Patents Examined by Peter D. Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 5584942
    Abstract: A flux applied in soldering to a substrate metal formed thereon with a firmly oxidized layer, the flux containing at least stannous chloride, non-oxidation acid and a viscous agent and excluding zinc chloride therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Reika Satsurai
  • Patent number: 5562753
    Abstract: Both a method and apparatus for producing molten steel are provided wherein ferrous materials rich in carbonaceous materials are fused in a first vessel of a single electric furnace having separate first and second vessels. The carbonized molten metal thus obtained is then pretreated in a separate pretreatment facility to remove contaminants and the pretreated molten metal is then decarburized in the second vessel of the electric furnace. The decarburization of the pretreated metal in the second vessel of the furnace avoids reintroducing contaminants into the steel by avoiding contact between the pretreated metal and the slag produced when the initial carbonaceous materials are fused. Preferably, the first and second vessels are two vessels of a single electric furnace having a single electric power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: SOLLAC (Societe Anonyme), UNIMETAL
    Inventors: Yann de Lassat de Pressigny, Henri Gaye, Jean-Luc Roth, Yves Zbaczyniak
  • Patent number: 5545251
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of and a device for directly reducing fine-particle ore in a horizontal reactor with an ore-reducing gas and a heat vehicle, also a gas, in a fluidized bed.The ore-reducing vessel itself comprises a horizontal fluidized-bed reactor (1). The ore (F) is blown into it from below. The heated ore-reducing gas (A) is blown into the reactor through oncoming-gas floors (2). The heat needed for the endothermic reaction is supplied to the reactor at different temperatures through heat exchangers (3) and transferred to the bed. Heat is supplied counter to the ore-reducing gas.Fuel (B) in the form of gas is burned with air (C) to make the heat vehicle (D). The ore-reducing gas (A') is heated in downstream heat exchangers (5.1 to 5.3) before arriving in the three sections (1a, 1b, & 1c) of the reactor through the floors.Sponge iron (6) is removed and throat gas (E) extracted from a sponge-collecting section (1d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: MAN Gutehoffnungsh utte Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Knop
  • Patent number: 5525163
    Abstract: Penetration Enhancing Compounds for use in welding is characterized as comprising select alkali metals and alkali earth metals and halogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Harold R. Conaway, Bruce F. Olsen, Robert E. Fish
  • Patent number: 5516353
    Abstract: The invention relates to the application of an electric potential to a mixture of molten metal droplets, molten salts, and optionally certain fluoride salt additives, whereby the molten metal migrates toward one of the electrodes. The migration encourages increased coalescence of the droplets into larger particles, whereby increased recovery of the metal from the mixture is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Yogeshwar Sahai, Jian Ye
  • Patent number: 5507882
    Abstract: Low residue water-based soldering flux, and process and system for using the same. The flux includes a mixture of succinic, glutaric and adipic acid in water, and optionally a wetting agent. The flux is applied to a surface to be soldered. The flux is dried. The surface is soldered. The flux is applied at an application station, dried at a drying station and soldered at a soldering station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel V. Bristol, Eugene H. Hanaway, Delbert R. Walls
  • Patent number: 5490869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and device for treating pollutant fusible materials which are conductors of electricity in the molten state. The process consists in introducing the waste into an induction furnace (11, 40) comprising an inductor circuit (1, 39), and a crucible (1, 8; 38), directly heating the said materials in the crucible by induction so that they melt, induction being created by the inductor circuit (1, 39) galvanically connected to a power source (6), the crucible (1, 8; 38) being the seat of no eddy current, removing the molten products from the furnace, the said products being gathered, after cooling, in non-leachable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignees: Promethee, Soretel, Constructions Electriques Celes
    Inventors: Jean V. D'Obrenan, Nicole Madigou, Thierry Deriaud
  • Patent number: 5484470
    Abstract: An improved process for dissolving gold metal in ligand and oxidant lixiviation systems, wherein the solubility of gold is enhanced by the addition of heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing nitrogen or sulfur in the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Sigridur S. Kristjansdottir, Jeffery S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5482691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of metallic titanium, characterized in that the process comprises reducing a titanium-fluorine compound selected from titanium tetrafluoride and any hexafluorotitanate soluble in a molten fluoroaluminate, with metallic aluminum in a molten fluoroaluminate. A process for the production of intermediates useful in the processing ilmenite and related minerals is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: The University of Melbourne
    Inventors: Thomas A. O'Donnell, John Besida, Teresa K. H. Pong, David G. Wood
  • Patent number: 5480473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for intensifying the reactions in metallurgical reaction vessels containing a molten bath to which the reacting agents are fed below and above the bath surface, the gases emerging from the metal bath being afterburned in the space above the smelt by oxidizing gases injected into said gas space and the resulting heat being transferred to the molten bath, whereby fractions of the smelt in the form of drops, splashes and large particles of the smelt move on ballistic trajectories within the gas space of said metallurgical reaction vessel, being ejected from the smelt like a fountain through the amount of gas introduced via underbath tuyeres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hardie, Paul-Gerhard Mantey, Mark P. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5474593
    Abstract: An agent for treating metal ions in an aqueous solution, comprising a solid porous carrier and, supported thereon, an organic reagent (hereinafter referred to as a "redox reagent") which is capable of converting metal ions (inclusive of metal complex ions) contained in an aqueous solution to zero valent metal or monovalent metal ions by a redox reaction and which is capable of carrying out oxidation-reduction reversibly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Kawasaki Kasei Chemicals Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sakurai, Hiroshi Fujimura, Koji Kusabe, Keishiro Hata
  • Patent number: 5472176
    Abstract: A silver recovery device for recovering silver from photographic fluid is provided. The silver recovery device includes an outside container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet has an extension tube which causes the entering fluid to fall upon a silver recovery cartridge. The silver recovery cartridge generally includes compressed steel wool surrounded by an outside liner. The steel wool reacts with the silver contained within the photographic fluid. The silver recovery cartridge can also include baffle plates for further dispersing the fluid as it filters through the steel wool. The silver recovery cartridge is supported within the outside container by a support grid. The support grid allows fluid to filter through the cartridge and then flow out the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Fabrikan Company
    Inventor: Jerome A. Azzara
  • Patent number: 5470376
    Abstract: A process of recovering a non-ferrous metal from a dross containing the same. The process involves introducing into a rotary furnace the dross and a fluoride compound which becomes substantially molten above the melting point of the metal, heating the dross and fluoride compound to a maximum temperature above the melting point of the metal, using a heating device which substantially maintains a non-oxiding atmosphere in the furnace, rotating the furnace until the dross reaches the maximum temperature, removing the molten metal thereby separated from a solid dross residue and removing the solid dross residue from the furnace. The fluoride compound, which may be, for example, cryolite, recovered cryolite, AlF.sub.3 or NaF, or a mixture thereof, is such that it remains in the dross during the process and does not make the dross become sticky.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Ghyslain Dube, Marko Litalien, Roger Pelletier, Zhou Wang
  • Patent number: 5468281
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating cobalt in the form of cobalt (III) hexammine sulphate from an aqueous solution containing cobalt (III) hexammine sulphate and nickel (II) hexammine sulphate comprising adding ammonium sulphate to provide an effective amount of ammonium sulphate, saturating the solution with an effective amount of ammonia at a temperature whereby the triple salt of cobalt (III) hexammine sulphate, nickel (III) hexammine sulphate and ammonium sulphate is precipitated, recovering the precipitated triple salt from the solution, and repulping the triple salt with an effective amount of water or aqueous ammonia solution to selectively leach nickel (II) hexammine sulphate to produce a crystalline cobalt (III) hexammine sulphate with a cobalt: nickel ratio of at least 100:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sherritt Gordon Limited
    Inventor: Derek G. E. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 5468280
    Abstract: A method, for the conveyance of molten metal from one place to another, in a high-temperature molten metal pool in a metal-melting furnace or out of said molten metal pool, employing an at least partially-inclined elongated conveying conduit and gas feed means for feeding inert gas into the lower end of the conveying conduit and thereby inducing a flow of molten metal in and through said conveying conduit, is disclosed, along with suitable apparatus for carrying out the said method wherein the parts or elements coming into contact with the high-temperature molten metal pool are of a suitable refractory material. According to the present invention, the inert gas is fed into the conveying conduit at a supersonic velocity, thereby simultaneously effecting a degassing of the molten metal while it is being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Premelt Pump, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry D. Areaux
  • Patent number: 5466275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for desulphurizing iron with minimal slag formation, comprising the steps of melting and heating, to a temperature of about 1400.degree. to 1800.degree. C., a slag having the following chemical composition:20% max SIO.sub.2 ;30% max/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;about 5-40% SiO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 +TiO.sub.2 combined;2% max FeO;1.5% max MnO;about 25-65% CaO+MgO+BaO+Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O;20% max MgO;10% max Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O;60% max CaF.sub.2 ;about 50-85% CaO+MgO+BaO+Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O+CaF.sub.2 ;percentages by weight; where the ratio of the percentage by weight of CaO plus MgO divided by the percentage by weight of SiO.sub.2 plus one-half Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is at least two and where the ratio of the percentage by weight of Na.sub.2 O plus K.sub.2 O to SiO.sub.2 is no more than one; then mixing the sulphur-containing hot metal with this bath of molten slag so as not to exceed 10 parts molten iron per part slag by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Anton More
  • Patent number: 5464596
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of zinc products, including zinc oxide and elemental zinc, and optionally iron-carbon feedstocks, from industrial waste streams containing zinc and iron, by treating the waste streams with carbon and an ammonium chloride solution, separating any undissolved components from the solution, displacing undesired metal ions from the solution using zinc metal, treating the solution to remove therefrom zinc compounds, and further treating the zinc compounds and the undissolved components, as necessary, resulting in the zinc products and the optional iron-carbon feedbacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Metals Recycling Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Allan S. Myerson
  • Patent number: 5464464
    Abstract: A method for reducing particulate iron oxide and/or other iron units to molten iron utilizing gaseous hydrogen as reductant in a reducing furnace, in which the ore freely falls during the melting and reduction process. Reacted top gas is purified and recirculated through the reduction furnace, establishing a counter-flow relationship to the particulate iron oxide, thereby heating and reducing the oxide. The heat for reduction is generated by combusting a fraction of the hydrogen reductant with oxygen. Heat may also be supplied via the use of electric arc heating. Oxygen may be partially or wholly replaced with water in order to maintain reaction oxidizer ratios while reducing heat supplied to the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Incorporated Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Edelson
  • Patent number: 5462578
    Abstract: Method for the extraction of the metallic phase from dispersed mixtures of light metals and nonmetallic components. The invention pertains to an advantageous method for the extraction of the metallic phase from a dispersed mixture comprised of at least one light metal and at least one nonmetallic phase and, if applicable, at least the partial separation of the nonmetallic phase. The temperature of the dispersed mixture is raised to a temperature in the region above the melting temperature of the metal or alloy; the heated mixture is then inserted into an apparatus, subjected to an acceleration, and disintegrated, with the metallic phase thereafter being coalesced, collected and allowed to proceed to solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventors: Bernd Kos, Harald Marhold
  • Patent number: 5462613
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing rods having a desired tensile strength from a rod manufacturing process set to an optimal operating condition. Initially, the rod manufacturing process is set in an optimal condition to produce rods at a maximum rate, while optimizing the mechanical properties therein. Raw materials are melted and a "heat of steel" representing one lot is poured into a ladle which is sampled to determine its chemical composition. The percentage content of each element is utilized within an empirical model modeling the rod manufacturing process to predict the tensile strength of rods. The empirical model is again utilized to determine the amount by which a control element must be varied to adjust the predicted tensile strength to the desired tensile strength. The control element represents an element, such as, carbon which significantly impacts the tensile strength of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: GS Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Glodowski, Allyen E. Wilson, III