Patents by Inventor Tuomo Mäkelä

Tuomo Mäkelä 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: 9598748
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a ferroalloy containing nickel. From a fine-grained raw material containing iron and chromium and a fine-grained raw material containing nickel, a mixture is formed with binding agent, the mixture is agglomerated so that first formed objects of desired size are obtained. The objects formed are heat treated in order to strengthen the objects so that the heat treated objects withstand conveyance and loading into a smelter furnace. Further, the objects are smelted under reducing circumstances in order to achieve ferrochromenickel, a ferroalloy of a desired composition containing at least iron, chromium and nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Outokumpu Oyj, Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Mäkelä, Pekka Niemelä, Helge Krogerus
  • Publication number: 20140116202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the reduction degree of metal components in a chromite concentrate when smelting ferroalloy suitable for manufacturing of stainless steel. The chromite concentrate is fed together with nickel-containing raw material so that by means the amount of nickel-containing raw material it is achieved a desired reduction degree for the metal components of ferroalloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOKUMPU OYJ
    Inventors: Tuomo Mäkelä, Pekka Niemelä
  • Publication number: 20140109724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a ferroalloy containing nickel. From a fine-grained raw material containing iron and chromium and a fine-grained raw material containing nickel, a mixture is formed with binding agent, the mixture is agglomerated so that first formed objects of desired size are obtained. The objects formed are heat treated in order to strengthen the objects so that the heat treated objects withstand conveyance and loading into a smelter furnace. Further, the objects are smelted under reducing circumstances in order to achieve ferrochromenickel, a ferroalloy of a desired composition containing at least iron, chromium and nickel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOKUMPU OYJ
    Inventors: Tuomo MÄKELÄ, Pekka NIEMELÄ
  • Patent number: 8696789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a ferroalloy containing nickel. From a fine-grained raw material containing iron and chromium and a fine-grained raw material containing nickel, a mixture is formed with binding agent, the mixture is agglomerated so that first formed objects of desired size are obtained. The objects formed are heat treated in order to strengthen the objects so that the heat treated objects withstand conveyance and loading into a smelter furnace. Further, the objects are smelted under reducing circumstances in order to achieve ferrochromenickel, a ferroalloy of a desired composition containing at least iron, chromium and nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Tuomo Mäkelä, Pekka Niemelä
  • Publication number: 20110308352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a ferroalloy containing nickel. From a fine-grained raw material containing iron and chromium and a fine- grained raw material containing nickel, a mixture is formed with binding agent, the mixture is agglomerated so that first formed objects of desired size are obtained. The objects formed are heat treated in order to strengthen the objects so that the heat treated objects withstand conveyance and loading into a smelter furnace. Further, the objects are smelted under reducing circumstances in order to achieve ferrochromenickel, a ferroalloy of a desired composition containing at least iron, chromium and nickel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOKUMPU OYJ
    Inventors: Tuomo Mäkelä, Pekka Niemelä