Lance Patents (Class 266/225)
  • Patent number: 11867632
    Abstract: A device for characterising at least one liquid material includes an analysis head and a rotating mechanical mixer. The mixer includes a central part having an internal cavity which forms an analysis chamber, a first end connected to the analysis head, and a plurality of stirring blades which are connected to a second end that is hollow so as to ensure fluid communication between the internal cavity and the liquid bath. The mechanical stirring blades are intended to be totally submerged, the central part comprises one or more openings intended to be partially submerged, and each mechanical stirring blade comprises at least one stirring flange oriented at a non-zero angle of orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Younès Belrhiti, Mickaël Albaric, Malek Benmansour, David Pelletier
  • Patent number: 11662145
    Abstract: A gas injection system includes a tubular wall 3 capable of being thermally stressed and having a proximal extremity and a distal extremity 11, at the distal extremity, at least one extremity opening through which at least one gas is projected. A cooling is system located in the tubular wall including axial channels 12 which extend axially towards the distal extremity and in which a cooling fluid is circulated. Connecting channels 13 circumferentially join the axial channels to each other at the distal extremity of the tubular wall. The connecting channels, which circumferentially join the axial channels at the distal extremity of the tubular wall, have a rounded shape in the direction of the distal extremity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SOUDOBEAM
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Thomas
  • Patent number: 11466332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for injecting particulate material into a liquid metal bath wherein the liquid metal bath contains species to be oxidized, wherein the particulate material is carried to the liquid bath by means of a first gas stream. The solids injection rate is controlled such that the liquid bath temperature and/or the evolution of the liquid bath temperature is maintained within a pre-defined temperature range and the penetration depth of the first gas stream into the liquid bath is controlled by adjusting the flow of the first gas stream. At least one second gas stream is injected into the liquid, wherein the first and the second gas streams are an oxidizing gas, in particular oxygen, and the sum of the gas flows of the first and the second gas streams is determined based on the mass of the species to be oxidized and on the desired time for oxidizing the mass of the species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventor: Andrew Cameron
  • Patent number: 11384404
    Abstract: A telescoping thermal lance assembly including a housing with an oxygen inlet port. An extension tube disposed in the housing. The extension tube having a cylindrical interior cavity. The extension tube configured to slide at least partially out of the housing when pressurized oxygen is channeled into the inlet port. A cylindrical lance tube is located within the interior cavity of the extension tube and slides partially out of the extension tube when pressurized oxygen is channeled into the housing. A slice rod is located within the lance tube. A cap is attached to the top of the extension tube and spaced apart from the tip of the lance tube. A tubular blow-out preventer sleeve is located between the cap and the top of the lance tube and has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the extension tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael F. Harasym
  • Patent number: 10858714
    Abstract: A blowing lance tip includes a central stirring gas-supply tube, an inner coolant-inlet tube ending, at one end thereof facing the bath, in a second front wall and having a central opening, an outer coolant-outlet tube, a heat exchange space, and a stirring gas-outlet pipe leading from each opening in the front wall, wherein the second front wall has, at the central opening, an edge which is curved in axial cross-section such that a height (H3) is defined between a leading face of said edge and the third front wall, and such that, in the heat exchange space, a predetermined minimum height (H1) is present on the side facing the central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SOUDOBEAM SA
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Thomas
  • Patent number: 10801082
    Abstract: A molten metal treatment lance includes a refractory having at least one channel extending through the refractory. A first tubular member having two open ends is located in the channel of the refractory. The first tubular member has a side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A second tubular member having an open end and a closed end is positioned in the first tubular member. The second tubular member has a side wall having an inner surface, an outer surface and at least one opening extending from the inner surface of the side wall of the second tubular member to the outer surface of the side wall of the second tubular member. The second tubular member is positioned in the first tubular member so as to form a space between the inner surface of the side wall of the first tubular member and the outer surface of the side wall of the second tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. Hicks, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Hicks, Matthew C. Smith, Kent M. Schonberger
  • Patent number: 10508315
    Abstract: A burner-lance unit (1) includes at least two gas connections (2a, 2b, 2c), a burner tube (3), and a lance tube (4) that is placed concentrically in the burner tube (3). The burner tube (3) and the lance tube (4) both have a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end (15). The lance tube (4) has a de Laval nozzle (4a) at the gas outlet end thereof. The de Laval nozzle (4a) is releasably connected to the lance tube (4). The burner tube (3) has a burner nozzle (3a) which is releasably connected to the burner tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Abel, Hannes Beile, Markus Dorndorf, Alexander Müller, Ralf Pitz
  • Patent number: 10400293
    Abstract: A lance comprising a lance body including a lance head connected to said lance body and comprising a nozzle body having a central strut having bore hole; a camera assembly, such as an optical or infrared camera assembly, received in said bore hole for monitoring the temperature of said lance head or molten heat in which the lance is inserted; and a protective pipe pressurized with a gas disposed in the bore and surrounding said camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Berry Metal Company
    Inventors: Derek S. Dengel, Edward J. Green
  • Patent number: 10281213
    Abstract: A method for refurbishing a tap-hole including making a channel trough a tap-hole block, restoring the channel to form a refurbished tap-hole, detachably connecting a prefabricated refractory insert including a shell to a clay gun, where the insert includes a first and second ends in axial direction, where the second end is blocked, an opening arranged on the first end, a hollow passage in the axial direction, where the hollow passage is accessible through the opening, a plurality of lateral through holes, aligned in a longitudinal direction of the shell, with a constant interval covering 10-25% of the shell, the method further including inserting the insert into the channel, where the clay gun is fluidly coupled with the insert and the channel, injecting a grouting material from the clay gun into the insert and through the through hole into the channel and, disconnecting the insert from the clay gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TMT—TAPPING MEASURING TECHNOLOGY SÀRL
    Inventor: Romain Clesen
  • Patent number: 10260815
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lance, including a lance head having: a first tube; a second tube, in which the first tube is fitted over the second one; and a through hole tube, in which the through-hole tube has a plurality of axial through holes, a second channel is defined by the first tube, the second tube and the through hole tube, and a first channel is defined by an inner cavity of the second tube and the plurality of axial through holes; an air inlet tube in fluid communication with the second channel; and an air inlet seat connecting with the second tube and having an air inlet channel which is in fluid communication with the first channel. The lance according to the present disclosure can spray uniform gas and can reduce energy consumption. The present disclosure also discloses a multi-fluid lance device equipped with the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: CHINA ENFI ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liqiong Hu, Zhenmin Zhang, Rangxian Zhu, Linsheng Wang, Dong Li, Yi Lin, Shuangjie Feng
  • Patent number: 10077940
    Abstract: A lance for top submerged lancing injection in a pyro-metallurgical operation, wherein the lance has at least two substantially concentric pipes, with an annular passage for oxygen-containing gas defined between an outermost one of the pipes and a next adjacent pipe and a further passage for fuel defined within an innermost one of the pipes; the outermost pipe has a lower part of its length, from a submergible lower outlet end of the lance, by which the outermost pipe extends beyond an outlet end of the or each other pipe to define between the outlet end of the outermost pipe and the outlet end of the or each other pipe a chamber with which the passage for oxygen-containing gas communicates; and the lance further includes a defined gas flow-modifying device that is disposed in a lower end section of the passage for oxygen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Markus Reuter, Robert Walter Matusewicz, Jiliang Xia, Neil Jacobson
  • Patent number: 9956609
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for producing a target molten metal composition is provided. The system includes a sorting device that sorts input pieces of metal based on a control signal. Sorted pieces of metal are melted in a furnace, and a sensor measures the composition of molten metal in the furnace and in response generates a control signal that is sent to the sorting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Melt Cognition, LLC
