Patents by Inventor Jussi Vaarno

Jussi Vaarno 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: 10661199
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a launder to be used in co-operation with a solvent extraction settler comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting launder element modules, each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the launder element modules to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling at the site of installation the launder element modules into a module group forming a complete launder. The launder comprises a launder module group consisting of self-supporting launder element modules, each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means conforming to shipping container standards to enable shipping container standard compatible transportability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 10220331
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solvent extraction settler comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules (2, 3, 4, 5) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (6) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) into a complete settler at the site of installation. The settler comprises a module group (1) consisting of a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules (2, 3, 4, 5) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (6) conforming to ISO shipping container standards to enable ISO compatible transportability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson, Jussi Pajala
  • Patent number: 10030285
    Abstract: In a solvent extraction settler arrangement the outlet box comprises an inner tube arranged vertically inside a shaft, the inner tube being spaced from the side wall of the shaft to define an intermediate space between the inner tube and the shaft. The inner tube has an inner space and an opening at the lower part of the inner tube adjacent the bottom to form a flow path for the heavy solution phase to flow to the inner space. The shaft comprises a second outlet which is separate in relation to the discharge outlet and above the level of the discharge outlet. The second outlet opens through the side wall to the intermediate space at a location adjacent to the upper end of the shaft and at the level of said layer of entrained light solution phase for discharging said layer of entrained light solution phase from the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Publication number: 20180015388
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a launder (1) to be used in co-operation with a solvent extraction settler (2) comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting launder element modules (3), each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (4) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the launder element modules (3) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling at the site of installation the launder element modules (3) into a module group (5) forming a complete launder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi VAARNO, Rami SAARIO, Henri FREDRIKSSON
  • Patent number: 9863017
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9815033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stirred tank reactor for gas-liquid mass transfer in a slurry. The reactor includes a reactor tank (1) having a first volume (V1), a drive shaft (2) that extends vertically in the reactor tank, a motor (3) for rotating the drive shaft (2), a main impeller (4) which is a downward pumping axial flow impeller attached to the drive shaft (2) to create a main flow pattern in the reactor tank, and a gas inlet (5) arranged to supply gas into the reactor tank (1) to be dispersed to the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Marko Latva-Kokko, Teemu Ritasalo, Jussi Vaarno
  • Patent number: 9803259
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9731222
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprises a settler (1) having a feed end (2) and a discharge end (3), said settler being arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows to the discharge end. Elongated discharge launders (4, 5) are arranged at the discharge end (3) of the settler for each solution phase to be separated from the dispersion, each discharge launder (4, 5) including a first end (6), an outlet (7, 8) arranged at the first end, and a closed second end (9). At least one of the discharge launders (4, 5) has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end (6) towards the second end (9) and an inclined bottom (10, 11) descending from the second end (9) towards the first end (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9631254
    Abstract: A solvent extraction method for hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes, in which method solution phases are separated from a dispersion while the dispersion flows horizontally in a settler from a feed end to a discharge end. The mass flow of the dispersion and solution phases is divided into a plurality of parallel and mutually separated plug flows flowing in the settler from the feed end to the discharge end. The settler (1) comprises a plurality of elongated settler sections (4) which are mutually separated and side by side in parallel to each other, Inc settler sections (4) extending from the feed end (2) to the discharge end (3), forming a plurality of mutually separated parallel plug flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson, Jussi Pajala
  • Publication number: 20160130681
    Abstract: In a solvent extraction settler arrangement the outlet box comprises an inner tube arranged vertically inside a shaft, the inner tube being spaced from the side wall of the shaft to define an intermediate space between the inner tube and the shaft. The inner tube has an inner space and an opening at the lower part of the inner tube adjacent the bottom to form a flow path for the heavy solution phase to flow to the inner space. The shaft comprises a second outlet which is separate in relation to the discharge outlet and above the level of the discharge outlet. The second outlet opens through the side wall to the intermediate space at a location adjacent to the upper end of the shaft and at the level of said layer of entrained light solution phase for discharging said layer of entrained light solution phase from the intermediate space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi VAARNO, Rami SAARIO, Henri FREDRIKSSON
  • Publication number: 20160131295
