Patents by Inventor Lauri Palmu

Lauri Palmu 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: 9556530
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system of gas ducts (6) for transporting gas, for example, into electrolytic equipment, in connection with which there are means (13) for taking at least gas into the system of gas ducts, whereby there is a suitable number of gas supply holes (7) in the system of gas ducts in a wall (19) limiting the system of gas ducts, whereby the material, such as gas, flowing in the system of gas ducts (6) is prevented at least in part from passing through the wall (19) of the system of gas ducts (6). The invention also concerns equipment and a method for electrolytic recovery of metal, such as copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Ville Nieminen, Lauri Palmu, Henri Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20140231269
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system of gas ducts (6) for transporting gas, for example, into electrolytic equipment, in connection with which there are means (13) for taking at least gas into the system of gas ducts, whereby there is a suitable number of gas supply holes (7) in the system of gas ducts in a wall (19) limiting the system of gas ducts, whereby the material, such as gas, flowing in the system of gas ducts (6) is prevented at least in part from passing through the wall (19) of the system of gas ducts (6). The invention also concerns equipment and a method for electrolytic recovery of metal, such as copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Ville Nieminen, Lauri Palmu, Henri Virtanen
  • Patent number: 8551306
    Abstract: A permanent cathode that is to be used as electrode in the electro-refining and/or recovery of metals, such as copper, zinc, cobalt or nickel. The permanent cathode comprises a planar mother plate that is made of metal and comprises two sides. The mother plate comprises an edge, which at least partly surrounds the metal plate. The edge comprises a groove portion that is provided with a groove. The groove portion comprises at least one bridging section for joining together, over the groove portion of the edge of the metal plate at the at least one bridging section, the cathode metal halves, such as cathode copper halves, cathode zinc halves, cathode cobalt halves or cathode nickel halves, which are formed on the sides of the mother plate in the electro-refining of the metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Lauri Palmu, Henri Virtanen, Tuomo Kivistö, Ismo Virtanen
  • Patent number: 8303795
    Abstract: In the method and system, a number of electrolytic cells are arranged as a cell group, which cells are separated by a number of partition walls; in each cell, a number of anodes and cathodes are arranged in an alternating order, so that in each cell, next to each anode, there is arranged a cathode, and so that in each cell, each individual anode is fitted in the same anode line with the anode of the adjacent cell, and in each cell, each individual cathode is fitted in the same cathode line with the cathode of the adjacent cell, and each anode is galvanically connected to at least one cathode of the adjacent cell. The flowing direction of the current passing in the cell group is deviated in different directions in order to make the current flow mainly in the direction of the cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Henri Virtanen, Olli Jarvinen, Lauri Palmu, Ilkka Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8062498
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode plate (1) that is used in the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the cathode plate being at least partly manufactured of stainless steel and the surface of the cathode plate being treated in at least one stage, whereby the cathode plate is formed by cutting it from a solid plate-like material (2), whereby, essentially before cutting (4) the cathode plate to shape, at least part of the surface constituting the cathode plate is subjected to a mechanical treatment (3) to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. The invention also relates to the cathode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Lauri Palmu
  • Publication number: 20110259737
    Abstract: A permanent cathode that is to be used as electrode in the electro-refining and/or recovery of metals, such as copper, zinc, cobalt or nickel. The permanent cathode comprises a planar mother plate that is made of metal and comprises two sides. The mother plate comprises an edge, which at least partly surrounds the metal plate. The edge comprises a groove portion that is provided with a groove. The groove portion comprises at least one bridging section for joining together, over the groove portion of the edge of the metal plate at the at least one bridging section, the cathode metal halves, such as cathode copper halves, cathode zinc halves, cathode cobalt halves or cathode nickel halves, which are formed on the sides of the mother plate in the electro-refining of the metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Lauri Palmu, Henri Virtanen, Tuomo Kivistö, Ismo Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20110073468
    Abstract: In the method and system, a number of electrolytic cells are arranged as a cell group, which cells are separated by a number of partition walls; in each cell, a number of anodes and cathodes are arranged in an alternating order, so that in each cell, next to each anode, there is arranged a cathode, and so that in each cell, each individual anode is fitted in the same anode line with the anode of the adjacent cell, and in each cell, each individual cathode is fitted in the same cathode line with the cathode of the adjacent cell, and each anode is galvanically connected to at least one cathode of the adjacent cell. The flowing direction of the current passing in the cell group is deviated in different directions in order to make the current flow mainly in the direction of the cell group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Henri Virtanen, Olli Järvinen, Lauri Palmu, Ilkka Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20100078319
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode plate (1) that is used in the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the cathode plate being at least partly manufactured of stainless steel and the surface of the cathode plate being treated in at least one stage, whereby the cathode plate is formed by cutting it from a solid plate-like material (2), whereby, essentially before cutting (4) the cathode plate to shape, at least part of the surface constituting the cathode plate is subjected to a mechanical treatment (3) to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. The invention also relates to the cathode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Lauri Palmu
  • Patent number: 6736970
    Abstract: An arrangement for treating solids settled on the bottom of an electrolytic tank. Said arrangement comprises a collector element movable essentially along the bottom of the electrolytic tank or in the vicinity thereof, said collector element being provided with means for separating coarse particles from the rest of the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivistö, Lauri Palmu, Raimo Syväluoma, Jari Stenroos