Patents by Inventor Jim deVries

Jim deVries 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: 7828042
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the casting of metal components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gooseneck for drawing molten metal from a crucible of hot metal and for forcing the drawn molten metal through the system, a hot runner assembly having a hot runner tip positioned adjacent the mold cavity, and a machine nozzle inserted between the gooseneck and the hot runner assembly. The gooseneck is fitted with a one-way check valve to allow for molten metal to be drawn into the plunger but to stop its passage out of the gooseneck when the metal is forced through the system into the die. A thermal valve is formed within the hot runner tip to provide a metal blockage from the molten metal which prevents the back-flow of molten metal back into the hot runner assembly. Both temperature and flow rate are carefully monitored and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Naiyi Li, Ronald Cooper, Jim deVries, Nanda Gopal, Christopher Lee, Tom Scholten, Raymond Silva
  • Publication number: 20080142184
    Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and method for the casting of metal components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gooseneck having dual plungers for drawing molten metal from a crucible of hot metal and for forcing the drawn molten metal through the system, a hot runner assembly having a thermal valve developed in time and positioned adjacent the mold cavity, and a machine nozzle positioned between the gooseneck and the hot runner assembly. The dual plunger is fitted with a shot plunger and a shutoff plunger which work in conjunction to allow for molten metal to be drawn into the gooseneck but to stop its passage into the gooseneck when the metal is forced through the system into the die. Both temperature and flow rate are carefully monitored and controlled. Two embodiments of the gooseneck are provided in which the positions of the shot plunger and the shutoff plunger are altered and in which the molten metal is drawn into the gooseneck at different locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Naiyi Li, Ronald Cooper, Jim deVries, Tom Scholten, Nanda Gopal
  • Publication number: 20080115907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the casting of metal components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gooseneck for drawing molten metal from a crucible of hot metal and for forcing the drawn molten metal through the system, a hot runner assembly having a hot runner tip positioned adjacent the mold cavity, and a machine nozzle inserted between the gooseneck and the hot runner assembly. The gooseneck is fitted with a one-way check valve to allow for molten metal to be drawn into the plunger but to stop its passage out of the gooseneck when the metal is forced through the system into the die. A thermal valve is formed within the hot runner tip to provide a metal blockage from the molten metal which prevents the back-flow of molten metal back into the hot runner assembly. Both temperature and flow rate are carefully monitored and controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicants: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Naiyi Li, Ronald Cooper, Jim deVries, Nanda Gopal, Christopher W. Lee, Tom Scholten, Raymond Silva