Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Potter

Stephen M. Potter 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).

  • Combined pre-treatment process for enabling feed material to be charged in direct reduction processes
    Patent number: 9347109
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for pretreatment of solid lump feed material for gas and pellet/lump-based direct reduction processes, by initially storing the lump feed in stockpiles for stress release, followed by pre-drying the feed material prior to charging into the reduction furnace and finally increasing the average temperature of the reduction furnace, in order to reduce the amount of reduction at low temperatures, thereby minimizing the formation of fines within the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: VALE S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Potter, Pedro Gutemberg Quariguasi Netto
  • Pre-treatment process for feed material for direct reduction process
    Patent number: 7175690
    Abstract: A pretreatment process for solid lump feed material for a gas and pellet/lump-based direct reduction process, comprising preheating feed material to a temperature of from about 200 C to about 500 C, without reduction, in a non-reducing atmosphere prior to charging the feed material to gas-based direct reduction furnace, thereby minimizing the formation of fines within the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Brasil
    Inventors: Stephen M. Potter, John Y. Clark
  • Pre-treatment process for feed material for direct reduction process
    Publication number: 20040261575
    Abstract: A pretreatment process for solid lump feed material for a gas and pellet/lump-based direct reduction process, comprising preheating feed material to a temperature of from about 200 C to about 500 C, without reduction, in a non-reducing atmosphere prior to charging the feed material to gas-based direct reduction furnace, thereby minimizing the formation of fines within the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen M. Potter, John Y. Clark