John G Horne

US Patent:

4295880, Oct 20, 1981

Filed:

Apr 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/144831

Inventors:

John Horne - Longmont CO

International Classification:

C22B 400

US Classification:

75 10R

Abstract:

Crushed shale and metal ores are fed via an oxygen purging duct in batches to a closed extraction chamber having a coreless high frequency electric induction furnace, where the raw materials are deposited on the surface of a molten non-ferrous metal charge in the crucible of the furnace. Natural induction stirring in the molten metal charge thoroughly contacts all grains of the raw material with the molten surface of the metal charge, thereby extracting non-ferrous metals from the raw material into the metal charge and vaporizing organic components such as petroleum into the non-oxidizing atmosphere in the extraction chamber. The residue of raw material is then skimmed from the furnace and discharged from the chamber by way of a chute having an air lock for preventing return of oxygen to the chamber. Organic components from the chamber are carried by a conduit to an associated fractionating tower for immediate refining at least partially by the heat from the furnace.