Patents Assigned to GPRE IP, LLC
  • Patent number: 11904283
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GPRE IP LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20240011710
    Abstract: A vortex metal insertion system for a metal recycling furnace, the system having a molten metal flow cycling through the furnace and through a vortex bowl in the system. The system includes one or more process sensors in the furnace, an automated molten metal flow adjustment device, and a computer controller. The computer controller reads the sensor(s) and adjusts the adjustment device to control the flow of molten metal through the vortex bowl based on the reading(s). The system has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably inserted into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11835295
    Abstract: A metal furnace header gate system haying a recirculation port in the furnace, a hot gas generator, a gas blower, and a furnace door. The door has an embedded gas manifold and outlet ports that each connect the manifold to a directional nozzle. The blower draws exhaust from the recirculation port into the hot gas generator, which generates additional exhaust and mixes the exhaust gases together. The blower forces this exhaust mixture into the manifold, through the nozzles, and into the furnace. A computer controls the blower and the hot gas generator to regulate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11767575
    Abstract: A vortex injection system for a metal recycling furnace a delacquering chamber and a melt chamber, and a molten metal flow channel running through each chamber. The system diverts a portion of the molten metal flow through a vortex bowl, after which that portion of the molten metal flow is then returned to the main molten metal flow. The vortex bowl has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably injected into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11635258
    Abstract: An overflow system for a doorway exhaust hood on a metal melt furnace having an eductor gas circulator. The system includes a manifold with an inlet near the hood's lower lip, and a conduit between the manifold and eductor. A blower draws gas into the manifold and urges that gas through the conduit, into the eductor, and into the furnace. Sensors detect when the door is open and the volatiles level under the hood. An electronic controller instructs the blower to draw exhaust gases through the manifold when the door is open and the volatiles level exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20230012244
    Abstract: An automatic variable speed eductor recirculation system for metal recycling furnaces having a delacquering chamber and a separate heating chamber. The system includes a recirculation duct between the two chambers, an eductor in the duct, a variable speed blower forcing motive gases into the eductor creating a Venturi that draws VOC's from the delacquering chamber through the eductor, and an infrared opacity sensor proximate the eductor that measures the transparency level of the gases in the eductor. An electronic controller automatically adjusts the blower speed to control the eductor Venturi based upon the transparency level measurements of the opacity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: JOHN M. PETERMAN, MARK A. ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20220370968
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20220040649
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20220034588
    Abstract: A metal furnace header gate system haying a recirculation port in the furnace, a hot gas generator, a gas blower, and a furnace door. The door has an embedded gas manifold and outlet ports that each connect the manifold to a directional nozzle. The blower draws exhaust from the recirculation port into the hot gas generator, which generates additional exhaust and mixes the exhaust gases together. The blower forces this exhaust mixture into the manifold, through the nozzles, and into the furnace. A computer controls the blower and the hot gas generator to regulate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220026150
    Abstract: An overflow system for a doorway exhaust hood on a metal melt furnace having an eductor gas circulator. The system includes a manifold with an inlet near the hood's lower lip, and a conduit between the manifold and eductor. A blower draws gas into the manifold and urges that gas through the conduit, into the eductor, and into the furnace. Sensors detect when the door is open and the volatiles level under the hood. An electronic controller instructs the blower to draw exhaust gases through the manifold when the door is open and the volatiles level exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220010406
    Abstract: A vortex injection system for a metal recycling furnace a delacquering chamber and a melt chamber, and a molten metal flow channel running through each chamber. The system diverts a portion of the molten metal flow through a vortex bowl, after which that portion of the molten metal flow is then returned to the main molten metal flow. The vortex bowl has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably injected into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220001340
    Abstract: An automatic variable speed eductor recirculation system for metal recycling furnaces having a delacquering chamber and a separate heating chamber. The system includes a recirculation duct between the two chambers, an eductor in the duct, a variable speed blower forcing motive gases into the eductor creating a Venturi that draws VOC's from the delaquering chamber through the eductor, and an infrared opacity sensor proximate the eductor that measures the transparency level of the gases in the eductor. An electronic controller automatically adjusts the blower speed to control the eductor Venturi based upon the transparency level measurements of the opacity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts