Patents by Inventor Bruce G. Kelley

Bruce G. Kelley 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).

  • Method of increasing carbon content of direct reduced iron and apparatus
    Patent number: 4702766
    Abstract: A method of producing a hot, carburized metallized iron product in a generally vertical shaft furnace having an upper reducing zone in which iron oxide reacts with a gaseous reductant, and a lower carbon control and product discharge zone, including: establishing a gravitationally descending iron oxide burden in the furnace; reacting hot gaseous reductant with the descending burden to form a metallized iron product and a reacted top gas; and injecting a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting of hot reformed endothermic gas and cool natural gas to the product discharge section of the shaft furnace; whereby the carbon content of the metallized iron pellet product is controlled by mixing the endothermic gas and natural gas in the proper ratio to balance the endothermic and exothermic reactions within the discharge zone of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Midrex International, B.V. Rotterdam, Zurich Branch
    Inventors: Paul M. Love, Bruce G. Kelley
  • Method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide to molten iron with solid reductant and oxy-fuel burners
    Patent number: 4248408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide to molten iron utilizing solid carbonaceous fuel as reductant in a shaft type reducing furnace, in which a furnace burden is formed of a mixture of iron oxide lumps or pellets and particulate solid fuel. Reacted top gas is upgraded and recirculated through the burden in counterflow relationship thereby heating and reducing the burden. The heat for reduction is generated by passing electric current through the burden. A portion of the heat for melting of reduced iron and a supplemental source of hot reducing gas is provided by oxy-fuel burners located in the shaft furnace above the molten iron pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Midrex Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Beggs, Bruce G. Kelley, David C. Meissner
  • Method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide to metallic iron with solid reductant
    Patent number: 4140301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide to metallic iron utilizing solid carbonaceous fuel as reductant in a shaft type reducing furnace, in which a furnace burden is formed of a mixture of iron oxide lumps or pellets and particulate solid fuel. Reacted top gas is upgraded and recirculated through the burden in counter-flow relationship thereby heating and partially reducing the burden. The heat for final reduction is generated by passing electric current through the burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Midrex Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Beggs, Bruce G. Kelley
  • Method for reducing particulate iron oxide to metallic iron with solid reductant
    Patent number: 4082543
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide to metallic iron utilizing solid carbonaceous fuel as reductant in a shaft type reducing furnace, in which a furnace burden is formed of a mixtue of iron oxide lumps or pellets and particulate solid fuel. Reacted top gas is upgraded and recirculated through the burden in counter-flow relationship thereby heating and partially reducing the burden. The heat for final reduction is generated by passing electric current through the burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Midrex Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Beggs, Bruce G. Kelley