(19)

(11)

EP 1 604 146 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.12.2005 Bulletin 2005/50 (21) Application number: 04717356.2 (22) Date of filing: 04.03.2004

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F23C 5/00, C21C 5/32 (86) International application number: PCT/US2004/006442 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/083722 (30.09.2004 Gazette 2004/40)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 14.03.2003 US 387544 (71) Applicant: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC. Danbury, CT 06810-5113 (US)	(72) Inventor: CATES, Larry, E. Brownsburg, IN 46112 (US) (74) Representative: Schwan, Ivo  Schwan Schwan Schorer Patentanwälte Bauerstrasse 22 80796 München 80796 München (DE)