Slag Refining Means Patents (Class 266/201)
  • Patent number: 11890673
    Abstract: A dross extraction system for a printer is disclosed, which includes an ejector defining an inner cavity associated therewith, the inner cavity retaining a liquid printing material. The dross extraction system also includes a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity of the ejector, a probe external to the ejector, which is selectably positionable to contact the liquid printing material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material. A method of extracting dross from a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the metal jetting printer, advancing a probe into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir in the metal jetting printer, extracting dross from the metal printing material and onto the probe, retracting the probe from the nozzle pump reservoir, and resuming the operation of the metal jetting printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Linn C. Hoover, Joseph C. Sheflin, Jason M. LeFevre, Seemit Praharaj, David Alan Vankouwenberg, Chu-Heng Liu, Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20140291901
    Abstract: This reduction processing apparatus for a steel-making slag that continuously performs reduction processing to a hot steel-making slag by using an electric furnace includes: a slag-supplying container that charges the hot steel-making slag into the electric furnace; an electrode that is provided at the electric furnace and heats a molten slag layer on a molten iron produced by reducing the hot steel-making slag; an auxiliary-raw-material supplying unit that supplies an auxiliary-raw-material including a reducing agent to the molten slag layer; and a tilting unit that tilts the slag-supplying container and adjusts a charging amount of the hot steel-making slag to the electric furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Toshiya Harada, Takashi Arai, Hiroki Fukumura
  • Patent number: 7943083
    Abstract: A double cavity type steel slag treatment equipment by barrel method employing mandrel support comprises left and right barrel bodies, flow branching pan, mandrel, feed funnel. Between the left and right barrel bodies is disposed a flow branching pan, over which is mounted a feed funnel and below which is mounted a retaining ring. The mandrel is fixedly connected to the left and right barrel bodies and flow branching pan, supporting bearings are mounted at two ends of the mandrel, left and right barrel bodies have inner and outer portions, inner barrel body is made of grid section, one end of grid section is fixed on the end cover of outer barrel body through an insertion opening made of supporting rings, the other end of grid section is joined with the supporting ring fixedly connected on outer barrel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongli Xiao, Hua Chen, Yin Liu, Yongqian Li
  • Patent number: 7922786
    Abstract: With this invention, in a nanoparticle production method, wherein nanoparticles are produced by irradiating a laser light irradiation portion 2a of a to-be-treated liquid 8 with a laser light, in which suspended particles are suspended, to pulverize the suspended particles in laser light irradiation portion 2a, laser light irradiation portion 2a of to-be-treated liquid 8 is cooled. In this case, by the cooling of to-be-treated liquid 8, the respective suspended particles are cooled in their entireties. When the portion 2a of this to-be-treated liquid 8 is irradiated with the laser light, the laser light is absorbed at the surfaces of the suspended particles at portion 2a. Since to-be-treated liquid 8 is cooled during this process, significant temperature differences arise between the interiors and surfaces of the suspended particles and between the surfaces of the suspended particles and the to-be-treated liquid at laser light irradiation portion 2a, and highly efficient nanoparticulation is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Tomonori Kawakami, Bo Li, Mitsuo Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 7815845
    Abstract: To degas a molten metal, a receptacle containing the molten metal and a layer of slag over the molten metal is positioned in a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated. As the pressure in the chamber reduces, gas is generated at the interface between the molten metal and the slag, which causes the slag to foam. To inhibit overflowing of slag from the receptacle, a gauge outputs a signal indicative of the level of the surface of the slag, and the rate of evacuation of the chamber is reduced to reduce the rate of gas generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Publication number: 20100206132
    Abstract: The invention relates to steel production in the steel and iron industry. The inventive method consists in dividing a solid slag stream which flows from a metallurgical vessel and falls down, into individual streams along the solid stream, in forcedly cooling the thus obtained individual streams, in dividing the individual streams into parts (pieces) by cutting across the movement thereof, in forcedly cooling said parts and transferring to a belt conveyor, on which said separate parts/pieces are forcedly cooled and transported away from the vessel. A shaped (with containers) conveyor belt, on which the slag pieces are crushed by means of a cylindrical roll, is used for additional crushing. The inventive device for carrying out the totality of the above-listed operations, comprises at least three throat grates which are horizontally positioned in an assembled body and one of which is provided with a drive for carrying out reciprocating motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Edgar Schumacher, Renata Franzky, Sagadat Schumacher, Viktor Nikolaevich Chloponin, Alexander Kasymovich Farmanov, Anatolij Sergeevich Kostin, Anatolij Konstantinowitch Belitchenko, Andrey Vasilevitsch Judin, Aleksander Nikolaevich Savjuk, Nikolay Alexandrovitch Bogdanov, Ewald Antonovich Schumacher, Sagadat Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7497986
    Abstract: An apparatus for incorporating an elemental component in gaseous form into a molten metal is described. The apparatus comprises a container for holding the molten metal; means for cooling the container; heating means for maintaining the metal in the molten state; and a canopy which covers the top of the container. The apparatus also includes at least one aperture through which a desired gaseous material can be fed from a gas source. A related method for incorporating an elemental component in gaseous form into a molten metal is also described. The method includes the step of providing the metal in a container apparatus as described above, and feeding the gaseous elemental component from a gas source into the container, while maintaining the metal in the molten state. Articles prepared by such a method are also disclosed, as well as niobium base composites which comprise niobium, silicon, and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Dennis Joseph Dalpe
  • Patent number: 7381365
    Abstract: A method for treatment of metallurgical wastes i.e. slags, which are in liquid form by introducing water into the liquid slag thus causing it to cool at a slow rate so that the solidified slag contains a porous crystalline or utrified structure according to the rate of cooling, which structure is stable at ambient temperature. Another object of the invention concerns an apparatus for treating solid metallurgical slags, comprising a continuous conveyor formed of molds and means adapted to diffuse water into the liquid slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Heckett Multiserv PLC
    Inventor: Michel Detronde
  • Patent number: 6803016
    Abstract: In a device for atomizing and granulating liquid oxidic slags such as, e.g., converter slags, blast furnace slags or waste incineration slags, including a slag tundish having an outlet opening into which a height-adjustable lance for a propellant jet opens and to which a cooling chamber is connected, the outlet opening is surrounded by an immersion tube arranged concentrically therewith while forming an annular gap. A guide body capable of being adjusted in the axial direction of the lance is arranged in the region of the nozzle mouth of the propellant jet lance, which guide body deflects the propellant jet in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Tribovent Verfahrensentwicklung GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Publication number: 20030222382
    Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6558446
    Abstract: An electroslag refining apparatus includes upper and lower integral crucibles, with the lower crucible having a drain. In situ hot start is effected by depositing in the lower crucible a pre-refined starter. The starter is melted in the lower crucible to form a starter pool, and slag is deposited atop the starter pool for being melted thereby to develop a slag pool thereatop. An ingot electrode is lowered through the upper crucible to immerse a tip thereof into the slag pool. The electrode is powered to effect resistance heating of the slag pool to melt the electrode tip. The slag and starter pools are increased in volume into the upper crucible, with the drain then being opened to effect steady state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen
  • Publication number: 20020117786
    Abstract: A device for atomizing melts, in particular liquid slags, includes a tundish intended to receive the melts and an atomizer head arranged in or on the outlet opening, A cooling chamber for the atomized melt is connected to the atomizer head. The atomizer head is designed as a hot cyclone running into the cooling chamber. Burners and/or propellant gas nozzles are connected to the hot cyclone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: TRIBOVENT Verfahrensentwicklung GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Publication number: 20020112565
    Abstract: The device for atomizing and comminuting liquid melts, including a slag tundish to whose outlet an expansion or cooling chamber is connected, whereby a propellant gas lance opens into the outlet, which propellant gas lance is surrounded by a tubular underflow weir immersed in the liquid slag, is dimensioned such that the width of the gap between the lower edge of the underflow weir and the tundish bottom is smaller than 20%, preferably smaller than 15%, of the clear width of the outlet, that the bottom of the tundish in the region between the lower edge of the overflow weir and the outlet is designed in a funnel-shaped manner, and that supercritical vapor is injected through the propellant gas lance to form an underexpanded free jet in the interior of the melt jet, the flow speed at the nozzle mouth of the lance being adjusted to sonic speed, thus ensuring a substantially enhanced comminution performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Patent number: 6436336
    Abstract: A melt guide includes a base plate having internal cooling channels and a center aperture extending vertically therethrough. A unitary drain bushing is removably mounted in the aperture and is readily replaceable after wear thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala, Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6379416
    Abstract: A component adjustor is added to an incineration residue containing salts to adjust a component ratio determined by the equation (Ca+Mg)/(Si+Al) in the range of 0.7 to 2.0. The incineration residue having the adjusted component ratio is charged to a melting furnace maintained in a reducing atmosphere to form a melt. The melt is separated into a molten slag layer, a molten salt layer, and a molten metal layer. The molten slag is fractionated and discharged from the melting furnace. The discharged molten slag is rapidly cooled. The temperature of the vapor phase in the melting furnace is maintained at 700 to 1000° C. A non-oxidizing gas is blown into the vapor phase in the melting furnace to increase the amounts of exhaust gases exhausted from the melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Nakahara, Satoshi Matsui, Takuya Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 6375702
