Patents by Inventor Malcolm T. Hepworth

Malcolm T. Hepworth 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: 5534234
    Abstract: Methods of recovering manganese in the form of manganese carbonate from ores containing manganese and iron while also removing substantially all of the iron contained in the sulfurous acid leach solution are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventors: Lorin D. Reddin, Malcolm T. Hepworth, Rachid Ben-Slimane, Glenn D. Welch
  • Patent number: 4732888
    Abstract: Durable, porous sulfur sorbents useful in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot coal gas are prepared by water pelletizing a mixture of fine zinc oxide and fine iron oxide with inorganic and organic binders and small amounts of activators such as sodium carbonate and molybdenite; the pellets are dried and then indurated at a high temperature, e.g., 1800.degree. C., for a time sufficient to produce crush-resistant pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: AMAX Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh C. Jha, Antonio E. Blandon, Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4599955
    Abstract: Sulfur-containing coal is combusted in a cyclone furnace under strongly reducing conditions with a sulfur fixing agent such as lime to produce a basic slag containing the ash and sulfur content of the coal and a product gas of high combustible content which may be burned as a fuel gas in a steam generator or otherwise to yield an exhaust gas which does not require scrubbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: AMAX Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm T. Hepworth, Gordon R. Wicker
  • Patent number: 4598652
    Abstract: A process is provided for combusting sulfur-containing coal in a combustion stage to which is provided at least 60% of the oxygen stoichiometrically required for substantially complete combustion of the coal and combustion is conducted under highly turbulent conditions in a furnace burner cavity to which finely divided iron oxide and/or iron powder is provided and in which a high heat release rate is maintained to form a liquid iron oxysulfide phase which acts to scrub sulfur-containing gaseous species from the combustion atmosphere and is separated from the combustion atmosphere with substantially the sulfur originally contained in the coal. Following separation, the hot fuel gas resulting is burned to completion in a heat exchanging furnace, gas turbine or other energy extracting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4572085
    Abstract: A process is provided for combusting sulfur-containing coal in a single step while producing an off-gas low in sulfur. The process comprises combusting finely divided coal in a furnace burner cavity in the presence of a finely divided iron oxide or iron powder and at least about 60% of the oxygen stoichiometrically required for substantially complete combustion of the coal to form a liquid iron oxysulfide phase and a turbulent atmosphere of combustion-product gases, liquid iron oxysulfide acting to scrub sulfur-containing gaseous species from the atmosphere to yield an essentially sulfur-free flue gas and a liquid iron oxysulfide slag containing substantially the sulfur originally contained in the coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4555387
    Abstract: A process and system are provided for flash-roasting molybdenum sulfide containing slag-forming constituents. The process comprises feeding a pneumatically suspended stream of particulate molybdenum sulfide and a mixture of fuel and oxidizing gases through a nozzle into a confined furnace chamber, the fuel gas-oxidizing gas mixture exiting from the nozzle being ignited to provide a flame thereof, the flame being maintained at a condition to provide a temperature in the furnace chamber sufficient to oxidize the molybdenum sulfide and form a volatile gas comprising molybdenum trioxide. The temperature is at least sufficient to melt the slag-forming constituents such that the slag formed is sufficiently liquid to separate from the gaseous mixture and collect at a selected portion of said chamber for removal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Sabacky, Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4552749
    Abstract: A process is provided for converting MoS.sub.2 to MoO.sub.2 wherein, MoS.sub.2 in particulate form is fed into a reactor while flowing MoO.sub.3 vapor therein to effect reaction thereof with MoS.sub.2 to form MoO.sub.2. The temperature in the reactor is maintained at a level sufficient to cause the reaction to go forward. A portion of the MoO.sub.2 is removed from the reactor as a product and the remainder is selectively oxidized at a temperature sufficient to generate gaseous MoO.sub.3 which is recycled to the reactor relative to the flow of MoS.sub.2 therein to convert the MoS.sub.2 to MoO.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: AMAX Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence F. McHugh, Dale K. Huggins, Malcolm T. Hepworth, John M. Laferty
  • Patent number: 4551313
    Abstract: A process and system are provided for flash-sublimation of molybdic oxide containing slag-forming constituents. The process comprises feeding a pneumatically suspended stream of particulate molybdic oxide and a mixture of fuel and oxidizing gases through a nozzle into a confined furnace chamber, the fuel gas-oxidizing gas mixture exiting from the nozzle being ignited to provide a flame thereof, the flame being maintained at a condition to provide a temperature in the furnace chamber in excess of that required to sublime molybdic oxide. The temperature is preferably at least sufficient to melt slag-forming constituents contained in said molybdic oxide such that the slag formed is sufficiently liquid to separate from the gaseous mixture and collect at a selected portion of the chamber for removal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Sabacky, Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4462822
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for roasting molybdenite concentrates directly to molybdenum dioxide. The process comprises establishing a roasting zone having a temperature of about 700.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C., introducing into the roasting zone particulate molybdenum dioxide and molybdenite in a weight ratio of at least about 2:1 along with an oxygen-containing gas in amount sufficient to oxidize the sulfur content of the molybdenite to molybdenum dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Sabacky, Malcolm T. Hepworth
  • Patent number: 4234393
    Abstract: An aqueous solution of at least one valuable oxyanion containing molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, or uranium is refined to lower the content of contaminant anions such as PO.sub.4.sup.-3, SO.sub.4.sup.-2, NO.sub.3.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, ClO.sub.3.sup.-, and ClO.sub.4.sup.-, by subjecting the solution to electrolysis at a pH of from 0.5 to 4.0 between a cation-permselective membrane and an anion-permselective membrane having tertiary amine or quaternary ammonium anion exchange groups, to cause contaminant anions to pass from the solution into the anolyte. Ammonium molybdates, tungstates, vanadates, and uranates are formed from the thus-refined solution by subjecting it to a second stage of electrolysis at a pH of at least 7 between a cation-permselective membrane and an anion-permselective membrane to cause valuable oxyanions to pass from the solution into an anolyte which comprises an aqueous solution of ammonia and to form the desired ammonium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Amax Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm T. Hepworth, John M. Laferty