Patents Assigned to Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
  • Patent number: 6224647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a fusion gasifier and a reduction shaft arranged thereabove and for reduction of iron ore in spongy iron. The spongy iron is introduced through horizontal discharge devices in the lower section of the reduction shaft, and a pipe connection is introduced into the head section of the fusion gasifier where it is melted using a oxygen-containing gas and gasifying means also conveyed into the head of the fusion gasifier, and is reduced to liquid crude iron. A reduction gas is produced at the same time which is conveyed out of the head of the fusion gasifier. The discharge devices lead into a dust-blocking container arranged in a lower section of the reduction shaft and to which the pipe connection leading to the fusion gasifier is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bogdan Vuletic
  • Patent number: 6224819
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reducing system for reducing a fine iron ore is disclosed, in which the structure of the fluidized bed reducing furnace is improved such that the coarse iron ore particles are distributed in the lower portion of the fluidized bed within the furnace and the fine iron ore particles are distributed in the upper portion of the fluidized bed. Thus, the average residence times of the particles in the furnace are adjusted differently for different ore sizes, so that the reducing efficiency can be improved, and that the residence time of the reducing gas in the furnace can be extended, thereby improving the degree of gas utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Yong Ha Kim, Il Ock Lee, Hang Goo Kim
  • Patent number: 6223552
    Abstract: In an arrangement for the controlled cooling of hot-briquetted direct-reduced sponge iron in the form of an apron conveyer consisting of individual plates and located in a tank, the individual plate is designed as conveyor trough (4), wherein at least one sliding plate each (5 and 6) is located on the two opposed longitudinal outsides and the conveyor troughs (4) are movable supported by means of sliding plates (5 and 6) on slideways (7) and connected by means of at least one chain (9). The invention allows to separate the drive and the bearing as the conveyor troughs (4) are supported by means of sliding plates (5 and 6) and the drive acts directly on the conveyor trough (4) by means of at least one chain (9). As the translation elements are designed as sliding plates (5, 6) and slideways (7), the surface pressure is reduced to less than one hundredth compared to wheels running on rails and the wear of the translation elements is thus reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Zimmerbauer, Helmut Schober, Franz Hoertnagl, Wolfgang Tscherne
  • Patent number: 6221126
    Abstract: Arrangement for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of, iron ore, with a reduction vessel in which the metal-oxide-bearing material is reduced in counterflow with reduction gas and which is provided with an inlet for metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet for reduction gas, an outlet for off-gas and an outlet for reduced material, a vessel for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is connected with the reduction vessel by means of a line and a first supply line for a sealing gas which serves to seal the reduction vessel against the vessel, which first supply line is provided at the connecting line between the vessel and the reduction vessel, characterized in that at least one additional supply line for a sealing gas is provided at the connecting line, which additional supply line is located between the first supply line and the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6213762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace (1), particularly to a direct-reduction shaft furnace, with a bed (2) of lumpy material, particularly lumpy material containing iron oxide and/or sponge iron, with discharge devices (4) for lumpy material which are located above the bottom area (3) of the shaft furnace (1), as well as with inlet ports (6) for a reduction gas which are arranged above the discharge devices (4). Arrangements (7) for moving the material in the shaft furnace (1) are located between the area formed by the inlet ports (6) and that formed by the discharge devices (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Eichberger, Wilhelm Stastny
  • Patent number: 6214082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, in a reduction vessel (1), wherein the metal-oxide-bearing material is charged from a vessel (2) for the metal-oxide-bearing material into the reduction vessel (1) and reduced therein by means of a reduction gas flowing counter currently to the metal-oxide-bearing material and wherein waste reduction gas discharged from the reduction vessel (1) is used for preheating the metal-oxide-bearing material in the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is characterized in that the waste reduction gas discharged from the reduction vessel (1) is combusted and that a gas seal (16) is operated with the combusted waste reduction gas, which is located between the reduction vessel (1) and the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material, whereby the reduction vessel (1) is sealed against the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Rosenfellner, Joerg Diehl
  • Patent number: 6214083
    Abstract: In a method of producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel pre-products from iron-oxide-containing material, fine-particulate iron-oxide-containing material is reduced to fine-particulate sponge iron by the fluidized bed method by passing a reducing gas through at least one fluidized bed reduction stage (7, 8), and lumpy ore is reduced to lumpy sponge iron in a fixed bed reduction stage (28). The sponge iron is charged into a melting-gasifying zone (11) and is molten there under a supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas, in which a CO— and H2-containing reducing gas is generated for reducing the iron-oxide-containing material. To avoid treating the fine-particulate sponge iron separately from the lumpy sponge iron, the fine-particulate sponge is charged directly to the melting-gasifying zone (11) in an untreated condition and in fine-particulate form, and there, is melted together with the lumpy sponge iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 6210631
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reduction vessel (1) for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, by means of a reduction gas flowing countercurrently to the metal-oxide-bearing material, which reduction vessel (1) is provided with an inlet (5) for the metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet (6) for the reduction gas, an outlet (7) for off-gas and an outlet (8) for reduced material, downstream of which outlet (8) a lower sealing leg (9) is connected, a supply line (10) for a first sealing gas being provided at the lower sealing leg (9) in order to seal the reduction vessel (1) against the environment, characterized in that at least one additional supply line (12) for an additional sealing gas is provided at the lower sealing leg (9) , the additional supply line (12) being located downstream of the supply line (10) for the first sealing gas, seen in the direction of flow of the reduced material (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6209619
    Abstract: In a strand guide for a continuous casting plant comprising a plurality of strand supporting elements for supporting the strand, in particular support segments carrying supporting rollers, several support segments being fastened adjacent each other on a supporting framework designed in one piece in its longitudinal extension, each support segment is fastened to the supporting framework by a fixed bearing and a movable bearing spaced apart therefrom in the longitudinal extension of the strand guide, each support segment, by at least one bearing, is pivotally mounted to the supporting framework so as to be pivotable about an axis, the axis being oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extension of the strand guide and horizontally, as well as in a vertical plain passing through the longitudinal extension of the supporting framework and by at least one bearing is mounted so as to be adjustable with respect to the supporting framework in a direction toward the pivoting movement of the support segme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Mörwald, Helmut Fitzel, Kurt Engel, Horst Fürhofer, Rudolf Scheidl, Reinhard Brandstetter
  • Patent number: 6210627
    Abstract: An arrangement for the dosed introduction of fine-particulate material into a reactor vessel comprises a fluidized bed sluice, into which a material supply means enters from above and into which a gas duct feeding a fluidization gas runs in the lower end region thereof and which includes an overflow tube for conveying on the fine-particulate material. In order to introduce the fine-particulate material into the reactor vessel at specific zones, a plurality of independently connectable fluidized bed sluices are provided outside of the reactor vessel, the fluidized bed sluices having overflow tubes which project into the interior of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Udo Gennari, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner
  • Patent number: 6203848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing the charring ratio of coal. In manufacturing an ingot iron using the coal, magnesium oxide or limestone is used as an additive for charring the coal. The additive increases the charring ratio of the coal while giving no affection onto slag. An MgO suspension or limestone suspension is mixed with the coal and thus obtained mixture is dried to attach MgO or the limestone onto the surface of the coal. The charring effect is increased and the using amount of coke can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Min Young Cho, Myoung Kyun Shin, Young Che Chung, Dael Whei Lee
  • Patent number: 6202576
    Abstract: In a process for recycling fine-particle solids (4) discharged from a reactor vessel (1) at a discharging position of the reactor vessel (1) by means of a gas, at a recycling position (16) of the reactor vessel (1), the solids (4) are separated in a solids separator (3) and subsequently collected in a collecting vessel (8) and from the same are recycled into the reactor vessel (1) by means of a conveying gas. To enhance the operation of the solids separator (3), but without causing an additional load on the reactor vessel (1), an additional gas stream (23) independent of the gas stream in the reactor vessel is conducted through the solids separator (3) in a circuit, in the direction of flow of the solids (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Nagl, Johannes Schenk, Josef Stockinger
  • Patent number: 6179896
    Abstract: In a method of producing molten pig iron (9) or steel pre-products from lump ore which in at least one reduction zone is reduced to partially and/or completely reduced sponge iron (4) in a shaft furnace, the sponge iron (4) is melted down in a melt-down gasifying zone (8) of a melter gasifier (1) under supply of carbon-containing material (2) and oxygen and while simultaneously forming a reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 6176297
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting the position of at least one strand supporting element (5) relative to a supporting stand (9, 10) carrying at least one further strand supporting element (6), of a strand guide in a continuous casting plant comprises at least one hydraulic adjustment cylinder (12) contacting a strand supporting element (5) directly or indirectly on the one side and the supporting stand (9, 10) carrying a further strand supporting element (6) on the other side, the movement of the strand supporting element (5) being detectable via a position sensor (17) and controllable by means of an automatic controller (26). In order to safely attain the high precision in positioning the strand supporting elements (5, 6) sought for a strand guide at yet a minimum expenditure and a minimum susceptibility to failure, at least one directional control valve (21A, 21B) capable of being switched via a three-level controller (26) is provided for actuating the hydraulic adjustment cylinder (12) FIG. 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Mörwald, Helmut Fitzel, Kurt Engel, Horst F{umlaut over (u)}rhofer, Rudolf Scheidl, Reinhard Brandstetter
  • Patent number: 6171365
    Abstract: In a method for producing liquid pig iron (16) and a sponge metal from charging substances comprising iron ore (4) respectively metal ore, the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in at least one first reduction zone (2) the sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasifying zone (15) under the supply of carbon carriers (10) and oxygen-containing gas and a CO— and H2-containing reducing gas is produced which is fed to the first reduction zone (2), is reacted there and withdrawn as a top gas, wherein the withdrawn top gas after a scrubbing operation is subjected to CO2 elimination and optionally to heating and is supplied to at least one further reduction zone (27) for the direct reduction of metal ore, in particular of iron ore (26), as a reducing gas that is at least largely free from CO2 and after reaction with the metal ore (26) is withdrawn as an export gas and purified in a scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: G{umlaut over (u)}nter Schrey, Herbert Gr{umlaut over (u)}nbacher, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6172367
    Abstract: In a method for determining electromagnetic waves originating from the interior of a melt (3), in particular a metal melt, a gas-filled hollow space (26) is formed within the melt (3) by blowing in gas and electromagnetic waves emitting from the melt (3) are observed through the blown-in gas and evaluated by feeding the electromagnetic waves via an optical system (20) to a detector (22) for determining the temperature and/or chemical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH.
    Inventors: Ernst Fritz, Norbert Ramaseder
  • Patent number: 6164103
    Abstract: A method for improving the contour of rolled material over at least one segment of a rolling schedule including a plurality of rolling processes. The method includes associating at least one quality criterion with at least one rolling stand of at least one of the plurality of rolling processes, optimizing the at least one quality criterion using a mathematical formula, predetermining at least one work roll shift for the plurality of rolling processes over the at least one segment of the rolling schedule based on an optimization of the at least one quality criterion, and axially shifting at least one work roll of the at least one rolling stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Pichler, Sonja Tichy, Franz Holy, Alois Seilinger
  • Patent number: 6156262
    Abstract: A melter gasifier (10) for the production of a metal melt and of a reducing gas is provided with feed ducts (17, 16, 9) for oxygen-containing gases, carbon carriers and the metal carriers. From the melter gasifier (10) there departs at least one gas discharge duct (12) for reducing gas generated in the melter gasifier (10). Also, a tap (18) for the metal melt and for slag is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventor: Albert Zschetzsche
  • Patent number: 6155332
    Abstract: In a process for continuously casting a metal strand by casting metal into a straight, vertically oriented mold and subsequently drawing off the strand formed in the mold, the straight strand at first is bent into a circular arc shape in a bending zone along a transition curve, is guided along a circular arc guide and finally is straightened in a final straightening zone along a transition curve and, after this, is extracted via an approximately horizontal straight guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Sollac-Fos
    Inventors: Heinz Hodl, Michael Stiftinger, Andreas Eichinger, Kurt Engel, Jean-Francois Marioton, Gerard Zurita, Vincent Guyot, Catherine Lopes
  • Patent number: 6149708
    Abstract: A process for producing sponge iron by directly reducing particulate, iron-oxide-containing material, wherein reducing gas that is formed from carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas in a melt-down gasifying zone is introduced into a reduction zone that contains the iron-oxide-containing material, characterized by the combination of the following characteristic features: (i) to the reduction zone, a reducing gas is fed which contains between iron-oxide-containing material 20 g and 100 g per Nm.sup.3 of a dust having a carbon content of between 30 mass % and 70 mass %; and (ii) the iron-oxide-containing material is exposed to the reducing gas for a time period that exceeds the period for a complete reduction. The process of the invention renders it possible to produce a sponge iron of elevated carbon content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Leopold Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Udo Gennari