Method for producing metals

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A PRODUCT METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TITAINUM, ZIRCONIUM, HAFNIUM, VANADIUM, COLUMBIUM, TANTALUM, CHROMIUM, MCLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN, IRON COBALT, NICKEL AND MIXTURES THEREOF BY REDUCTION OF A HALIDE OF THE PRODUCT METAL WITH A METTALIC REDUCING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MIXING AT LEAST ONE HALIDE AND THE REDUCING AGENT EACH IN FLUID PHASE IN A REACTION ZONE SO THAT THEY REACT WITH INTENSE HEAT TO FORM A HIGHLY HEATED REACTION FLAME WHICH IS AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE MELTING POINT OF THE PRODUCT METAL AND ABOVE THE VAPORIZATION TEMPERATURE OF THE BY-PRODUCT HALIDE, DIRECTING SAID FLAME AGAINST A BODY OF THE PRODUCT METAL TO MAINTAIN THE SURFACE OF THE PRODUCT METAL AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE VAPORIZATION TEMPERATURE OF THE BY-PRODUCT HALIDE AND TO COLLECT THE PRODUCT METAL IN THE FLAME ON THE HOT PRODUCT METAL SURFACE, THE ELEVATED TEMPERATUE BEING DUE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE REACTION HEAT AND THE SUPERHEAT OF THE REACTANTS, AND SEPARATELY WITHDRAWING THE PRODUCT METAL AND THE BY-PRODUCT HALIDE FROM THE REACTION ZONE.