Patents Assigned to Alphatech, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7234869
    Abstract: A bearing for supporting a shaft submerged in molten zinc, has a bearing surface comprising a steel cylindrical liner having slots retaining ceramic shaft-engaging bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6899772
    Abstract: A castable and machinable alloy suitable for submersion in a molten magnesium or magnesium aluminum melt has the following composition: ELEMENT CONTENT (weight %) Boron 0.01-2.0? Carbon 0.01-2.0? Sulphur Trace Phosphorus Trace Chromium ?5.0-15.0 Silicon 0.0-2.0 Molybdenum ?2.00-12.00 Tunsten ?0.5-10.00 Vanadium 0.5-5.0 Niobium 0.5-5.0 Cobalt ?0.5-10.0 Iron Balance The alloy is resistant to dissolution by the melt at temperatures of up to around 1800° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Publication number: 20050073962
    Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and processor program products for determining a set of costs of routes in a network, including providing a model of the network, optimizing the model for maximum network lifetime, updating the model using at least one constraint based on the maximum network lifetime, optimizing the updated model for minimum network latency, modifying the updated model using a constraint based on the minimum network latency, and, optimizing the modified updated model by balancing the network across multiple pathways to provide costs of routes in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Applicant: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Zabele, Mark Keaton
  • Publication number: 20050073585
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking an object(s), including identifying the object(s) by correlating video data from at least one video device, based on motion data of the object(s) for a previous time, determining that the object(s) movement is stopped, based on determining that the stopped object(s) is not occluded, monitoring the stopped object(s) properties, determining from the monitoring that the stopped object(s) is moving, and, resuming track of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Applicant: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventors: Gil Ettinger, Matthew Antone, W. Eric L. Grimson
  • Patent number: 6622118
    Abstract: A method and system that include a first measurement signal and a second measurement signal that can be input to first and second filters. The filters can be subject to a first constraint to minimize the energy difference between the first and second measurement signals on a per frequency basis, and subject to a second constraint that includes a model frequency and phase response. By adapting the filters subject to the two constraints, coherent differences between the two measurement signals can be identified. In one embodiment, the system can be applied to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Crooks, Shawn M. Verbout
  • Patent number: 6562293
    Abstract: An article of equipment intended to be submerged in molten zinc and low percentage aluminum/zinc melts, said article containing an alloy material comprised of carbon, chromium, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, niobium (columbium), cobalt, boron, iron and/or zirconium, wherein vanadium is present in an amount sufficient to limit the &ggr;-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6354796
    Abstract: Apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal in a bath of molten metal, includes a pump disposed in the met. The pump has a lower inlet opening with a strainer and a slinger rib to prevent the entry of debris that exceeds a predetermined diameter from passing through the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge Morando
  • Patent number: 6261369
    Abstract: A roll apparatus for use within a bath of molten metal which has a first and second support arm with a pair of openings aligned along an axis, a strip engaging roll having an axial bore and a length as great as the width of the moving metal strip which passes around the roll, a shaft telescopically received in the roll and having a first end disposed in a first of aligned openings and a second end disposed in the other of the aligned openings and a structure carried on at least one of the arms engaging the shaft such that the shaft is axially movable in the aligned openings but non-rotatable with respect to the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6168757
    Abstract: An article of equipment intended to be submerged in molten zinc, molten aluminum and mixtures thereof, said article containing an alloy material comprised of: Percent Carbon 1.6-2.6 Chromium 15.0-30.0 Tungsten 10.0-30.0 Molybdenum 2.0-8.0 Iron 10.0-50.0 and including, vanadium, niobium, cobalt, boron, and manganese and being substantially free of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6168753
    Abstract: A graphite support leg for positioning an object, such as a pump, in a bath of molten metal. The leg is enclosed in a ceramic sleeve, and an inert material is disposed in a clearance between the leg and the sleeve to protect the leg from the heat of the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6106226
    Abstract: A rotating shaft for pumping or degassing hydrogen from molten metal comprising a motor connected to the upper end of a hollow shaft. An impeller is connected to the lower end of the shaft in the molten metal. The shaft is telescopically housed within a heat resistant shield shaft. The shield is clamped in a state of longitudinal compression to prevent tensile forces from damaging the shield as the impeller is being rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6082965
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal in a bath of molten metal having a housing and steel alloy legs to prevent the housing from rising in the molten metal. The steel legs are protected by tubular shields made of a heat resistant material. The shields each has a lower end attached to the housing and has an inner diameter that is larger than the leg's outer diameter to accommodate the thermoexpansion of the leg. Inert gas is introduced in the space between the steel leg and the shield to form an oxygen-free environment around the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6071074
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal in a bath of molten metal having a pumping member, a pump housing, a power device, a connecting element to connect the power device to drive the pumping member in motion, and a shielding element rotatably mounted on the pump housing and drivingly connected to pumping member. The connecting element comprises a pumping shaft having an upper end connected to the power device, and a lower end drivingly connected to the shielding element to rotate the pumping member when the power device is actuated. The shaft and the shielding element have a first and a second coefficient of thermal expansion, respectively. The shaft is telescopically disposed in the shielding element out of contact with the molten metal and formed a chamber between the shaft and the shielding element sufficient to permit thermal expansion of the shaft without imposing a radial thermal stress on the shielding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6051183
    Abstract: A gas jet-operated pump for removing dross from the surface of a bath of molten metal. The pump can be employed for delivering molten metal to the dross for diluting it or for removing it from a selected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 6004507
    Abstract: An article suitable for submergence in molten zinc, aluminum and aluminum/zinc melts. The article is formed of an alloy comprising from greater than 1.0% to less than 5.0% carbon; from greater to 10.0% to less than 30.0% chromium; from greater than or equal to 0.0% nickel to less than 30.0% nickel; from greater than 1.0% to less than 15.0% tungsten; from greater than 1.0% to less than 10.0% molybdenum; from greater than 0.0% to less than 10.0% vanadium; from greater than 0.0% to less than 10.0% niobium; from greater than 0.0% to less than 20.0% percent cobalt; from greater than 0.0% to less than 5.0% boron; from greater than 10.0% to less than 50.0% iron; from greater than or equal to 0.0% to less than or equal to 6.0% zirconium; from greater than 2 to less than 6.5% manganese; and from greater than or equal to 0.0% to less than 1.0% silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5863314
    Abstract: A jet column reactor apparatus for moving molten metal in a bath of such metal is formed with a monolithic refractory body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5772567
    Abstract: A method for making either a ringless annealing furnace roll or a furnace roll having a series of spaced ring for supporting a metal strip being removed from an annealing furnace. Each ring is centrifugally cast with an outer rim of a steel alloy that is relatively insoluble with respect to the alloy of the strip being transferred from the furnace, and an inner liner of an alloy that can be readily welded to a roll. The inner liner material is fused to the rim material to form a composite ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5718517
    Abstract: A steel mill roll has its ends supported in self-aligning bearings that do not require a liquid or grease lubricant, and which are capable or operating at roll shaft temperatures up to 1500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5713408
    Abstract: A method for centrifugally casting a multi-alloy low adhesion furnace roll, includes separately casting each layer and then solidifying the layers when all layers have been cast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5650120
    Abstract: A bubble-operated pump for recirculating molten metal in a bath of such metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando