US4441920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the thermal production of metals
Assignee: Vereinigte Aluminium Werke AG
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Filing: 1980-11-28
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Granted: 1984-04-10
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Expires: 2000-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the continuous production of metals and/or carbides by thermal reduction is described. In the process, a mixture of metal oxide and carbon is agglomerated, each piece of agglomerate encased in carbon and/or graphite, the carbon casing serves as a housing of the agglomerate during the reducing reaction and as an electrical resistance element for heating of the agglomerate, the encased agglomerates are coked and reduced to metal carbide in a tightly-packed form. Extraction of the metal from the carbide is effected with a halide of the same metal.
Inventors
- 👤 Siegfried Wilkening
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:18
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B5/00; C22B5/02; C22B5/10; C01; C01B; C01B21/00; C01B21/082; C01B21/0828; C01B32/00; C01B32/90; C01B32/914; C01B32/921; C01B33/00; C01B33/02; C01B35/00; C01B35/02; C01B35/023; C01B35/04; C22B1/00; C22B1/14; C22B1/24; C22B1/242; C22B1/244; C22B1/245; C22B21/00; C22B21/0038; C22B21/0053; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/60; C01P; C01P2004/00; C01P2004/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for thermally producing metals which comprises: admixing a metal oxide and carbon; forming said metal oxide and carbon mixture into a plurality of agglomerates, the amount of carbon in each of the agglomerates being sufficient for reducing said metal oxide to a carbide of said metal; encasing each of said agglomerates within a shell comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite; placing said agglomerate containing shells in a tightly packed formation; coking said shells, reducing the metal oxide in said agglomerates to form metal carbide by electrical resistance heating of said tightly packed shell formation, said shells remaining as a housing for said agglomerates and serving as an electrical resistance element for heating the agglomerates during said reducing reaction; and extracting said metal from said metal carbide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for thermally producing metals which comprises: admixing a metal oxide and carbon; forming said metal oxide and carbon mixture into a plurality of agglomerates, the amount of carbon in each of the agglomerates being sufficient for reducing said metal oxide to a carbide of said metal; encasing each of said agglomerates within a shell comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite; placing said agglomerate containing shells in a tightly packed formation; coking said shells, reducing the metal oxide in said agglomerates to form metal carbide by electrical resistance heating of said tightly packed shell formation, said shells remaining as a housing for said agglomerates and serving as an electrical resistance element for heating the agglomerates during said reducing reaction; and extracting said metal from said metal carbide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the extracting step further comprises reacting said metal carbide in said reduced agglomerates with a halide of the metal to form a metal subhalide which disproportionates forming said metal and the halide of said metal, and removing said metal from said halide of the metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxide comprises pure calcined aluminum oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of the oxides of boron, silicon, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten and uranium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 3 which comprises employing aluminum fluoride for the extraction of aluminum carbide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said agglomerates comprise shaped briquettes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the extracting step further comprises forming gaseous subhalides of the metal to be extracted by reacting said metal carbide in said reduced agglomerates with a halide of the metal; allowing said subhalides to disproportionate into the metal to be extracted and the halide of the metal; and separating the metal to be extracted at a temperature above the vaporization point of the higher valence halide of the metal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for the thermal production of aluminum metal and aluminum carbide which comprises forming a mixture of aluminum oxide particles and carbon into an agglomerate; encasing the agglomerate in a covering made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite; placing a plurality of said encased agglomerates in a tightly packed formation wherein said coverings are in contacting relation with one another; coking said agglomerates in said tightly-packed formation; reducing said agglomerates by electrical resistance heating of said coverings which constitute the electrical heating elements in said tightly-packed formation, thereby to form aluminum carbide; and extracting aluminum metal from said aluminum carbide.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for the thermal production of aluminum metal and aluminum carbide which comprises forming a mixture of aluminum oxide particles and carbon into an agglomerate; encasing the agglomerate in a covering made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite; placing a plurality of said encased agglomerates in a tightly packed formation wherein said coverings are in contacting relation with one another; coking said agglomerates in said tightly-packed formation; reducing said agglomerates by electrical resistance heating of said coverings which constitute the electrical heating elements in said tightly-packed formation, thereby to form aluminum carbide; and extracting aluminum metal from said aluminum carbide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-10 | 1987-10-10 | 1988-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-10 | 1991-10-10 | 1992-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-10 | 1995-10-10 | 1996-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |