MATTHEW J MCMONIGLE
Engineers in New Kensington, PA

4290874, Sep 22, 1981

Jun 25, 1980

6/162754

Matthew J. McMonigle - New Kensington PA
Chester H. Klingensmith - Leechburg PA

Aluminum Company of America - Pittsburgh PA

C25C 308, C25C 704, C25B 1112

204243R

An improved cell is disclosed for producing metal by electrolytic reduction of a metal halide dissolved in at least one molten halide of higher electrodecomposition potential than the metal halide. The cell includes a plurality of cell elements, including an inner refractory lining and a plurality of carbonaceous elements. Included among the carbonaceous elements are carbonaceous lining elements located inside of and abutting a portion of the inner refractory lining and carbonaceous electrode elements abutting the inner refractory lining. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, some carbonaceous lining elements abut other carbonaceous lining elements, and some carbonaceous electrode elements abut other carbonaceous electrode elements. The improved cell also includes carbon felt gaskets located between at least some of the abutting elements for sealing of the joints of abutment in order to minimize the effects of physical shifts in the carbonaceous elements.

4414089, Nov 8, 1983

Jul 30, 1982

6/404347

Matthew J. McMonigle - New Kensington PA
Alfred F. LaCamera - Level Green PA

Aluminum Company of America - Pittsburgh PA

C25C 308

204244

Metal is produced in a cell containing a plurality of electrodes which are horizontally disposed and arranged in at least one vertical stack. Each stack includes a cathode, at least one intermediate bipolar electrode and an anode. The electrodes in each stack are arranged in a superimposed, spaced relationship defining inter-electrode spaces between each pair of adjacent electrodes. The upper face of each cathode and of each of the bipolar electrodes has at least one reservoir, bounded by a perimetric wall, for collecting metal produced in the cell. Each perimetric wall has level maintaining means associated therewith so that a pool of the metal in the reservoir will be maintained at a predetermined level beneath the top of the perimetric wall. Metal produced during operation of the cell in excess of that required to fill the reservoir to the predetermined level will drain from the reservoir via the level maintaining means.

4402808, Sep 6, 1983

Jul 30, 1982

6/404346

Matthew J. McMonigle - New Kensington PA

Aluminum Company of America - Pittsburgh PA

C25C 308, C25C 334, C25C 704

204247

An improved cell is disclosed for producing metal by electrolytic reduction of a metal halide in a molten bath comprising the metal halide dissolved in at least one molten halide of higher electrodecomposition potential than the metal halide. The cell includes an inner refractory lining and a plurality of electrodes which are located adjacent to and in abutment with the lining. The electrodes are disposed generally horizontally and arranged in at least one vertical stack. The electrodes in each stack are located beneath the upper level of the bath, and are arranged in a superimposed, spaced relationship defining inter-electrode spaces between each pair of adjacent electrodes. The cell also includes a vertical gas-lift passage associated with each stack of electrodes, which is in fluid communication with each inter-electrode space in the stack. The improved cell also includes inclined carbon felt gaskets located in at least some of the joints of abutment between the electrodes and the adjacent refractory lining for sealing of the joints in order to minimize the harmful effects of dislocation of the electrodes and for conducting halogen gas produced during operation of the cell from the inter-electrode spaces of a stack to the gas-lift passage associated with that stack.

4436627, Mar 13, 1984

May 10, 1982

6/376588

Matthew J. McMonigle - New Kensington PA

Aluminum Company of America - Pittsburgh PA

B01D 3506

210695

Magnetically attractive impurities such as oxides of iron are removed from a molten salt bath using a magnetic force in the form of either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet encased in a magnetically transparent refractory capable of withstanding both the heat and chemical corrosiveness of a molten salt bath in which the impurities such as iron oxides are present.