Patents by Inventor Eric Tierney

Eric Tierney has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120200014
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Eric Tierney, George Cingle, III, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 8012409
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a duct through which to inject the material, inner and outer water inflow and outflow passages extending through a wall of the duct and an annular duct tip disposed at the forward end of the duct. The duct tip is of annular formation and includes an annular inner end component, an annular outer end component, and an annular central component located between the inner and outer components. The duct tip also includes a plurality of radially extending dividers to divide a space between the outer end component and the central component into discrete radial passages to serve as the internal water flow passages of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Eric Tierney, George Cingle, III, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20110068522
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a duct through which to inject the material, inner and outer water inflow and outflow passages extending through a wall of the duct and an annular duct tip disposed at the forward end of the duct. The duct tip is of annular formation and includes an annular inner end component, an annular outer end component, and an annular central component located between the inner and outer components. The duct tip also includes a plurality of radially extending dividers to divide a space between the outer end component and the central component into discrete radial passages to serve as the internal water flow passages of the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Eric Tierney, George Cingle, III, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 7568681
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gas flow duct, an elongate central tubular structure extending within the gas flow duct, a plurality of flow directing swirl vanes disposed about the central tubular structure, and cooling water passages within the central tubular structure. The forward end of the central structure has a nose portion that includes a domed outer shell, an inner component disposed within the outer shell and formed with an internal nozzle to receive water from the cooling water passages and to direct that water in a jet against the inner surface of the outer shell to produce an outwardly and backwardly fanning flow of water around the inner surface of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Technology Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Eric Tierney, George Cingle, III, Michael Mattich, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20080258321
    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 disposed about the central tubular structure, and cooling water passages within the central tubular structure. The forward end of the central structure has a nose portion comprised of a domed outer shell, an inner component disposed within the outer shell and formed with an internal nozzle to receive water from the cooling water passages and to direct that water in a jet against the inner surface of the outer shell to produce an outwardly and backwardly fanning flow of water around the inner surface of the outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Eric TIERNEY, George Cingle, Michael Mattich, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20070058689
    Abstract: A water-cooled, bi-metal copper and steel furnace panel including one or more passageways for enabling gaseous and/or particulate matter to be discharged into a furnace vessel through the panel. The passageways may support metal treatment apparatus. The panel has a front plate made of copper and a rear plate made of steel. The front and rear plates are welded or otherwise joined to one another to define a water coolant passageway for cooling the front plate of the panel. An array of vanes is selectively securable to the inner face of the outer steel plate in any desired number and arrangement suitable to accommodate the gaseous/particulate matter discharge passageway(s) and the cooling requirements of the front plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Nicholas Rymarchyk, George Cingle, Eric Tierney