Patents Assigned to Aleris Switzerland GmbH
  • Patent number: 8313554
    Abstract: A method for the separation of a dispersion of molten aluminium and solid inclusions formed from a melt of aluminium containing one or more foreign chemical elements. Molten aluminium surrounding the solid inclusions is at least essentially replaced by a molten salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Alexander De Vries, Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Marcellus Albertus Hogenboom
  • Patent number: 7955414
    Abstract: A method and device for the purification and separation of purified metal from a metal mother liquid having a specific density and comprising one or more foreign element(s). The method includes: providing in a column device a starting material including metal crystals and a metal mother liquid including at least one foreign element; applying a temperature difference between a relatively hot zone at the upper end of the column and a relatively cool zone at the lower end of the column; a separation step wherein at least a part of the metal crystals is separated from the metal mother liquid by rising of the metal crystals to the upper surface of the metal mother liquid; and a further separation step wherein purified metal floating on the upper surface of the metal mother liquid is discharged from the column device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Andreas Ten Cate, Elisabeth Maria Beunder, Willem Boender, Marcellus Albertus Hogenboom, René Kieft, Joost Christiaan Storm
  • Patent number: 7892318
    Abstract: Method for purifying molten metal having a specific density and including one or more foreign elements to be removed, by (a) cooling the molten metal to a eutectic temperature to simultaneously form purified metal crystals and crystals including at least one foreign element, and (b) separating at least some of the purified metal crystals from the crystals including at least one foreign element by adjusting the molten metal specific density within a range delimited by a lower value being specific density of the purified metal crystals and an upper limit being specific density of the crystals including the at least one foreign element. The molten metal specific density is adjusted to this range by addition of a metal to alter the molten metal specific density and maintained within this range during separation. The method is advantageously applicable for purification of aluminium melts from recycle aluminium and aluminium scraps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH c/o K+P Treuhandgesellschaft
    Inventors: Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Andreas Ten Cate, Elisabeth Maria Beunder, Willem Boender, Marcellus Albertus Hogenboom, René Kieft, Joost Christiaan Storm
  • Patent number: 7648559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fractional crystallization of an at most partially solidified molten metal, in which a layer of at most partially solidified molten metal having an upper surface and a lower surface is divided into a series of compartments communicating with each other, in which the metal is stirred in at least some of the compartments, and in which crystals formed and/or existing in the layer of metal are selectively transported in a predetermined direction and molten metal is selectively transported in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH c/o K+P Treuhangesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Alexander De Vries, Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters
  • Publication number: 20090308203
    Abstract: A method and device for the purification and separation of purified metal from a metal mother liquid having a specific density and comprising one or more foreign element(s). The method includes: providing in a column device a starting material including metal crystals and a metal mother liquid including at least one foreign element; applying a temperature difference between a relatively hot zone at the upper end of the column and a relatively cool zone at the lower end of the column; a separation step wherein at least a part of the metal crystals is separated from the metal mother liquid by rising of the metal crystals to the upper surface of the metal mother liquid; and a further separation step wherein purified metal floating on the upper surface of the metal mother liquid is discharged from the column device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ALERIS SWITZERLAND GMBH C/O K+P TREUHANDGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Andreas Ten Cate, Elisabeth Maria Beunder, Willem Boender, Marcellus Albertus Hogenboom, Rene' Kieft, Joost Christiaan Storm
  • Publication number: 20090301259
    Abstract: A method for the separation of a dispersion of molten aluminium and solid inclusions formed from a melt of aluminium containing one or more foreign chemical elements. Molten aluminium surrounding the solid inclusions is at least essentially replaced by a molten salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Aleris Switzerland GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Alexander De Vries, Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Marcellus Albertus Hogenboom
  • Patent number: 7537639
    Abstract: Method of cooling an at most partially solidified molten metal during fractional crystallization wherein metal crystals formed have a purer composition than that of the molten metal. Salt in solid form is used to cool the at most partially solidified molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Alexander De Vries, Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters, Martinus Leonardus Rutten, Volker Gerhard Aurich, Johannes Hendrikus Ten Have
  • Patent number: 7531023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of a molten metal containing one or more foreign elements. The molten metal is cooled to a eutectic temperature to simultaneously form purified metal crystals and crystals containing at least one foreign element, and at least some of the crystals containing at least one foreign element are separated from the purified metal crystals by using a solid-solid separation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Alexander De Vries
  • Patent number: 7442228
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the proportion of aluminum crystals in a mixture of molten aluminum alloy and aluminum crystals. The electrical resistance of the mixture is determined with the aid of a four-point measurement. With the aid of the measured electrical resistance, the proportion of crystals in the mixture can be kept constant within narrow margins. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH c/o K+P Treuhangesellschaft
    Inventor: Paul Alexander De Vries
  • Patent number: 7419530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fractional crystallization of an at most partially solidified molten metal. According to the invention a layer of at most partially solidified molten metal to be crystallized is cooled by a layer of cooling liquid, which is present above and/or below the layer of at most partially solidified molten metal so as to crystallize the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Aleris Switzerland GmbH c/o K+P Treuhangesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Alexander De Vries, Huibrecht Adriaan Wouters