US3554508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scrap metal preheaters
Assignee: Alco Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-05
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A preheater apparatus including a combustion chamber with a blower air annulus and a concentric exhaust gas annulus and communicating exhaust duct, a charge bucket positionable beneath said chamber having an annular cavity with vertical tubes therein communicating with said combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus, ejector means for drawing the exhaust gases upwardly into said tubes, an opening through which air is drawn into said tubes to cool said gases as they flow upwardly into said combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus and out through said exhaust duct, and a combustion air blower adapted to direct air into and through said blower air annulus to the burners, said air cooling the combustion chamber wall and also being preheated thereby to promote maximum burner efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 David E Dell Agnese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:54
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/56; C21C5/562; C21C5/565; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A scrap metal preheater assembly, comprising: an open bottom combustion chamber having an outer wall and having a first substantially concentric inner wall defining an open bottom exhaust gas annulus therebetween; gas burner means positioned to direct hot combustion gases downwardly through said combustion chamber; an exhaust duct communicating with said combustion chamber; and exhaust duct communicating with said exhaust gas annulus and extending outwardly from said combustion chamber; and open top scrap metal charge bucket positioned in alignment below said combustion chamber, said bucket having an outer wall and an inner wall defining an annular space therebetween having openings at its top and bottom ends, the upper end of said bucket annular space being adapted to register with said combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus when said combustion chamber is positioned on top of said bucket, and said bucket having an air intake opening in the lower portion thereof; means for removably sealingly coupling said combustion chamber and charge bucket members in vertically aligned relationship; and power-driven suction creating means adapted to cause hot combustion gases which pass downwardly through a scrap metal charge in the bucket during operation of the preheater to be drawn upwardly in said bucket annular space while outside air is simultaneously drawn into said space through said bucket air intake opening to mix with and cool said combustion gases as said gases are drawn upwardly into the communicating combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus and out through said exhaust duct.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A scrap metal preheater assembly, comprising: an open bottom combustion chamber having an outer wall and having a first substantially concentric inner wall defining an open bottom exhaust gas annulus therebetween; gas burner means positioned to direct hot combustion gases downwardly through said combustion chamber; an exhaust duct communicating with said combustion chamber; and exhaust duct communicating with said exhaust gas annulus and extending outwardly from said combustion chamber; and open top scrap metal charge bucket positioned in alignment below said combustion chamber, said bucket having an outer wall and an inner wall defining an annular space therebetween having openings at its top and bottom ends, the upper end of said bucket annular space being adapted to register with said combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus when said combustion chamber is positioned on top of said bucket, and said bucket having an air intake opening in the lower portion thereof; means for removably sealingly coupling said combustion chamber and charge bucket members in vertically aligned relationship; and power-driven suction creating means adapted to cause hot combustion gases which pass downwardly through a scrap metal charge in the bucket during operation of the preheater to be drawn upwardly in said bucket annular space while outside air is simultaneously drawn into said space through said bucket air intake opening to mix with and cool said combustion gases as said gases are drawn upwardly into the communicating combustion chamber exhaust gas annulus and out through said exhaust duct.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 having a second inner wall within said combustion chamber spaced from and substantially concentric with said first inner wall and defining an inner, combustion air annulus therebetween communicating with said gas burner means; and having a power-driven combustion blower communicating with said combustion air annulus, said blower directing cooling air around and upwardly through said inner annulus to the burners for use in firing said burners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 having a plurality of vertical, open ended riser tubes mounted in spaced relation within said bucket annular space, an having ceramic material packed between said tubes whereby said combustion gases and cooling air will be directed into and upwardly through said riser tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 3 wherein said riser tubes are formed of metal and are supported at their upper ends with their lower ends loose to permit linear expansion of said tubes when they become hot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 and wherein said combustion chamber is vertically movable to permit the separable pressurable engagement of the same on the top of said charge bucket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 5 and including power-driven means for raising and lowering said combustion chamber into and out of pressurable engagement with said bucket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said burners are provided with independently adjustable low, medium, and high settings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 7 and including means for automatically switching said burners through said variable settings in desired sequence and for desired durations during the preheating cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 8 and including programming means for automatically setting and activating said gas burner means in accordance with predetermined requirements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 7 and including means automatically switching said burners to low when said combustion chamber and bucket members are separated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 and including means for deactivating said burners during the preheating operation if desired.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 and including means automatically deactivating said burners in the event of an operational failure in the apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber outer and inner walls are formed of metal and said chamber is entirely devoid of refractory lining.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said suction creating means includes a venturi-type air ejector associated with said exhaust duct.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said suction creating means can be adjusted as desired, depending upon the particular preheating operation and density of the scrap metal charge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said bucket is provided with hingedly attached bottom doors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 16 wherein said air intake opening is formed between said bottom doors and said bucket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber and bucket members are provided with annular flanges and gasket means which coact to provide a leakproof seal therebetween when said members are coupled together, said flanges extending laterally to compensate for inadvertent misalignment of said members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scrap metal preheater recited in claim 1 and including gas cleaning means associated with said exhaust duct.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |