Patents Assigned to Empco (Canada) Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8124004
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a slag door of a metallurgical furnace, having a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to the furnace, and at least one closure element, moveable from an open position that is exterior of the slag door opening, to a closed position that effectively seals against the slag door and extends into the slag door opening with the rear panel of the closure element(s) being proximally aligned with the interior wall of the furnace. The apparatus may also have at least one wiping component moveable so as to sweep across the lower surface of the slag door to remove obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: EMPCO (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche
  • Patent number: 7767137
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a slag door of a metallurgical furnace, having a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to the furnace, and at least one closure element, moveable from an open position that is exterior of the slag door opening, to a closed position that effectively seals against the slag door and extends into the slag door opening with the rear panel of the closure element(s) being proximally aligned with the interior wall of the furnace. The apparatus may also have at least one wiping component moveable so as to sweep across the lower surface of the slag door to remove obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Empco (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wünsche
  • Publication number: 20090315234
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a slag door of a metallurgical furnace, having a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to the furnace, and at least one closure element, moveable from an open position that is exterior of the slag door opening, to a closed position that effectively seals against the slag door and extends into the slag door opening with the rear panel of the closure element(s) being proximally aligned with the interior wall of the furnace. The apparatus may also have at least one wiping component moveable so as to sweep across the lower surface of the slag door to remove obstructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: EMPCO (CANADA) LTD.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche
  • Publication number: 20070290420
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a slag door of a metallurgical furnace, having a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to the furnace, and at least one closure element, moveable from an open position that is exterior of the slag door opening, to a closed position that effectively seals against the slag door and extends into the slag door opening with the rear panel of the closure element(s) being proximally aligned with the interior wall of the furnace. The apparatus may also have at least one wiping component moveable so as to sweep across the lower surface of the slag door to remove obstructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: EMPCO (CANADA) LTD.
    Inventor: Edgar Wunsche
  • Patent number: 6696013
    Abstract: A Preheater-Steelmaking Furnace and closed loop Process System for semi-continuous melting of integrally preheated recycled or virgin ferrous charge, by using highly energy efficient combustion process of natural gas combusted by oxygen as the main heat source, after preheating of the cold charge, by fully exploiting thermal energies of the melting process off-gases, in a gas tight, low noise, ecologically friendly PSF with scant CO and drastically reduced CO2 in exhaust gases for semi-continuous, batch self-charging, sealed pairs of eccentrically rotating quasi cylindrical, permeable half drums hoppers creating separate preheating chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: EMPCO (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche
  • Publication number: 20030122290
    Abstract: A Preheater-Steelmaking Furnace and closed loop Process System for semi-continuous melting of integrally preheated recycled or virgin ferrous charge, by using highly energy efficient combustion process of natural gas combusted by oxygen as the main heat source, after preheating of the cold charge, by fully exploiting thermal energies of the melting process off-gases, in a gas tight, low noise, ecologically friendly PSF with scant CO and drastically reduced CO2 in exhaust gases for semi-continuous, batch self-charging, sealed pairs of eccentrically rotating quasi cylindrical, permeable half drums hoppers creating separate preheating chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: EMPCO (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche
  • Publication number: 20030075843
    Abstract: A multi-purpose, multi-oxy-fuel High Temperature Power Burner/Injector/Oxygen Lance, Mechanical System Apparatus Device, for steelmaking from recycled scrap and/or virgin ferrous charge, which can be employed in multi-oxy-fuel (natural gas; pulverized carbonaceous matter; heavy oil), especially by Oxygen Combusted mixture of Natural Gas/Pulverized Carbonaceous Matter in High Temperature Power Burner Mode, for efficient and rapid melting of solid ferrous charge (cold or preheated) in a special steelmaking Metallurgical Furnace or Open Hearth Furnace, Tandem Furnace, BOF, EAF, as its augmenting or only source of thermal energy; more than one Device in Oxygen-Natural Gas/Pulverized Carbonaceous Matter Power Burner Mode, can be employed as the only source of thermal energy in a modified, originally Electric Arc Furnace, as total replacement of Graphite Electrodes and Electric Arc System, the replacement being noticeably more primary energy efficient than the thermal energy provided by Graphite Electrode/Arc Syste
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: EMPCO (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche
  • Patent number: 6024912
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel preheating apparatus and method for preheating a ferrous scrap mixture prior to feeding the scrap into a metallurgical furnace, primarily using heat recovered from hot waste gases emitted from the furnace exhaust port, and simultaneously reducing contaminants from the scrap and from the waste gases, with concurrent downward flow of hot waste gases and downwardly descending scrap. The apparatus has a chamber, including a top compartment with a cold scrap input for depositing cold scrap into the top compartment and a hot waste gas inlet in flow communication with the furnace exhaust port. The chamber also has a bottom compartment with a heated scrap discharging mechanism for force delivering the heated scrap into the furnace and a waste gas outlet in flow communication with a vacuum exhaust for evacuating spent waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Empco (CANADA) Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert R. Wunsche
  • Patent number: 4653730
    Abstract: A multi-purpose pyrometallurgical process enhancing device for metallurgical furnaces can be employed in oxy-fuel burner mode for preheating and melting of solid charge, in an oxygen injecting lance mode for decarburization of molten metal in metallurgical furnaces, in particular in melting electric arc furnaces, plasma arc furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces, and in an injector mode for injecting solid materials; the device includes a pivotally mounted water cooled generally arcuate body which can be pivoted into and out of a furnace vessel through a small opening in the shell wall for optimal positioning of the oxy-fuel flame against solid charge, in the burner mode; or injection of oxygen vertically downwardly into the molten metal at supersonic speed, in the oxygen lance mode; in one embodiment the arcuate body can be rotated about its longitudinal axis for directing the oxy-fuel flame towards a cold spot in the furnace; the tip of the arcuate body includes a replaceable, multi-opening nozzle, mounted in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Empco (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventors: Edgar R. Wunsche, Alan A. Wunsche, Milan Kosanovich
  • Patent number: 4455017
    Abstract: A forced cooling, metallic, refractory coated, high strength, modular, extreme heat withstanding, long life lining element for partial or total lining of metallurgical furnaces above the hot metal and slag levels, in particular melting Electric Arc and Plasma Arc Furnaces, with automatic coolant flow control, is disclosed. In accordance with the invention the forced cooling lining element consists of at least three (3) seamless, heavy wall boiler type pipes, arranged in generally parallel, eccentrically spaced non-contacting relation, with circular spacers, neighboring pipes being interconnected by welded mitres and elbows to create series or series-parallel serpentine and zig-zag structural pattern. The hot face of the pipes is provided with protective refractory anchoring system consisting of multitude coaxially and diagonally to the pipes arranged intermittent protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Empco (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Edgar R. Wunsche