Patents Assigned to Technological Resources PTY
  • Patent number: 8636148
    Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles. The thermal analysis step includes thermally assessing particles against a background surface. The thermal analysis step also includes heating the background surface to a temperature that is different to the temperature of the particles to provide a thermal contrast between the particles and the background surface. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Damien Harding, Grant Wellwood
  • 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: 8562903
    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 gas delivery duct assembly extending from a gas supply location away from the vessel to deliver oxygen-containing gas to gas injection lances extending into a direct smelting vessel. The gas delivery duct assembly includes a single gas delivery main connected to the gas injection lances to supply oxygen-containing gas to the gas injection lances. The gas delivery main is located at a height above a lower half of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Limited
    Inventors: Mark Hayton, Neil John Goodman
  • Patent number: 8545094
    Abstract: The invention exposes rock fragments of a material to electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave radiation, and detects the thermal response of the material of the rock fragments during or immediately after exposure to detect a mineral within the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Technologies Resource Pty Limited
    Inventor: Nenad Djordjevic
  • Patent number: 8486177
    Abstract: A method of leaching a metal value from a heap of a metal-containing ore and a heap leaching operation are disclosed. The method includes establishing a downward flow of a leach liquor through a section of the heap by supplying the leach liquor onto a top surface of the section and allowing the leach liquor (containing metal values in solution) to drain from a lower part of the section. The method is characterized by supplying the leach liquor onto the top surface of the section at a flow rate that is sufficient so that the downwardly flowing leach liquor saturates the section of the heap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Robin John Batterham, Lucy Esdaile, Raymond Walter Shaw
  • Patent number: 8454888
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel for use in a metallurgical process includes a duct to inject the material. The duct includes a duct wall of concentric annular passages for inflow of cooling water from a rear end to a forward end of the duct along a first of the annular passages and for outflow of cooling water from the forward end to the rear end of the duct wall along a second of the annular passages. The concentric annular passages are provided by concentric sleeves that consist of an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, and an intermediate sleeve. The apparatus also includes a duct tip at a forward end of the duct joining at least the inner and outer sleeves so as to provide a water flow connection between the first and second water flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Eric Tierney, George Cingle, III, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 8443980
    Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Damien Harding, Grant Wellwood
  • Patent number: 8388728
    Abstract: A process for leaching an ore containing sulfidic copper-containing minerals includes carrying out an aerated oxidizing leach of a part of the ore and producing an acidic leach liquor containing ferrous ions, ferric ions, and copper ions in solution. The process also includes carrying out a leach of another part of the ore using the leach liquor under conditions that minimize reactions with a source of iron in the ore and producing a leach liquor containing copper ions in solution. The process further includes recovering copper from the leach liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Hollitt, Raymond Walter Shaw, Kevin Lee Rees
  • 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: 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: 8318081
    Abstract: A direct smelting plant for producing molten metal from a metalliferous feed material using a molten bath based direct melting process is disclosed. The plant includes a plurality of gas injection lances to inject the oxygen-containing gas into the vessel that extend downwardly through openings in a side wall of a direct smelting vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Rodney James Dry, Mark Preston Davis, Mark Hayton
  • Publication number: 20120293653
    Abstract: A base station (10) for wireless communication with equipment on a mine operation (40). The base station (10) is moveable and comprises a wireless network interface (16) arranged to facilitate communications with a monitoring station (14) and with at least one item of mine equipment (12) so that at least one item of mine equipment is monitorable and/or controllable from the monitoring station (14) through the base station (10). The base station also includes a camera (20) arranged to capture images of an area of the mine operation (40) adjacent the base station. The base station (10) is arranged to communicate information indicative of the captured images to the monitoring station (14) through the wireless network interface (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Technological Resources PTY Ltd.
    Inventor: Victor Schweikart
  • Patent number: 8313690
    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 an offgas duct assembly to facilitate flow of offgas from the vessel, the offgas duct assembly including two offgas ducts of matching diameter extending outwardly from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Mark Hayton, Neil John Goodman
  • Patent number: 8298317
    Abstract: A steelmaking process is disclosed. The process includes producing molten steel and molten steelmaking slag in a steelmaking process, the steelmaking slag including iron units and flux units, and thereafter producing molten iron in a molten bath based direct smelting process using a substantial portion of the steelmaking slag as part of the feed material requirements for the direct smelting process. A direct smelting process is also disclosed. The process includes pre-treating ferrous material including steelmaking slag and thereafter direct smelting molten iron using the pretreated ferrous material as part of the feed material for the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Rodney James Dry, Robin John Batterham
  • Patent number: 8240480
    Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Walter Shaw, Barry Lavin
  • Patent number: 8221675
    Abstract: A direct smelting vessel and a hearth cooler element are disclosed. The vessel includes a refractory lined hearth. An inner surface of an upper part of the hearth extends upwardly and outwardly to side walls of the vessel. The upper part of the hearth incorporates a hearth cooler disposed outwardly behind the refractory lining of that part of the hearth and below the cooling panels on the side walls of the vessel. The hearth cooler comprises a plurality of cooler elements. Each cooler element has a hollow open-backed shell structure having base, top and side walls formed integrally in a cast structure and incorporating coolant flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Hector Medina
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8156709
    Abstract: Method of constructing and installing a direct smelting unit comprising a smelting vessel (11). The vessel is prefabricated off site in three modules (11A, 11B, 11C) which are then transported to the installation site where they are hoisted by a crane and deposited sequentially on top of one another and joined together by welding to form a unitary vessel. The vessel modules are prefabricated so as to be internally lined with water cooling panels connected to water inlet and outlet connectors (62) on the exterior of the circumferential wall sections of those modules. A vessel access tower is formed in modules brought together to envelop the tower and carrying water supply and return piping which is connected to the water inlet and outlet connectors (62) of the cooling panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Philip James Ions, Mark Hayton
  • 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