Rockville, IN, United States of America

Ralph D Heifner

This inventor holds 2 USPTO granted patents. Top assignees: Atlantic Richfield Company, The Anaconda Company. Active years: 1983-1985.

IDiyas Innovation Intelligence. (2026). Inventor Profile: Ralph D Heifner. Retrieved from https://idiyas.com/inventor/ralph-d-heifner

Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile

Calculating rank

% Patents Active = 100.0

Average Co-Inventor Count = 3.0

ph-index = 2

Forward Citations = 45(Granted Patents)


Company Filing History:


Years Active: 1983-1985

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2 patents (USPTO):Explore Patents

Title: The Innovative Contributions of Ralph D. Heifner

Introduction

Ralph D. Heifner, located in Rockville, Indiana, is an esteemed inventor known for his significant contributions to metal recovery technologies. With a total of two patents to his name, Heifner has pioneered methods that enhance the efficiency of recovering aluminum from metal-bearing dross, an essential process in metallurgy.

Latest Patents

Heifner's latest patents include a "Metal Recovery Compression Mechanism" and a "Metal Recovery Process from Aluminum Dross." Both inventions utilize a trough for dross collection, with a wedge member that compresses the dross. This innovative approach allows for the decanting of metal from the compressed dross, enhancing recovery rates significantly. The mechanism cools the dross material during the process, thereby reducing metal loss due to thermite reactions. Remarkably, the improved method boasts a recovery rate of about 95% of aluminum metal from dross that contains approximately 70% aluminum, a substantial improvement over prior art techniques that achieved around 50% recovery.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Ralph D. Heifner has worked with reputable companies, including the Anaconda Company and Atlantic Richfield Company. His experiences in these industries have contributed to his understanding and subsequent innovations in metal recovery.

Collaborations

In his journey as an inventor, Heifner has worked alongside notable colleagues such as David J. Roth and Lawrence R. Culler. Their collaborations have further enriched the development and implementation of effective metal recovery solutions.

Conclusion

Ralph D. Heifner's innovative patents have made a significant impact on the field of metallurgy, particularly in the recovery of aluminum. With a combination of his expertise and collaborative efforts, he continues to lead advancements that improve recycling processes and efficiency in the industry. His work serves as an inspiration for future inventors and a testament to the importance of innovation in addressing industrial challenges.

Profile summary based on public USPTO records.
Data Sources: USPTO Patent Grant XML, Patent Center, EPO & CIPO • Normalized by IDiyas Innovation Graph. Methodology & provenance architecturePlease report any incorrect information to [email protected]
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