Patents Assigned to The Material Works, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 9333625
    Abstract: A method for descaling stainless steel includes providing a descaling apparatus having wheels configured to propel a scale removing media against the sheet metal. The wheels are positioned In such a way that the scale removing media propelled from one wheel does not substantially interfere with the scale removing media propelled from another wheel. The scale removing media propelled from each wheel extends across substantially an entire width of the length of the sheet metal, and the wheels are positioned adjacent opposite side edges defining the width of the sheet metal with the sheet metal centered between the wheels. In accordance with the method, a user is induced to install at least one of the descaling apparatuses in a push/pull sheet metal processing line and process stainless steel sheet metal in the line to substantially remove all scale from the surfaces of the stainless steel strip using the descaling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Alan R. Mueth
  • Patent number: 8707529
    Abstract: A metal processing apparatus comprises a scale breaker apparatus having a plurality of rollers positioned in a staggered arrangement and engaging first and second surfaces of sheet metal. The staggered arrangement creates clearances between the rollers of the first and second surface rollers sufficient to enable the sheet metal to conform to a portion of an outer periphery of at least one of the rollers while passing between the first and second surface rollers under a tensile force. The metal processing apparatus further comprises a recoiler adapted to coil the length of sheet metal. The recoiler subjects the sheet metal passing through the scale breaking apparatus to a tensile force sufficient to conform the sheet metal to a portion of the outer periphery of at least one of the rollers with a wrap angle sufficient to break scale from the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 8128460
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and producing a sheet metal surface with rust inhibitive properties. The sheet metal is advanced through the descaling cell and a slurry mixture is propelled against at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal across the sheet metal width as the material is advanced through the descaling cell. The rate of slurry impact against the at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal is controlled in a manner to remove substantially all of the scale from a surface of the sheet metal, and in a manner to create a passivation layer on the descaled surface of the sheet metal. The passivation layer comprises at least one of silicon, aluminum, manganese and chromium and inhibits oxidation of the descaled surface of the processed sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Alan R. Mueth
  • Patent number: 8074331
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing scale from the surfaces of processed sheet metal and tubular metal employs a scale removing medium propelled by counter-rotating pairs of wheels positioned in close proximity to the metal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 8066549
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and producing a sheet metal surface with rust inhibitive properties. The sheet metal is advanced through the descaling cell and a slurry mixture is propelled against at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal across the sheet metal width as the material is advanced through the descaling cell. The rate of slurry impact against the at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal is controlled in a manner to remove substantially all of the scale from a surface of the sheet metal, and in a manner to create a passivation layer on the descaled surface of the sheet metal. The passivation layer comprises at least one of silicon, aluminum, manganese and chromium and inhibits oxidation of the descaled surface of the processed sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Alan R. Mueth
  • Patent number: 8062095
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and producing a sheet metal surface with rust inhibitive properties. The sheet metal is advanced through the descaling cell and a slurry mixture is propelled against at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal across the sheet metal width as the material is advanced through the descaling cell. The rate of slurry impact against the at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal is controlled in a manner to remove substantially all of the scale from a surface of the sheet metal, and in a manner to create a passivation layer on the descaled surface of the sheet metal. The passivation layer comprises at least one of silicon, aluminum, manganese and chromium and inhibits oxidation of the descaled surface of the processed sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Alan R. Mueth
  • Patent number: 7601226
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing scale from the surfaces of processed sheet metal employs a scale removing medium propelled by counter-rotating pairs of wheels positioned in close proximity to the sheet metal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Stuart H. Critchley, Alan R. Mueth
  • Publication number: 20090227184
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and producing a sheet metal surface with rust inhibitive properties. The sheet metal is advanced through the descaling cell and a slurry mixture is propelled against at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal across the sheet metal width as the material is advanced through the descaling cell. The rate of slurry impact against the at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal is controlled in a manner to remove substantially all of the scale from a surface of the sheet metal, and in a manner to create a passivation layer on the descaled surface of the sheet metal. The passivation layer comprises at least one of silicon, aluminum, manganese and chromium and inhibits oxidation of the descaled surface of the processed sheet metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Voges, Alan R. Mueth
  • Patent number: 7156926
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from processed sheet metal comprises the steps of: providing a surface conditioning apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the processed sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. In general, the iron oxide scale generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the processed sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. The surface conditioning apparatus has at least one surface conditioning member. The step of conditioning the surface of the processed sheet metal includes bringing the at least one surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 7081169
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale and cold reducing sheet metal leaves a wustite layer on the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation, even after subsequent cold reduction of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7081167
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and galvanizing the sheet metal includes bonding galvanizing zinc to a wustite layer of the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation until the surface is galvanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7081168
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale and coating sheet metal bonds a pre-paint to a wustite layer of the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation until the surface is coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Materials Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7077724
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing scale from the surfaces of processed sheet metal employs high pressure jets of water directed from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the sheet metal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 6814089
    Abstract: A cleaning and recycling system for conditioning liquid used in a sheet metal conditioner recycles once cleaned conditioning liquid back through the sheet metal surface conditioner where the once cleaned conditioning liquid cools and lubricates brushes of the surface conditioner and also recycles twice cleaned conditioning liquid back through the surface conditioner where the twice cleaned conditioning liquid provides a final rinse to the sheet metal as it is discharged from the surface conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 6814815
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from processed sheet metal, the method includes the steps of: providing a surface conditioning apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the processed sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. In general, the iron oxide scale generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the processed sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. The surface conditioning apparatus has at least one surface conditioning member. The step of conditioning the surface of the processed sheet metal includes bringing the at least one surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 6732561
    Abstract: A method of processing sheet metal comprises the steps of: providing a tension-leveling apparatus; providing a surface conditioning apparatus; leveling a portion of the sheet metal with the tension-leveling apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the portion of the sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. The tension-leveling apparatus includes a first set of bridle rollers adapted to receive sheet metal from an upstream coil. The tension-leveling apparatus also includes a second set of bridle rollers downstream of the first set of bridle rollers. The tension-leveling apparatus is adapted to engage the sheet metal in a manner to subject the portion of the sheet metal between the first and second sets of bridle rollers to a tensile force. The step of leveling the portion of the sheet metal between the first and second sets of bridle rollers includes engaging that portion with the tension-leveling apparatus in a manner to flatten the portion and reduce internal residual stresses in that portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 6205830
    Abstract: A sheet metal processing apparatus comprises a stretcher-leveler and a surface conditioner in combination. The stretcher leveler has an input end, an output end, and a stretching mechanism between the input and output ends. The input end of the stretcher-leveler is adapted to receive at least a portion of a metal sheet to be processed. The stretching mechanism has a plurality of gripping members. The gripping members are adapted for gripping the metal sheet and stretching the portion of the metal sheet between the gripping members past its yield point to eliminate internal residual stresses therein. The stretcher-leveler is adapted to then discharge the stretched portion of the metal sheet from the output end of the stretcher-leveler. A surface conditioner is positioned adjacent the output end of the stretcher-leveler. The surface conditioner is adapted to receive the portion of the metal sheet discharged from the output end of the stretcher-leveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges