US3596040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heating particulate material
Assignee: British Titan Products Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1968-07-10
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1988-07-10
Abstract
Abstract Heating particulate material by means of radiofrequency induced plasma in a stream of gas by introducing the particulate material into the downstream half of the plasma through a feed tube which terminates within the downstream half of the volume of plasma.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Compton Macdonald
- 👤 Arthur Leonard Riley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32082; H01J37/321; H01J37/32431; H01J37/32733; H01J37/32743
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of heating particulate material which comprises establishing and maintaining a volume of plasma in a stream of gas in a gas-confining tube by passing a radiofrequency (induced) electric current through a coil of electrically conductive material mounted around (discharge in a stream of gas in) said tube and introducing the particulate material to be heated into the downstream half of the volume of plasma in said gas by means of a feed tube terminating within the downstream half of the volume of plasma.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of heating particulate material which comprises establishing and maintaining a volume of plasma in a stream of gas in a gas-confining tube by passing a radiofrequency (induced) electric current through a coil of electrically conductive material mounted around (discharge in a stream of gas in) said tube and introducing the particulate material to be heated into the downstream half of the volume of plasma in said gas by means of a feed tube terminating within the downstream half of the volume of plasma.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the gas-confining tube is mounted with its longitudinal axis vertical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the gas-confining tube is mounted with its longitudinal axis horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the gas-confining tube is mounted with its longitudinal axis at an angle between the vertical and the horizontal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the gas-confining tube is mounted with its longitudinal axis at an angle of from 45-75* to the vertical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the electrically conducting material is connected to a source of oscillating current having a frequency in the range 200 kilocycles to 20 megacycles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the electric current has a frequency within the range 1 megacycle to 10 megacycles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the coil comprises from 3-10 turns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the coil has from 4-9 turns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the feed tube is mounted parallel to the axis of the gas-confining tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the feed tube is mounted so that its axis is axially aligned with the axis Of the gas-confining tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the feed tube is mounted at an angle to the axis of the gas-confining tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the feed tube terminates in the central core portion of the volume of plasma.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the feed tube is cooled during use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate material to be heated has a particle size in the range from 30-1000 Mu .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the particle size is from 30-500 Mu .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the particle size is from 100-200 Mu .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate material is supplied through the feed tube at a controlled rate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the particulate material is supplied through the feed tube at a constant rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate material is introduced into the volume of plasma in a form of a suspension in a gas stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the stream of gas in said tube is argon, helium, neon, krypton, carbon dioxide, oxygen, chlorine or an oxide of nitrogen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate material to be heated is a titaniferous material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein the titaniferous material is mineral rutile.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein a rutilising agent is introduced into the volume of plasma with the titaniferous material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein a rutilising agent is introduced into the gas stream at a point beyond the volume of plasma and before condensation of titanium dioxide thus produced is complete.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein the rutilising agent is an aluminum trihalide or a zirconium tetrahalide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the feed tube terminates within the central core of the downstream half of the volume of plasma.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |