US3839017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for converting impure ferrous metal to steel
Assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-04
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-01-04
Abstract
Abstract Finely divided materials such as burnt lime, iron oxide and fluorspar are entrained in oxygen and blown into the bottom of a converter vessel. A plurality of nozzles are directed through the side of the vessel above the surface of the melt therein. The nozzles project oxygen streams toward the melt to react with hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) evolving therefrom thus effecting an exothermic reaction which provides additional heat to the melt which aids in fluidizing the slag and permits charging the vessel with a greater quantity of scrap.
Inventors
- 👤 E Schempp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:27
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/28; C21C5/30; C21C5/35; C21C5/34; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A METHOD OF CONVERTING MOLTEN FERROUS METAL TO STEEL COMPRISING THE STEP OF: A. HOLDING A QUANTITY OF MOLTEN METAL IN A REFRACTORY LINED METALLURGICAL VESSEL, B. INJECTING OXYGEN THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AND BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL SO THAT THE OXYGEN PERMEATES THE MOLTEN METAL AND REACTS EXOTHERMICALLY WITH CARBON IN THE METAL TO PRODUCE HEAT AND AT LEAST CARBON MONOXIDE GAS WHICH EVOLVES FROM THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID MOLTEN METAL, AND C. INJECTING HYDROCARBON FLUID THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AND IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO SAID OXYGEN, SAID HYDROCARBON DECOMPOSING TO PROVIDE HYDROGEN WHICH EVOLVES FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID METAL, D. SIMULTANEOUSLY INJECTING OXYGEN THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AT A FIRST POINT ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THERETO TO EFFECT THE COMBUSTION OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN FOR PRODUCING ADDITIONAL HEAT WITHIN THE VESSEL, THEREBY FLUIDIZING SLAG WHICH IS ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL, E. AND REMOVING GASES FROM SAID VESSEL AT A POINT ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A METHOD OF CONVERTING MOLTEN FERROUS METAL TO STEEL COMPRISING THE STEP OF: A. HOLDING A QUANTITY OF MOLTEN METAL IN A REFRACTORY LINED METALLURGICAL VESSEL, B. INJECTING OXYGEN THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AND BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL SO THAT THE OXYGEN PERMEATES THE MOLTEN METAL AND REACTS EXOTHERMICALLY WITH CARBON IN THE METAL TO PRODUCE HEAT AND AT LEAST CARBON MONOXIDE GAS WHICH EVOLVES FROM THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID MOLTEN METAL, AND C. INJECTING HYDROCARBON FLUID THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AND IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO SAID OXYGEN, SAID HYDROCARBON DECOMPOSING TO PROVIDE HYDROGEN WHICH EVOLVES FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID METAL, D. SIMULTANEOUSLY INJECTING OXYGEN THROUGH THE LINING OF SAID VESSEL AT A FIRST POINT ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THERETO TO EFFECT THE COMBUSTION OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN FOR PRODUCING ADDITIONAL HEAT WITHIN THE VESSEL, THEREBY FLUIDIZING SLAG WHICH IS ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE MOLTEN METAL, E. AND REMOVING GASES FROM SAID VESSEL AT A POINT ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of: a. injecting a hydrocarbon fluid into the vessel below the surface of the molten metal simultaneously with injecting oxygen below the surface of the molten metal as aforesaid, the said hydrocarbon decomposing and producing hydrogen which evolves from the surface of the molten metal, b. the oxygen which is injected above the surface of the molten metal reacting exothermically with the hydrogen to produce additional heat within the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of: a. injecting iron oxide into the vessel during at least part of the time during which oxygen is being injected above the surface of the molten metal, said iron oxide being injected into the slag formed on the surface of the molten metal to thereby render the slag more fluid so as to enable metal globules ejected from the molten metal to sink from the slag back into the melt and to improve removal of phosphorus from the melt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method set forth in claim 1 and a. injecting the oxygen above the surface of the molten metal at an acute angle with respect to said surface to thereby effect stirring of the slag and molten metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method set forth in claim 4 and a. injecting the oxygen below the surface of the melt in a direction opposed to that of the motion of said metal resulting from the injection of oxygen above said surface to produce turbulence in the slag and molten metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. injecting the oxygen below the surface of the melt in substantially the same direction as that of the motion of the metal resulting from the injection of oxygen below the surface of molten metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the oxygen injected into the vessel above the molten metal amounts to about 5 to 20 percent of the oxygen which is injected from below the surface of the molten metal During a process cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method set forth in claim 1 and including the step of injecting a finely divided lime containing material into the molten metal and beneath the surface thereof for forming a slag on the upper surface of said metal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |