Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for producing beneficiated titanium oxides using a modified rotary hearth furnace, that is a finisher-hearth-melter (FHM) furnace. In the method the refractory surface of the hearth is coated with carbonaceous hearth conditioners and refractory compounds, where onto said hearth is charged with pre-reduced agglomerates. The pre-reduced agglomerates is leveled, then heated until molten, and then reacted with the carbon and reducing gas burner gases until any residual iron oxide is converted to iron having a low sulfur content. Fluid slag and molted iron forms melted agglomerates. The fluid slag is rich in titanium. The melted agglomerates are cooled, and then the melted agglomerates and the hearth conditioners, including the refractory compounds, are discharged onto a screen, which separate the melted agglomerates from the hearth conditioner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for operation of a moving hearth furnace in conjunction with an electric melter for production of high purity iron product having a range of silicon and manganese, with low sulfur and phosphorus content. The method includes producing high purity iron product and a range of carbon content product from iron oxide and carbon bearing agglomerates, including the steps of providing a furnace for direct reduction of iron oxide and carbon bearing agglomerates, pre-reducing iron and carbon bearing agglomerates in a furnace having a moving hearth surface, producing intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron. An electric melter furnace is utilized for receiving intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron from the pre-reducing step, which is fed directly and continuously into a central interior area of the electric melter, with heating of the carbon-containing metallized iron in the electric melter under elevated temperatures of about 1300° C. to about 1700° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for operation of a moving hearth furnace in conjunction with an electric melter for production of high purity iron product having a range of silicon and manganese, with low sulfur and phosphorus content. The method includes producing high purity iron product and a range of carbon content product from iron oxide and carbon bearing agglomerates, including the steps of providing a furnace for direct reduction of iron oxide and carbon bearing agglomerates, pre-reducing iron and carbon bearing agglomerates in a furnace having a moving hearth surface, producing intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron. An electric melter furnace is utilized for receiving intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron from the pre-reducing step, which is fed directly and continuously into a central interior area of the electric melter, with heating of the carbon-containing metallized iron in the electric melter under elevated temperatures of about 1300° C. to about 1700° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for operation of a rotary hearth furnace in conjunction with an electric melter for production of high purity iron product having a range of silicon and manganese, with low sulfur and phosphorus content. The method includes producing high purity iron product and a range of carbon content product from iron oxide and carbon bearing compacts, including the steps of providing a furnace for direct reduction of iron oxide and carbon bearing compacts, pre-reducing iron and carbon bearing compacts in a furnace having a rotary hearth surface, producing intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron. An electric melter furnace is utilized for receiving intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron from the pre-reducing step, which is fed directly and continuously into a central interior area of the electric melter, with heating of the carbon-containing metallized iron in the electric melter under elevated temperatures of about 1300° C. to about 1700° C.

Abstract: An improved device and method are provided for bundling debris, such as tree, shrubbery and rosebush trimmings and the like. The device has an elongate body member with a grip, a guide with an opening, and a retainer. An elongate flexible member, which has a connector at one end detachably connected to the retainer and a handle at the other end, is adapted to be slidably displaced through the opening to compress the debris from an uncompacted configuration to a compacted configuration. An adapter is provided to releasably maintain the debris, in conjunction with the flexible member, in the compacted configuration as a binder is tied around the debris to form a transportable bundle of the debris in the compacted configuration. The device may optionally be integrally constructed, including a binder holder with or without a top for foot bearing purposes and/or a cutter for the binder, if desired.

Abstract: A method of making steel having low levels of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and oxygen comprises the steps of vacuum reladling a ladle of low phosphorous steel for reducing carbon levels and separating the metal from a highly oxidizing slag, blowing oxygen into the metal contained in a teeming ladle at a vacuum pressure and simultaneously bubbling an inert gas through the metal for removing additional carbon and elevating the temperature of the metal, discontinuing the oxygen blow while maintaining the vacuum pressure and continuing the delivery of inert gas for removal of nitrogen. A desulphurizing agent may be delivered prior to the oxygen blow and alloying additions may be made as required.

Abstract: An enclosed refractory lined furnace vessel has spaced apart refractory lined pouring chambers extending laterally from the lower end of the furnace body. Molten metal flows from the vessel to the chambers through flow passages and each chamber has a drain hole in its bottom which may be opened and closed by a stopper rod so that molten metal may be discharged into molds that are transported under the vessel by spaced conveyors. A receiving spout for molten metal has an inlet above the molten metal surface in the vessel and an outlet below the surface, thereby sealing the furnace from the atmosphere and enabling adding metal to the vessel without opening it or tilting it. An electrically resistive graphite rod extends across the interior of the furnace for maintaining its interior at a desired temperature.

Abstract: A coolant fluid chamber is affixed to the shell of an electric arc furnace to cool and decrease erosion of the refractory lining of the furnace caused by localized heating and arc flaring. The wall of the cooling chamber adjacent the furnace shell comprises a diaphragm or sheet of flexible material which is subject to deformation when the space between it and the furnace shell is evacuated and the sheet is pressed. The interface between the diaphragm and shell is coated with a flowable or deformable heat conductive material prior to attachment of the chamber to the furnace so that this material will flow into any void spaces in the interface to thereby enhance thermal conduction.