Patents by Inventor Richard E. Kracich

Richard E. Kracich 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).

  • Electric arc furnace electrode consumption analyzer
    Patent number: 5539768
    Abstract: An electric arc furnace includes at least one electrode projecting into a furnace vessel for containing a charge to be heated and electrode support structure for moving the electrode in a direction along a path towards and away from the charge. An improvement to the electric arc furnace comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the electrode support structure from an initial position. A processor calculates one of a support structure travel distance from the initial position and a rate of electrode consumption. An alarm signal is generated in response to at least one of the travel distance and the rate of electrode consumption being at least equal to a respective predetermined threshold travel distance or a predetermined threshold rate of electrode consumption, either of which is indicative of an excess electrode consumption condition for a given heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: LTV Steel Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Kracich