US3894864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the continuous production of steel from ore
Assignee: Kloeckner Werke AG
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Filing: 1973-03-02
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Iron ore is continuously converted to steel by introducing the ore into a shaft furnace of substantially equal cross-sectional width and thus forming a column of the charge therein; introducing a reducing gas into the furnace and exposing the bottom portion of the charge column from below to the heat of an electric arc the source of which is centrally disposed in the bottom of the furnace and thus causing the gradual super-heating and melting of the bottom portion of the charge so as to form a dome-shaped cavity at the bottom of the charge column while the column gradually moves downward under the force of gravity and collecting and tapping the formed molten steel at the bottom of the furnace.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Juergen Langhammer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:59
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/52; C21B; C21B13/00; C21B13/02; C21B13/12; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/10; Y02P10/134; Y02P10/143; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A process for the production of steel from a material selected from the group consisting of ore, pellets, and sinter comprising the steps of admitting a charge into a substantially vertically arranged zone so as to form in said zone a column of said charge which descends by gravity from an upper portion to a lower portion of said zone; reducing at least part of said charge in the region of said upper portion of said zone; melting said charge in the region of said lower portion of said zone with an electric arc directed at the lower portion of said column; superheating the resulting molten material with said arc; and evacuating the superheated molten material from said zone substantially continuously during the melting step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A process for the production of steel from a material selected from the group consisting of ore, pellets, and sinter comprising the steps of admitting a charge into a substantially vertically arranged zone so as to form in said zone a column of said charge which descends by gravity from an upper portion to a lower portion of said zone; reducing at least part of said charge in the region of said upper portion of said zone; melting said charge in the region of said lower portion of said zone with an electric arc directed at the lower portion of said column; superheating the resulting molten material with said arc; and evacuating the superheated molten material from said zone substantially continuously during the melting step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said zone has an approximately constant cross-sectional area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as defined in claim 2, wherein said zone is of slightly downwardly and outwardly tapering configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said arc heats and melts the major part of the cross-section of said leading end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said arc is substantially centered with respect to the cross-section of said leading end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process as defined in claim 1, said zone having a bottom; and wherein said arc is effective for forming an approximately dome-shaped cavity in said leading end so that only a peripheral portion of said leading end bears against said bottom to support said column in said zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the melting step is performed substantially continuously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the reducing step comprises introducing a reducing gas into said zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as defined in claim 8, wherein at least part of said reducing gas is introduced directly into said upper portion of said zone from peripherally of said zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as defined in claim 8, wherein at least part of said reducing gas is introduced into said lower portion of said zone to be heated by said arc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process as defined in claim 8, wherein the melting capacity of said arc is variable in response to changes in the quantity of electrical energy supplied for said arc and the quantity of said reducing gas introduced into said zone varies in response to said changes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as defined in claim 8; and further comprising the step of introducing an inert gas into said zone for maintaining reducing conditions in said zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the admitting step is performed substantially continuously.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said charge comprises alloying additions so that said molten material is in the form of steel having a desired analysis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined in claim 14, wherein said alloying additions are at least partially in the form of reducible oxides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said charge comprises limestone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said charge comprises coke.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as defined in claim 1, said charge comprising additions for influencing the nature of said molten material; and wherein said additives are substantially uniformly distributed throughout said charge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A PROCESS AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 1, WHEREIN THE MELTING STEP IS PERFORMED UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY NON-OXIDIZING CONDITIONS.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein, the superheating step comprises temporarily collecting said molten material in said lower portion of said zone.
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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |