Patents Assigned to Elektro-Physik Hans Nix
  • Patent number: 6011391
    Abstract: Measurement probe (1) is used for measuring thin layers (19) on base material (20) using a magnetic or eddy current process. On probe housing (5) above a stop for guide means (3) with measurement sensor (12) and measurement pole (13) sliding element (2) for measurement sensor (12) is guided to move in the longitudinal axis of probe housing (5) as limited by a stop. Between sliding element (2) and stop (9) on guide means (3) there is first helical spring (4) by which sliding element (2) is elastically supported relative to measurement sensor (12). Between stop (9) on guide tube (3) and lower abutment (30) on probe housing (5) is second helical spring (10) which interacts with first helical spring (4) and elastically supports measurement sensor (12) in the rest state at a distance above opening (5a) for measurement pole (13) in probe housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignees: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix, E. Steingroever GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Hans F. Nix, Gang Zhang
  • Patent number: 5394085
    Abstract: In the rolling probe, the measuring pole is designed as a rotating, rotationally symmetrical roller (4), such as a disk, cylinder or sphere, which directly contacts the surface of object to be measured (5) and is placed in the range of a sensor system. As a result, the maximum possible signal deviation can be fully used for the measuring. An increased measured value resolution and measuring accuracy especially in the measuring of thin sheets is achieved. Further, the actual thickness measuring takes place at the contact point with the layer to be measured. Thus, a true "one-point measuring" is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr.-Ing. E. Steingroever GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans F. Nix, Wolfgang Hausmann
  • Patent number: 4692700
    Abstract: A probe for the continuous measurement of the thickness of strips of electrically conducting, magnetic or nonmagnetic strips of material, comprises a the measuring pole (7) arranged in a roller (4) with a narrow running surface. The roller (4) has a ring-shaped crowned middle part (9) in alignment with the measuring pole (7) and is pivoted on a fixed axis of rotation (10) on both sides of the measuring pole (7). The axis of rotation (10) forms part of a housing (12) which screens the measuring pole (7) against external magnetic fields. The roller (4) can consist of a suitable nonmagnetic material, such as nonmagnetic steel, bronze, titanium, ceramic, etc., and the probe can operate according to the magnetic inductive process, according to the eddy current process or according to a combination of these two processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr.-Ing. E. Steingroever KG
    Inventor: Hans F. Nix
  • Patent number: 4520308
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the non-destructive measurement of the thickness of sheets or hollow bodies made of dielectric materials, such as plactis, makes use of a microwave frequency signal which is fed to an elongated microwave strip line which is placed either close to, or in contact with, the material to be measured, whereby the change in the propagation time of the signal represents the thickness, or the filling factor of the measured material. In the case of hollow bodies the strength of the signal is insufficient to be affected by the wall of the body remote from the conductor, and an advantage of the system is that it can be used to measure plastic materials while in a plastic state while in the process of extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Elektro Physik Hans Nix & Dr. Erich Steingroever
    Inventors: Thomas Rohde, Friedhelm Caspers
  • Patent number: 4403188
    Abstract: A layer-thickness meter for measuring the thickness of a non-magnetic layer upon a ferromagnetic substrate wherein the force required to raise from the layer to be measured a permanent magnet carried in a balanced lever arm is measured by means of a spring and taken as a measure of the layer thickness, the spring being stressed by rotation of a scale disc graduated in terms of layer thickness and co-operating with an index mark upon a housing of the meter, the circumferential edge of said disc being serrated or indented for engagement by a pawl so as to lock the disc in response to detachment of the permanent magnet from the layer surface, said pawl comprising a pivotally mounted bearing plate from which project two rigid stops which between them loosely embrace said lever arm at a location along said arm such that the pawl is actuated through one said stop to disengage from the disc edge when said permanent magnet is in contact with said layer surface and actuated through the other said stop to engage and lo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr. Ing. E. Steingroever, K.G.
