Patents Examined by Tima McGuthry-Banks
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Patent number: 6508853Abstract: To be able to produce metal melts using any metal carriers incurring in metallurgical practice as the charging materials, namely in the most diverse quantitative compositions, a plant for producing metal melts is provided with the following characteristic features: an electric arc furnace vessel (1) provided with one charging opening (11, 21) for a metal melt and/or scrap and/or direct reduced metal, in particular direct reduced iron, and/or ore and at least one electrode (16) and one slag tapping means (22), an oxygen-blowing converter vessel (3) provided with one melt tapping means (41), wherein the oxygen-blowing converter vessel (3) and the electric arc furnace vessel (1) form a unit which is connected via an overflow weir (34) and which is rigidly mounted on the foundation and, wherein the bath surface related specifically to the bath volume is smaller in the oxygen-blowing converter vessel (3) than in the electric arc furnace vessel (1) and the oxygen-blowing converter vessel (3) shares a common reType: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbHInventors: Stefan Dimitrov, Norbert Ramaseder, Wilfried Pirklbauer, Yoyou Zhai, Johannes Steins, Ernst Fritz, Johannes Müller
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Patent number: 6508854Abstract: A method of preparing a magnetostrictive material, including the steps of: (a) forming a melt of metals having a composition corresponding to the magnetostrictive material; (b) subjecting the melt to a micro-gravity environment; and (c) cooling the melt in the micro-gravity environment at a rate of at least 50° C. per second, while applying a magnetic field to the melt, to solidity the melt.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventors: Hideki Minagawa, Takeshi Okutani, Hideaki Nagai, Takashi Tsurue, Yoshinori Nakata, Keiji Kamada
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Patent number: 6506228Abstract: A method for preparing a platinum alloy electrode catalyst for DMFC using anhydrous metal chlorides. The method includes reducing platinum chloride and non-aqueous second metal chloride with boron lithium hydride (LiBH4) in a water-incompatible organic solvent in a nitrogen atmosphere to form nano-sized particles of colloidal platinum alloy, and drying the platinum alloy particles without any heat treatment. The method of preparing a platinum alloy catalyst according to the present invention makes it possible to prepare platinum alloy particles having a narrow range of size distribution and an average particle size of less than 2 nm with ease, relative to the conventional methods. The platinum alloy particles thus obtained can be used as an electrode catalyst for DMFC to enhance methanol oxidation performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Kwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Seol Ah Lee, Kyung Won Park, Boo Kil Kwon, Yung Eun Sung
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Patent number: 6506225Abstract: In a steelmaking process in which, in order to desulfurize iron melts (4) using a strongly basic slag in a desulfurization vessel (7), the desulfurization slag (8) is brought to a temperature of from 1400-1800° C.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbHInventor: Hermann Pirker
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Patent number: 6500229Abstract: A method for treating steel works dust in order to recuperate elements capable of being upgraded. The method comprises attrition in water followed by hydraulic grading of the resulting load. The method is characterized in that is further comprises: a washing step to separate the water soluble saline fractions of the insoluble oxides; hot treatment to eliminate metals in the form of free oxides such as zinc and lead; treatment by heating at a temperature ranging between 240 and 800° C.; treatment with sulphuric acid having a concentration between 5 and 8%.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: RecupacInventors: Gilles Roux, Farouk Tedjar
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Patent number: 6497771Abstract: An aqueous solution contains phosphate for producing layers of phosphate on metal surfaces selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, zinc, zinc alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys. The solution contains 0.3 to 5 g Zn2+/1, 0.1 to 2 g nitroguanidine/1 and 0.05 to 0.5 g hydroxylamine/l, with an S-value amounting to 0.03 to 0.3 and the ratio of the weight of Zn2+ to P2O5=1:5 to 1.30.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Metallgesellschaft AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Schubach, Joachim Heitbaum, Thomas Kolberg, Margit Fleischhacker-Jeworrek, Peter Jorns, Michael Deemer, Ralf Stickler, Jurgen Specht, Michael Lenhard
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Patent number: 6497745Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for the production of sulfuric acid and liberation of precious metal values from materials containing sulfur through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the sulfur-bearing materials may comprise residues from pressure leaching operations, such as those carried out at medium temperatures. The process of the present invention can be advantageously used to convert such sulfur-bearing materials to sulfuric acid by means of pressure leaching. The sulfuric acid so produced can be used beneficially in other mineral processing operations, for example those at the site where it is produced. Metals, such as precious metals, that are contained within the sulfur-bearing materials advantageously may be recovered from processing products by established precious metals recovery technology.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Phelps Dodge CorporationInventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, Wayne W. Hazen, Philip Thompson, David R. Baughman
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Patent number: 6497744Abstract: An ion source 2 has a heating furnace 4 for annealing a solid material 6 to generate a steam 8 and a plasma generator 16 for ionizing the steam 8 to generate a plasma 24. The ion source 2 is for generating ion beam. An indium trifluoride is used as said solid material which has been once heated at temperature in the range of 600° C. to lower than 1170° C., thereby enabling to generate the indium ion beam in a stable amount. For the solid material 6, In(OF)xF3−x (x is 1, 2 or 3) may be used.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takatoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 6494933Abstract: The invention relates to a method of utilizing secondary raw materials containing iron, zinc and lead, preferably steelmaking dusts, in a rotary tubular furnace customarily equipped for the rolling process, with basically adjusted rolling slag. By reducing the portion of the carbon carriers in the burden, the energy balance of the rolling process is improved on one hand, and the throughput of the rotary tubular furnace used is increased on the other hand. By improving the quality of the rolling slag, the capability of utilizing the same is favored.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignees: B. U. S. Zinkrecycling Freiberg GmbH, FNE Forschungsinstitut fur Nichteisen-MetalleInventors: Eberhard Saage, Uwe Hasche, Wolfgang Dittrich, Diethart Langbein
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Patent number: 6485542Abstract: An Ni—Fe alloy material suitable for forming a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe alloy thin film is provided. The magnetic thin film produces a small number of particles during sputtering, and excels in corrosion resistance and magnetic properties. A method of manufacturing an Ni—Fe alloy sputtering target used to make the thin film is also provided. In addition, an Ni—Fe alloy sputtering target for forming magnetic thin films is provided. The sputtering target is characterized in that it has: an oxygen content of 50 ppm or less; an S content of 10 ppm or less; a carbon content of 50 ppm or less, and a total content of metal impurities other than the alloy components of 50 ppm or less. Such an Ni—Fe alloy target can be produced by melting and alloying high-purity materials obtained by dissolving the raw materials in hydrochloric acid, and performing ion exchange, activated-charcoal treatment, and electrolytic refining.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Japan Energy CorporationInventors: Yuichiro Shindo, Tsuneo Suzuki
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Patent number: 6485539Abstract: A method of alnico alloy melting includes melting a charge, oxidizing refining of the melted charge, with the melting including introducing the charge into a flux that is heated try electrical current, maintaining a temperature of the flux in a range of 1500-1800° C., and carrying out the oxidizing refining until an aluminum content reaches 0.05-1.0%.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Inventor: Vladislav M. Sokolov
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Patent number: 6485581Abstract: A bearing for use in the main spindle of a machine tool is provide, in which at least the raceway of the bearing contains by mass, C: 0.6-1.3%, Si: 0.3—3.0%, Mn: 0.2-.5%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.03% or less, Cr: 0.3-5.0%, Ni: 0.1-3.0%, Al: 0.050% or less, Ti: 0.003% or less, O: 0.0015% or less, N: 0.015% or less; and the rest is composed of Fe and unavoidable impurities. The raceway is tempered after either quenching or carbonitriding and its surface hardness presents at least HRC 58 after tempering.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Tako, Mamoru Mizutani
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Patent number: 6482277Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode is prepared by reducing an oxide or hydroxide residing on the surface of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy particle while the alloy particle is held in an atmosphere of a hydrogen gas maintained at a temperature where absorbing of a hydrogen gas does not substantially occur; cooling the atmosphere from a temperature where absorbing of the hydrogen gas does not substantially occur to a temperature where the equilibrium hydrogen pressure of the hyrogen-absorbing alloy is equal to the hydrogen pressure in the atmosphere of the hydrogen gas and thereafter vacuum-evacuating and removing the hydrogen gas so that the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particle is cooled to room temperature while the hydrogen gas is exhausted; and thereafter introducing argon, nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, thereby returning the atmosphere to normal atmospheric pressure; and immersing the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particle so prepared in a solution containing an oxidation inhibiting agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Teruhiko Imoto, Tadashi Ise, Yohei Hirota, Takayuki Murakami
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Patent number: 6478841Abstract: Disclosed is a method for steel making which includes charging a direct reduction reactor (DRR) with iron ore from a charging system. The iron ore is reduced to hot direct reduced iron (DRI) in the DRR and discharged to rotary kiln(s). The rotary kiln(s) does not process the DRI, but transports the hot DRI to one or more electric arc furnaces (EAF). Top gas (i.e., spent reducing gas) is drawn off of a top section of the DRR. A portion of the top gas is used to pressurize the rotary kiln to prevent air from entering the rotary kiln. Another portion of the top gas flows to a pressure swing adsorber or a vacuum pressure swing adsorber (PSA/VPSA) for CO2 and H2O removal. A cool reducing gas exits the PSA/VPSA. A plasma torch burns natural gas and oxygen to form a hot reducing gas. The hot reducing gas is mixed with the cool reducing gas to form a final reducing gas. The final reducing gas is delivered to the DRR. Also disclosed is a mini-mill to perform the method of steel making.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Techint Technologies Inc.Inventors: Dominic M. Faccone, Narayan Govindaswami
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Patent number: 6475264Abstract: A process for direct smelting a metalliferous feed material is disclosed. The process includes the steps of partially reducing metalliferous feed material and substantially devolatilising coal in a pre-reduction vessel and producing a partially reduced metalliferous feed material and char. The process also includes direct smelting the partially reduced metalliferous feed material to molten metal in a direct smelting vessel using the char as a source of energy and as a reductant and post-combusting reaction gas produced in the direct smelting process with pre-heated air or oxygen-enriched air to a post-combustion level of greater than 70% to generate heat required for the direct smelting reactions and to maintain the metal in a molten state.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Technological Resources Pty LtdInventor: Rodney James Dry
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Patent number: 6471743Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are efficient methods for leaching minerals from ores using an acidic solution such as sulfuric acid. Additional factors which can improve mineral recovery include the use of an alkali metal halide, grinding the ore, addition of a carbon source, and/or, adjustment of the temperature at which the process is carried out. Minerals such as titanium, iron, nickel, cobalt, silver and gold may be recovered by the methods of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: MBX Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tom L. Young, Michael G. Greene, Dennis R. Rice, Kelly L. Karlage, Sean P. Premeau
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Patent number: 6471795Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy of TiaMnbVcZrd (one of two kinds or more of Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ca, Al, Mo and Ni)x (herein, a is 10 to 40 atomic %, b is 40 to 60 atomic %, c is 5 to 30 atomic %, d is 15 atomic % or less, and x is 0 to 10 atomic %) is obtained by the rapid solidification (solidification at the cooling rate of desirably 103° C./sec or higher).Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2001Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: The Japan Steel Works Ltd.Inventors: Kazuya Kubo, Toshiki Kabutomori, Hideaki Itoh
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Patent number: 6468327Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing residues containing at least one non-ferrous metal, preferably chosen from the group comprising zinc, lead, nickel, copper and cadmium and/or compounds thereof. According to this method, the non-ferrous metal is extracted from the residues by an extracting agent containing a carboxylic acid and/or a substituted carboxylic acid and/or its alkali salts and/or ammonium salts and/or mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: VTU - Engineering GmbHInventors: Matthaeus Siebenhofer, Wilhelm Hans Zapfel, Hertha Luttenberger
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Patent number: 6464753Abstract: A method of processing flue dust that contains one or more compounds from a first group of zinc, lead and cadmium compounds, and contains iron compounds, involves heating the flue dust to cause a substantial portion of one or more of the compounds of the first group to become gas-borne. A carbonaceous material is introduced to the remaining flue dust, and the flue dust/carbonaceous material mixture is heated to cause a substantial portion of the remaining compounds from the first group to become gas-borne while retaining a substantial portion of the iron in a non-gas-borne condition. The gas-borne compounds are separated from the non-gas-borne compounds.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Maumee Research & Engineering, IncorporatedInventors: Deane A. Horne, Dennis W. Coolidge
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Patent number: RE37897Abstract: A method for making steel in an electric furnace, wherein a predetermined amount of liquid melt is fed into the electric furnace. The method comprises the steps of (a) continuously feeding a controlled flow of liquid melt into the furnace without interrupting the heating from the electric arc, (b) continuously injecting a refining gas into the furnace before the C and/or Si content of the metal bath reaches a predetermined value, until the end of the feeding process, and (c) pursuing the injection of refining gas after the predetermined amount of melt has been fed into the furnace, until the target value for the C and/or Si content of the metal bath has been reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: André Kremer, Guy Denier, Jean-Luc Roth