    Abstract: A consumable electrode feed system for a refining system provides consumable electrodes to a refining system. The consumable electrode feed system comprises a side feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction; a refining feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, in which the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction; and a connection system for connecting fed consumable electrodes to each other. The consumable electrode feed system allows for a predetermined amount of a consumable electrode to be refined in the refining system, and can position another consumable electrode above a previously fed consumable electrode. The connecting system then can connect a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode thus avoiding refining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala, Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6350293
    Abstract: A bottom pour electroslag refining system refines raw material into refined liquid metal. The bottom pour electroslag refining system comprises an electroslag refining crucible; a slag; a bottom pour structure that comprises an orifice from which refined liquid metal from the electroslag refining crucible can flow as a stream of refined liquid metal; and a current path. The current path is defined in the bottom pour electroslag refining system for applying current to the raw material for melting and refining the raw material. The melted and refined raw material forms a refined liquid metal pool in the electroslag refining crucible. The current that is applied by the current path is sufficient to provide the refined liquid metal in the refined liquid metal pool with a viscosity under which the refined liquid metal can flow through the orifice under its own viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Carter, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz, Felix Guenter Muller, Franz Waldemar Hugo, Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen
  • Patent number: 6318123
    Abstract: The method for granulating liquid slag melts, in particular blast furnace slag, in which the melt (2) is ejected into a cooling chamber via a slag tundish (1) and in which fluid under pressure, in particular compressed gas, vapor or pressurized water, is injected in the direction of the slag exit (6) in order to eject said liquid slag, is characterized in that the pressure fluid jet discharges into a throttle pipe (3) which is immersed in the slag bath and whose lower edge is mounted so as to be adjustable in the height direction (4). The corresponding device comprises a lance (7) which is surrounded by a height-adjustable throttle pipe (3) whose lower edge (5) is immersed in the slag bath (2) contained in the tundish (1) and forms a throttling cross section between the slag exit (6) and the slag bath (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: “Holderbank”Financiere Glarus AG
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Patent number: 6219372
    Abstract: A guide tube structure for flux concentration is provided. The discharge guide tube comprises a central orifice that extends from a source of metal to an outlet in the discharge guide tube for directing a stream of melt therethrough; a structure that generates an electromagnetic field in the discharge guide tube; and an interior discharge guide tube flux concentration configuration that is capable of concentrating at least one of heat, electromagnetic field, and electromagnetic flux onto the stream of melt that flows through the central orifice. The electromagnetic field is applied at a substantially constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert John Zabala, Howard Roscoe Hart, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz, Bruce Alan Knudsen, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Russell Scott Miller
  • Patent number: 6104742
    Abstract: A melt guide is provided for enclosing a bottom of an electroslag refining crucible containing a melt of electroslag refined metal. The guide includes an upper plate sized to engage the crucible bottom for attachment thereto, and includes an upper orifice drain therethrough for draining by gravity the melt from the crucible. A lower plate is spaced below the upper plate to define a plenum therebetween, and includes a lower orifice drain therethrough. A downspout extends through the plenum in flow communication between the upper and lower drains, and includes a middle orifice drain. A heater surrounds the downspout for heating the melt drainable therethrough. And, a coolant is circulated through the plenum for cooling the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Carter, Jr., Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Howard Roscoe Hart, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz
  • Patent number: 5992503
    Abstract: Systems and methods of electroslag refining of metal include the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The cold finger bottom pour spout comprises a plurality of copper segments having gaps. The gap between the segments is established and maintained by insulation structure and sealing structure positioned in each gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala, Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5968230
