Patents by Inventor Henrik FRANZ

Henrik FRANZ 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).

  • Patent number: 11919089
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for splitting an electrically conductive liquid, in particular a melt jet, comprising the steps providing the electrically conductive liquid which moves in a first direction (12) in the form of a liquid jet (10); and generating high-frequency travelling electromagnetic fields surrounding the liquid jet (10) which travel in the first direction (12) and accelerate the liquid jet (10) in the first direction (12), thereby atomizing the liquid jet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Sergejs Spitans
  • Publication number: 20220410264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for splitting an electrically conductive liquid, in particular a melt jet, comprising the steps providing the electrically conductive liquid which moves in a first direction (12) in the form of a liquid jet (10); and generating high-frequency travelling electromagnetic fields surrounding the liquid jet (10) which travel in the first direction (12) and accelerate the liquid jet (10) in the first direction (12), thereby atomizing the liquid jet (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Sergejs SPITANS
  • Publication number: 20220339701
    Abstract: A device for atomizing a metallic, intermetallic or ceramic melt stream by means of a gas to form a spherical powder, comprising a melt chamber, a powder chamber, an induction coil in the melt chamber, a melt material, preferably melt rod in the induction coil and an atomizer nozzle interconnecting the melt and powder chambers and being arranged in a nozzle plate, for the melt stream melted off from the melt material by the induction coil, wherein the atomizer nozzle has an exclusively convergent nozzle profile having nozzle flanks which have a circular-arc-shaped cross-section, and therefore both the atomizing gas and the melt stream and the droplets generated therefrom reach a velocity which is at most equal to, preferably below the acoustic velocity of the atomizing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Volker GÜTHER, Karin RATSCHBACHER, Melissa ALLEN, Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ
  • Publication number: 20220330391
    Abstract: The invention relates to an EIGA coil (10) for partial melting an electrode (40). The EIGA coil (10) comprises a plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) which are coaxially arranged with respect to a center axis (M) and axially spaced from each other, wherein each of the plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) is formed in the shape of a ring interrupted by a gap (14A, 14B, 14C) and equidistant with respect to the center axis (M) and extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (M). Adjacent windings (12A, 12B; 12B, 12C) of the plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) are respectively connected to each other via a connecting portion (20AB, 20BC; 120AB, 120BC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Markus WINTON, Franz PFAHLS, Henrik FRANZ, Hans-Jürgen RADTKE
  • Patent number: 11370020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing casting bodies in a levitation melting method in which a batch of an electrically conductive material is brought into the sphere of influence of at least one alternating electromagnetic field by means of a starting material having a plurality of pre-separated batches separated by regions of reduced cross-section so that the batch is kept in a state of levitation. The regions are designed in such a way that separation of the pre-separated batches takes place only during melting in an alternating electromagnetic field. The melt is then cast into casting moulds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ALD Vacuum Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Markus Holz
  • Patent number: 11192179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and an apparatus for producing castings comprising a ring-shaped element of a conductive material for introducing the casting of a molten batch into a casting mould. In the process, the ring-shaped element is introduced into the region of the alternating electromagnetic field between the induction coils in order to cast the molten batch, thereby initiating a targeted run-off of the melt into the casting mould by influencing the induced magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring
  • Patent number: 11197351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and a device for producing castings with movable induction units. In this process, induction units are used in which the opposite ferrite poles with the induction coils are movable and move in opposite directions. In this way, the induction units for melting the batches can be arranged close together in order to increase the efficiency of the induced magnetic field. When casting the molten batch, the induced magnetic field is reduced by increasing the distance between the ferrite poles with the induction coils, thus preventing the melt from touching the ferrite poles or the induction coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Egon Bauer, Andreas Krieger
  • Patent number: 11102850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting method and an apparatus for producing casting bodies with tilted induction units. During this method, induction units are employed in which the opposing ferrite poles with the induction coils are not arranged lying in one plane, but tilted at a determined angle to the levitation plane. In this way, an increase in efficiency of the induced magnetic field for melting the batches can be achieved with the induction units. The tilted arrangement increases the portion of the induced magnetic field that effectively contributes to the holding force of the field for levitation of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Markus Holz, Andreas Krieger
  • Publication number: 20210251055
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting method and an apparatus for producing casting bodies with tilted induction units. During this method, induction units are employed in which the opposing ferrite poles with the induction coils are not arranged lying in one plane, but tilted at a determined angle to the levitation plane. In this way, an increase in efficiency of the induced magnetic field for melting the batches can be achieved with the induction units. The tilted arrangement increases the portion of the induced magnetic field that effectively contributes to the holding force of the field for levitation of the melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Markus HOLZ, Andreas KRIEGER
  • Publication number: 20210251054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and a device for producing castings with movable induction units. In this process, induction units are used in which the opposite ferrite poles with the induction coils are movable and move in opposite directions. In this way, the induction units for melting the batches can be arranged close together in order to increase the efficiency of the induced magnetic field. When casting the molten batch, the induced magnetic field is reduced by increasing the distance between the ferrite poles with the induction coils, thus preventing the melt from touching the ferrite poles or the induction coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: ALD Vacuuum Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Egon BAUER, Andreas KRIEGER
  • Publication number: 20210245241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and an apparatus for producing castings comprising a ring-shaped element of a conductive material for introducing the casting of a molten batch into a casting mould. In the process, the ring-shaped element is introduced into the region of the alternating electromagnetic field between the induction coils in order to cast the molten batch, thereby initiating a targeted run-off of the melt into the casting mould by influencing the induced magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING
  • Publication number: 20210146431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing casting bodies in a levitation melting method in which a batch of an electrically conductive material is brought into the sphere of influence of at least one alternating electromagnetic field by means of a starting material having a plurality of pre-separated batches separated by regions of reduced cross-section so that the batch is kept in a state of levitation. The regions are designed in such a way that separation of the pre-separated batches takes place only during melting in an alternating electromagnetic field. The melt is then cast into casting moulds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Markus HOLZ
  • Patent number: 10843259
    Abstract: A method for producing cast items in a casting method, wherein a charge of a conductive material is introduced into the sphere of influence of at least one alternating electromagnetic field, so that the charge is kept in a levitating state. The melt is poured into moulds in order to produce turbine blades, prostheses or turbocharger impellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Sergejs Spitans, Ulrich Betz, Egon Bauer, Markus Holz
  • Patent number: 10563286
    Abstract: A melting vessel for performing an electro-slag melting method and such a method are presented. Measuring devices measuring a temperature at different heights allow conclusions about position and height of a slag zone in the melting vessel during the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Ulrich Biebricher, Harald Scholz
  • Publication number: 20190366427
    Abstract: A method for producing cast items in a casting method, wherein a charge of a conductive material is introduced into the sphere of influence of at least one alternating electromagnetic field, so that the charge is kept in a levitating state. The melt is poured into moulds in order to produce turbine blades, prostheses or turbocharger impellers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Sergejs SPITANS, Ulrich BETZ, Egon BAUER, Markus HOLZ
  • Publication number: 20190144969
    Abstract: A melting vessel for performing an electro-slag melting method and such a method are presented. Measuring devices measuring a temperature at different heights allow conclusions about position and height of a slag zone in the melting vessel during the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Ulrich BIEBRICHER, Harald SCHOLZ
  • Patent number: 10100427
    Abstract: A hybrid crucible comprising a frame and a bottom plate. The crucible is characterized by the selection of material of these two components, which have been optimized in terms of thermal conductivity. The crucible is adapted to produce crystalline materials. Moreover, a method for producing crystalline material is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Christoph Morche, Andreas Zimmermann, Armin Wengerter, Kai Müller, Michael Hohmann
  • Publication number: 20180207719
    Abstract: An electro-slag remelting installation includes a mold and a consumable electrode that extends into the mold. The consumable electrode has an axis that is oriented obliquely to a vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Harald SCHOLZ, Ulrich BIEBRICHER, Thomas KILZER
  • Patent number: 9721690
    Abstract: A mobile melting device for consolidating contaminated scrap and to a corresponding method. The melting device has a crucible chamber and a crucible base. The crucible is arranged on the crucible base during operation, and the crucible base and the crucible chamber together form a gas-tight furnace housing. It is thus possible to carry out the method in a vacuum or under protective gas such that even a reactive material can be consolidated. The melting device can be assembled and disassembled with little effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Karl-Heinz Grosse, Markus Holz, Michael Protzmann
  • Publication number: 20170058426
    Abstract: A hybrid crucible comprising a frame and a bottom plate. The crucible is characterized by the selection of material of these two components, which have been optimized in terms of thermal conductivity. The crucible is adapted to produce crystalline materials. Moreover, a method for producing crystalline material is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Christoph MORCHE, Andreas ZIMMERMANN, Armin WENGERTER, Kai MÜLLER, Michael HOHMANN