    Inventors: Robert De Saro, Diran Apelian, David B. Spencer, Michael Scott Mellen
  • Patent number: 9926841
    Abstract: An acoustic measuring device (1) for an exhaust turbocharger, with a compressor housing (2) which comprises a compressor housing inlet (3), a compressor impeller (4), a compressor spiral (5) and a compressor housing outlet (6); with a rotation speed sensor (7) arranged in the compressor spiral (5); with a measurement tube (8) which is connected to the compressor housing outlet (6) and has at least one dynamic pressure sensor (9, 10); with a flexible intermediate pipe (11) which is connected to the measurement tube (8) downstream viewed in the flow direction (R) of the air (L) emerging from the compressor housing outlet (6); with a silencer (12) which is connected to the intermediate pipe (11) downstream; and with a Laval nozzle (13) which is connected to the silencer (12) viewed in the flow direction (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Driot, Friedrich Karl Kroehle, Ivo Nawrath
  • Patent number: 9879914
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct from which to discharge gas from the duct, an elongate central structure extending within the gas flow duct, and a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct to impart swirl to a gas flow through the forward end of the duct. The apparatus also comprises cooling water flow passages in the vanes that have inlets at the forward ends of the vanes and outlets at the rear ends of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Barry Alan Cady
  • Patent number: 9828646
    Abstract: An oxygen blowing lance comprising: a lance body including an oxygen conduit and cooling water inlet and outlet conduits surrounding said oxygen conduit; a lance head connected to said lance body and comprising a nozzle body, said nozzle body including a central strut having bore hole, a plurality of nozzles arranged about said central strut, and a plurality of cooling chambers arranged about said central strut, wherein said plurality of nozzles are in fluid communication with said oxygen conduit for discharging oxygen from said oxygen conduit onto a metal bath in a converter vessel, and wherein said plurality of cooling chambers are in fluid communication with said cooling water inlet and outlet conduits; a temperature probe or camera assembly received in said bore hole for monitoring the temperature of said lance head or molten heat in which the lance is inserted; signal lines connected to said temperature probe for conveying signals from said temperature probe whereby operation of said blowing lance is reg
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Berry Metal Company
    Inventor: Derek S. Dengel
  • Patent number: 9829250
    Abstract: A TSL lance has an outer shell of three substantially concentric lance pipes, at least one further lance pipe concentrically within the shell, and an annular end wall at an outlet end of the lance which joins ends of outermost and innermost lance pipes of the shell at an outlet end of the lance and is spaced from an outlet end of the intermediate lance pipe of the shell. Coolant fluid is able to be circulated through the shell, by flow to and away from the outlet end. The spacing between the end wall and the outlet end of the intermediate pipe provides a constriction to the flow of coolant fluid to increase coolant fluid flow velocity therebetween. The further lance pipe defines a central bore and is spaced from the innermost lance pipe of the shell to define an annular passage, whereby materials passing along the bore and the passage mix adjacent to the outlet end of the lance. The end wall and an adjacent minor part of the length of the shell comprise a replaceable lance tip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Robert Matusewicz, Markus Reuter
  • Patent number: 9759490
    Abstract: An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LEWIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: John Adrian Calvi, Rodolfo Daniel Duran
  • Patent number: 9458518
    Abstract: A method of starting a molten-bath based melting process includes establishing a sufficiently large and stable “hot zone” for ignition of oxygen and coal in a main chamber of a smelting vessel by independent means, i.e. independently of and before supplying cold oxygen and coal into the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty, Limited
    Inventors: Jacques Pilote, Rodney James Dry, Hendrikus Koenraad Albertus Meijer
  • Patent number: 9302351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for joining two components (10, 12) made of a metal material, which are connected on two mutually associated joining surfaces (14, 16) by means of a joined connection, wherein at least one of the components (10) is strengthened in at least a partial region of the joining surface (14) thereof prior to joining. The invention further relates to a joined connection of two components (10, 12) made of a metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberg, Roland Hessert, Wilhelm Satzger, Thomas Mack, Alexander Gindorf, Martina Mack, Legal Representative
