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: 11919089Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik Franz, Sergejs Spitans
-
Publication number: 20220410264Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Sergejs SPITANS
-
Publication number: 20220339701Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Volker GÜTHER, Karin RATSCHBACHER, Melissa ALLEN, Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ
-
Publication number: 20220330391Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Markus WINTON, Franz PFAHLS, Henrik FRANZ, Hans-Jürgen RADTKE
-
Patent number: 11370020Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: ALD Vacuum Technologies GMBHInventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Markus Holz
-
Patent number: 11192179Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring
-
Patent number: 11197351Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Egon Bauer, Andreas Krieger
-
Device and method for levitation melting using induction units which are arranged in a tilted manner
Patent number: 11102850Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbHInventors: Sergejs Spitans, Henrik Franz, Bjoern Sehring, Markus Holz, Andreas Krieger -
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LEVITATION MELTING USING INDUCTION UNITS WHICH ARE ARRANGED IN A TILTED MANNER
Publication number: 20210251055Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Markus HOLZ, Andreas KRIEGER -
Publication number: 20210251054Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: ALD Vacuuum Technologies GmbHInventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Egon BAUER, Andreas KRIEGER
-
Publication number: 20210245241Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING
-
Publication number: 20210146431Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Sergejs SPITANS, Henrik FRANZ, Bjoern SEHRING, Markus HOLZ
-
Patent number: 10843259Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik Franz, Sergejs Spitans, Ulrich Betz, Egon Bauer, Markus Holz
-
Patent number: 10563286Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik Franz, Ulrich Biebricher, Harald Scholz
-
Publication number: 20190366427Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Sergejs SPITANS, Ulrich BETZ, Egon BAUER, Markus HOLZ
-
Publication number: 20190144969Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik FRANZ, Ulrich BIEBRICHER, Harald SCHOLZ
-
Patent number: 10100427Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik Franz, Christoph Morche, Andreas Zimmermann, Armin Wengerter, Kai Müller, Michael Hohmann
-
Publication number: 20180207719Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2016Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbHInventors: Henrik FRANZ, Harald SCHOLZ, Ulrich BIEBRICHER, Thomas KILZER
-
Patent number: 9721690Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Henrik Franz, Karl-Heinz Grosse, Markus Holz, Michael Protzmann
-
Publication number: 20170058426Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Henrik FRANZ, Christoph MORCHE, Andreas ZIMMERMANN, Armin WENGERTER, Kai MÜLLER, Michael HOHMANN