Patents Assigned to The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
  • Rotary thermal oxidizer for battery recycling and process
    Patent number: 6228143
    Abstract: A rotary thermal oxidizer removes polymeric and other non-metal components of exhausted batteries and cells leaving value-metals, such as cadmium, nickel, and iron behind for subsequent processing. By preheating the sweep gas to a temperature above the auto-ignition temperature of the polymers, prior to their introduction into the oxidizer, and controlling the oxygen content within the oxidizer the risks of explosion and fire associated with the pyrometallurgical recycling of the cells is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Henry Aiken, Russell R. Bleakney, Richard H. Hanewald, Ahmed Vahed, Anthony Edward Moline Warner
  • Solid flight conveying screw for furnace
    Patent number: 5863197
    Abstract: A fluid cooled conveying screw adapted for rotary hearth furnaces. A plurality of solid alternating single and double flights are affixed to an outer barrel. The single flights are at least partially cladded to withstand the rigors of the furnace. The double flights extend partially down the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Boy, David M. Hoffman
  • Process for the detoxification of steel plant wastes
    Patent number: 4780135
    Abstract: A technique for rendering toxic metals (chromium, lead, cadmium and arsenic) contained in steel plant furnace dust innocuous and suitable for burial with minimal adverse environmental impact. Pelletized iron oxide containing dust is introduced into a rotary hearth furnace under a reducing atmosphere in excess of 600.degree. C. The higher iron oxides are reduced to FeO which in turn complexes with the toxic metals to form relatively benign products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Pargeter
  • Radiantly heated furnace
    Patent number: 4676741
    Abstract: A radiantly heated, travelling hearth furnace having a supplementary feed means positioned intermediate the initial loading point and the final take-off point to increase the capacity of the furnace for treating objects fed thereto. When the objects are pellets of iron oxide and carbonaceous reductant the provision of supplementary feed means about half-way along the travel path of the hearth promotes uniformity of product by inhibition of reoxidation of reduced iron by exposure to a fossil-fuel-fired furnace atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Pargeter
  • Rotary hearth
    Patent number: 4597564
    Abstract: A rotary hearth adapted to rotate in horizontal plane having a top surface made of a loose granular refractory material, advantageously dead burned dolomite grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The International Metals Reclamation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Hanewald, John K. Pargeter