Patents by Inventor Warren C. Higgins

Warren C. Higgins 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: 5376766
    Abstract: A welded tube monitoring and control system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) which receives data from a plurality of input apparatus which monitor the tube manufacturing process, and which generates output data to control various components of the tube manufacturing system. An apparatus for measuring the width of the flat metal strip prior to forming the tube transmits measurements to the PLC. The width of the strip is compared to a set of threshold parameters programmed in the PLC, and an alarm is triggered if the measured width exceeds these threshold parameters. A temperature measuring apparatus is located at the welding site to measure the temperature of the weld. The weld temperature is transmitted to the PLC and compared with a set of threshold parameters, and an alarm is triggered is the measured temperature exceeds the threshold parameters. An eddy-current testing apparatus is located downstream of the welding apparatus and transmits data to the PLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren C. Higgins