Patents by Inventor Daniel M. Ruf

Daniel M. Ruf 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).

  • Patent number: 11538956
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control zone temperatures in a solar cell production system are disclosed. An example furnace to fire photovoltaic cells includes: a plurality of zones comprising firing elements configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic cells by heating the photovoltaic cells in the zones; one or more belts configured to transport photovoltaic cells through a sequence of the plurality of zones; a user interface comprising one or more input devices; and control circuitry configured to: control the firing elements for the plurality of zones; and modify a configuration of two or more of the plurality of zones based on input received via the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Roy Ball
  • Patent number: 11338243
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to thermally destruct volatile organic compounds are disclosed. An example thermal oxidizer for a furnace includes: an oxidation chamber comprising an inlet configured to receive exhaust gases from a furnace and an outlet configured to output resultant gases; and a plurality of heating elements within the oxidation chamber configured to heat the exhaust gases to oxidize one or more components of the exhaust gases between the inlet and the outlet to result in the resultant gases, the plurality of heating elements comprising resistive heating elements forming coils having respective axes, the plurality of heating elements being oriented within the oxidation chamber such that the axes of the coils are transverse to an exhaust gas flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the oxidation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Seger, Ronald Chlan, Alem Mengesha, Daniel M. Ruf, Gregory D. Yetzer
  • Publication number: 20200292236
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Brandon Oakes Long, Prathna Ung, Erik Richard Anderson
  • Patent number: 10767283
    Abstract: Ovens, discharge nozzle plates for distribution of gas through an oven, and methods to operate an oven are disclosed. Example ovens include a heating system to heat gas, a substrate heating volume, and a plenum comprising a side wall having a plurality of passages formed therein, the plenum configured to direct heated gas into the substrate heating volume from the plurality of passages, each of the plurality of passages formed in the plenum having a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Matthew Benson, Phillip Vu, Robert Gerald Graham, Rolf Douglas Kragseth
  • Patent number: 10676847
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a supply structure disposed within the oven between first and second ends of the oven. The supply structure comprises a plurality of plenums stacked one above each other with gaps therebetween. The plenums are in fluid communication with a heating system. At least one plenum comprises at least one side wall comprising a plurality of passages formed therein, said at least one plenum configured to direct at least a portion of the heated gas into an interior of the oven from the plurality of passages. Each of the plurality of passages formed in said at least one plenum has a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Matthew Benson, Phillip Vu
  • Publication number: 20190334053
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control zone temperatures in a solar cell production system are disclosed. An example furnace to fire photovoltaic cells includes: a plurality of zones comprising firing elements configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic cells by heating the photovoltaic cells in the zones; one or more belts configured to transport photovoltaic cells through a sequence of the plurality of zones; a user interface comprising one or more input devices; and control circuitry configured to: control the firing elements for the plurality of zones; and modify a configuration of two or more of the plurality of zones based on input received via the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Roy Ball
  • Publication number: 20190329178
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to thermally destruct volatile organic compounds are disclosed. An example thermal oxidizer for a furnace includes: an oxidation chamber comprising an inlet configured to receive exhaust gases from a furnace and an outlet configured to output resultant gases; and a plurality of heating elements within the oxidation chamber configured to heat the exhaust gases to oxidize one or more components of the exhaust gases between the inlet and the outlet to result in the resultant gases, the plurality of heating elements comprising resistive heating elements forming coils having respective axes, the plurality of heating elements being oriented within the oxidation chamber such that the axes of the coils are transverse to an exhaust gas flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the oxidation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald Seger, Ronald Chlan, Alem Mengesha, Daniel M. Ruf, Gregory D. Yetzer
  • Patent number: 10443941
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Brandon Oakes Long, Prathna Ung, Erik Richard Anderson
  • Publication number: 20190249923
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide closed loop control in a solar cell production system are disclosed. An example solar cell production system includes: a firing furnace comprising a plurality of zones and a belt configured to transport photovoltaic cells through a sequence of the plurality of zones, the zones comprising firing elements configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic cells by heating ambient air in the zones to respective temperatures; a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic cells; a photovoltaic cell tester configured to measure a property of the photovoltaic cells after cooling of the photovoltaic cells in the cooling chamber; and control circuitry configured to control firing elements based on the property of the photovoltaic cells measured by the photovoltaic cell tester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Erik R. Anderson, Roy Kearns Ball
  • Patent number: 9589817
    Abstract: A dryer comprising an enclosure and a transporter for transporting one or more components therethrough between a first and a second opening. The dryer includes one or more heating elements and a first and a second duct within the enclosure. The first and said second duct each include a plurality of openings configured for discharging heated air towards the one or more components. An exhaust stack in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure includes an exhaust blower for extracting fluid from within the enclosure, and one or more heating elements for oxidizing the vaporized compounds. The supply and the exhaust blowers cooperatively operate to induce infiltration of air through the first and the second opening. A method for operating the dryer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Richard L. Steblay
  • Publication number: 20170051437
    Abstract: Ovens, discharge nozzle plates for distribution of gas through an oven, and methods to operate an oven are disclosed. Example ovens include a heating system to heat gas, a substrate heating volume, and a plenum comprising a side wall having a plurality of passages formed therein, the plenum configured to direct heated gas into the substrate heating volume from the plurality of passages, each of the plurality of passages formed in the plenum having a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Matthew Benson, Phillip Vu, Robert Gerald Graham, Rolf Douglas Kragseth
  • Publication number: 20160341479
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel M. Ruf, Brandon Oakes Long, Prathna Ung, Erik Richard Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160130733
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a supply structure disposed within the oven between first and second ends of the oven. The supply structure comprises a plurality of plenums stacked one above each other with gaps therebetween. The plenums are in fluid communication with a heating system. At least one plenum comprises at least one side wall comprising a plurality of passages formed therein, said at least one plenum configured to direct at least a portion of the heated gas into an interior of the oven from the plurality of passages. Each of the plurality of passages formed in said at least one plenum has a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Matthew Benson, Phillip Vu
  • Publication number: 20120260518
    Abstract: A dryer comprising an enclosure and a transporter for transporting one or more components therethrough between a first and a second opening. The dryer includes one or more heating elements and a first and a second duct within the enclosure. The first and said second duct each include a plurality of openings configured for discharging heated air towards the one or more components. An exhaust stack in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure includes an exhaust blower for extracting fluid from within the enclosure, and one or more heating elements for oxidizing the vaporized compounds. The supply and the exhaust blowers cooperatively operate to induce infiltration of air through the first and the second opening. A method for operating the dryer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: DESPATCH INDUSTRIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Daniel M. Ruf, Richard L. Steblay