Patents by Inventor Michael E. Sawayda

Michael E. Sawayda 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).

  • High purity magnetite formation process and apparatus, and product thereof
    Patent number: 8057750
    Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Pittsburgh Iron Oxide, LLC
    Inventors: Dale L. Nickels, Thomas E. Weyand, Michael E. Sawayda
  • High purity magnetite formation process and apparatus, and product thereof
    Patent number: 7744848
    Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Pittsburgh Mineral & Environment Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale L. Nickels, Michael E. Sawayda, Thomas E. Weyand
  • High Purity Magnetite Formation Process and Apparatus, and Product Thereof
    Publication number: 20100129264
    Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: PITTSBURGH IRON OXIDES, LLC
    Inventors: Dale L. Nickels, Michael E. Sawayda, Thomas E. Weyand