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elbow channel with an elbow angle. The method comprises manufacturing an elongated filament-reinforced plastic composite hollow body by a filament winding technology; miter-cutting the elongated hollow body at a cut angle, which is half of the desired elbow angle, to form a first body piece having an oblique first end, and a second body piece having an oblique second end; placing the first body piece and the second body piece in relation to each other to abut the first end and the second end against each other, so that the longitudinal symmetry axes of the first and second body pieces are at said elbow angle to each other; and attaching the first end and the second end to each other to form said elbow channel. The elbow channel is formed from first and second hollow body pieces is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi VAARNO, Rami SAARIO, Henri FREDRIKSSON
  • Publication number: 20150352504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stirred tank reactor for gas-liquid mass transfer in a slurry. The reactor includes a reactor tank (1) having a first volume (V1), a drive shaft (2) that extends vertically in the reactor tank, a motor (3) for rotating the drive shaft (2), a main impeller (4) which is a downward pumping axial flow impeller attached to the drive shaft (2) to create a main flow pattern in the reactor tank, and a gas inlet (5) arranged to supply gas into the reactor tank (1) to be dispersed to the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Marko LATVA-KOKKO, Teemu RITASALO, Jussi VAARNO
  • Patent number: 9138698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine-type high-power impeller, to be used for mixing slurry in hydrometallurgical process reactors. The impeller is formed of at least five blades, each of which blades comprises a front edge, trailing edge, root and tip; the roots of the impeller blades are permanently attached by a joint to the hub or axis of the impeller, so that the front edge of the impeller blade is straight, and the trailing edge is chamfered, in which case the blade is narrowed towards the tip, and the blade is provided with two longitudinal folds arranged in parallel with the front edge of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Launo Lilja, Jari Tiihonen, Bror Nyman, Tuomas Hirsi, Jussi Vaarno, Jouko Peräaho
  • Publication number: 20150232960
    Abstract: A solvent extraction method for hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes, in which method solution phases are separated from a dispersion while the dispersion flows horizontally in a settler from a feed end to a discharge end. The mass flow of the dispersion and solution phases is divided into a plurality of parallel and mutually separated plug flows flowing in the settler from the feed end to the discharge end. The settler (1) comprises a plurality of elongated settler sections (4) which are mutually separated and side by side in parallel to each other, Inc settler sections (4) extending from the feed end (2) to the discharge end (3), forming a plurality of mutually separated parallel plug flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson, Jussi Pajala
  • Publication number: 20150190734
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprises a settler (1) having a feed end (2) and a discharge end (3), said settler being arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows to the discharge end. Elongated discharge launders (4, 5) are arranged at the discharge end (3) of the settler for each solution phase to be separated from the dispersion, each discharge launder (4, 5) including a first end (6), an outlet (7, 8) arranged at the first end, and a closed second end (9). At least one of the discharge launders (4, 5) has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end (6) towards the second end (9) and an inclined bottom (10, 11) descending from the second end (9) towards the first end (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Publication number: 20150190732
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler (1) comprising a foundation (2). The solvent extraction settler (1) comprises self-supporting modules (3) each having the exterior dimensions, strength and corner fittings (4) conforming to shipping container standards. The foundation (2) comprises a plurality of pillars (5) on which the modules (3) are supported at a height above the ground level, thereby providing a space for piping and access below the settler. The pillars (5) comprise shipping standard compatible container lashing fittings (6, 7) to which the corner fittings (4) of the modules (3) can be connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Publication number: 20150182874
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a launder (1) to be used in co-operation with a solvent extraction settler (2) comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting launder element modules (3), each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (4) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the launder element modules (3) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling at the site of installation the launder element modules (3) into a module group (5) forming a complete launder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Publication number: 20150159236
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Publication number: 20150151218
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solvent extraction settler comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules (2, 3, 4, 5) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (6) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) into a complete settler at the site of installation. The settler comprises a module group (1) consisting of a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules (2, 3, 4, 5) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (6) conforming to ISO shipping container standards to enable ISO compatible transportability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson, Jussi Pajala
  • Patent number: 8813977
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for fabricating the discharge end (2) chute arrangement (3) of a liquid-liquid extraction settling tank and the corresponding chute arrangement. The chute arrangement (3) comprises at least one chute member (4, 5; 6), which is made of fiber-reinforced plastic composite. The chute member (4, 5; 6) is manufactured by the filament winding technique essentially making a tubular hollow piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Jussi Vaarno