Metal Working Patents (Class 219/602)
  • Patent number: 11911859
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide preheat voltage feedback loss protection are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type power to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating power through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; a preheat feedback circuit configured to measure a preheat voltage; and an electrode preheat control circuit configured to: control the preheating power based on the preheating voltage; and control the electrode preheating circuit to reduce the preheating power in response to detecting an invalid preheat voltage measured by the preheat feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Zwayer
  • Patent number: 11856677
    Abstract: A susceptor assembly for inductively heating an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, the susceptor assembly including a multi-layer susceptor tube defining a cavity configured to receive an induction coil inside the multi-layer susceptor tube, the multi-layer susceptor tube includes an inner tubular layer, which includes a first electrically conductive material, and an outer tubular layer surrounding the inner tubular layer, which includes a second electrically conductive material, and an electrical resistivity of the first electrically conductive material is greater than an electrical resistivity of the second electrically conductive material. An inductive heating assembly for inductively heating an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-generating article for an aerosol-generating device, and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Jerome Christian Courbat, Enrico Stura
  • Patent number: 11328865
    Abstract: As wire is wound around and onto the surface of a former to form a coil, perturbations such as waves are introduced into turns of the coil, each perturbation being formed in a length of the wire less than the full length of a respective turn and projecting along the former surface, the perturbation having an initial shape and size. The coil is taken from the former and fixed in form. A surrounding jacket is radially collapsed onto the wire coil to uniformly press the coil against an internal compressible body in the course of which the overall diameter of the coil is reduced. Resulting stresses in the wire generated during the collapse are relieved by alteration of the perturbations from their initial shape and size to a subsequent shape and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11285526
    Abstract: A multistage press for the bulk deformation of a piece of wire includes a wire feed with associated apparatus for cutting to length, and a transfer device—having grippers—for receiving a piece of wire that has been cut to length and transferring the latter to subsequent forming stages, there being arranged, on that side of the cutting-to-length apparatus opposite from the wire feed, a device for partially heating a length of wire. A method produces a formed part with a multistage press of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Nedschroef Herentals N.V.
    Inventor: Justus Erhard
  • Patent number: 11225699
    Abstract: A method for producing a non-oriented electrical steel sheet by hot rolling a steel slab having a chemical composition including C: not more than 0.0050 mass %, Si: not more than 4.0 mass %, Mn: 0.03-3.0 mass %, P: not more than 0.1 mass %, Se: not more than 0.0010 mass %, Al: not more than 3.0 mass %, Ni: not more than 3.0 mass %, Cr: not more than 5.0 mass %, Ti: not more than 0.003 mass %, and Nb: not more than 0.003 mass % and subjecting the sheet to hot band annealing if necessary, a cold rolling, and further a finish annealing, wherein the heating in the finish annealing is conducted in two stages of performing induction heating and subsequently a radiation heating and a zone from 600° C. to 740° C. in the induction heating is heated at an average heating rate of not less than 50° C./sec, whereby a high magnetic flux density can be obtained stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Zaizen, Tomoyuki Okubo, Yoshihiko Oda
  • Patent number: 10500619
    Abstract: A rolling system includes an induction heater, temperature detectors, a finishing mill, and a power setting calculation device. The power setting calculation device generates a temperature distribution pattern in a plate thickness direction of a steel material at a temperature control position in an upstream side. The power setting calculation device calculates a volume average temperature of the steel material at a temperature control position in a downstream side, at a time when the steel material moves to the temperature control position in the downstream side from the temperature control position in the upstream side, based on the generated temperature distribution pattern. Then, the power setting calculation device calculates an electric power necessary for the induction heater so that the calculated volume average temperature follows a target temperature of the steel material at the temperature control position in the downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruki Inami, Naohiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 10300548
    Abstract: A powder build unit for a device for the additive manufacture of components, includes at least one electric lead and having at least one power source that is connected to the electric lead. The electric lead functions as a powder distributor and as a heating element. In addition, a device that contains this powder build unit, as well as a corresponding method of using the powder build unit, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Fisser, Georg Schlick
  • Patent number: 9815153
    Abstract: A process for producing a bearing seat or a drive journal having a large diameter on a rolled threaded spindle is disclosed. The blank of the threaded spindle is hot-upset in the longitudinal direction, such that it bulges radially with respect to the longitudinal direction, a first longitudinal region having an enlarged diameter being provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Greubel
  • Patent number: 9700966
    Abstract: A method for joining concealed workpiece parts by an energy beam, wherein a lower workpiece part and an upper workpiece part are positioned relative to each other; the upper workpiece part contacts the lower workpiece part along a joining contour; the energy beam is directed onto an upper side of the upper workpiece part, moved along the joining contour by a controller, in order to join the upper workpiece part to the joining contour; an exploratory seam is produced on the upper work piece part, for detecting the joining contour; a detector detects a boundary at which a surface area of the upper work piece part borders a surface area of the upper work piece part which does have contact with the joining contour; the controller registers a position of the boundary and compares it with a target position of the boundary which is stored in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FFT Produktionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kraft, Jochen Schneegans
  • Patent number: 9040882
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for making the longitudinal temperature distribution of the bulbous end of a longitudinally oriented workpiece, such as a rail's head, generally uniform when the head has a non-uniform longitudinal temperature distribution. A combination of crown and skirt electric inductors is used to achieve the generally uniform temperature distribution by modulating the magnetic field intensity produced by current flow through one or more of the combination of crown and skirt inductors as required for the non-uniformly heated regions of the rail's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Dickson, Paul F. Scott
  • Publication number: 20150122801
    Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
  • Publication number: 20150034628
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a hardening control unit (70) for controlling an induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A) based on setup conditions data regarding the induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A); a hardening monitoring unit (20) that measures, as measurement data, the electric quantity in an electric circuit configured to include a high-frequency inverter (11), a capacitor (12), and a heating coil (14, 14A, 14B) and that monitors an induction hardening status; and a data collecting unit (80) that collects the data from various sensors in the induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A, 10B) obtained when the induction hardening apparatus (10) subjects the work (15, 15A, 15B) to an induction hardening based on the setup conditions data outputted from the hardening control unit (70) and that collects the measurement data from the hardening monitoring unit (20) to store the collected data from the various sensors and the measurement data so that the collected data from the various sensors and the measureme
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ito, Yue Yang, Fumiaki Ikuta, Taichi Kitamura, Tetsuya Ono, Ken-ichi Hoshiba
  • Patent number: 8932063
    Abstract: One embodiment of a Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) laser ablation simulator includes a frame, a mock hypotube, a mock laser fiber, a mock camera assembly, a laser fiber position tracker and a camera position tracker. The mock hypotube is supported by the frame, has a longitudinal axis, is received within the hypotube and is configured to move along the longitudinal axis and rotate about a laser fiber central axis relative to the hypotube. The mock camera assembly is attached to the hypotube and is configured to rotate about a camera central axis relative to the hypotube. The laser fiber position tracker is configured to output laser fiber position information that is indicative of a position of the mock laser fiber relative to the hypotube. The camera position tracker is configured camera position information that is indicative of a position of the mock camera assembly relative to the hypotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Taylor, Jesse R. Haakenson
  • Patent number: 8912472
    Abstract: An apparatus for hardening a spring having a helical or beehive shape. The apparatus has a rotation support system and an induction heating system. The rotation support system is designed to support the spring while the spring is heated by the induction heating system. The induction heating system has an induction coil system having a coil system. The coil system has a spaced region designed to receive the spring and to heat the spring while the spring is supported on the rotation support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Kurylo, Mehieddine Rababeh
  • Patent number: 8899467
    Abstract: A welding head assembly has a work piece disposed between its containment plates' opposing surfaces with the work piece being maintained in a plastic state thereof at least in a vicinity of the welding head assembly's stir rod as the rod is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The welding head assembly and the work piece experience relative movement therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the rod's longitudinal axis as the work piece is subjected to a compressive force applied by the containment plates. A first source coupled to the first containment plate applies a first ultrasonic wave thereto such that the first ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement. A second source coupled to the second containment plate applies a second ultrasonic wave thereto such that the second ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: R. Jeffrey Ding
  • Patent number: 8884201
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoplastic component using inductive heating is described. The method includes positioning a plurality of induction heating coils to define a process area for the thermoplastic component, wherein the plurality of induction heating coils comprises a first set of coils and a second set of coils. The method also includes controlling a supply of electricity provided to the plurality of inductive heating coils to intermittently activate the coils. The intermittent activation is configured to facilitate prevention of electromagnetic interference between adjacent coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Mark A. Negley
  • Publication number: 20140263284
    Abstract: A system and method for heat treating a tubular. In one embodiment, a system for heat treating a tubular includes a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is configured to circumferentially surround the tubular and induce, from without the tubular, current flow in a cylindrical portion of the tubular adjacent the first coil. The second coil is configured to be inserted into a bore of the tubular and induce, from within the tubular, in conjunction with the first coil, current flow in the cylindrical portion of the tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Wyble, Daniel Lyle Hannahs, Daryl Stevenson, Shawn Lee Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8816259
    Abstract: A system and method of restoring material properties is disclosed. A subject material may have one or more of its material properties restored by contacting a packed bed of a reactive material contained within a container with the subject material in which material properties are desired to be restored. The packed bed and the subject material may be heated to restore the material properties. The packed bed may be formed from boron, silicon or other appropriate materials. An inert atmosphere system may have an argon injection system or a helium injection system in communication with the container. A deoxidizing system may be in communication with the container for creating a vacuum within the container or injecting hydrogen into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerald J. Bruck
  • Patent number: 8803046
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for electric induction heat treatment of electrically conductive thin strip material. Multiple series-connected coil loops, each having a pole pair, are provided in each of a top and bottom induction coil, which are positioned mirror image to each other. The top and bottom induction coils form a transverse flux induction heat treatment apparatus. A separate flux concentrator is provided over and on the side of each pole. The thin strip material passes between the poles of the top and bottom induction coils and the flux concentrators associated with each of the poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Radyne Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg G. Warner, James D. Parker, John Justin Mortimer
  • Publication number: 20140117007
    Abstract: A method of heat treating an engine component includes connecting a disk having a plurality of titanium components to a fixture, positioning one of the titanium components into an induction coil loop, providing an alternating current to the induction coil loop, heat treating the titanium component positioned in the induction coil loop and, monitoring a temperature of the heat treating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Trapp, Thomas Froats Broderick, Jeffrey Root, Greg Firestone
  • Publication number: 20140008354
    Abstract: A system and method for use in brazing, cladding, building up, filling, overlaying, welding, and joining applications is provided. The system includes a high intensity energy source configured to heat at least one workpiece to create a molten puddle and a feeder system that includes a wire feeder configured to feed a consumable to the molten puddle. The system also includes an induction system which receives the consumable and induction-heats a length of the consumable prior to that part of the consumable entering the molten puddle. The method includes heating at least one workpiece to create a molten puddle and feeding a consumable to the molten puddle. The method also includes induction-heating a length of the consumable prior to that part of the consumable entering the molten puddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter PLETCHER, Steven R. SUMNER, Michael BARRETT
  • Patent number: 8512043
    Abstract: The system allows training and qualification of a user performing a skill-related training exercise involving body motion in a workspace. A training environment is selected through a computer apparatus, and variables, parameters and controls of the training environment and the training exercise are adjusted. Use of an input device by the user is monitored. The 3D angles and spatial coordinates of reference points related to the input device are monitored through a detection device. A simulated 3D dynamic environment reflecting effects caused by actions performed by the user on objects is computed in real time as a function of the training environment selected. Images of the simulated 3D dynamic environment in real time are generated on a display device viewable by the user as a function of a computed organ of vision-object relation. Data indicative of the actions performed by the user and the effects of the actions are recorded and user qualification is set as a function of the recorded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: 123 Certification, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude Choquet
  • Patent number: 8497454
    Abstract: An induction hardening monitoring apparatus (20) comprising: a current sensor (21) for detecting output current from a high-frequency inverter (11); a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage generated in a heating coil (14) connected between output terminals of the high-frequency inverters (11) together with a capacitor (12) in an equivalent circuit manner; and a controller (23) for monitoring a hardening processing based on a detection signal from the current sensor (21) and a detection signal from a voltage sensor (22), wherein the controller (23) monitors a hardening processing by calculating an effective value of output current from the high-frequency inverter (11) based on a detection signal from the current sensor (21) and calculating an effective value of voltage generated in a heating coil (14) based on a detection signal from the voltage sensor (22); or further calculating load impedance based on each effective value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Neturen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Yang, Fumiaki Ikuta, Taichi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8361253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous heat treatment of steel strip material whose thickness d1, d2 periodically varies along its length, more particularly of strip flexibly rolled with a roll gap varying as a function of time, wherein the continuous heat treatment of the strip material takes place while the strip material passes through an induction furnace in which the strip material is induction heated at a constant frequency which can be selected to be such that the mathematical induction depth ? of the induced current up to which the magnetic field has been reduced to 63% of the field strength of the outer field is greater than half the thickness of the strip portions with the smallest thickness d2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Stefan Pohl, Andreas Hauger
  • Patent number: 8330086
    Abstract: A heating blanket comprises a conductor for receiving current and generating a magnetic field in response to the current. The heating blanket may include a susceptor sleeve formed of magnetic material having a Curie temperature. The susceptor sleeve may extend along the conductor and may be inductively heated in response to the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, David F. Taylor, Marc R. Matsen
  • Patent number: 8278609
    Abstract: A method and device for soldering plural electrical connections, in which contact elements have to be soldered to soldered-connection faces positioned on a non-metallic glazing. In the method a soldering tool is used to emit a magnetic field towards the solder spots to heat these by induction. The magnitude and shape of the soldering tool is sized according to the surface area over which plural solder spots that have to be heated simultaneously in a soldering operation are situated. At the same time, the frequency of an AC voltage applied to the loop or to the coil is tailored to the connection geometry and set to 150 kHz at most. Thus, for a high work rate, markedly better heating of the components that need to be soldered is obtained because the low-frequency field lines have a greater depth of penetration into the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Bernhard Reul
  • Patent number: 8253081
    Abstract: A system and method for electromagnetic surface treatment of a work piece has an electromagnetic pulse generator and an electromagnetic pulse tool. The work piece has a working surface. A current pulse generated by the electromagnetic pulse generator travels through the tool producing an electromagnetic pulse. The electromagnetic pulse interacts with the working surface causing an indentation to form. A residual compressive stress layer is also formed. The indentation has a smooth and continuous topography that is described by an indentation perimeter, an indentation transition region, an indentation sidewall, an impact transition region, and an impact region. The method may also simultaneously, or subsequently, form a second indentation which overlaps with the indentation. An inter-indentation overlap region is formed when the indentations overlap. The inter-indentation overlap region is smooth and continuous. Multiple treated surfaces may easily be formed on the working surface of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Gatekey Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Dydo, Sergei P. Yushanov
  • Publication number: 20120187110
    Abstract: A method for producing a piston of an internal combustion engine, wherein the piston has a combustion bowl including a combustion bowl rim. The combustion bowl rim is hardened by being remelted in a first step by means of an inductive energy supply and, in a further step, by a laser beam. The beam can be deflected during a rotary, progressive motion relative to the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: KS KOLBENSCHMIDT GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Schaller
  • Publication number: 20120134034
    Abstract: An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi NIWA, Masao TAKEMURA, Hiromitsu TAKEI, Akira MORI
  • Publication number: 20120097663
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a hardening control unit (70) for controlling an induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A) based on setup conditions data regarding the induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A); a hardening monitoring unit (20) that measures, as measurement data, the electric quantity in an electric circuit configured to include a high-frequency inverter (11), a capacitor (12), and a heating coil (14, 14A, 14B) and that monitors an induction hardening status; and a data collecting unit (80) that collects the data from various sensors in the induction hardening apparatus (10, 10A, 10B) obtained when the induction hardening apparatus (10) subjects the work (15, 15A, 15B) to an induction hardening based on the setup conditions data outputted from the hardening control unit (70) and that collects the measurement data from the hardening monitoring unit (20) to store the collected data from the various sensors and the measurement data so that the collected data from the various sensors and the measureme
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ito, Yue Yang, Fumiaki Ikuta, Taichi Kitamura, Tetsuya Ono, Ken-ichi Hoshiba
  • Publication number: 20120090370
    Abstract: An induction heater is used to heat composite reinforced pipe (CRP) prior to a bending operation. By heating the composite reinforcement to approximately 90° F.-110° F., the incidence of circumferential stress cracks in the resin is significantly reduced. Resin cracking is also reduced by incorporating longitudinal fibers in the composite reinforcement during manufacture of CRP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NCF INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Norman C. Fawley
  • Publication number: 20120018422
    Abstract: A region of a structural part, which is made of a precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy, is inductively heated to a temperature between 100° C. and 300° C. for a maximum time period of one minute. After undergoing the heating process, the region of the structural part is mechanically shaped by a forming tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Bohner, Jochen Dörr, Jochem Grewe, Ulrich Huschen
  • Publication number: 20110240177
    Abstract: A device and to a corresponding method for partially hardening a metallic work piece, in which the work piece is transported in a continuous furnace along a conveying direction by means of a conveyor and partially heated by means of a heating device. It is proposed that the heating device generates at least one heating zone that is moved in the conveying direction together with the work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110174804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for interrupting and restoring the melt stream of iron and metal melts in melt channels, in particular tap hole channels, of blast furnaces and drainage channels of melt furnaces. The method is characterized by a transition of the melt stream in the melt channels to the solidified state through cooling so that the melt stream can be interrupted, and by a melting of the solidified melt and a restoration of the melt stream through heating, in particular for re-establishing tapping of blast furnaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Klaus Spies, Philippe Mallvoir, Laude Meisch, Luc Richartz, Peter Cramer, Han-Uwe Morgenstem, Jürgen Pithan, Ralf Taugerbeck
  • Publication number: 20110064962
    Abstract: An aluminum die casting product which is improved in corrosion resistance and mechanical strength in particular in proof stress, and a reforming method of an aluminum die casting product are provided. The aluminum die casting product according to the present invention contains Si and Cu, and the largest particle of an Al—Cu metallic compound that exists at a crystal grain boundary between Si and Al has a diameter smaller than or equal to 10 ?m. The reforming method of the present invention is applied to an aluminum die casting product that contains Si and Cu, and the aluminum die casting product is heated at a temperature higher than or equals to 150° C. and lower than 250° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kenya OHASHI, Takayoshi HIKICHI, Kazumi FUJII
  • Publication number: 20110011849
    Abstract: A method and a device for the continuous production of glass and glass ceramic products from a glass melt is provided, which simplifies the changing between two kinds of glass. The device includes a melting crucible and an induction coil, which preferably extends around the melting crucible in order to heat a glass melt by means of an induction field generated by the induction coil. The wall elements, which form the side wall of the crucible, have cooling channels, through which a cooling fluid can be conducted, so that the glass melt solidifies on the side wall and forms a skull layer. The interior side of the wall elements is formed at least in part by an aluminum nitride-containing ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Uwe Kolberg, Sybill Neuttgens, Thomas Kirsch, Andreas Gross, Ernst-Walter Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7857914
    Abstract: A device for removing layers of corrosion and other coatings from a metal surface is disclosed. Said device includes a signal generator driving an induction coil that is positioned on the structure. A control unit includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature in the metal structure. The control unit is adapted to control the power output of the signal generator in accordance with the temperature in the metal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: RPR Technologies AS
    Inventor: Tom Arne Baann
  • Publication number: 20100258553
    Abstract: An induction hardening monitoring apparatus (20) comprising: a current sensor (21) for detecting output current from a high-frequency inverter (11); a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage generated in a heating coil (14) connected between output terminals of the high-frequency inverters (11) together with a capacitor (12) in an equivalent circuit manner; and a controller (23) for monitoring a hardening processing based on a detection signal from the current sensor (21) and a detection signal from a voltage sensor (22), wherein the controller (23) monitors a hardening processing by calculating an effective value of output current from the high-frequency inverter (11) based on a detection signal from the current sensor (21) and calculating an effective value of voltage generated in a heating coil (14) based on a detection signal from the voltage sensor (22); or further calculating load impedance based on each effective value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Yang, Fumiaki Ikuta, Taichi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20100154940
    Abstract: A method for producing pistons that can be used in internal combustion engines made from lightweight metal, with a combustion bowl assigned to one piston head, wherein a bowl rim is subjected to a melt treatment. In a first method step, the bowl rim is inductively heated. In a second method step, the material of the bowl rim, also to be referred to as the delimiting zone, is improved by means of a laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: KS KOLBENSCHMIDT GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Luft, Thomas Steffens, Christian Schaller, Bernd Sartorius
  • Publication number: 20090314768
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for gradient induction heating or melting of a workpiece with a plurality of induction coils, each of the plurality of induction coils is connected to a power supply that may have a tuning capacitor connected across the input of an inverter. The plurality of induction coils are sequentially disposed around the workpiece. The inverter has a pulse width modulated ac power output that may be in synchronous control with the pulse width modulated ac power outputs of the other power supplies via a control line between the controllers of all power supplies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Oleg S. FISHMAN, Vladimir V. NADOT
  • Patent number: 7576306
    Abstract: An electric heating element with radiant tube comprising a radiation pipe (1) and an electric heating element (2, 3) contained in said pipe, wherein the heating element has legs that run to and fro in the pipe, and wherein the heating element is connected at one end of the pipe close to a furnace wall with electric power outlets through which electric current is fed to the element, wherein the element is supported in the pipe by ceramic discs (9) that are provided with through-penetrating holes through which the legs of the elements extend, and wherein two elements (2, 3) are disposed sequentially in said radiation pipe along its long axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 7577285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a joint between workpieces is provided. At least one light line is recorded by the light section method to detect the three-dimensional course of the joint and a grey-level image of the joint is also recorded. The grey-level image is evaluated to assess the quality of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Precitec Vision GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Schwarz, Martin Halschka
  • Publication number: 20090050622
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous heat treatment of steel strip material whose thickness d1, d2 periodically varies along its length, more particularly of strip flexibly rolled with a roll gap varying as a function of time, wherein the continuous heat treatment of the strip material takes place while the strip material passes through an induction furnace in which the strip material is induction heated at a constant frequency which can be selected to be such that the mathematical induction depth ? of the induced current up to which the magnetic field has been reduced to 63% of the field strength of the outer field is greater than half the thickness of the strip portions with the smallest thickness d2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Stefan Pohl, Andreas Hauger
  • Publication number: 20090032526
    Abstract: A high-frequency induction hardening apparatus used for metal objects, including a heating coil holder (4) carrying a heating coil (40) for hardening a metal object (2), an eccentric rotor assemble housing a cam mechanism for allowing the heating coil to eccentrically rotate through the heating coil holder (4); and a pair of supporters (11), (12) for keeping the heating coil holder (4) in a desired position, the supporters (11), (12) limiting the movement of the heating coil holder (4) to a plane intersecting the axis (21) of the cam carried in an eccentric rotor mount (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Takehiko Nagao, Noboru Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7451630
    Abstract: A method of forming a vehicle component, particularly an elongated impact beam, having an open section structure, in a manner to provide predetermined strategically strengthened portions, comprising the steps of cold forming unhardened steel into a workpiece having mounting surfaces, selectively fixturing the mounting surfaces, static induction heating the workpiece with lengthwise surface eddy currents on selected portions, followed by quenching of the fixtured heated workpiece to form strengthened portions, and unfixturing the resulting component. Also disclosed is apparatus to accomplish this, and the resulting novel vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Benteler Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. J. Tjoelker, John D. Bowman, Alessandro Libriani, Joseph C. Kollaritsch
  • Patent number: 7414226
    Abstract: A method to heat a stator bar and clip assembly in a brazing chamber including: placing the stator bar and clip assembly in the brazing chamber, wherein the assembly is seated in a heating coil; positioning a conductive mass between a press and the stator bar and clip; applying the press to the assembly while the assembly is seated in the coil; heating the stator bar and clip by applying energy to the coil; brazing the stator bar to the clip with the heat from the coil, and removing the press and cooling the brazed clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yu Wang, David Robert Schumacher, James Michael Fogarty, Alan Michael Iversen
  • Patent number: 7378622
    Abstract: A system and method for electromagnetic surface treatment of a work piece has an electromagnetic pulse generator and an electromagnetic pulse tool. The work piece has a working surface. A current pulse generated by the electromagnetic pulse generator travels through the tool producing an electromagnetic pulse. The electromagnetic pulse interacts with the working surface causing an indentation to form. A residual compressive stress layer is also formed. The indentation has a smooth and continuous topography that is described by an indentation perimeter, an indentation transition region, an indentation sidewall, an impact transition region, and an impact region. The method may also simultaneously, or subsequently, form a second indentation which overlaps with the indentation. An inter-indentation overlap region is formed when the indentations overlap. The inter-indentation overlap region is smooth and continuous. Multiple treated surfaces may easily be formed on the working surface of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Gateway Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Dydo, Sergei P. Yushanov
  • Patent number: 7263757
    Abstract: Electromagnetic (EMF) trimming, flanging and hemming steps are performed at a single workstation in a combined fixture designed to form a hemmed panel assembly, such as a vehicle closure panel. Two or more formed sheets, outer and inner panels, are positioned together for hemming. The panels are clamped and EMF coils are activated to provide EMF force to retain the panels and trim off excess addendum material from the outer panel. The coils are then activated to bend the trimmed edge upward against a flanging member and form a 90 degree flange. Flanging and trimming members are retracted and a coil member positions EMF hemming coils opposite the flange. The hemming coils are then activated and apply EMF force to bend the flange of the outer panel to a 180 degree angle, overlaying the edge of the inner panel and forming a panel assembly having a hemmed edge. Optionally, if needed, the flanging member is then lowered against the flange to assure flatness of the hem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Edmund Arthur Herman
  • Patent number: 7168160
    Abstract: A method for heat-treating a plurality of microelectronic structures attached to a non-metallic substrate is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) placing the non-metallic substrate and the plurality of microelectronic structures in an oscillating electromagnetic field, whereby the plurality of microelectronic structures are heated by the oscillating electromagnetic field and the non-metallic substrate is essentially not heated by the oscillating electromagnetic field; (b) maintaining the non-metallic substrate and the plurality of microelectronic structures in the oscillating electromagnetic field until each of the plurality of microelectronic structures obtains a defined heat-treatment temperature substantially greater than an ambient temperature; (c) removing the non-metallic substrate and the plurality of microelectronic structures from the oscillating electromagnetic field; and (d) cooling the plurality of microelectronic structures to the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy Kuo Chen
  • Patent number: 7087869
    Abstract: In a transverse induction heating apparatus in which a material to be rolled is heated by inductors to which electric power is supplied from an AC power source, iron core widths of the inductors in a plate width direction of the material to be rolled are smaller than plate width of the material to be rolled, they are disposed on a plate width center line of the material to be rolled, and when a current penetration depth is ?(m), specific resistance of the material to be rolled is ?(?-m), magnetic permeability of the material to be rolled is ?(H/m), heating frequency of the AC power source is f (Hz), and plate thickness of the material to be rolled is tw (m), the heating frequency of the AC power source is set so that ?={?/(?·f·?)}1/2 and (tw/?)<0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinobu Eguchi, Hideo Sakamoto, Norihiro Saijou