Patents by Inventor Jean Lovens

Jean Lovens 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).

  • Publication number: 20070194010
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for inductively heating a workpiece to a desired cross sectional temperature. At least one pair of coils form a transverse flux inductor. The workpiece is located between the pair of opposing coils, which are oriented across the cross section of the workpiece. Each coil comprises a plurality of coil sections. The distance between one or more opposing coil sections is adapted to achieve the desired cross sectional induction heating temperature profile in the workpiece. Alternatively the distance between all opposing coil sections are equidistant from each other, and one or more flux concentrators, moveable at least in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece, can be used to achieve the desired cross sectional induction heating temperature profile in the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Jean Lovens, Mike Cao
  • Publication number: 20070187395
    Abstract: One or more sections of a solenoidal induction coil are moved relative to the surface of a strip passing through the coil as one or more parameters of the strip change to affect the impedance of the load circuit, while the output frequency of the power supply providing power to the coil via a capacitive element is changed so that the power supply's load circuit continues to operate at substantially resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Jean Lovens, Michel Fontaine
  • Publication number: 20070181567
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus comprises a substantially gas-tight enclosure through which a workpiece passes. An induction means surrounds the exterior of the enclosure and an ac current flow though the induction means establishes a magnetic field that couples with the workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. The gas-tight enclosure may comprise a non-electrically conductive material to permit passage of the magnetic field for coupling with the workpiece and an electromagnetic shield material for restricting the regions of the magnetic field. In alternate examples an electromagnetic shunt located around the induction means is used in place of, or in combination with, the electromagnetic shield material to restrict the magnetic field in a direction towards the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Jean Lovens
  • Patent number: 6963056
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for controlling the cross sectional temperature profile of a continuously moving workpiece with an induction coil assembly that provides for a combination of longitudinal and transverse magnetic flux field heating of the workpiece. The induction coil assembly includes means for laterally moving the workpiece in and out of the coil assembly without movement of the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Vitaly A. Peysakhovich, Jean Lovens, Michel Fontaine, Peter Robert Dickson
  • Patent number: 6864419
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for reducing the electromagnetic field intensity in selected regions for a field produced when ac current flows through one or more induction coils through which a workpiece moves for induction heating of the workpiece. The electromagnetic shield has transverse screen elements through which the workpiece moves at opposing ends of the one or more induction coils. One or two longitudinal screen elements connect the transverse screen elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventor: Jean Lovens
  • Publication number: 20050006120
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for reducing the electromagnetic field intensity in selected regions for a field produced when ac current flows through one or more induction coils through which a workpiece moves for induction heating of the workpiece. The electromagnetic shield has transverse screen elements through which the workpiece moves at opposing ends of the one or more induction coils. One or two longitudinal screen elements connect the transverse screen elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventor: Jean Lovens
  • Patent number: 5837976
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus for heating continuous strip material. In a first embodiment, two coil sections each having a gap at one end for the strip material to pass edgewise into and out of the apparatus for heating wherein the coil sections are adapted for connection to two power supplies such that the first power supply connects through one half-turn of each of the coil sections, and thence to the second power supply, which is connected through the second half-turns of the respective coil sections and back to the first power supply, all in series. In a second embodiment, the coil sections are adapted for connection to four power supplies in series; each power supply connected to a respective half-turn of the coil sections, such that one half-turn is connected between each of the four power supplies. The series connection ensures uniform amplitude and phase of the electrical current applied to the induction heating coil apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Don L. Loveless, Jean Lovens