Patents by Inventor Tuomo Kivisto

Tuomo Kivisto 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: 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7677860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transferring heavy loads, such as sheet-like objects, particularly anodes and cathodes, in electrolysis, the transfer apparatus comprising a lifting device (1) to which a stationary control housing (3) is attached; along the slide surfaces (6) of said control housing (3), there moves a control frame (5), and in said control frame there are arranged control shafts (7) along which a gripping element (8) is movable by the control surfaces (16) of said gripping element (8), so that the stationary control housing (3) is suspended from the lifting device (1) by means of at least three fastening elements (2) articulated at both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivistö, Tom Marttila
  • Patent number: 7597786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer and insulation device (1) for electrically insulating electrodes, particularly anodes (2) and cathodes (3), used in the electrolytic cleaning of metals, from each other in an electrolytic tank (4), for distributing the electrodes as they are hanging in the electrolytic tank and for enabling the electrodes to be transferred, said transfer and insulation device (1) being made of one single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivistö, Tom Marttila
  • Patent number: 6937167
    Abstract: A method for joining a highly electroconductive core element (2) to a jacket element (1) made of refined steel. In said method, the electroconductive core element (2), such as a copper bar, and the joining agent element (3) are inserted in the jacket element (1), and at least the juncture area of the elements to be joined is thermally treated, so that there is created a metallurgical joint between the electroconductive core element (2) and the refined-steel jacket element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Outokumpu Technology Oy
    Inventors: Veikko Polvi, Veijo Halminen, Tuomo Kivistö
  • Publication number: 20050145481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer and insulation device (1) for electrically insulating electrodes, particularly anodes (2) and cathodes (3), used in the electrolytic cleaning of metals, from each other in an electrolytic tank (4), for distributing the electrodes as they are hanging in the electrolytic tank and for enabling the electrodes to be transferred, said transfer and insulation device (1) being made of one single piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivisto, Tom Marttila
  • Publication number: 20050036872
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transfer-ring heavy loads, such as sheet-like objects, particularly anodes and cathodes, in electrolysis, the transfer apparatus comprising a lifting device (1) to which a stationary control housing (3) is attached; along the slide surfaces (6) of said control housing (3), there moves a control frame (5), and in said control frame there are arranged control shafts (7) along which a gripping element (8) is movable by the control surfaces (16) of said gripping element (8), so that the stationary control housing (3) is suspenced from the lifting device (1) by means of at least three fastening elements (2) articulated at both ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivisto, Tom Marttila
  • Patent number: 6793783
    Abstract: A separating element for separating the bottom part of an electrolytic tank from the rest of the tank space in connection with the removal of solids settled on the bottom of the electrolytic tank, said separating element being installable in the electrolytic tank and removable therefrom along a path formed by support and control members arranged in the electrolytic tank. The separating element comprises a flexible wall element and at least one set of support members arranged in the wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventor: Tuomo Kivistö
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6673228
    Abstract: An arrangement for cleaning the bottom of an electrolytic tank of solids settled on the bottom of the tank, said arrangement comprising elements to be moved along the bottom or at least in the vicinity thereof in order to detach solids from the bottom. The arrangement comprises at least one moveable suction element, whereby at least part of the solids accumulated on the bottom is conducted out of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Kivistö, Jari Stenroos
  • Patent number: 6342136
    Abstract: This invention applies to an electrolytic cell busbar construction for the purpose of the electrolytic recovery of metals. The construction is formed so that the gap between the electrodes can be changed easily. All parts of the construction are in the form of an integral profile longitudinally to the cell and the support lugs of the electrodes in the cell are unnotched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Henri Virtanen, Ismo Virtanen, Tuomo Kivistö, Tom Marttila
  • Patent number: 6187156
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anode used in the electrolytic refining of copper, said anode (1) comprising two support parts (2), whereby the anode (1) is suspended during the electrolytic process against the electrolytic tank walls. According to the invention, in the anode support parts (2) there are formed brackets (3) for gripping the anode (1) and for supporting the anode (1) when it is being transferred from one position to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Outokumpu OYJ
    Inventors: Henri Virtanen, Ismo Virtanen, Tuomo Kivistö, Tom Marttila