Patents by Inventor Randy ETZKORN

Randy ETZKORN 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: 11680004
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Publication number: 20230079212
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20200270160
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20200109075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Patent number: 10604435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a melter assembly (1) for melting solid raw batch material, which comprises a submerged combustion melter section (3) and an afterburner section (5), wherein the submerged combustion melter section is designed to contain the melt bath (4) at a maximum melt level (4?) and comprises at least one submerged combustion burner (21) and a melt outlet (9), and wherein the afterburner section (5) is designed as a space contiguous with, and in continuity of, the internal space defined by the submerged combustion melter section (3), and arranged over the maximum melt level (4?) of the submerged combustion melter section (3). The afterburner section (5) is dimensioned such that the gases escaping from the melt bath (4) remain for at least 2 seconds at a temperature of at least 850° C. in said afterburner section (5), prior to being evacuated to the environment. The invention also relates to a process making use of such melter assembly (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, David Ducarme, Randy Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20190367400
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Patent number: 10494286
    Abstract: Vitrified products are manufactured using a melt produced from batch materials comprising 35 to 100 w % man-made mineral fibers produced in a submerged combustion melter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Publication number: 20190337834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Patent number: 10336640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for melting solid batch material, comprising the steps of introducing solid batch material into a melter, and melting the solid batch material in the melter by submerged combustion and subjecting the melt to a flow pattern which when simulated on a computer by making use of common fluid dynamic equations shows a substantially toroidal melt flow pattern in the melt, comprising a major centrally inwardly convergent flow at the melt surface, the central axis of revolution of the toroid being substantially vertical. The invention further relates to a melter assembly for carrying out the process. The toroidal melt flow pattern is achieved by suitable arrangement, angle and spacing of multiple submerged combustion burners in the floor of the melter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Publication number: 20190194053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Patent number: 10011510
    Abstract: The claims define a submerged combustion melter comprising a submerged combustion burner (1) comprising three concentric tubes, all being closed at one end and open at the same opposite end, the internal tube (3) being connected to a source of oxygen containing gas (7), the middle tube (9) surrounding the internal tube (3) being connected to a source of fuel gas (11), and the outer tube (15) being connected to a source (19) of oxygen containing gas. The claims are also directed to a method of introducing a flame and/or combustion products into a melt from a submerged combustion burner and also directed to the use of the burner as a submerged combustion burner in a melter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Publication number: 20180155230
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter 10 is arranged with a vertical melting chamber 11, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners 21-26 in the bottom base 13, the burners so spaced apart from each other and from the walls and angled from the vertical that in use a toroidal flow pattern can be achieved, providing intensive mixing. The claims also pertain to a method of melting a vitrifiable material from solid batch by submerged combustion melting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Gerard Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Patent number: 9878932
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter 10 is arranged with a vertical melting chamber 11, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners 21-26 in the bottom base 13, the burners so spaced apart from each other and from the walls and angled from the vertical that in use a toroidal flow pattern can be achieved, providing intensive mixing. The claims also pertain to a method of melting a vitrifiable material from solid batch by submerged combustion melting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Jerry Demott, Bostjan Marolt, Randy Etzkorn, David Ducarme
  • Publication number: 20180022629
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a melter assembly (1) for melting solid raw batch material, which comprises a submerged combustion melter section (3) and an afterburner section (5), wherein the submerged combustion melter section is designed to contain the melt bath (4) at a maximum melt level (4?) and comprises at least one submerged combustion burner (21) and a melt outlet (9), and wherein the afterburner section (5) is designed as a space contiguous with, and in continuity of, the internal space defined by the submerged combustion melter section (3), and arranged over the maximum melt level (4?) of the submerged combustion melter section (3). The afterburner section (5) is dimensioned such that the gases escaping from the melt bath (4) remain for at least 2 seconds at a temperature of at least 850° C. in said afterburner section (5), prior to being evacuated to the environment. The invention also relates to a process making use of such melter assembly (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Gerard DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, David DUCARME, Randy ETZKORN
  • Publication number: 20160207814
    Abstract: Vitrified products are manufactured using a melt produced from batch materials comprising 35 to 100 w % man-made mineral fibers produced in a submerged combustion melter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20160185642
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for melting solid batch material, comprising the steps of introducing solid batch material into a melter, and melting the solid batch material in the melter by submerged combustion and subjecting the melt to a flow pattern which when simulated on a computer by making use of common fluid dynamic equations shows a substantially toroidal melt flow pattern in the melt, comprising a major centrally inwardly convergent flow at the melt surface, the central axis of revolution of the toroid being substantially vertical. The invention further relates to a melter assembly for carrying out the process. The toroidal melt flow pattern is achieved by suitable arrangement, angle and spacing of multiple submerged combustion burners in the floor of the melter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20160168001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20160159675
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter 10 is arranged with a vertical melting chamber 11, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners 21-26 in the bottom base 13, the burners so spaced apart from each other and from the walls and angled from the vertical that in use a toroidal flow pattern can be achieved, providing intensive mixing. The claims also pertain to a method of melting a vitrifiable material from solid batch by submerged combustion melting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME
  • Publication number: 20160159676
    Abstract: The claims define a submerged combustion melter comprising a submerged combustion burner (1) comprising three concentric tubes, all being closed at one end and open at the same opposite end, the internal tube (3) being connected to a source of oxygen containing gas (7), the middle tube (9) surrounding the internal tube (3) being connected to a source of fuel gas (11), and the outer tube (15) being connected to a source (19) of oxygen containing gas. The claims are also directed to a method of introducing a flame and/or combustion products into a melt from a submerged combustion burner and also directed to the use of the burner as a submerged combustion burner in a melter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry DEMOTT, Bostjan MAROLT, Randy ETZKORN, David DUCARME