US3948642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of melting and arrangement therefor
Assignee: Kloeckner Werke AG
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Filing: 1974-05-14
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-05-14
Abstract
Abstract Particulate material such as scrap, sponge iron, prereduced pellets and the like is introduced into the top of a vertically arranged melting chamber and forms a column in the latter. The material is melted by directing a flame or an electric arc against the lower end of the column and the melt thus formed collects at the bottom of the chamber. As melting continues, fresh particulate material travels downwardly through the melting chamber to become exposed to the action of the flame or arc. A projection is provided at the bottom of the melting chamber and has an upper surface which is located above the level of the melt. The flame or arc is so adjusted that a portion of the lower end of the column bears against the upper surface of the projection. In this manner, the column is supported in the chamber without contacting the melt so that excessive loss of heat from the melt is prevented. If the flame or arc is annular, then the center of the lower end of the column will bear against the projection which latter will, in this case, be located in the center of the chamber. If the flame or arc is plate-shaped and is directed against the center of the lower end of the column, then the edge of the lower end of the column will bear against the projection which latter will, in this case, be located at the periphery of the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhold Gross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:57
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/56; C21C5/562; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S266/00; Y10S266/90; Y10S266/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of melting particulate substances, comprising forming a column of particulate material in a melting zone; and effecting melting of said column in a first region of said zone so as to cause the formation of molten material which flows into a second region of said zone, said melting being performed such that at least one portion of said column is caused to support said column in said zone and bears against a third region of said zone which is substantially free of contact with the molten material in said second region of said zone thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said zone to said column during said melting.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of melting particulate substances, comprising forming a column of particulate material in a melting zone; and effecting melting of said column in a first region of said zone so as to cause the formation of molten material which flows into a second region of said zone, said melting being performed such that at least one portion of said column is caused to support said column in said zone and bears against a third region of said zone which is substantially free of contact with the molten material in said second region of said zone thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said zone to said column during said melting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said particulate material comprises at least one member of the group consisting of scrap, sponge iron and prereduced pellets.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of melting particulate substances, comprising forming a column of particulate material in a substantially vertically oriented melting zone, said column having a leading end located in a first region of said zone; and melting at least part of said leading end so as to cause the formation of molten material which flows into a second region of said zone, said melting being performed such that at least one portion of said column constituting a minor part of the cross-section of said column and constituting a part of said leading end is caused to support said column in said zone and bears against a third region of said zone which is substantially free of contact with the molten material in said second region of said zone thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said zone to said column during said melting, said particulate material descending along said zone as said melting progresses.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of melting particulate substances, comprising forming a column of particulate material in a substantially vertically oriented melting zone, said column having a leading end located in a first region of said zone; and melting at least part of said leading end so as to cause the formation of molten material which flows into a second region of said zone, said melting being performed such that at least one portion of said column constituting a minor part of the cross-section of said column and constituting a part of said leading end is caused to support said column in said zone and bears against a third region of said zone which is substantially free of contact with the molten material in said second region of said zone thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said zone to said column during said melting, said particulate material descending along said zone as said melting progresses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
An arrangement for melting particulate substances, comprising means defining a substantially vertically oriented melting chamber for accommodating a column of particulate material to be melted, said chamber including a first region in which melting of said column occurs, a second region into which the molten material formed by melting of said column flows, and a third region arranged so that contact thereof by the molten material which has flowed into said second region is substantially prevented; and means for effecting melting of said column in said first region of said chamber, said melting means being arranged to melt said column in such a manner that at least one portion of said column is caused to support said column in said chamber and bears against said third region of said chamber thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said chamber to said column during melting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
An arrangement for melting particulate substances, comprising means defining a substantially vertically oriented melting chamber for accommodating a column of particulate material to be melted, said chamber including a first region in which melting of said column occurs, a second region into which the molten material formed by melting of said column flows, and a third region arranged so that contact thereof by the molten material which has flowed into said second region is substantially prevented; and means for effecting melting of said column in said first region of said chamber, said melting means being arranged to melt said column in such a manner that at least one portion of said column is caused to support said column in said chamber and bears against said third region of said chamber thereby preventing substantial heat transfer from the molten material in said second region of said chamber to said column during melting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said one portion of said column constitutes a minor part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, said zone being vertically oriented, and said particulate material descending along said zone; and wherein said melting comprises melting at least part of the leading end of said column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said one portion of said column constitutes part of said leading end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 7, said one portion of said column being of substantially annular configuration; and wherein said third region of said zone is of substantially annular configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 7, said one portion of said column comprising a center portion of said leading end; and wherein said third region of said zone comprises a center region thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 6, said second region of said zone comprising a bottom region thereof, and said molten material filling said bottom region to at most a predetermined level; and wherein said third region of said zone is located above said predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 6, said second region of said zone comprising a heat-resistant bottom region thereof; and wherein said first region of said zone is located at a sufficient distance above said bottom region of said zone as to permit said molten material to cover and thermally insulate said bottom region of said zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said zone is of substantially circular cross-section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein at least a bottom section of said zone is of downwardly and outwardly flaring configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting is performed continuously.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting comprises directing a flame at said column.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said flame extends across a major part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting comprises directing an electric arc at said column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said electric arc extends across a major part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 4, said second region of said chamber comprising a bottom region thereof; further comprising a projection extending upwardly of said bottom region of said chamber and having an upwardly facing surface portion; and wherein said third region of said chamber comprises said surface portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said projection comprises heat-resistant material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said projection is substantially centered with respect to the cross-section of said chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defind in claim 17, wherein said projection is of substantially circular configuration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said projection is of substantially annular configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said projection extends along a periphery of said chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting means is so arranged that said one portion of said column constitutes a minor part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
an arrangement as defined in claim 25, wherein said melting means is arranged to melt at least part of the leading end of said column.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein said melting means is so rranged that said one portion of said column constitutes part of said leading end.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement as defined inn claim 27, said melting means being so arranged that said one portion of said column is of substantially annular configuration; and wherein said third region of said chamber is of substantially annular configuration.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 27, said melting means being so arranged that said one portion of said column comprises a center region of said leading end; and wherein said third region of said chamber comprises a center region thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 27, said melting means being so arranged that said one portion of said column comprises a peripheral portion of said leading end; and wherein said third region of said chamber comprises a peripheral region thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 26, said second region of said chamber comprising a bottom region thereof which is adapted to be filled with said molten material to at most a predetermined level; and wherein said third region of said chamber is located above said predetermined level.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 26, said second region of said chamber comprising a bottom region thereof; further comprising a heat-resistant lining at said bottom region; and wherein said first region of said chamber is located at a sufficient distance above said bottom region as to permit said molten material to cover and thermally insulate said lining.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein the interior of said chamber is of substantially cylindrical configuration.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein at least a bottom section of the interior of said chamber is of downwardly and outwardly flaring configuration.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1; and further comprising outlet means communicating with said second region of said chamber for withdrawing said molten material from said chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting means comprises flame-generating means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 36, wherein said flame-generating means is so arranged that the flame generated thereby extends across a major part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said melting means comprises electric arc-generating means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 38, wherein said electric arc-generating means is so arranged that the electric arc generated thereby extends across a major part of the cross-section of said column.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of discontinuously withdrawing said molten material from said zone.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 40, wherein tapping is effected from time to time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein additional means are provided for superheating the molten material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 42, the additional means for superheating comprising additional burners directed to the surface of the molten material.
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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) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |