Appeal No. 2004-1043
Application No. 09/960,907
flow rate in said air sweep to maintain said
cell at temperature.
35. An improved method for startup of a
low temperature, electrolyte cell for
producing aluminum from alumina dissolved in
an electrolyte at less than 900ēC, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an electrolytic cell
having a metal liner for containing
electrolyte, said liner having a bottom
having an outside surface and having walls
extending upwardly from said bottom;
(b) providing a plurality of non-
consumable anodes and cathodes disposed in
said electrolyte;
(c) adding solid electrolyte and
alumina to said cell;
(d) placing at least one heater
adjacent said outside of said bottom;
(e) adding heat to said bottom until
said solid electrolyte is melted; and
(f) when said electrolyte is in molten
form, passing an electric current through
said anodes and through said electrolyte to
said cathodes, thereby depositing aluminum
at said cathodes and generating oxygen
bubbles at the anodes.
The examiner relies on the follow references as
evidence of unpatentability:
Weaver 2,062,340 Dec. 01, 1936
Steiger et al. (Steiger) 4,181,583 Jan. 01, 1980
Beck et al. (Beck) 4,865,701 Sep. 12, 1989
Berclaz WO 98/531120 Nov. 26, 1998
Beck, T.R., “A Non-Consumable Metal Anode For Production Of
Aluminum With Low-Temperature Fluoride Melts” (1995),
pp. 355-360.
Claims 1-3, 6-12, 15-20, 23-29 and 32-34 stand
rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Beck in view of Weaver and in view of Berclaz.
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