Patents by Inventor Robert Cayouette

Robert Cayouette 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).

  • Dry cell start-up of an electrolytic cell for aluminum production
    Patent number: 9631289
    Abstract: A method for starting up an electrolytic cell (20) for aluminum production having a cathode block (26) with an upper surface (32), the method comprising: disposing contact resistance material (46) over the upper surface (32) of the cathode block (26); lowering a plurality of anodes (28) to abut the contact resistance material (46); filling the electrolytic cell (20) and covering the anodes (28) with solid electrolyte material (72) comprising crushed electrolytic bath material, cryolite, or mixtures thereof; delivering electrical current to the anodes (28) to at least partially melt the solid electrolyte material (72) and raising the anodes (28) when a predetermined depth of molten electrolyte material has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto International Limited
    Inventors: Robert Cayouette, François Laplante
  • DRY CELL START-UP OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR ALUMINUM PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20140076733
    Abstract: A method for starting up an electrolytic cell (20) for aluminum production having a cathode block (26) with an upper surface (32), the method comprising: disposing contact resistance material (46) over the upper surface (32) of the cathode block (26); lowering a plurality of anodes (28) to abut the contact resistance material (46); filling the electrolytic cell (20) and covering the anodes (28) with solid electrolyte material (72) comprising crushed electrolytic bath material, cryolite, or mixtures thereof; delivering electrical current to the anodes (28) to at least partially melt the solid electrolyte material (72) and raising the anodes (28) when a predetermined depth of molten electrolyte material has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Cayouette, François Laplante
  • Shut-down and start-up procedures of an electrolytic cell
    Patent number: 8123928
    Abstract: A process for shutting down an operating electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium is described. The process includes: lowering anodes until a lower portion of the anodes is immersed in an aluminium layer; allowing the aluminium layer and an electrolyte bath to cool down with the lower portion of the anodes immersed in the aluminium layer; determining if the electrolyte bath is solidified, and if the electrolyte bath is solidified, raising the anodes before solidification of the aluminium layer to create a space between the solidified electrolyte bath and the anodes and the aluminium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Robert Cayouette, Martin Bouchard, Jacques Fortin
  • SHUT-DOWN AND START-UP PROCEDURES OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL
    Publication number: 20110147226
    Abstract: A process for shutting down an operating electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium is described. The process includes: lowering anodes until a lower portion of the anodes is immersed in an aluminium layer; allowing the aluminium layer and an electrolyte bath to cool down with the lower portion of the anodes immersed in the aluminium layer; determining if the electrolyte bath is solidified, and if the electrolyte bath is solidified, raising the anodes before solidification of the aluminium layer to create a space between the solidified electrolyte bath and the anodes and the aluminium layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Robert Cayouette, Martin Bouchard, Jacques Fortin