Patents by Inventor Michael F. Carno

Michael F. Carno 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: 9719180
    Abstract: A crust breaker and ore feeder device for electrolytic aluminum smelting employs an in-line three-position pneumatic cylinder capable of moving the plunger shaft between a raised position and a fully lowered position. A dose meter in the form of a cylindrical member rests a small distance above the valve seat of the crust breaker. In the raised position the dose meter fits within the dosing cup and receives the dose of alumina. In the lowered position of the crust breaker, the dose meter slows down the flow of alumina into the electrolytic liquid, with the alumina flowing out through cutouts formed in the lower rim of the dose meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Control Automation, LLC
    Inventors: Lucille A. Massaro, Michael F. Carno
  • Publication number: 20150167190
    Abstract: A crust breaker and ore feeder device for electrolytic aluminum smelting employs an in-line three-position pneumatic cylinder capable of moving the plunger shaft between a raised position and a fully lowered position. A dose meter in the form of a cylindrical member rests a small distance above the valve seat of the crust breaker. In the raised position the dose meter fits within the dosing cup and receives the dose of alumina. In the lowered position of the crust breaker, the dose meter slows down the flow of alumina into the electrolytic liquid, with the alumina flowing out through cutouts formed in the lower rim of the dose meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: CONTROL AUTOMATION LLC
    Inventors: Lucille A. Massaro, Michael F. Carno
  • Patent number: 7892319
    Abstract: A crust breaker and ore feeder device for electrolytic aluminum smelting employs an in-line three-position pneumatic cylinder capable of moving the plunger shaft to a fully raised position, to a fully lowered position, and to an intermediate, partly lowered position. The full stroke is used for a conventional combined ore dispensing and a crust breaking operation; a partial stroke between the fully raised position and the intermediate position permits ore dispensing without a crust breaking; and a partial stroke between the intermediate position and the fully lowered position permits crust breaking operation without ore feeding. The cylinder can take form of a tandem cylinder having upper and lower axially aligned cylinder portions, with rods not connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Trol-Mation, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Massaro, Michael F. Carno
  • Publication number: 20090308625
    Abstract: A crust breaker and ore feeder device for electrolytic aluminum smelting employs an in-line three-position pneumatic cylinder capable of moving the plunger shaft to a fully raised position, to a fully lowered position, and to an intermediate, partly lowered position. The full stroke is used for a conventional combined ore dispensing and a crust breaking operation; a partial stroke between the fully raised position and the intermediate position permits ore dispensing without a crust breaking; and a partial stroke between the intermediate position and the fully lowered position permits crust breaking operation without ore feeding. The cylinder can take form of a tandem cylinder having upper and lower axially aligned cylinder portions, with rods not connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Peter C. Massaro, Michael F. Carno