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:
Sep. 17, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 17, 2012
Rodney L. Bleifuss, Grand Rapids, MN (US);
David J. Englund, Bovey, MN (US);
Iwao Iwasaki, Tokyo, JP;
Donald R. Fosnacht, Hermantown, MN (US);
Mark M. Brandon, Charlotte, NC (US);
Bradford G. True, Charlotte, NC (US);
Rodney L. Bleifuss, Grand Rapids, MN (US);
David J. Englund, Bovey, MN (US);
Iwao Iwasaki, Tokyo, JP;
Donald R. Fosnacht, Hermantown, MN (US);
Mark M. Brandon, Charlotte, NC (US);
Bradford G. True, Charlotte, NC (US);
Nu-Iron Technology, LLC, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
A hearth furnace for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing having a drying/preheat zone, a conversion zone, a fusion zone, and optionally a cooling zone, the conversion zone is between the drying/preheat zone and the fusion zone. A moving hearth is positioned within the furnace housing. A hood or separation barrier within at least a portion of the conversion zone, fusion zone or both separates the fusion zone into an upper region and a lower region with the lower region adjacent the hearth and the upper region adjacent the lower region and spaced from the hearth. An injector introduces a gaseous reductant into the lower region adjacent the hearth. A combustion region may be formed above the hood or separation barrier.