Patents by Inventor Frank K. Kuster

Frank K. Kuster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus for improving service life of thermite rail welds
    Patent number: 5377959
    Abstract: In the heat treatment in the field of a thermite weld between rail ends, the rail ends and the weld are enclosed within a containment filled with an aluminothermic material mixture. The mixture is ignited and the rail ends and the thermite weld are heat-treated for a given period. After the given period, the aluminothermic reaction products and the containment are removed, and an air quench unit is placed about the weld and rail ends and compressed air is directed at the weld and rail ends for a given time period. After the removal of the air quench unit, the weld is allowed to cool to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Orgo-Thermut Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon O. Besch, Robert H. Kachik, Swartz: Mark A., Frank K. Kuster, Hans J. Guntermann
  • Method for improving service life of rail welds by aluminothermic heat treatment
    Patent number: 5306361
    Abstract: In the heat treatment in the field of a thermite weld between rail ends, the rail ends and the weld are enclosed within a containment filled with an aluminothermic material mixture. The mixture is ignited and the rail ends and the thermite weld are heat-treated for a given period. After the given period, the aluminothermic reaction products and the containment are removed, and an air quench unit is placed about the weld and rail ends and compressed air is directed at the weld and rail ends for a given time period. After the removal of the air quench unit, the weld is allowed to cool to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventors: Gordon O. Besch, Robert H. Kachik, Mark A. Swartz, Frank K. Kuster, Hans J. Guntermann