  • Patent number: 9222144
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct from which to discharge gas from the duct, an elongate central structure extending within the gas flow duct, and a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct to impart swirl to a gas flow through the forward end of the duct. The apparatus also comprises cooling water flow passages in the vanes that have inlets at the forward ends of the vanes and outlets at the rear ends of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Barry Alan Cady
  • Publication number: 20150102539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tilting mechanism for a tilting metallurgical vessel, in particular a converter, around a horizontal axis, comprising a rotatable shaft and at least one tilting drive mechanism for rotating the vessel about the axis, the at least one tilting drive mechanism has a fixed part and a moving part, wherein the moving part of the at least one tilting drive mechanism is directly connected to one end of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Christoffer Lundstrom
  • Publication number: 20150061201
    Abstract: A burner is provided for a pulverous feed material. The burner has a structure that integrates the burner with a reaction vessel, and has an opening that communicates with the interior of the reaction vessel. The burner also has a gas supply channel to supply reaction gas through the opening into the reaction vessel, and a feed supply for delivering pulverous material to the reaction vessel. The burner also has a fluidic control system having at least one port capable of directing a stream of fluid at an angle to the direction of flow of the reaction gas so as to modify the flow of the reaction gas. In addition, components are provided to modify the swirl intensity and turbulence intensity of the reaction gas independently of the exit velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Maciej Jastrzebski, Alan Mallory, Javier Eduardo Larrondo Piña, Thomas W. Gonzales, Alexandre Lamoureux, Ivan Marincic
  • Patent number: 8926895
    Abstract: A post-combustion lance for directing a gas at least partially therethrough. The post-combustion lance includes a body extending between an upstream end and a downstream end of the lance, the body including upper and lower portions and a post-combustion distributor mounted therebetween. The lance also includes an internal support assembly for supporting the body, the internal support assembly including an internal tube positioned inside the body and at least partially engaged with the lower portion, and at least partially engaged with the upper portion of the body, so that the internal support assembly supports the body both upstream and downstream relative to the distributor. The lance also includes a lower o-ring gland positioned downstream relative to the internal support assembly and an upper o-ring gland positioned upstream relative to the lower o-ring gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: A.H. Tallman Bronze Company, Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. Strelbisky, Kerry J. Legeard, Goran Dimitrijevik
  • Patent number: 8920711
    Abstract: A lance for feeding an additive wire into a quantity of molten metal below the surface of the molten metal. The lance has an inlet end which receives additive wire and an outlet end which dispenses the additive wire. The lance has an exterior sleeve of cardboard which has an inner surface. A portion of the inner surface of the exterior sleeve contacts an interior sleeve made of a refractory material. At the inlet end of the lance is a cardboard inlet outer sleeve and a cardboard inlet inner sleeve inside of the outer sleeve. The lance can have a coupling for fitting to a wire feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Specialty Minerals (Michigan) Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick M. Colavito, Gregory J. Kennedy, Yu-Ming Liang
  • Patent number: 8919670
    Abstract: A fuel injection lance for an ore-smelting furnace includes a central conduit, a first conduit and a second conduit. The first and second conduits are concentric with the central conduit. A central conduit is connected to a fuel mixture. The first and second conduits are in flow communication with a gas source. The first and second conduits have gas flowing at independently controllable gas flow rates relative to the other conduit. A swirl portion has a cylindrical body with a hollow interior cylinder, and vertical and helical channels formed within the body portion. Vertical channels traverse the body portion vertically to the outer surface adjacent to the bottom surface. Helical channels traverse the outer surface in a helical pattern. Vertical channels intersect with corresponding helical channels at a predetermined angle selected to provide a desired particle distribution of a fuel injected into the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Pavan Kumar Shivaram
