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:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
Edward Scott Jackson, Steamboat Springs, CO (US);
David O. Warren, Cloverdale, CA (US);
Assignee:
Lectrotherm, Inc., N. Canton, OH (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C21B 9/21 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
C21B 9/21 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for optimized mixing in a common hearth in a plasma furnace. The apparatus provides a main hearth, a plurality of optional refining hearths, and a plurality of casting molds or direct molds whereby the refining hearths and molds define at least two separate ingot making lines. A feed chute provides raw material to the main hearth, whereby the feed chute is moveable to optimize its position during operation of the main hearth. Most particularly, the feed chute is moveable to provide better mixing, minimize skull build-up, and optimally place it opposite the overflow in use.