Patents by Inventor Ronald M. Dunlap

Ronald M. Dunlap 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).

  • Decarbonization process for carbothermically produced aluminum
    Patent number: 9068246
    Abstract: A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall J. Bruno, Gerald E. Carkin, David H. DeYoung, Ronald M. Dunlap, Sr.
  • DECARBONIZATION PROCESS FOR CARBOTHERMICALLY PRODUCED ALUMINUM
    Publication number: 20100147113
    Abstract: A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall J. Bruno, Gerald E. Carkin, David H. DeYoung, Ronald M. Dunlap, SR.
  • Nickel foam pin connections for inert anodes
    Patent number: 7316577
    Abstract: An electrode assembly useful in manufacturing aluminum, contains a hollow inert electrode (12) containing a metal conductor (14) surrounded and held in place by at least one seal (16) and a mass of metal foam (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Dean Latvaitis, Ronald M. Dunlap, Kenneth Butcher
  • Nickel foam pin connections for inert anodes
    Patent number: 6878246
    Abstract: An electrode assembly useful in manufacturing aluminum, contains a hollow inert electrode (12) containing a metal conductor (14) surrounded and held in place by at least one seal (16) and a mass of metal foam (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Dean Latvaitis, Ronald M. Dunlap, Kenneth Butcher
  • Nickel foam pin connections for inert anodes
    Publication number: 20040198103
    Abstract: An electrode assembly useful in manufacturing aluminum, contains a hollow inert electrode (12) containing a metal conductor (14) surrounded and held in place by at least one seal (16) and a mass of metal foam (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: J. Dean Latvaitis, Ronald M. Dunlap, Kenneth Butcher