US4687632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal or alloy forming reduction process and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-05-11
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2004-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A reduction process for the production of a product metal which includes the step of reacting at least one reducible metal compound and a reducing metal in a sealed reaction zone by heating the reactants without any substantial agitation from a temperature below the melting point of the reducing metal to a temperature which is both above the melting point of the reducing metal and below the temperature at which the reduction reaction between the metal compound(s) and the reducing metal will proceed spontaneously; initiating a reduction reaction between the reducible metal compound(s) and a molten reducing metal by causing the surface of the molten reducing metal to be suddenly disrupted, thereupon releasing the reaction mixture from said first reaction zone into a product collection zone while permitting the reduction reaction to continue to thereby produce a reduced metal or alloy in zero valent state; and apparatus for conducting the above process.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank W. Hurd, deceased
- 👤 executor by Susan M. Hurd
- 👤 executor by Harland C. Hurd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:02
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B60/00; C22B60/02; C22B60/0291; B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/16; B22F9/18; B22F9/20; C22B34/00; C22B34/10; C22B34/12; C22B34/1263; C22B34/1268; C22B34/14; C22B34/20; C22B34/22; C22B34/24; C22B34/30; C22B34/34; C22B35/00; C22B5/00; C22B5/02; C22B5/04; C22B60/0204; C22B60/0213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A reduction process for the production of a product metal which includes the step of reacting a reducible metal compound and a reducing metal in a sealed reaction zone by heating the reactants without any substantial agitation from a temperature below the melting point of the reducing metal to a temperature which is both above the melting point of the reducing metal and below the temperature at which the reduction reaction between the metal compound and the reducing metal will proceed spontaneously; initiating a reduction reaction between a reducible metal compound and a molten reducing metal by causing the surface of the molten reducing metal to be suddenly disrupted, thereupon releasing the reaction mixture from said first reaction zone into a product collection zone while permitting the reduction reaction to continue to thereby produce a reduced metal in zero valent state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A reduction process for the production of a product metal which includes the step of reacting a reducible metal compound and a reducing metal in a sealed reaction zone by heating the reactants without any substantial agitation from a temperature below the melting point of the reducing metal to a temperature which is both above the melting point of the reducing metal and below the temperature at which the reduction reaction between the metal compound and the reducing metal will proceed spontaneously; initiating a reduction reaction between a reducible metal compound and a molten reducing metal by causing the surface of the molten reducing metal to be suddenly disrupted, thereupon releasing the reaction mixture from said first reaction zone into a product collection zone while permitting the reduction reaction to continue to thereby produce a reduced metal in zero valent state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1, where the metal compound is a reducible metal compound selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafmium, uranium, vanadium, niobium, thorium, beryllium, molybdenum and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1, in which the reducible metal compound is titanium tetrachloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, where the reducible metal compound is zirconium tetrachloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reducible metal compound comprises a mixture of reducible metal compounds, comprising a major amount of a first reducible metal compound and a minor alloying amount of at least a second reducible metal compount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the first reducible metal compound is titanium tetrachloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein the second alloying reducible metal compound is a vanadium halide, an aluminum halide or mixtures thereof.
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) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |