Patents by Inventor Ian Hitchens

Ian Hitchens 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: 4995592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a means of purifying molten metal, particularly steel, by the removal of impurities/inclusions during continuous casting.The molten metal (3) is passed in a tundish (1) through a vertical array of baffles (8) that are spaced apart transversely across the tundish to provide restricted flow channels (12). The baffles (8) may be flat boards or tiles (9a, 9b) and are preferably used in contact with a weir (7) and dam (10), upstream and downstream respectively of the baffles.The speed and direction of flow of the molten metal can thereby be controlled and directed to give more effective dwell time in contact with a surface covering layer (11) of flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignees: Foseco International Limited, British Steel PLC
    Inventors: Neil J. Kegan, Ian Hitchens, Thomas Robertson, Paul A. Whitehouse