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:
May. 29, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2008
Christian Nowottny, Nidderau, DE;
Horst Meyer, Altenstadt, DE;
Matthias Grehl, Goldbach, DE;
Dieter Schäfer, Münzenberg, DE;
Hans-joachim Alt, Bruchköbel, DE;
Wilhelm Glab, Mühlheim/Main, DE;
Christian Nowottny, Nidderau, DE;
Horst Meyer, Altenstadt, DE;
Matthias Grehl, Goldbach, DE;
Dieter Schäfer, Münzenberg, DE;
Hans-Joachim Alt, Bruchköbel, DE;
Wilhelm Glab, Mühlheim/Main, DE;
Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG, Hanau, DE;
Abstract
A recycling furnace and method are provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy, the furnace including a switching facility for alternating operation of a burning-off chamber of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. Steps (A) and (B) are carried out sequentially in the furnace chamber, wherein neither the batch is changed, nor the furnace is opened. After the end of step (A) is determined, step (B) proceeds right after the pyrolysis or carbonization by supplying air or oxygen. A dosing of liquid or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion. Thermal post-combustion is used for two furnace chambers, one operated for pyrolysis or carbonization and the other operated as a combustion chamber.