    Inventor: Hans F. Nix
  • Patent number: 4392305
    Abstract: A coating thickness gauge employs a permanent magnet suspended on a coil spring within a pencil shaped housing; the spring being attached to a slide which encircles the housing aid is manually slidable along the length of the housing to adjust the tension of the spring exerted on the magnet. The end of the magnet projects through the end of the housing in contact with a coating deposited on a ferromagnetic base so that the thickness of the coating is measured in terms of the spring tension exerted when the side is moved to pull the magnet away from the coating and this thickness can be read on a scale mounted along the length of the housing. The slide can be provided with internal resilient friction rings or an internal expandable friction element can be placed in the housing to resist inadvertent movement of the slide and an internal stop can be employed to prevent bouncing of the magnet to displace the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr. Ing. E. Steingroever, K.G.
    Inventors: Hans Nix, Herbert Szary
  • Patent number: 4160208
    Abstract: The calibration of magnetic gauges used for measuring the thickness of a layer applied to a base can be accomplished by the use of a test sheet composed of an essentially uncoated material which exerts a lesser influence on the gauge for a given thickness than the material comprising the base upon which the measured layer is applied. An uncoated test sheet of a certain thickness, when brought into contact with the pole piece of a thickness gauge, will produce a reading equivalent to that produced when the gauge measures a layer of predetermined thickness applied to the usual base material. For calibrating a gauge used to measure the thickness of a non-magnetic layer on a ferromagnetic base, the test sheet may be a material of less magnetic conductivity, permeability and/or saturation than that of the usual base material. A non-limitative example of a material suitable for use as a test sheet is pure nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik, Hans Nix & Dr. -Ing E. Steingroever KG.
    Inventors: Erich A. Steingroever, Hans F. Nix
  • Patent number: 4058763
    Abstract: An elongated generally U-shaped ferromagnetic yoke has a series of coils embedded in its leg portions at spaced positions along its length so that a magnet body can be moved along the length of the air gap of the yoke so that that it can be magnetized and measured for a magnetic characteristic. A conveyor and a sorting device are also included so that magnet bodies exceeding minimum standards can be selected automatically. Other functions, such as partial demagnetization, and complete demagnetization, can be accomplished by other coils, or permanent magnets, embedded in the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr. -Ing. Erich Steingroever KG
    Inventor: Erich Steingroever
  • Patent number: 4021763
    Abstract: Apparatus for magnetizing selected areas of data storage plates, sheets or discs of the type wherein the stored data is represented by the location and arrangement of these magnetized areas, consists of a series of pole pieces which can be shifted into contact with the selected areas and simultaneously excited by a magnetic field. The process is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik, Hans Nix & Dr. -Ing. E. Steingroever KG.
    Inventor: Erich Steingroever
  • Patent number: 3986105
    Abstract: A probe for electromagnetic measurement of the thickness of a layer of material applied to a base of dissimilar material consists of an elongated ferro-magnetic core surrounded by an electrical coil several diameters larger than the diameter of the core and having one end placed close to the plane of the pole face of the core so that measurements involving magnetic materials can be undertaken by utilizing variations in magnetic flux path at low energization frequencies while measurements involving electrically conductive materials are undertaken by utilizing eddy currents induced at high energization frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik, Hans Nix & Dr. -Ing. E. Steingroever KG
    Inventors: Hans F. Nix, Erich Steingroever
  • Patent number: 3976935
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the internal field intensity H of a magnetic body having opposite poles surfaces includes an elongated magnetic potential measuring coil, one end of which is placed in contact with one of the pole surfaces of the body being measured, while the body is subjected to a magnetic field of variable intensity generated by an iron-free coil having lines of force passing through the body in directions perpendicular to the pole surfaces of the body being measured, the other end of the measuring coil being placed at a location which is uninfluenced by the magnetic potential at either of the poles of the body in one example and, in another example, being placed in contact with the other pole surface of the body. Values for B may also be measured by a second coil at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik, Hans Nix & Dr.-Ing. E. Steingroever KG
    Inventor: Erich Steingroever
  • Patent number: D345312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Elektro-Physik Hans Nix & Dr.-Ing. E. Steingroever GmbH & Co. Kommaditgesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans F. Nix