Clay preparation

• US 4,251,265 A
• Filed: 07/27/1979
• Issued: 02/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stratton, Claud L., Kane, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ozaki, G.
• Application Number:
  US06/061,300
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 75/3, 75/4, 75/5
• US Class Current: 264/117
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 1/2406 pelletizing

Abstract

There is described a novel process for pelletizing clay containing aluminumous ore comprising the steps of:

a. crushing the clay to within an appropriate size range;

b. blending the crushed clay with water to achieve a closely defined moisture content;

c. pelletizing the clay in a suitable apparatus to provide clay pellets of predetermined size;

d. rolling the pellets for a period of time sufficient to round the edges, corners, etc. and to produce a relatively hard, abrasive resistant surface; and

e. drying and calcining the pellets at a temperature within the range of from about 1100° to about 1500° F.

Claims

1. A process for pelletizing clay containing aluminous ore comprising the steps of:

a. crushing the clay to within an appropriate size range;

b. blending the crushed clay with water to achieve a moisture content of between about 17.5 and about 22 percent by weight water;

c. pelletizing the clay in a suitable apparatus to provide clay pellets of predetermined size;

d. surface hardening the pellets; and

e. drying and calcining the pellets at a temperature within the range of from about 1100°

to about 1500°

F.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pelletizing is performed using a hammermill comprising rotating knives on a vertical shaft surrounded by a 360°

screen having an aperture size of between about 2 and about 8 mm.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface hardening is accomplished by rolling the pellets in a rolling drum.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the rolling is performed for a period of between about 5 and about 60 minutes.