Mobile assay facility and method of using same to procure and assay precious metals

• US 9,679,317 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AOW Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: AOW Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Noyes, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Application Number:
  US14/237,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/076 X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/301 portable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/223 by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2028 Metallic constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A self contained, mobile assay facility built in a modified armored truck is completely equipped to smelt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid cash or by wire transfer that may be initiated and confirmed from within the mobile assay facility. The ingots may be safely stored or shipped directly from the mobile facility to a wholesaler for further processing.

Claims

1. A mobile facility, comprising:

a vehicle suitable for containing tools and equipment required to weigh, melt, assay, and calculate a market value for precious metals in said vehicle, said vehicle being adapted to allow a seller of precious metals to observe melting and assaying that occurs in said vehicle;

wherein said vehicle comprises a cab portion (112) containing a seat;

wherein said vehicle comprises a compartment (110);

wherein said vehicle comprises a door (136) allowing a person to enter said compartment (110);

wherein said vehicle comprises a secure partition (138) between said compartment (110) and said cab portion (112);

an induction furnace (146) disposed in said compartment (110);

wherein said induction furnace (146) is adapted to melt said precious metals to produce an ingot;

wherein said induction furnace (146) is cooled by a two stage cooling system (150) including a chiller and coolant tank (148);

a scale (132) disposed in said compartment (110);

wherein said scale (132) is adapted to determine weight of said ingot;

an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) alloy analyzer (130) disposed in said compartment (110),

wherein said X-ray fluorescence (XRF) alloy analyzer is adapted to provide an XRF assay of said ingot;

a computer adapted to record said weight of said ingot, said XRF assay of said ingot, and a current market value for a unit of a precious metal;

wherein said computer is adapted to perform at least a calculation of the market value of said precious metal in said ingot based upon said weight of said ingot, said XRF assay of said ingot, and said market value of said unit of said precious metal; and

a display adapted to display said market value of said precious metal in said ingot, as calculated by said computer.

2. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust system (162) in said compartment (110), wherein said exhaust system (162) comprises an exhaust hood (162), wherein said exhaust hood (162) is above said furnace, and wherein said exhaust hood is movable vertically.

3. The mobile facility of claim 2, wherein said exhaust system (162) is configured to change the entire volume of air within assay facility (110) several times per minute.

4. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising an electrical generator (202) configured to provide electrical power to said induction furnace (146).

5. The mobile facility of claim 4 wherein said electrical generator (202) comprises a fuel line to a fuel tank providing fuel for movement of said vehicle.

6. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising plumbing connecting said cooling system to said induction furnace (146).

7. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising a quench tank (134) for cooling said ingot.

8. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising means for determining percentage for precious metal components of said ingot.

9. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising a communication facility comprising Internet access for communicating shipping bill number and assay analysis of an ingot to an ingot buyer.

10. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising a cash dispensing machine (154) in said compartment (110) for dispensing cash.

11. The mobile facility of claim 10 wherein said cash dispensing machine (154) is controlled from said cab portion (112).

12. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising a safe (140) in said compartment for storing said ingot.

13. The mobile facility of claim 12 further comprising a safe intrusion sensor for sensing intrusion into said safe.

14. The mobile facility of claim 1, further comprising security cameras within said vehicle for providing visual monitoring of activity, a wireless communication link configured to provide video signal from said security cameras to a remote location.

15. The mobile facility of claim 1 further comprising a communication apparatus for determining current price of a precious metal.

16. A mobile facility, comprising:

a vehicle suitable for containing tools and equipment required to weigh, melt, assay, and calculate a market value for precious metals in said vehicle, said vehicle being adapted to allow a seller of precious metals to observe melting and assaying that occurs in said vehicle;

wherein said vehicle comprises a compartment (110);

wherein said vehicle comprises a door (136) allowing a person to enter said compartment (110);

an induction furnace (146) disposed in said compartment (110);

wherein said induction furnace (146) is adapted to melt said precious metals to produce an ingot;

wherein said induction furnace (146) is cooled by a two stage cooling system (150) including a chiller and coolant tank (148);

a scale (132) disposed in said compartment (110);

wherein said scale (132) is adapted to determine weight of said ingot;

an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) alloy analyzer (130) disposed in said compartment (110),

wherein said X-ray fluorescence (XRF) alloy analyzer is adapted to provide an XRF assay of said ingot;

a computer adapted to record said weight of said ingot, said XRF assay of said ingot, and a current market value for a unit of a precious metal;

wherein said computer is adapted to perform at least a calculation of the market value of said precious metal in said ingot based upon said weight of said ingot, said XRF assay of said ingot, and said market value of said unit of said precious metal; and

a display adapted to display said market value of said precious metal in said ingot, as calculated by said computer.