Patents by Inventor Hans-Joachim Alt

Hans-Joachim Alt 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).

  • Patent number: 8377382
    Abstract: A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Nowottny, Horst Meyer, Matthias Grehl, Dieter Schafer, Hans-Joachim Alt, Wilhelm Glab
  • Publication number: 20120227643
    Abstract: A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian NOWOTTNY, Horst MEYER, Matthias GREHL, Dieter SCHÄFER, Hans-Joachim ALT, Wilhelm GLAB
  • Patent number: 8188329
    Abstract: A recycling furnace and method are provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy, the furnace including a switching facility for alternating operation of a burning-off chamber of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. Steps (A) and (B) are carried out sequentially in the furnace chamber, wherein neither the batch is changed, nor the furnace is opened. After the end of step (A) is determined, step (B) proceeds right after the pyrolysis or carbonization by supplying air or oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Nowottny, Horst Meyer, Matthias Grehl, Dieter Schäfer, Hans-Joachim Alt, Wilhelm Glab
  • Publication number: 20120058043
    Abstract: In processes for removing ruthenium by distilling RuO4 from ruthenate-containing solutions with these steps of the treatment of the ruthenate-containing solution with an oxidising agent, distilling off of the RuO4 formed, absorbing the RuO4 from step II in hydrochloric acid, the oxidising agent is recycled into step I following step III. The processes can be carried out in reactor modules with A a reactor with a stirrer, gas inlet and gas outlet, B at least one scrubber connected in series downstream with the gas outlet via a line, C one or several gas absorbers connected in series downstream with the at least one scrubber via lines, E at least one line from the optionally last absorber for recycling into the gas inlet of the reactor or into a further module or into a facility for off-gas treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: W.C. HERAEUS GMBH
    Inventors: HORST MEYER, MATTHIAS GREHL, HANS-JOACHIM ALT, PETER PATZELT, HERMANN VON EIFF, BERND ZELL
  • Patent number: 7938881
    Abstract: Process for removing the noble metal from noble metal-containing moulded catalyst bodies, comprising these steps of A leaching the noble metal from loosely heaped moulded catalyst bodies, B removing the mother liquor, C automated conveying of the moulded bodies into a centrifuge, D renewed leaching, E separating off of the residual mother liquor by centrifuging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: W.C. Heraeus GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Blautzik, Hans-Joachim Alt, Peter Patzelt, Horst Meyer
  • Publication number: 20090288518
    Abstract: Process for removing the noble metal from noble metal-containing moulded catalyst bodies, comprising these steps of A leaching the noble metal from loosely heaped moulded catalyst bodies, B removing the mother liquor, C automated conveying of the moulded bodies into a centrifuge, D renewed leaching, E separating off of the residual mother liquor by centrifuging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: W.C.HERAEUS GMBH
    Inventors: DIETER BLAUTZIK, HANS-JOACHIM ALT, PETER PATZELT, HORST MEYER
  • Publication number: 20090191106
    Abstract: In processes for removing ruthenium by distilling RuO4 from ruthenate-containing solutions with these steps of the treatment of the ruthenate-containing solution with an oxidising agent, distilling off of the RuO4 formed, absorbing the RuO4 from step II in hydrochloric acid, the oxidising agent is recycled into step I following step III. The processes can be carried out in reactor modules with A a reactor with a stirrer, gas inlet and gas outlet, B at least one scrubber connected in series downstream with the gas outlet via a line, C one or several gas absorbers connected in series downstream with the at least one scrubber via lines, E at least one line from the optionally last absorber for recycling into the gas inlet of the reactor or into a further module or into a facility for off-gas treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: W.C. HERAEUS GMBH
    Inventors: HORST MEYER, MATTHIAS GREHL, HANS-JOACHIM ALT, PETER PATZELT, HERMANN VON EIFF, BERND ZELL
  • Publication number: 20080295749
    Abstract: A recycling furnace and method are provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy, the furnace including a switching facility for alternating operation of a burning-off chamber of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. Steps (A) and (B) are carried out sequentially in the furnace chamber, wherein neither the batch is changed, nor the furnace is opened. After the end of step (A) is determined, step (B) proceeds right after the pyrolysis or carbonization by supplying air or oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: W.C. HERAEUS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian NOWOTTNY, Horst MEYER, Matthias GREHL, Dieter SCHAFER, Hans-Joachim ALT, Wilhelm GLAB