Mark Brandon

US Patent:

8097065, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Apr 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/418037

Inventors:

Rodney L. Bleifuss - Grand Rapids MN, US
David J. Englund - Bovey MN, US
Iwao Iwasaki - Grand Rapids MN, US
Donald R. Fosnacht - Hermantown MN, US
Mark M. Brandon - Charlotte NC, US
Bradford G. True - Charlotte NC, US

Assignee:

Nu-Iron Technology, LLC - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

C21B 13/10
C21B 13/08

US Classification:

75484, 75503

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.

US Patent:

8133299, Mar 13, 2012

Filed:

Nov 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/513872

Inventors:

Mark M. Brandon - Charlotte NC, US
Bradford G. True - Charlotte NC, US

Assignee:

Nu-Iron Technology, LLC - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

C21B 13/10

US Classification:

75484, 266 44, 266178, 266180, 266190, 432128, 432152

Abstract:

A multiple moving hearth furnace () having a furnace housing () with at least two moving hearths () positioned laterally within the furnace housing, the hearths moving in opposite directions and each moving hearth () capable of being charged with at least one layer of iron oxide and carbon bearing material at one end, and being capable of discharging reduced material at the other end. A heat insulating partition () is positioned between adjacent moving hearths of at least portions of the conversion zones (), and is capable of communicating gases between the atmospheres of the conversion zones of adjacent moving hearths. A drying/preheat zone (), a conversion zone (), and optionally a cooling zone () are sequentially positioned along each moving hearth () in the furnace housing ().

US Patent:

8177880, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Oct 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/444505

Inventors:

David Englund - Bovey MN, US
Rodney Bleifuss - Grand Rapids MN, US
Iwao Iwasaki - Grand Rapids MN, US
Donald Fosnacht - Hermantown MN, US
Mark Brandon - Charlotte NC, US
Bradford True - Charlotte NC, US

Assignee:

Nu-Iron Technology, LLC - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

C21B 11/08

US Classification:

75484, 75503

Abstract:

A hearth furnace for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing with a drying/preheat zone capable of providing a drying/preheat atmosphere for reducible material, a conversion zone capable of providing a reducing atmosphere for reducible material, a fusion zone capable of providing an atmosphere to at least partially reduced metallic iron material, and optionally a cooling zone capable of providing a cooling atmosphere for reduced material containing metallic iron material. A hearth is movable within the furnace housing in a direction through the drying/preheat zone , then the conversion zone , then the fusion zone , and then the cooling zone. A separation barrier is positioned within at least a portion of the conversion zone , the separation barrier separating the conversion zone into a combustion region and a reducing region with the reducing region adjacent the hearth and the combustion region adjacent the reducing region and spaced from the hearth.

US Patent:

8535602, Sep 17, 2013

Filed:

Jan 17, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/351742

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Nu-Iron Technology, LLC - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

C22B 13/10

US Classification:

266178, 266183, 266186, 432195

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.

US Patent:

20140033782, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Jan 22, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/746432

Inventors:

Mark M. Brandon - Gibsonia PA, US

Assignee:

FCI Holdings Delaware, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B21F 45/06
D07B 7/02

US Classification:

72185, 72184

Abstract:

A method of forming a bulb in a cable bolt includes providing cable from a cable source, advancing the cable in a first direction, and forming a bulb in a portion of the cable while the portion of the cable is continuously advanced and while the cable is continuously provided from the cable source.