Patents by Inventor Iwao Iwasaki

Iwao Iwasaki 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: 7632335
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nu-Iron Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael J. Lalich, Robert C. Beaudin, Richard F. Kiesel, Andrew J. Lindgren, Rodney L. Bleifuss
  • Patent number: 7628839
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael J. Lalich, Robert C. Beaudin, Richard F. Kiesel, Andrew J. Lindgren, Rodney L. Bleifuss
  • Publication number: 20090229414
    Abstract: A hearth furnace 10 for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing 11 having a drying/preheat zone 12, a conversion zone 13, a fusion zone 14, and optionally a cooling zone 15, the conversion zone 13 is between the drying/preheat zone 12 and the fusion zone 14. A moving hearth 20 is positioned within the furnace housing 11. A hood or separation barrier 30 within at least a portion of the conversion zone 13, fusion zone 14 or both separates the fusion zone 14 into an upper region and a lower region with the lower region adjacent the hearth 20 and the upper region adjacent the lower region and spaced from the hearth 20. An injector introduces a gaseous reductant into the lower region adjacent the hearth 20. A combustion region may be formed above the hood or separation barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: NU-IRON TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney L. BLEIFUSS, David J. ENGLUND, Iwao IWASAKI, Donald R. FOSNACHT, Mark M. BRANDON, Bradford G. True
  • Publication number: 20090175753
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture of reducing material (such as carbonaceous material) and reducible iron bearing material (such as iron oxide) that may be arranged in discrete portions, such as mounds or briquettes, on at least a portion of a hearth material layer (such as carbonaceous material). A coarse overlayer of carbonaceous material may be provided over at least some of the discrete portions. Heating the reducible mixture to 1425° C. or 1400° C. or 1375° C. results in formation of an intermediate product of one or more metallic iron nuggets, which may have a sulfur content of less than 0.03%, and slag, which may have less than 5% mass MgO, which may have a ratio of percent by weight sulfur in the slag over percent by weight sulfur in the metallic nuggets of at least about 12 or at least about 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Nu-Iron Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Andrew J. Lindgren, Richard F. Kiesel
  • Publication number: 20080307960
    Abstract: Absorbent magnetic particles are used to remove air pollutants. The adsorbent magnetic particles can adsorb various air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and mercury, and may be regenerated for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: David W. Hendrickson, Iwao Iwasaki, David J. Englund, Thomas R. Larson, Blair R. Benner, Donald R. Fosnacht, John Engesser
  • Publication number: 20060150772
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael Lalich, Robert Beaudin, Richard Kiesel, Andrew Lindgren, Rodney Bleifuss
  • Publication number: 20060150774
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael Lalich, Robert Beaudin, Richard Kiesel, Andrew Lindgren, Rodney Bleifuss
  • Publication number: 20060150773
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael Lalich, Robert Beaudin, Richard Kiesel, Andrew Lindgren, Rodney Bleifuss
  • Publication number: 20060150775
    Abstract: Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Iwao Iwasaki, Michael Lalich, Robert Beaudin, Richard Kiesel, Andrew Lindgren, Rodney Bleifuss
  • Publication number: 20060076277
    Abstract: A separation apparatus and method for use in separating magnetic material from non-magnetic material that includes the use of a magnetic grid, e.g., a permanently magnetic grid, which defines a plurality of openings. The grid assists in preventing magnetic material from being transported to an overflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Iwao Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6968956
    Abstract: A separation apparatus and method for use in separating magnetic material from non-magnetic material that includes the use of a magnetic grid, e.g., a permanently magnetic grid, which defines a plurality of openings. The grid assists in preventing magnetic material from being transported to an overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Iwao Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20030159976
    Abstract: A separation apparatus and method for use in separating magnetic material from non-magnetic material that includes the use of a magnetic grid, e.g., a permanently magnetic grid, which defines a plurality of openings. The grid assists in preventing magnetic material from being transported to an overflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Iwao Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 4298169
    Abstract: Low-grade, finely disseminated, ores that are not readily amenable to conventional flotation can be upgraded by a selective flocculation-magnetic separation-flotation process. Non-magnetic particles in such an ore can be selectively flocculated either by iron particles in the ore that contain residual magnetite or by the addition of a finely ground magnetic concentrate to the ore. The selectively flocculated pulp is then passed through a magnetic separator for the rejection of siliceous gangue. Depending on the grade of the magnetic concentrates, either cationic or anionic silica flotation may be applied for further upgrading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Iwao Iwasaki