  • Publication number: 20140327194
    Abstract: A TSL lance has an outer shell of three substantially concentric lance pipes, at least one further lance pipe concentrically within the shell, and an annular end wall at an outlet end of the lance which joins ends of outermost and innermost lance pipes of the shell at an outlet end of the lance and is spaced from an outlet end of the intermediate lance pipe of the shell. Coolant fluid is able to be circulated through the shell, by flow to and away from the outlet end. The spacing between the end wall and the outlet end of the intermediate pipe provides a constriction to the flow of coolant fluid to increase coolant fluid flow velocity therebetween. The further lance pipe defines a central bore and is spaced from the innermost lance pipe of the shell to define an annular passage, whereby materials passing along the bore and the passage mix adjacent to the outlet end of the lance. The end wall and an adjacent minor part of the length of the shell comprise a replaceable lance tip assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Robert Matusewicz, Markus Reuter
  • Publication number: 20140298955
    Abstract: A top-blowing lance includes a refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle having a plurality of ejection openings through which oxygen gas is blown into an iron bath in a reaction vessel, the ejection openings being disposed along a circular orbit at intervals, and a burner nozzle having an axis coaxial with the central axis of the circular orbit, forming a flame inside the refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle, and having ejection openings for blowing a powder heated by the flame into the iron bath, wherein an indicator A that indicates the positional relationship between the ejection openings of the refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle and the ejection openings of the burner nozzle satisfies the specified conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Goro Okuyama, Naoki Kikuchi, Yuichi Uchida, Yukio Takahashi, Shingo Sato, Kenji Nakase, Yasutaka Ta, Yuji Miki
  • Publication number: 20140291902
    Abstract: A cooled lance for injection into metallurgical vessels, comprises an inner tube or pipe, with an inlet for gas at the upper part of the injection lance and outlets for the gas at the lower part, and at least one outer tube or pipe that forms a cooling jacket with the inner tube or pipe, wherein the inner tube or pipe is fixed at only one point at said at least one outer tube or pipe and the gas flow takes place only through the cooling jacket formed between the inner tube or pipe and the outer tube or pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNESITA REFRATARIOS S/A
    Inventors: Rubens Alves Freire, Leonardo Cruz Arantes Campos, Jorge Lima De Siqueira
  • Publication number: 20140284852
    Abstract: A lance (10), for conducting a pyrometallurgical operation by top submerged lancing (TSL) injection, wherein the lance (10) has at least an inner pipe (12) and outer pipe (14) which are substantially concentric. The lower outlet of the inner pipe (12) is set at a level relative to the lower, outlet end of the outer pipe (14) required for pyrometallurgical operation. The lance (10) further includes a shroud (22) through which the outer pipe (14) extends and which is mounted on and extends along an upper portion of the outer pipe (14) to define with the outer pipe (14) a passageway (28) along which gas is able to be supplied for flow towards the outlet end of the outer pipe (14) for discharge exteriorly of the lance (10). The shroud (22) is longitudinally adjustable relative to the outer pipe (14) to enable substantial maintenance of or variation in, a longitudinal spacing between the outlet ends of the shroud (22) and the outer pipe (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Robert Matusewicz, Markus Reuter
  • Publication number: 20140151942
    Abstract: A lance for conducting a pyrometallurgical operation by top submerged lancing (TSL) injection, has inner and outer substantially concentric pipes. The lower end of the inner or at least a next innermost pipe is set at a level relative to the lower end of the outer pipe required for the pyrometallurgical operation. The relative positions of the inner and outer pipes are longitudinally adjustable to enable the length of the mixing chamber to be maintained at a desired setting during a period of use to compensate for the lower end of the outer pipe wearing and burning back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Robert Matusewicz, Markus Reuter
  • Publication number: 20140123812
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath through the tip of the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20140102257
    Abstract: A method and system for the copper anode refining is provided in which coherent jet technology is employed to heat the molten blister copper and/or melt scrap copper charges using a melting flame, oxidize the sulfur in the molten blister copper, and reduce the oxygen in the molten blister copper using top-blown coherent jet gas streams from one or more multi-functional, coherent jet lance assemblies. The present system and method employs a microprocessor-based controller operatively controlling the flow of an oxygen-containing gas, an inert gas, a reducing agent and a fuel to the coherent jet lance. The disclosed copper anode refining system and method greatly improves copper production while lowering oxidation /reduction cycle times and minimizing NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: David B. George, Arsenio Enriquez, Adrian Christian Denys, William John Mahoney, Ian Francis Masterson, Stephen Manley, Jesse Cates, Kevin Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20130341841
    Abstract: A distributor for a post-combustion lance, comprising: an annular member, an inner reinforcing sleeve and an outer sleeve, wherein the annular member and the inner reinforcing sleeve may be made from different materials and the annular member and the outer sleeve each may be made from a first material. The annular member and the outer sleeve each may be made from a first material and the inner reinforcing sleeve may be made from a second material, a plurality of longitudinal ribs are spaced around an inner surface of the inner reinforcing sleeve and/or one or more of the plurality of longitudinal ribs is made of steel or other high strength material. Further, a plurality of longitudinal ribs may be spaced around an inner surface of the outer sleeve and may be made from steel or other high strength material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Todd G. Smith
  • Patent number: 8613790
    Abstract: A lance for injecting a solid material into a vessel, such as a direct smelting vessel for producing molten iron, has a core tube assembly comprising a passageway for solid material. The core tube assembly has an inlet for receiving solid material at a rear end and an outlet for discharging material at a forward end. The core tube assembly comprises an outer tube of a structural material and an inner tube of a wear resistant material that are bonded together. A method of manufacturing the core tube assembly may include spin casting the outer tube of the structural material; spin casting the inner tube of the wear resistant material onto the inner surface of the outer tube; and metallurgically bonding the tubes together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Limited
    Inventor: Bronislaw Jerzy Minko
  • Patent number: 8562902
    Abstract: A direct smelting plant for producing molten metal from a metalliferous feed material using a molten bath based direct smelting process is disclosed. The plant includes a plurality of crane access zones that are outboard of a gas delivery main to enable solids injection lances to be removed from and replacement lances to be positioned in openings in a side wall of a direct smelting vessel. The plant also includes a plurality of crane access zones that are inboard of the gas delivery main to enable gas injection lances to be removed from and replacement lances to be positioned in openings in the side wall of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Technologies Resources Pty Limited
    Inventor: Robert Loiacono
  • Patent number: 8425831
    Abstract: An installation for producing stainless steel for all stainless steel products both in the austenitic and the ferritic range, based on liquid pig-iron and FeCr solids, without using a supply of electrical energy. The liquid pig-iron, after being pre-treated in a blast furnace, is subjected to a DDD treatment (dephosphorization, desiliconization and desulphurization), is heated, finished or alloyed and deoxidated. The quantity of slag-free liquid pig-iron that has been pre-treated in the blast furnace and a DDD device is separated and introduced into two classic “twin” AOD-L converters, where the required chemical process steps (of the heating, decarburization and alloying stages) take place in parallel contrary processes using autogenous chemical energy. The heating stage is carried out first in the first twin AOD-L converter and the decarburization is carried out first in the second twin AOD-L converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Reichel
  • Patent number: 8388888
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct, an elongate central tubular structure extending within the gas flow duct, a plurality of flow directing swirl vanes, inflow and outflow cooling water passages within the central structure, and a nose portion provided with one or more water cooling passages. The flow directing vanes are provided with internal water cooling vane passages. In use, water flow is communicated through the vane passages from the water inflow passage in the central structure to the water flow passage in the nose portion of the central structure such that at least some of the inflowing water will pass successively through the vane passages and the nose passage or passages and thence to the outflow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Derek Dengel, George Cingle, III, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 8377372
    Abstract: A jet of gas injected from a lance is fluidically deviated with a gas flowing in either the same or opposite direction as the jet of gas. The gas used to fluidically deviate the jet is the same as or different from the gas in the jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Gautam, Michael G. K. Grant, Taekyu Kang, Nicolas Docquier, Farrukh Alvi, Ryan B. Adelman
  • Patent number: 8366992
    Abstract: A hot gas injection lance (26) for injecting hot gas into a vessel (11) is made of three modules (26A, 26B and 26C) which all fabricated separately and brought together in successive steps and connected together by releasable fastenings. Lance module (26A) is a main duct module providing an elongate duct (31) through which to direct hot gas into an upper region of the vessel. Lance module (26B) is a gas inlet module through which to direct hot gas into duct (31) of module (26A). Lance module (26C) is a central module which includes an elongate central tubular structure (33) that extends within the gas flow duct (31) and carries at its lower end a series of swirl imparting tubular structure (33) that extends within the gas flow duct (31) and carries at its lower end a series of swirl imparting vanes (34) for imparting swirl to the gas flow exiting the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limted
    Inventor: Trevor Williams
  • Patent number: 8317897
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for supersonically injecting oxygen into a furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, in which the total oxygen required for the furnace operation is injected with the aid of two distinct circuits, i.e., the first circuit comprising at least one supersonic oxygen injecting nozzle and a second circuit which comprises additionally oxygen injecting means and is connected to the first circuit by pressure-sensitive means, such as a discharging device (or upstream pressure adjuster), in such a way that a stable pressure is obtained in the first circuit upon the attainment of the maximum flowrate thereof, wherein the first circuit can consists of several supersonic nozzle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Philippe Beaudoin
  • Patent number: 8298477
    Abstract: A lance holder characterized by a high degree of safety is equipped with a mounting or a pipe fixing, which safely prevents a rotation even of a bent lance pipe in the lance holder. The clamping head has a fixing part and a clamping part which ensure a punctiform fixation by way of displaceable pressure elements, particularly in the form of spheres. At least three such spheres are disposed across the circumference in a distributed manner, and ensure the safe fixation across a large tolerance range with regard to the dimensions of lance pipes. Said large tolerance region is further secured in that sealing sleeves having a larger inside diameter may be used, since the same are no longer deformed in the longitudinal direction in order to provide the seal, but instead are deformed in the radial direction. In summary the high degree of operational safety is also completed by the association of a chip and/or attachment of a nanocoating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BEDA Oxygentechnik Armaturen GmbH
    Inventor: Horst K. Marmann
  • Patent number: 8287803
    Abstract: A novel blaster nozzle used for assisting in the pneumatic removal of cloggings and cakings during the transport of particulate matter through an enclosure housing is set such that it can be removed and replaced from outside the enclosure housing. The blaster nozzle includes a nozzle head having an orifice for the conduction of high-pressure fluid, wherein the nozzle head is composed of a refractory concrete having from about 4-20% by volume metal fibers therein. The blaster nozzle also includes a flange member connected to the nozzle head and a connection tube extends from the flange member for connecting the blaster nozzle to an air cannon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Wahl Refractory Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: M. David Moore
  • Patent number: 8277721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the melt. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel-making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture burner/lance provides a flame for heating the melt, a lance device for injecting oxygen into the furnace, or both. To access the melt, the furnace aperture burner/lance is disengaged, access is provided to the melt through the furnace aperture, and the furnace aperture burner/lance is reengaged when the access is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Process Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery Shver
  • Patent number: 8221677
