosed. The method produces aluminum having acceptable levels of Fe, Cu and Ni impurities. The ceramic inert anodes used in the process may comprise oxides containing Fe and Ni, as well as other oxides, metals and/or dopants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Siba P. Ray, Xinghua Liu, Douglas A. Weirauch, Robert A. DiMilia, Joseph M. Dynys, Frankie E. Phelps, Alfred F. LaCamera