Patents Assigned to Elkem Metals Company
  • Patent number: 5932086
    Abstract: Using the electrolytic process to make manganese metal, a source of manganomanganic oxide (Mn.sub.3 O.sub.4) is used in the sulfuric acid leach solution in conjunction with a reducing agent to convert the manganomanganic oxide into manganese sulfate for treatment in the electrolytic cell. Sources of manganomanganic oxide include sintered manganese ore, manganese ore having less than 7% available oxygen such as Assoman Ore, and MOR fume. Reducing agents include sulfur dioxide, activated carbon, reducing sugars and molasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Arash M. Kasaaian
  • Patent number: 5820842
    Abstract: The process calculates the amount of silica and oxidizing agent to use in a refining process for metallurgical-grade silicon. The calculation for silica takes into account (1) the aluminum content of the previous batch of refined silicon; (2) the calcium content of the previous batch of refined silicon; (3) the trend in the aluminum content of the unrefined silicon; and (4) the age of the ladle used for refining. The process then calculates the amount of silica based on a predetermined minimum amount of silica to add, a predetermined maximum amount of silica to add and the amount of silica added to the previous batch of refined silicon. The calculation for oxidizing agent is based on (1) the aluminum content of the previous batch of refilled silicon; (2) the calcium content of the previous batch of refined silicon; and (3) the age of the ladle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Smith, Stephen Johnson, Steven Oxman
  • Patent number: 5362440
    Abstract: The ferrophosphorus refining method entails forming a ferrophosphorus melt and adding an oxidizing agent to the melt to oxidize the impurities in the melt. The oxidized impurities then rise to the top of the melt and either go into the slag or escape in a gaseous forte. The slag is removed and a refined ferrophosphorus is recovered. Suitable oxidizing agents include solids such as ferrous oxide (Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3), ferric oxide (Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4), ferrous-ferric oxide (FeO), mill scale, limestone, dolomitic limestone, lime and any alkalide carbonate; and gaseous oxidizing agents such as oxygen, air and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Deepak Madan, Young Lee, Alan FitzGibbon, Roland Gamroth
  • Patent number: 5149364
    Abstract: The desulfurization agent for molten iron is made up of 70 to 95% commercial calcium carbide, 5 to 25% silicon dioxide, 0 to 10% of a metal oxide, and 0 to 5% calcium fluoride. The metal oxides are iron oxides and manganese oxides. The desulfurizing agent has been found to reduce the amount of calcium carbide in the resulting slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Donald B. Craig, Thomas K. McCluhan, Robert H. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5078784
    Abstract: The desulfurization agent for molten iron is made up of 70 to 95% commercial calcium carbide, 5 to 25% silicon dioxide, 0 to 10% of a metal oxide; and 0 to 5% calcium fluoride. The metal oxides are iron oxides and manganese oxides. The desulfurizing agent has been found to reduce the amount of calcium carbide in the resulting slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Donald B. Craig, Thomas K. McCluhan, Robert H. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5061672
    Abstract: The active mass is produced by first forming a contact mass of particulate silicon metal and particulate copper catalyst and then heating the contact mass at a temperature of between 250.degree.-335.degree. C. in the presence of methylchloride to form the active mass. Zinc can be added to the contact mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventor: Azza A. Elattar
  • Patent number: 4941914
    Abstract: The desulfurization agent for molten iron is made up of 95 to 70% commercial calcium carbide, 30 to 5% calcium aluminate slag, and 10 to 0% of a metal oxide. The calcium aluminate slag is made up of 65 to 50% calcium oxide, 35 to 25% aluminum oxide, and 12 to 3% calcium fluoride. The metal oxides are ferric oxide, manganomanganic oxide and ferrosoferric oxide. The desulfurizing agent has been found to reduce the amount of calcium carbide in the resulting slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Donald B. Craig, Thomas K. McCluhan
  • Patent number: 4816230
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to process and apparatus for mixing finely divided calcium carbide and finely divided lime and carbonaceous material and for feeding the mixture down through the aperture of a hollow electrode in a calcium carbide electric furnace. In a preferred embodiment the finely divided calcium carbide is supplied to the aperture of the hollow electrode by a first conveyor and a fine feed mix of lime and carbonaceous material is supplied to the aperture of the hollow electrode by a second separate conveyor and the two are mixed in fluidized condition and fed down through the aperture of the electrode into the reaction zone of the furnace. Carbon monoxide off-gas from the furnace is preferably used for fluidizing the respective particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: John F. Bortnik, Donald A. Clayman, Scott A. Baker
  • Patent number: 4799955
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite metal powder made from a base iron powder milled with an alloying component such as nickel, copper, managnese, chromium, silicon, phosphorus, boron, vanadium, and molybdenum, where the composite metal powder has a compressibility comparable to the compressibility of the soft base iron powder prior to milling. Such a composite is obtained by using a short mill time followed by an annealing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventor: Melvin L. McClellan
  • Patent number: 4752327
    Abstract: A method for dephosphorizing a manganese alloy by first desiliconizing the alloy to a level below 0.6%, and then dephosphorizing the low silicon alloy with barium carbonate or barium oxide in combination with an oxidizing agent. The lower the silicon content the better the results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Young E. Lee, Robert H. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 4749549
