The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 15, 1982
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1980
Robert M Kibby, Richmond, VA (US);
Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
A carbothermic reduction process is described for producing alumina metal containing about 10% Al.sub.4 C.sub.3. The process heats a descending charge by radiation at a rate of heat flux of 10-100 KW/sq. inch, to form a melt surface that is spaced from an open arc between a pair of electrodes. Additional alumina beyond the stoichiometric amount is preferably introduced into the reduction zone immediately surrounding the melt surface. A large moving-bed shaft furnace is utilized. This furnace comprises hearth shoulders and preferably also comprises alumina introduction ports and a charge shaping device that cooperatively interacts with the hearth shoulders to suspend the descending charge column above a pool of melted aluminum product therebeneath, whereby the aluminum product is able to flow and/or fall into the pool with minimum passage over unreacted charge.