Patents by Inventor John R. Hugens, Jr.
John R. Hugens, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 8741213Abstract: A stack of copper plates is placed in a melting chamber having a closed roof of refractory material. The stack is placed in a tilted orientation leaning against a side wall of the melting chamber, with lower edges of the copper plates resting on an inclined hearth surface. A door to the melting chamber is closed to block the infiltration of oxygen. A burner is fired into the melting chamber to heat the closed roof of refractory material, and the stack of copper plates is melted under the influence of combustion products from the burner and heat radiated from the closed roof. Molten copper is drained downward from the bottom edge of the inclined hearth surface to avoid immersing the copper plates in a molten bath.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: John R. Hugens, Jr., Mike Gorczewski, Ronald Ian Carmichael
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Publication number: 20120146268Abstract: A stack of copper plates is placed in a melting chamber having a closed roof of refractory material. The stack is placed in a tilted orientation leaning against a side wall of the melting chamber, with lower edges of the copper plates resting on an inclined hearth surface. A door to the melting chamber is closed to block the infiltration of oxygen. A burner is fired into the melting chamber to heat the closed roof of refractory material, and the stack of copper plates is melted under the influence of combustion products from the burner and heat radiated from the closed roof. Molten copper is drained downward from the bottom edge of the inclined hearth surface to avoid immersing the copper plates in a molten bath.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: John R. Hugens, JR., Mike Gorczewski, Ronald Ian Carmichael
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Patent number: 8153049Abstract: A stack of copper plates is placed in a melting chamber having a closed roof of refractory material. The stack is placed in a tilted orientation leaning against a side wall of the melting chamber, with lower edges of the copper plates resting on an inclined hearth surface. A door to the melting chamber is closed to block the infiltration of oxygen. A burner is fired into the melting chamber to heat the closed roof of refractory material, and the stack of copper plates is melted under the influence of combustion products from the burner and heat radiated from the closed roof. Molten copper is drained downward from the bottom edge of the inclined hearth surface to avoid immersing the copper plates in a molten bath.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: John R. Hugens, Jr., Mike Gorczewski, Ronald Ian Carmichael
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Publication number: 20090309276Abstract: A stack of copper plates is placed in a melting chamber having a closed roof of refractory material. The stack is placed in a tilted orientation leaning against a side wall of the melting chamber, with lower edges of the copper plates resting on an inclined hearth surface. A door to the melting chamber is closed to block the infiltration of oxygen. A burner is fired into the melting chamber to heat the closed roof of refractory material, and the stack of copper plates is melted under the influence of combustion products from the burner and heat radiated from the closed roof. Molten copper is drained downward from the bottom edge of the inclined hearth surface to avoid immersing the copper plates in a molten bath.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventor: John R. Hugens, JR.
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Patent number: 7473297Abstract: A vertical shaft melting furnace is operated in a method that includes firing a plurality of burners to generate combustion products, and directing jets of the combustion products into the shaft in a bottom region of the shaft. The method further includes directing a jet of hot gas into the shaft in an upper region of the shaft in a non-radial direction, whereby the jet of hot gas can induce a swirl to disperse a concentrated channel of combustion products rising from the bottom region to the upper region through a void in unmelted portions of a load of metal pieces in the shaft. The jet of hot gas directed into the upper region of the shaft can include recirculated flue gas, a mixture of air and recirculated flue gas, or combustion products that are generated by a burner. If the jet of hot gas includes combustion products that are generated by a burner, the burner is a secondary burner that preferably is fired into the shaft with a relatively low heat input.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: John R. Hugens, Jr., Thomas F. Robertson, John N. Newby
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Patent number: 7282172Abstract: A vertical shaft melting furnace is operated in a method that includes firing a plurality of burners to generate combustion products, and directing jets of the combustion products into the shaft in a bottom region of the shaft. The method further includes directing a jet of hot gas into the shaft in an upper region of the shaft in a non-radial direction, whereby the jet of hot gas can induce a swirl to disperse a concentrated channel of combustion products rising from the bottom region to the upper region through a void in unmelted portions of a load of metal pieces in the shaft. The jet of hot gas directed into the upper region of the shaft can include recirculated flue gas, a mixture of air and recirculated flue gas, or combustion products that are generated by a burner. If the jet of hot gas includes combustion products that are generated by a burner, the burner is a secondary burner that preferably is fired into the shaft with a relatively low heat input.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: North American Manufacturing CompanyInventors: John R. Hugens, Jr., Thomas F. Robertson, John N. Newby
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Patent number: 5850034Abstract: A method for improving the making of metals such as steel and copper by specially using a gas measurement system to analyze molten metals for gas, particularly H2 content, and to controlling the metal making process based on these values. The preferred gas analyzer comprises a hollow probe and an analyzer wherein the probe is immersed in the molten metal and a carrier gas containing a reducing gas such as CO is cycled through the probe and analyzer. The carrier gas entrains gases in the probe and this gas mixture is electronically compared with a reference value to provide a measurement of the gases in the molten metal and the process is controlled based on the analyzer results.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1997Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: ASARCO IncorporatedInventor: John R. Hugens, Jr.
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Patent number: 5293924Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the continuous casting process for making copper by using a probe and analyzer which measures the gases present in the molten copper and controls the process based on the analyzer results.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1993Date of Patent: March 15, 1994Assignee: ASARCO IncorporatedInventors: John R. Hugens, Jr., Stephen L. Ferrel, Gary L. Spence
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Patent number: 5103892Abstract: Continuous casting of discrete solid shapes from a molten material using modified continuous casting machines and processes are disclosed. In a conventional twin belt continuous caster, for example, forming means such as dividers are employed on the upper belt to define a mold cavity in the casting region of the machine. Different size and shape forming means may be used to provide a variety of cast products.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1991Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: ASARCO IncorporatedInventor: John R. Hugens, Jr.