Appeal No. 2004-1043
Application No. 09/960,907
condition during the extended periods of reduced current
flow by the application of heat to the bottom of the cell
(claims 1 and 10), removing heat from the cell through the
bottom of the liner by passing an air sweep from outside
the cell over an outer surface of the bottom of the cell
(claims 18 and 27), and using a controller to control the
air sweep (claim 27). The abstract of the Beck paper
provides motivation for using a plurality of anodes (see
Beck paper, p. 355, Abstract).
Regarding claims 1 and 10, Weaver discloses the steps
of periodically reducing the current flow to the cell and
applying heat to the cell during the reduced periods of
current flow to prevent the freezing of the electrolyte
(see US `340, p. 3, col. 2, lines 61-74). Therefore, Weaver
provides teachings and suggestions for operating the cell
intermittently and applying heat to maintain the
electrolyte in a molten condition.
Regarding claims 1, 10, 18 and 27, Berclaz teaches
adding or removing heat from the bottom of the cell using
an air sweep (see WO `120, p. 26, lines 25-36). Berclaz
also provides motivation for using an air sweep to supply
or remove heat because the air space acts as a thermic
insulating space" (see WO `120, p. 26, lines 25-29). This
teaching is consistent with both the teachings of Beck, who
discloses the use of a "firebrick insulated steel shell"
(see Beck paper, p. 359, col.1, first paragraph), and the
teachings of Weaver, who discloses that the exterior walls
are insulating (see US `340, p. 2, col.1, lines 27-39). In
each reference, the electrolytic reaction takes place at
much higher temperatures than ambient temperatures, and
insulation is desired to retain heat within the reaction
27
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