    Abstract: A melting furnace for reforming steel-making slag so as to be available, for example, to roadbed ballast by mixing steel-making dust with the slag in molten states, which is provided with a fuel oxygen burner for melting the slag and the dust, a slag charging port for charging the slag in molten state into the furnace, a dust feeder for supplying the dust into the furnace, a slag feeder for supplying the slag in powdered state into the furnace, a storage portion for storing a molten mixture of the slag and the dust in a quantity corresponding to a tilting angle of the furnace body and an outlet port for discharging the molten mixture, and is possible to dispose the slag efficiently whether the slag is in the powdered or molten state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Okamoto, Motoshi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 5820814
    Abstract: The invention relates to the cooling of red-hot molten blast furnace slag. In this case in order that a substantial proportion of the heat content of the red-hot molten blast furnace slag can be recovered this is introduced together with coal or fuel containing substantially coal into a reactor in which the blast furnace slag is cooled by utilising the heat content of this slag and with the aid of supplied steam to gasify the coal to form a fuel gas, particularly water gas or blue gas containing CO and H.sub.2, which is drawn off separately from the cooled quantity of solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph Elias Doumet
  • Patent number: 5810066
    Abstract: A system and method of electroslag refining of metal is taught. The system and method includes the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The dimensions of the cold finger apparatus pour spout are controlled by positioning a retaining means around the outer surface of the pour spout thereby controlling the flow rate of molten metal through the cold finger apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala, Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Paul Leonard Dupree
  • Patent number: 5809057
    Abstract: A melt guide is provided for enclosing a bottom of an electroslag refining crucible containing a melt of electroslag refined metal. A base plate is sized to have a perimeter to engage the crucible bottom for attachment thereto. The base plate includes an upper surface for defining with the crucible a reservoir for receiving the melt, and a lower surface spaced therebelow. A central drain extends through the base plate for draining by gravity the melt from the reservoir. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots extend radially outwardly from the drain toward the base plate perimeter and extend vertically through the base plate. Induction heating coils are mounted below the base plate lower surface for heating the melt through the slots. The base plate may take various forms including a flat plate, with or without a cooperating and removable insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Paul Leonard Dupree, Howard Roscoe Hart, Jr., Bruce Alan Knudsen, Janel Koca Browning, Russell Scott Miller, Robert John Zabala
  • Patent number: 5769151
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the superheat of the stream of molten metal from an electroslag refining apparatus is taught. The methods include the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process apparatus in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout or exit orifice is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Carter, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz, Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Paul Leonard Dupree
  • Patent number: 5683653
    Abstract: A system for the recycling of overspray powder during spray forming is provided. The system involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined metal is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice permits the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus. The refined metal passes from the cold finger orifice as a stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Paul Leonard Dupree, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala
  • Patent number: 5332197
    Abstract: A method for the electroslag refining of titanium base alloy is provided. The method involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined titanium base alloy having a higher nitrogen content is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A refining current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets are refined as they pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice is provided to permit the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Benz, Thomas F. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 5310165
    Abstract: A method of atomization of refined metal is taught. The method starts with the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal in the form of droplets is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal droplets are collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth and protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The rate of flow of molten metal through the cold finger apparatus is controlled principally by controlling the rate of melting of the unrefined metal. The metal flowing from the cold finger apparatus is introduced to the upper end of a ceramic melt guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Benz, Thomas F. Sawyer, Steven A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5255900
    Abstract: A method for processing hot, liquid slag includes the steps of: conveying the slag to be processed to an upper region of a granular material forming a fluidized bed that has a temperature below the solidification temperature of the slag; cooling the slag to a temperature below its solidification temperature while simultaneously forming granules; and maintaining the temperature of the fluidized bed at a temperature below the solidification temperature of the slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Kuettner GmbH & Co., K.G.
    Inventor: Hans-Klaus Schott
  • Patent number: 5192487
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating zinc concentrates in order to recover zinc. The method includes an oxidizing and smelting stage (10) and, subsequent to the smelting stage, a fuming stage (20) in which the zinc-oxide-containing slag formed in the smelting stage is so reduced as to remove the metallic zinc with the exhaust gases (28). Part of the reduced slag is discharged during the fuming stage, another part (32) is recirculated to the smelting stage. In accordance with a preferable method, the slag is reduced in two successive fuming stages (20, 40). In an apparatus according to the invention, the slag circulation between the fuming and smelting stages is facilitated by overflows arranged in the partition walls (19) between the various stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Malmstrom, Stig Petersson
  • Patent number: 5160532
    Abstract: A method for the electroslag refining of metal is provided. The method involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined metal is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A refining current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice is provided to permit the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus. The refined metal passes from the cold finger orifice as a stream and is processed into a sound metal structure having desired grain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Benz, Thomas F. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 4978107
    Abstract: To permit a continuous production of foamed blast furnace slag, a revolving conveyor is provided, which is continuously supplied with a stream of slag from a slag feeder in a trough which comprises a bottom and side walls rising from the bottom. Adjacent to the slag feeder, stationary tubular lances extend in said trough closely above the bottom in the direction of conveyance and are formed in a predetermined length portion with radial outlet orifices for a discharge of water into said trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau Gesellschaft m.b.H., Anton Hulek
    Inventors: Anton Hulek, Werner Koller, Kurt Auer
  • Patent number: 4913734
    Abstract: The hereinproposed method and furnace provide for preliminary building up of melt in a melting pot (10) of a rectangular shape in the horizontal section, delivery of an oxygen-containing gas (3) into the melt below its surface level through tuyeres (13) with nozzles (14) installed in the longer walls of the melting pot (10) creating two melt zones: an upper zone (9) loaded with solid carbon fuel (2) in an amount sufficient for providing a volumetric concentration of said fuel within 0.5 to 50% of the melt volume in said zone (9), wherein said concentration is maintained by subsequent concurrent loading of iron-bearing material (1) and solid carbon fuel (2), and a lower zone (8) consisting of a layer of slag (4) and a layer of ferrocarbon intermediate product (5) said layers being discharged separately through channels (17 and 18) made in the counterproposed short walls of the melting pot (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Moskovsky Institut Stali I splavov
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Romenets, Alexandr B. Usachev, Alexei A. Ugarov, Valentin P. Bystrov, Valery S. Valavin, Vasily R. Grebennikov, Anatoly B. Glovatsky, Gennady L. Gursky, Dmitry I. Ryzhonkov, Alexandr D. Vaskevich, Valentina M. Chizhikova, Alexandr D. Yatsenko-Zhuk, Vladimir G. Guglya, Alexandr M. Pozhivanov, Evgeny F. Vegman, Nikolai A. Tulin, Stanislav V. Kremenevsky, Andrei V. Vanjukov, deceased
  • Patent number: 4637591
    Abstract: The invention provides dross treatment apparatus comprising a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis with means to feed dross to the inside of the drum where it is cooled and broken by tumbling and then removed from the other end of the drum for separation and treatment. The invention also provides efficient delivery apparatus for introducing the dross to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventors: J. Philip McMahon, Han Spoel, John McGinley
  • Patent number: 4604136
    Abstract: The method in accordance with the invention comprises a rolling of the liquid slag between at least two cooling rolls of metal, preferably steel, the temperature of and the distance between the rolls being controlled such that a cohesive slag slab is obtained having a solidified surface layer and a melted central layer, the slab still being sufficiently plastic to be shapable, a shaping in conjunction with the rolling or after the same, of the slab into briquettes and a recovery of heat at least from the shaped briquettes, preferably after these have been separated from each other, via any suitable cooling means or medium.The apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises at least two cooling rolls (1) arranged to roll out the liquid slag into a cohesive, shapable slab, means (4) for briquetting the slab and means (5,7) for recovering heat from the shaped briquettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: AB Svensk Alunskifferutveckling
    Inventors: Bruno Bergkvist, Martti Kolhi, Erik Strandell, Christer Svemar
  • Patent number: 4540163
    Abstract: A power driven press for recovering aluminum from aluminum dross is disclosed. The press has a receptacle for containing dross. The receptacle has at least one inclined sidewall and at least one passageway extending through its bottom. The passageway is sized and configured to permit the passage of free aluminum but inhibit the passage of a network of solid particles contained within the dross. Ram means for mechanically compacting the dross is also provided. The ram means applies a compressive force on the dross towards the inclined sidewall of the receptacle to force coalescence and separate a substantial portion of the free aluminum from the dross and pass it through the passageway provided in the receptacle's bottom. The ram means is provided with a ramming surface which faces the inclined sidewall surface of the receptacle. The ramming surface is inclined at an angle which is slightly less than that of the sidewall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Jan H. L. van Linden, James S. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 4484730
    Abstract: Method of and apparatus for leaching copper from slags by the use of a device comprising at least two cells separated by partitions and connected to each other by means of through-holes provided at the bottom part of the partitions, a slag charging hole, a copper matte charging hole, a slag discharge hole, a copper matte discharge hole, and a heating appliance, said partitions being alternately higher and lower, the height of the through-holes through the higher partitions increasing toward the slag discharge holes. Said method includes reduction, sulphidization, and copper matte rinsing of the slag, the copper matte rinsing of the slag being accomplished by its successive movement from one cell into another through a copper matte layer in alternately downward and upwardly directed streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: ISO "Metalurgkomplekt"
    Inventors: Issay M. Dimitrov, Atanas P. Boychev, Vesselin L. Ralchev, Georgi Y. Kostov
  • Patent number: 4420304
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a rapidly cooled solidified slag, which comprises: a pair of cooling drums, the peripheral surfaces of said pair of cooling drums being in contact with each other and rotating in directions opposite to each other at the same peripheral speed; a pair of weirs provided at the both ends of said pair of cooling drums so as to be in contact with the both ends of said pair of cooling drums, said pair of weirs forming a slag sump in cooperation with the upper half of the peripheral surface of each of said pair of cooling drums, and a molten slag being poured into said slag sump; a pair of gas nozzles provided adjacent the peripheral surface of each of said pair of cooling drums, said pair of gas nozzles uniformly ejecting a gas onto the molten slag, which has been deposited on the surface of said pair of cooling drums in said slag sump, to blow part of said molten slag back into said slag sump, thereby uniformly reducing the thickness of said molten slag deposited on the peripheral sur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genji Nakatani, Kazuo Kanai, Haruo Itoh, Yasuto Takasaki, Kenji Ohkoshi, Yoshinobu Yanagida
  • Patent number: 4406666
    Abstract: A device for the gasification of carbon containing material to obtain the continuous production of gas, essentially a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, by using the molten metal bath process is provided. The carbon material, oxidizing agents, and slag-forming additives as needed are introduced into a reactor below the surface of a molten metal bath. The reactor is provided with outlets for the slag, gases, and molten metal. The reactor is also provided with the ability to tilt, swivel, or rotate about a horizontal axis. This rotational movement causes the molten metal bath to alter its location within the reactor, allowing for replacement of the input apparatus of the raw materials, which are normally below the surface, without the necessity of draining the molten metal bath from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventors: Peter Paschen, Chatty Rao, Alfred Kryczun, Roland Pfeiffer, Heinz-Dieter Waldhecker, Rolf Pufal