    Abstract: A lance nozzle insert for a refractory lance for feeding an additive wire into a quantity of molten metal below the surface of the molten metal surface is made of a material comprising stabilized zirconium oxide and graphite substantially increasing the corrosion resistance of the lance nozzle insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Specialty Minerals (Michigan) Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick M. Colavito, John Damiano, Yves C. Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 8211357
    Abstract: A metallurgical vessel (11) has circumferentially spaced tubular mountings (25) through which to extend solids injection lances (31) into the vessel. Lance extraction apparatus (33) comprises an elongate track support structure (41) supporting a twin rail track (40) inclined upwardly and outwardly from the vessel above the direction of inclination of a respective lance (31). Interconnected upper and lower carriages (42, 44) are moveable along track (40) by operation of a hoist (47). Extraction apparatus (33) is operable sequentially to remove solids delivery line sections (36) and (37) and the lance (31) by connection to the carriages (42, 44) and upward movement of those carriages along track (40). Upper carriage (42) carries a pivot arm (51) for connection to upper parts of components to be removed such that those components can be pivoted downwardly to positions in which they can be hung from an overhead crane for removal to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Mark Hayton
  • Publication number: 20120139171
    Abstract: An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Lewis Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: John Adrian Calvi, Rodolfo Daniel Duran
  • Publication number: 20120036963
    Abstract: A method and system for the copper anode refining is provided in which coherent jet technology is employed to heat the molten blister copper and/or melt scrap copper charges using a melting flame, oxidize the sulfur in the molten blister copper, and reduce the oxygen in the molten blister copper using top-blown coherent jet gas streams from one or more multi-functional, coherent jet lance assemblies. The present system and method employs a microprocessor-based controller operatively controlling the flow of an oxygen-containing gas, an inert gas, a reducing agent and a fuel to the coherent jet lance. The disclosed copper anode refining system and method greatly improves copper production while lowering oxidation/reduction cycle times and minimizing NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: David B. George, Arsenio C. Enriquez, JR., Adrian Christian Deneys, William John Mahoney, Ian Francis Masterson, Stephen Manley, Jesse Cates, Kevin Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8114337
    Abstract: Solids injection lances for injecting solids into a metallurgical vessel are normally supplied with cooling water from a cooling water circuit through water supply lines and return lines. Supply lines are provided with spaced pairs of connectors and bypass valves, and return lines are provided with similar pairs of spaced connectors and bypass valves. Flexible hoses can be connected between the pairs of connectors to establish supply and return flows of cooling water which bypass segments of the main supply and return lines which can be isolated and removed to allow withdrawal and subsequent replacement of the lances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Neil John Goodman, Ian William Beaumont, Stephen Prendergast, Trevor Williams
  • Patent number: 8097206
    Abstract: For the metallurgical treatment of steel melts, a lance is guided through a guide tube with gland into a reaction chamber, on which a water-cooled connection with a connector flange and a vacuum-sealed housing with a housing flange are located, as well as a compensator installed between the housing and the gland guide tube for compensating lateral, axial or angular relative motions of the guide tube and housing during the course of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: INTECO Special Melting Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Holzgruber, Michael Luven
  • Patent number: 8080200
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a pulverized coal injection lance (10) for feeding pulverized coal from a rear end of the lance (10) to a front end (11) of the lance (10). The lance (10) comprises an outer pipe (12) for conveying combustive gas, and an inner pipe (14), coaxially arranged within the outer pipe (12), for conveying pulverized coal. The inner pipe (14) forms a separation wall for separating the pulverized coal from the combustive gas. The separation wall is at least partially discontinued in a region near the front end (11) of the lance (10), thereby forming a mixing region (16) within the pulverized coal injection lance (10). According to an important aspect of the invention, the outer pipe (12) and the inner pipe (14) have substantially the same length and wherein the inner pipe (14) comprises at least one lateral opening (18, 20) for allowing pulverized coal and combustive gas to come into contact within the pulverized coal injection lance (10) near the front end (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Yvan Kroemmer, Paul Goedert, Georges Stamatakis