US3804339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of fragmentizing metal strap
Assignee: British Steel Corp
•
Filing: 1972-07-07
•
Granted: 1974-04-16
•
Expires: 1992-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A process for the preparation of steel scrap either for charging to a furnace or for roll compaction. The scrap is pressed into bundles and cooled nitrogen is then passed through the bundle to reduce the temperature of the steel scrap so that it becomes brittle. The cooled bundle is then fragmented in a crusher. The cooled nitrogen is supplied from a heat exchanger into which a cooling agent, liquid methane, is fed, the methane emerging from the heat exchanger in the gaseous phase.
Inventors
- 👤 W Laws
- 👤 N Townsend
- 👤 P Barham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:30
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/11; B; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B02C19/0056; B02C19/0062; B02C19/18; B02C19/186; F28; F28C; F28C3/00; F28C3/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/37; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49751; Y10T29/49753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the cooling agent is compressed by means driven by a heat engine, the hot exhaust gases from which are used to heat the fragmented scrap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the cooling agent is liquified by means driven by a heat engine, the hot exhaust gases from which are used to heat the fragmented scrap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the cooling agent includes methane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 4 in which the scrap is pressed into bundles before being contacted by the cooled gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the fragmented scrap is passed to a recuperator where the fragmented scrap receives heat from the gaseous atmosphere used to cool the scrap to be fragmented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 1 in which, after the scrap is fragmented, scrap pieces larger than a desired size are separated from the remainder of the fragmented scrap, said larger pieces are subjected to a liquified normally gaseous cooling agent to reduce their temperature and are then fragmented.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the scrap is passed continuously through the cooling enclosure which is continuously fed with the cooled gaseous atmosphere, the atmosphere, the gas emerging from the enclosure being fed back to the heat exchanger to be cooled again.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 8 in which the scrap is fed through the cooling enclosure in one sense and the cooled gaseous atmosphere flows through the chamber in the opopsite sense.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 5 in which bundles of scrap are successively positioned in a store where they are contacted by the cooled gas and are successively removed after a period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the cooled gaseous atmosphere is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the cooled gaseous atmosphere is nitrogen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the gaseous atmosphere emerging from the cooling enclosure is fed back to the heat exchanger to be cooled again.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2742176A
Cited
US3072347A
Cited
US3137101A
Cited
US3298138A
Cited
US3643873A
Cited
US3713592A
Cited
US3666185A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-15 | 1977-10-15 | 1978-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-15 | 1981-10-15 | 1982-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-15 | 1985-10-15 | 1986-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |