| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080302211 | LINEAR HEARTH FURNACE SYSTEM AND METHODS REGARDING SAME - Systems and methods for use in processing raw material (e.g., iron bearing material) include a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end (e.g., the linear furnace apparatus includes at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis). Raw material is provided into one or more separate or separable containers (e.g., trays) at the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus. The separate or separable containers are moved through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end where the processed material is discharged resulting in one or more empty containers. One or more of the empty containers are returned to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090194470 | Fines Removal Apparatus and Methods/Systems Regarding Same - Apparatus, methods and systems are used to separate fines from objects of a feed mixture being processed (e.g., iron bearing pellets, chips and dust). For example, at least a portion of an endless belt defining a channel is movable up an incline relative to horizontal (e.g., an incline that is at an angle relative to horizontal that is greater than an angle of repose associated with the objects, but less than an angle of repose associated with the fines being removed). Further, obstruction elements may be used on the endless belt to impede the flow of the fines down the incline. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20100107818 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING METALLIC IRON NODULES - A method for producing metallic iron nodules by assembling a shielding entry system to introduce coarse carbonaceous material greater than 6 mesh in to the furnace atmosphere at location(s) where the temperature of the furnace atmosphere adjacent at least partially reduced reducible iron bearing material is between about 2200 and 2650° F. (1200 and 1450° C., the shielding entry system adapted to inhibit emission of infrared radiation from the furnace atmosphere and seal the furnace atmosphere from exterior atmosphere while introducing coarse carbonaceous material greater than 6 mesh into the furnace to be distributed over the at least partially reduced reducible iron bearing material, and heating the covered at least partially reduced reducible iron bearing material in a fusion atmosphere to assist in fusion and inhibit reoxidation of the reduced material during fusion to assist in fusion and inhibit reoxidation of the reduced material in forming metallic iron nodules. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100148410 | LINEAR HEARTH FURNACE SYSTEM AND METHODS REGARDING SAME - Systems and methods for use in processing raw material (e.g., iron bearing material) include a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end (e.g., the linear furnace apparatus includes at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis). Raw material is provided into one or more separate or separable containers (e.g., trays) at the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus. The separate or separable containers are moved through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end where the processed material is discharged resulting in one or more empty containers. One or more of the empty containers are returned to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100164150 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING METALLIC IRON NUGGETS - Method and system for producing metallic nuggets includes providing reducible mixture (e.g., reducible micro-agglomerates; reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; reducible mixture including additives such as a fluxing agent; compacts, etc.) on at least a portion of a hearth material layer. In one embodiment, a plurality of channel openings extend at least partially through a layer of the reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions. Such channel openings may be at least partially filled with nugget separation fill material (e.g., carbonaceous material). Thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture results in formation of one or more metallic iron nuggets. In other embodiments, various compositions of the reducible mixture and the formation of the reducible mixture provide one or more beneficial characteristics. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20110017016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING AND REMOVING IRON FROM A HEARTH - A system and method for cooling and removing metallic iron and other aggregate from a moving hearth is provided. Cooling may be provided by a secondary cooling system and a spray cooling system in a cooling zone. The secondary cooling system may include an arrangement of coolant tubes for absorbing heat. A flow of nitrogen may be provided through the cooling zone. The spray cooling system may provide evaporative cooling. Aggregate removal may be provided by a magnetic removal system, a plow system, and a sweeper system. The magnetic removal system uses a magnetic device and a moving belt to remove iron materials. The plow system uses a plow to separate and remove aggregate from the moving hearth. The sweeper system may use a vacuum device to pull materials from the moving hearth. | 01-27-2011 |
