Patents by Inventor Brian K. Damkroger

Brian K. Damkroger 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).

  • Control of electrode depth in electroslag remelting
    Patent number: 6496530
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling an electroslag remelting furnace by driving the electrode at a nominal speed based upon melting rate and geometry while making minor proportional adjustments based on a measured metric of the electrode immersion depth. Electrode drive speed is increased if a measured metric of electrode immersion depth differs from a set point by a predetermined amount, indicating that the tip is too close to the surface of a slag pool. Impedance spikes are monitored to adjust the set point for the metric of electrode immersion depth based upon one or more properties of the impedance spikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Melgaard, Gregory J. Shelmidine, Brian K. Damkroger
  • CONTROL OF ELECTRODE DEPTH IN ELECTROSLAG REMELTING
    Publication number: 20020141475
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling an electroslag remelting furnace by driving the electrode at a nominal speed based upon melting rate and geometry while making minor proportional adjustments based on a measured metric of the electrode immersion depth. Electrode drive speed is increased if a measured metric of electrode immersion depth differs from a set point by a predetermined amount, indicating that the tip is too close to the surface of a slag pool. Impedance spikes are monitored to adjust the set point for the metric of electrode immersion depth based upon one or more properties of the impedance spikes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: David K. Melgaard, Gregory J. Shelmidine, Brian K. Damkroger
  • Method and apparatus for controlling electroslag remelting
    Patent number: 5331661
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling electrode immersion depth in an electroslag remelting furnace. The phase difference of the alternating current circuit established in the furnace is calculated in real time and employed to more accurately control immersion depth than possible with voltage-swing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Maguire, Frank J. Zanner, Brian K. Damkroger, Mark E. Miszkiel, Eugene A. Aronson