Process of reducing metal oxides

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF PREHEATING AND REDUCING IRON OXIDE ORES IN A FURANCE BY DIRECT REDUCTION OF THE OXDE WITH A SOLID CARBONACEOUS REDUCING WHILE RECYCLING THE REACTION GASES GENERATED BY AND IN EQUILIBRIUM WITH THE REDUCTION REACTION IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE FURANCE AND THEREBY MINIMIZE OXIDATION OF CARBON AND REOXIDATION OF REDUCED IRON WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF FORMING MOLDED AGGREGATES OF THE IRON OXIDE ORE IN FINELY DIVIDED FORM TOGETHER WITH A SOLID CARBONACEOUS REDUCING AGENT, CHARGING THE AGGREGATES TO THE FURNACE, HEATING THE AGGREGATES TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 800*C. TO ABOUT 1100*C. TO REDUCE THE IRON OXIDE BY REACTION WITH THE CARBONACEOUS REDUCING AGENT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GENERATE REACTION GAS IN EQUILIBRIUM WITH SUCH REACTION AND CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF CO IN MAJOR PROPORTION AND CO2 IN MINOR PROPORTION, WITHDRAWING THE REACTION GAS FROM THE FURANCE, DIVIDING OUT A PORTION OF THE REACTION GASES AND BURNING THE DIVIDED OUT PORTION IN A HEATING ZONE, PASSING THE REMAINDER OF THE RE-