US3783167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High temperature treatment of materials
Assignee: Tetronics International Ltd
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Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for establishing a substantially expanded electric arc discharge between a circulating electrode which includes the use of plasma guns, and a coacting stationary annular electrode through which the discharge effluents emerge. Means for introducing particulate material into the expanded arc discharge and operating the latter as an expanded arc furnace for various chemical reactions including the reduction and separation of ores, melting, refining, comminuting, spheroidizing and coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Tylko J Kazimierz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:49
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B33/00; C01B33/20; C01B33/36; C01B33/38; C01B33/42; C01B13/00; C01B13/14; C01B13/145; C01B33/06; C01B33/26; C01B33/40; C01B33/46; C01B35/00; C01B35/02; C01B35/023; C01B35/04; C01F; C01F7/00; C01F7/02; C01F7/021; C01F7/027; C01G; C01G25/00; C01G25/02; C21; C21B; C21B13/00; C21B13/12; C22; C22B; C22B4/00; C22B4/005; C22B9/00; C22B9/16; C22B9/22; C22B9/226; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32055; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; C01P; C01P2004/00; C01P2004/51; C01P2004/52; C01P2004/60; C01P2004/61; C01P2004/80; C01P2006/00; C01P2006/80; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/10; Y02P10/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A plasma furnace for treatment of materials comprising at least one upper electrode capable of movement along its own longitudinal axis and coacting with a lower annular stationary electrode, means moving said upper electrode in a substantially closed arcuate path with respect to said stationary electrode, means establishing an electrically conductive path between said upper and said lower electrodes, means developing a radially expanded plasma column between said electrodes, means introducing feedstocks into said plasma column, means conducting further substances into the plasma effluents issuing from said annular electrode, means collecting, quenching, separating and discharging the products issuing from the vicinity of said annular electrode, a cooling system associated with said electrodes, and a furnace body containing the electrode assemblies product collecting vessels and conducting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A plasma furnace for treatment of materials comprising at least one upper electrode capable of movement along its own longitudinal axis and coacting with a lower annular stationary electrode, means moving said upper electrode in a substantially closed arcuate path with respect to said stationary electrode, means establishing an electrically conductive path between said upper and said lower electrodes, means developing a radially expanded plasma column between said electrodes, means introducing feedstocks into said plasma column, means conducting further substances into the plasma effluents issuing from said annular electrode, means collecting, quenching, separating and discharging the products issuing from the vicinity of said annular electrode, a cooling system associated with said electrodes, and a furnace body containing the electrode assemblies product collecting vessels and conducting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which the longitudinal axis of the moving electrode generates a latus rectum of a cone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which the longidutinal axis of the moving electrode generates a latus rectum of a cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which the moving electrode is substantially nonconsumable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which the moving electrode comprises a plasma gun.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 5 in which the moving electrode is consumable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 6 in which the consumable electrode is in the form of a hollow conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 5 in which the plasma gun is of the arc-constricting type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which selectively the expanded arc column or its effluents are augmented by the imposition of an alternating electromagnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 9 in which the alternating electromagnetic field is derived from an output coil of a radio frequency generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 8 in which the discharge is initiated in the nontransferred arc mode and is thereafter made to operate in a transferred arc mode by establishing an electrically conducting path to the stationary electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in which the stationary electrode is of substantially annular shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 12 in which the stationary annular electrode comprises a plurality of segments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in combination with means for lowering and raising the circulating electrode for the purpose of starting the discharge and transforming it into an axially extended and radially expanded configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 in combination with means for circulating the moveable electrode in a closed path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 2 in which the resulting plasma column is of at least a portion of a truncated conical shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 16 in which at least part of the latus rectum of the trUncated conical discharge is bounded by curves ranging substantially from exponential to ellipse evolute types.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 including a source of direct current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 1 including a source of alternating current.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 19 in combination with a direct current component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A plasma furnace as claimed in claim 8 in which the rate of flow of plasma forming effluents is substantially reduced.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arc furnace comprising an expanded arc column as claimed in claim 21 including means for passing effluents through at least one annular electrode in combination with means for introducing feedstocks and atmospheres and means for collecting separating and discharging the products.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arc furnace as claimed in claim 22 including means to introduce feedstocks into the upper region of the expanded arc column.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arc furnace as claimed in claim 22 in which part of the furnace atmosphere is provided from the fluids circulating in the annular electrode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
An arc furnace as claimed in claim 22 including in combination means for collecting products in a first collector, means conducting the products collected in the first collector into at least one further adjoining collector, means exposing the products to the modifying influence and means for selectively withdrawing a continuous supply or batches of products from the collectors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arc furnace as claimed in claim 22 in which the arc is transferred to the first collector or products contained therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
An arc furnace as claimed in claim 22 with means for withdrawing gaseous products or parts thereof accumulating in the vicinity of the expanded arc column.
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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |