Abstract: A system for heat treating a metal product has an annealing zone having a first preselected atmosphere condition, a cooling zone having a second preselected atmosphere condition different than the first preselected atmosphere condition, and a blueing zone having a third preselected atmosphere condition different than the first and second preselected atmosphere conditions. A graphical user interface allows an operator select one of the zones for displaying processing information pertaining to the selected zone. The processing information includes a computed ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) for the respective preselected atmosphere condition. The graphical user interface allows an operator to control the respective preselected atmosphere based, at least in part, upon the computed ratio.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2011
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere supply a preselected gas atmosphere at a preselected temperature to a heat treating furnace. The preselected temperature is not greater than a temperature at which wustite (FeO) forms. The methods sense the preselected gas atmosphere and the preselected temperature and compute a computed ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) for the preselected atmosphere as a function of the sensed values.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 5, 2007
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2008
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere derive from at least one sensor placed in situ in the atmosphere a process variable, which is indicative of the ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) in the atmosphere. The systems and methods use the process variable, e.g., to control the atmosphere, or to record or display the process variable.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 1, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2007
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere derive from at least one sensor placed in situ in the atmosphere a process variable, which is indicative of the ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) in the atmosphere. The systems and methods use the process variable, e.g., to control the atmosphere, or to record or display the process variable.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 1, 2004
Publication date:
December 23, 2004
Applicant:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere derive from at least one sensor placed in situ in the atmosphere a process variable, which is indicative of the ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) in the atmosphere. The systems and methods use the process variable, e.g., to control the atmosphere, or to record or display the process variable.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 1, 2001
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2004
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods monitor the activity of carbon in a heat treating atmosphere, e.g., where a two phase region is desired for spherodize annealing. The systems and methods generate a computed activity of carbon value for the gas atmosphere as a function of temperature, partial pressure of oxygen, and carbon monoxide content of the gas atmosphere, and without determining a carbon dioxide content of the gas atmosphere. The systems and methods can make use of the computed activity of carbon value, e.g., to control the gas atmosphere.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 25, 2003
Publication date:
January 8, 2004
Applicant:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere derive from at least one sensor placed in situ in the atmosphere a process variable, which is indicative of the ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2(g) to water vapor H2O(g) in the atmosphere. The systems and methods use the process variable, e.g., to control the atmosphere, or to record, or display the process variable.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 1998
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2003
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods monitor the activity of carbon in a heat treating atmosphere, e.g., where a two phase region is desired for spherodize annealing. The systems and methods generate a computed activity of carbon value for the gas atmosphere as a function of temperature, partial pressure of oxygen, and carbon monoxide content of the gas atmosphere, and without determining a carbon dioxide content of the gas atmosphere. The systems and methods can make use of the computed activity of carbon value, e.g., to control the gas atmosphere.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 8, 2003
Assignee:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N Blumenthal, Andreas T Melville
Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a heat treating atmosphere derive from at least one sensor placed in situ in the atmosphere a process variable, which is indicative of the ratio of gaseous hydrogen H2 (g) to water vapor H2O (g) in the atmosphere. The systems and methods use the process variable, e.g., to control the atmosphere, or to record or display the process variable.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 1, 2001
Publication date:
March 14, 2002
Applicant:
Furnace Control Corp.
Inventors:
Robert N. Blumenthal, Andreas T. Melville