Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Crumbley

Thomas H. Crumbley 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).

  • Method of reducing emissions from a metal melting furnace
    Patent number: 5518524
    Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and their alloys, includes metal blocks disposed in an annular wall just beneath the charging section of the furnace. Preheated air is forced into the furnace shaft through openings in the wall of metal blocks to burn or oxidize substantially all the CO gas contained in the combustion gases rising from the melting chamber of the furnace. A pressurized plenum surrounding the shaft adjacent the charge opening is used to preheat ambient air which is then supplied under pressure to another plenum above the melting chamber where the preheated air is introduced into the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Thomas N. Wilson, Milton E. Berry, John D. Butler, Thomas H. Crumbley, Peter W. Ware
  • Reduced emissions metal melting furnace
    Patent number: 5397109
    Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and their alloys, includes metal blocks disposed in an annular wall just beneath the charging section of the furnace. Preheated air is forced into the furnace shaft through openings in the wall of metal blocks to burn or oxidize substantially all the CO gas contained in the combustion gases rising from the melting chamber of the furnace. A pressurized plenum surrounding the shaft adjacent the charge opening is used to preheat ambient air which is then supplied under pressure to another plenum above the melting chamber where the preheated air is introduced into the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Thomas N. Wilson, Milton E. Berry, John D. Butler, Thomas H. Crumbley, Peter W. Ware