  • Patent number: 4373907
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for manufacturing a rapidly cooled solidified slag, the improvement relating to the use of pairs of weirs having an annular shape and a hollow portion therein; each of said pair of weirs being fixed to each edge of the peripheral surface of one of a pair of cooling drums so as to form a circular flange at right angles to the axial line of the one cooling drum around the entire circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Kajikawa, Kazuo Kanai, Haruo Ito
  • Patent number: 4362504
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a rapidly cooled solidified slag, which comprises: at least one rotating cooling drum rotating around a horizontal center axis thereof, said cooling drum being cooled by a cooling medium, and having an outer peripheral surface comprising a plurality of jogs over the entire surface thereof; a slag sump arranged at a position where said peripheral surface of said cooling drum begins to rise, the depositing molten slag onto said peripheral surface of said cooling drum; a scraper proved at the lower part of said peripheral surface of said cooling drum; and a slag feeding means arranged above said cooling drum, for pouring said molten slag into said slag sump; whereby said molten slag poured into said slag sump is deposited onto said peripheral surface of said cooling drum, rapidly cooled through heat exchange with said cooling medium along with rotation of said cooling drum to become a solidified slag, and peeled off from said peripheral surface of said cooling drum by said scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Kajikawa, Kazuo Kanai, Haruo Ito, Yoshihisa Hirata, Jiro Konishi, Yasuto Takasaki, Kenji Ohkoshi, Yoshinobu Yanagida
  • Patent number: 4350326
    Abstract: Molten slag fresh from a smelting or refining furnace is ladled into a pan on a wheeled carriage and is thereby transported to a first heat recovery station, where water is heated by radiation from the slag while the latter is being agitated and granulated. On granulation the slag is conveyed as by a skip hoist to a second heat recovery station, where the residual heat of the slag is utilized to heat air by convection. The heated air is directed into a utility device such as a boiler, from which the cooled air is fed back to the second heat recovery station for reheating. Several embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroo Fujii, Kiyoaki Tanaka, Masashi Nakamura, Ryuzo Okuno, Shigeyuki Hashizume, Hideo Katayama, Tsutomu Fujita
  • Patent number: 4330264
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous slag, which comprises: a pair of cooling drums, the peripheral surfaces of said pair of cooling drums being in contact with each other, and said pair of cooling drums rotating in directions opposite to each other at the same peripheral speed; a pair of weirs provided at the upper halves of the both ends of said pair of cooling drums so as to be in contact with said both ends of said pair of cooling drums, a slag sump being formed by means of said pair of weirs and the bodies of said pair of cooling drums, and molten slag being poured into said slag sump; a cooling medium for cooling said pair of cooling drums, said cooling medium comprising a high boiling point heat medium having a boiling point under 1 atmospheric pressure of at least 200.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jirou Konishi, Yasuto Takasaki, Kenji Ohkoshi, Akichika Ozeki, Shuji Kajikawa, Haruo Itoh
  • Patent number: 4294433
    Abstract: A method for processing heavy nonferrous metal raw materials by heating and melting said raw materials in a molten slag with the formation of a heterogeneous melt consisting of a sulfide and an oxide phases. The melt is bubbled oxidized by injecting a gas containing not less than 35% oxygen at an intensity of about 200 to about 2000 m.sup.3 STP/h per square meter of horizontal section of the melt, with the effect that the melt is divided into a top bubbled part and a bottom calm part comprising a slag layer, a matte layer and/or a crude metal layer, each of which is tapped separately. A furnace for putting said method into effect is a shaft terminating in its bottom part by a hearth and having devices for tapping smelting products, whereas the top part is provided with orifices for feeding a charge and removing gaseous smelting products. The furnace has cooled side tuyeres set at a level dividing the shaft into two vertical parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Inventors: Andrei V. Vanjukov, Valery V. Mechev, Valentin P. Bystrov, Evgeny I. Ezhov, Mikhail G. Vasiliev, Vladimir Y. Zaitsev, Vladimir A. Romenets, Vladimir V. Ivanov, Sergei Y. Golik, Evgeny S. Grin-Gnatovsky, Alexandr V. Grechko, Ivan V. Savin, Sultanbek M. Kozhakhmetov, Veniamin B. Meierovich, Vladimir D. Nagibin, Nariman A. Ramazanov, Almas B. Umarov, Valentin E. Ziberov, Askar M. Kunaev, Sauk T. Takezhanov, Petr A. Alexandrov, Boris I. Kolesnikov, Dzhonson T. Khagazheev
  • Patent number: 4222522
    Abstract: In an apparatus which applies refractory material in either wet or dry form onto the inner surface of a furnace by means of a spray pipe, a rotating mechanism for rotating the spray pipe is provided with an automatic oscillating device for automatically effecting a continuous oscillation of the spray pipe, the continuous oscillation improving the operability of the spraying operation while uniformly applying an optimal amount of refractory material onto the inner surface of the furance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Kurosaki Refractories Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sueki Kubo, Toshiro Watanabe, Masayuki Fujita, Tadahiko Matsuno, Akira Morita
  • Patent number: 4208041
    Abstract: A metallurgical apparatus; air is continuously blown into a mixture of agglomerates of lead concentrates and carbonaceous fuel in a shaft furnace. The resulting slag is delivered from the shaft furnace into a settling tank to which the slag continuously flows while the slag is continuously delivered from the settling tank into a fuming furnace, so that the slag flows in cascade from the shaft furnace to the settling tank and from the settling tank to the fuming furnace, thereby providing a continuous flow of the treated slag from the shaft furnace through the settling tank into the fuming furnace; the slag, in addition, is continuously withdrawn from the shaft furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventors: Jordan T. Jordanov, Georgi I. Abrashev, Velyu D. Jekov, Georgi T. Georgiev, Georgi A. Haralampiev, Janco H. Janev, Velcho A. Prodanov
  • Patent number: 4166609
    Abstract: In a scum removing apparatus including a suction source, a suction pipe having one end communicating with the suction source and the other free end positioned above the surface of scum to suck the scum and apply water to the sucked scum in the vicinity of the free end, and a scum separator provided at an intermediate portion of the suction pipe, a device for detecting the level of the scum surface relative to the free end of the suction pipe. The detecting device comprises a pair of electrode rods provided on the outer periphery of the free end of the suction pipe and projecting from the pipe end by a suitable length, and means for detecting variations in the electric resistance between the electrode rods. The electrode rod comprises a tube having accommodated therein a slider slidingly projectable from the front end of the tube and slidingly retractable into the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nagasaki, Koichi Tanimura, Yoshihiro Inoue, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Tetsuo Momose
  • Patent number: 4121810
    Abstract: An aluminium/dross separator comprising a container or drum having one or more mixer blades mounted therein, drive means being provided to produce relative rotary movement of the container and blades characterized in that the drive means are positioned below and/or, to the side of, the container and do not extend over the top thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Meyer Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Wah Lui, Yung-Shu Wang
  • Patent number: 4113239
    Abstract: Molten slag is impinged against a target, for instance a rotary drum, gets itself granulated as it rebounces on the target surface, and is charged into a fluidized bed consisting of solid particles and gas so that slag granules may be quickly cooled without damaging the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Nakada, Makoto Shimizu, Mayumi Yoshinaga