    Abstract: A ferrosilicon inoculant for gray cast iron containing between 0.1 to 10% strontium, less than 0.35% calcium and either 0.1 to 15% zirconium, 0.1 to 20% titanium or a mixture of both zirconium and titanium with the strontium. The inoculant, method for producing the inoculant, method for inoculating the melt and a gray cast iron inoculated with the inoculant are covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Mary J. Hornung, Edward C. Sauer
  • Patent number: 4684403
    Abstract: A method for dephosphorizing a manganese containing melt is disclosed. The method encompasses the addition of a magnesium compound to a manganese containing melt to form magnesium phosphides which are removed from the melt. The method is carried out under pressure and the addition of a flux in the melt is employed to facilitate the removal of the phosphides from the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Young E. Lee, James H. Downing, Robert H. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 4676970
    Abstract: A method for making a fused compound from a metal and a non-metal and more particularly a method for making a metal sulfide is disclosed. The method is particularly advantageous in making manganese sulfide. An excess of metal and recycled compound are used to control sulfur vaporization and a portion of the product is recycled to control the reaction. Conventional equipment can be used in the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Lamar S. Todd, Robert H. Kaiser, Donald R. Hilburger
  • Patent number: 4666516
    Abstract: A ferrosilicon inoculant for gray cast iron containing between 0.1 to 10% strontium, less than 0.35% calcium and either 0.1 to 15% zirconium, 0.1 to 20% titanium or a mixture of both zirconium and titanium with the strontium. The inoculant, method for producing the inoculant, method for inoculating the melt and a gray cast iron inoculated with the inoculant are covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Mary J. Hornung, Edward C. Sauer
  • Patent number: 4592538
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are described for producing predominately iron alloys that contain magnesium which alloys have particular utility for treating cast iron to form ductile and compacted graphite irons.The alloys are produced under pressure of an inert gas maintained above the vapor pressure of the magnesium at the melt temperature. The alloy melt is rapidly solidified in a chill mold which imparts a certain amount of constraint to the melt to provide a high magnesium recovery in the alloy and a clean, safe, economical operation. As a result of rapid solidification, the magnesium is retained in the alloy as a fine dispersion or separate phase which is of advantage for high magnesium recovery in the alloy and for a high magnesium recovery in the cast iron when treated with the alloys of the present invention.Any desired composition of alloy may be produced. Best results are obtained when the alloys contain by weight from about 0.5 to 4.0% magnesium and optionally from about 0.1 to 10% silicon, from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventor: James E. Wells, III
  • Patent number: 4545817
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alloy composition and the method of treating molten cast iron with such alloy to produce ductile and compacted graphite cast irons. The alloy may contain about 0.1% to about 10% silicon, about 0.05 to about 2.0% cerium and/or other rare earth elements, about 0.5 to about 4% magnesium, about 0.5 to about 6.5% carbon (percent by weight) the balance being iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Bilek, Richard A. Flinn, Thomas K. McCluhan, Paul K. Trojan
  • Patent number: 4519838
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are described for producing predominately iron alloys that contain magnesium which alloys have particular utility for treating cast iron to form ductile and compacted graphite irons.The alloys are produced under pressure of an inert gas maintained above the vapor pressure of the magnesium at the melt temperature. The alloy melt is rapidly solidified in a chill mold which imparts a certain amount of constraint to the melt to provide a high magnesium recovery in the alloy and a clean, safe, economical operation. As a result of rapid solidification, the magnesium is retained in the alloy as a fine dispersion or separate phase which is of advantage for high magnesium recovery in the alloy and for a high magnesium recovery in the cast iron when treated with the alloys of the present invention.Any desired composition of alloy may be produced. Best results are obtained when the alloys contain by weight from about 0.5 to 4.0% magnesium and optionally from about 0.1 to 10% silicon, from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventor: James E. Wells, III
  • Patent number: 4509717
    Abstract: A slide gate valve assembly is provided wherein resilient means exert positive pressure to force a solid slide gate against the periphery of an aperture to establish a tight seal for retaining dry bulk particulate material in a container. Cam means are provided in the assembly to release the positive pressure on the side gate which may thereupon be removed from the aperture to dump the contents from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Dennis C. Wright, Ernest J. Camodeca
  • Patent number: 4491568
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to process and apparatus for mixing finely divided calcium carbide and finely divided lime and carbonaceous material and for feeding the mixture down through the aperture of a hollow electrode in a calcium carbide electric furnace. In a preferred embodiment the finely divided calcium carbide is supplied to the aperture of the hollow electrode by a first conveyor and a fine feed mix of lime and carbonaceous material is supplied to the aperture of the hollow electrode by a second separate conveyor and the two are mixed in fluidized condition and fed down through the aperture of the electrode into the reaction zone of the furnace. Carbon monoxide off-gas from the furnace is preferably used for fluidizing the respective particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: John F. Bortnik, Donald A. Clayman, Scott A. Baker
  • Patent number: 4480064
    Abstract: Manganomanganic oxide fume or a material containing manganomanganic oxide fume as its principle ingredient is used as a color pigment in the production of thermoplastic articles and particularly thermoplastic films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Elkem Metals Company
    Inventors: Kuldip S. Chopra, George E. Ealer, George A. Salensky