Patents by Inventor Gilbert Whitten

Gilbert Whitten 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).

  • Publication number: 20060096675
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing metallic iron, in which after a mixture including a carbonaceous reducing agent and iron oxide is fed onto a hearth of a moving hearth reducing-melting furnace and is then heated so that the iron oxide is reduced and melted, metallic iron to be obtained is cooled and is then discharged outside the furnace for recovery. In the method described above, even when powdered metallic iron is squeezed into the surface of the hearth, or the hearth is damaged by slag infiltration and corrosion, the removal and repair can be easily performed, the operation rate and maintenability of the hearth can be improved, and hence a long continuous operation can be suitably performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shoichi Kikuchi, Osamu Tsuge, Gilbert Whitten, Brian Voelker