Patents by Inventor Erich Hoffken

Erich Hoffken 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: 5482106
    Abstract: A process for continuous casting of a metal comprises continuously withdrawing a strand of the metal from a mold along a strand withdrawal direction, measuring the expansion of an inside wall of the mold along the strand withdrawal direction to obtain a component of inside wall expansion in the strand withdrawal direction due to mechanical forces exerted on the inside wall, and controlling the speed of withdrawal based on the component of inside wall expansion in the strand withdrawal direction due to mechanical forces. If the component of inside wall expansion of in the strand withdrawal direction due to mechanical forces exceeds certain limit values, the withdrawal step is slowed or interrupted, thereby eliminating break-outs due to cobbles. In an embodiment of the invention, expansion measurements are also taken along a direction transverse to the withdrawal direction, enabling the elimination of the component of expansion in the withdrawal direction due to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Dieter Kruger, Heinz Matten, Gunter Pietzko, Jurgen Scharlack
  • Patent number: 5479982
    Abstract: A method for producing a steel strip which has been cast as a stand in a cooled oscillating continuous chill mould, comprises squeezing the strand emerging from the chill mould until it has a first cross-sectional thickness (40-50 mm), followed by hot rolling the strand until it has a second cross-sectional thickness (2-25 mm). Deviations in the normal path of travel of the strand following hot rolling are corrected by adjusting the thickness to which the strand is subjected during the first squeezing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Dieter Kruger, Gisbert Mehring, Gunter Pietzko
  • Patent number: 5058656
    Abstract: The continuous casting installation includes:a) a funnel-shaped oscillating mold having cooled walls to produce a steel strip having a thickness of 40 to 50 mm; andb) a deforming device disposed at a distance of at most 0.5 m from the mold outlet to squeeze the steel strip to a thickness of not more than 25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Hermann Lax, Gunter Pietzko
  • Patent number: 4962808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a steel strip having a thickness of less than 10 mm by the casting of a steel strand in a cooled continuous ingot mould. After leaving the ingot mould and until the welding of the inner walls of the already solidified strand shell, the not yet thoroughly solidified steel strand is compressed, the thickness of the strand shell being reduced with a degree of deformation of >40%. FIG. 2 is intended for the Abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl Aktiegesellschaft
    Inventor: Erich Hoffken
  • Patent number: 4951734
    Abstract: A steel strand having a thickness of 40 to 50 mm in cast in an oscillating mold for continuous casting at a speed of 2 to 20 m/min. The not yet completely solidified steel strand emerging from the mold is squeezed to such an extent that the inner walls of the already solidified strand shell are welded to one another. After the steel strand reduced in thickness in this way has been cooled to 1000.degree. to 1200.degree. C., the strip is rolled out in at least one pass with a 5 to 85% degree of deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Hermann Lax, Gunter Pietzko
  • Patent number: 4934665
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing binder-free hot briquettes for smelting purposes consisting of iron-containing pyrophorous finely divided solids. Before briquetting, the finely divided solids are blown-through by means of a rising oxidating heated gas flow and held in a fluidized bed. The gas flow is controlled in such a way that by oxidation of at least part of the metallic iron the temperature of the finely divided solids is increased to about 450.degree. to 65020 C. Subsequently, the solids are briquetted in hot condition. Characteristic for the invention is that there is added to the fluidized bed sensible heat from the outside until oxidation of part of the metallic iron starts, and that the fluidized bed is submitted to the effect of vibrations favoring the the conveying of the solids over the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Rudolf Auth, Werner Kaas, Lothar Seidelmann
  • Patent number: 4853031
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for preparing binder-free hot briquettes for smelting purposes consisting of iron-containing pyrophorous finely divided solids. Before briquetting, the finely divided solids are blown-through by means of a rising oxidating heated gas flow and held in a fluidized bed. During said process the gas flow is controlled in such a way that by oxidation of at least part of the metallic iron the temperature of the finely divided solids is increased to about 450.degree. to 650.degree. C. Subsequently, the solids are briquetted in hot condition. Characteristic for the invention is that there is added to the fluidized bed sensible heat from the outside until oxidation of part of the metallic iron starts, and that the fluidization bed is submitted to the effect of vibrations favoring the conveying of the solids over the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Rudolf Auth, Werner Kaas, Lothar Seidelmann
  • Patent number: 4604138
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing steel of low phosphorus content from hot metal of usual phosphorus content, in which the hot metal is simultaneously decarburized and dephosphorized in a single process step in a metallurgical vessel, in particular in a converter. The refining gas consisting predominantly or completely of technically pure oxygen is top-blown into the melt, particularly from below. The vessel is charged with hot metal containing manganese in an amount of less than 0.2% by weight. Lime is then added and refining is carried out down to a final phosphorus content of 0.005% by weight or less in the steel at the end of blowing, without a change of slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Thyssen Stahl AG
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Wolfram Florin, Rudolf Hammer
  • Patent number: 4337897
    Abstract: An improvement in a process for forming a refractory lining on the interior walls of the metallurgical vessel which interior walls are coaxial to the principal axis of the vessel wherein a refractory mass containing a binder is centrifugally slung onto the interior walls in a direction normal thereto while the vessel is at a standstill is disclosed. According to the invention, the refractory mass is initially shaped into balls prior to being centrifugally slung and the balls are centrifugally slung in rapid succession to form a mass jet. Also disclosed, is a device for so slinging a refractory mass on the walls of a vessel comprising a slinger head having a slinger wheel and a motor and at least one supply conduit for supplying refractory mass to be slung. The slinger wheel of the slinger head is disposed on one end of a shaft which shaft is extendable into a vessel, the slinger wheel being connected to an actuatable by a slinger motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Martin & Pagenstecher GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Karl-Dieter Beckers
  • Patent number: 4297151
    Abstract: A method of cutting a cast strand into longitudinal sections is disclosed. The method comprises initially severing said strand transversely to form a slab, transporting said slab to a first longitudinal cutting means where it is longitudinally cut. The strand is cut transversely a second time to form a second slab which is transported to a second longitudinal cutting means where it is longitudinally cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Thyssen Aktiengesellschaft vormals August Thyssen-Hutte
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Werner Kleine-Kleffmann, Rolf Bertram, Karl-Heinz Abele, Gunter Michalski
  • Patent number: 4268543
    Abstract: An improvement in a process for forming a refractory lining on the interior walls of the metallurgical vessel which interior walls are coaxial to the principal axis of the vessel wherein a refractory mass containing a binder is centrifugally slung onto the interior walls in a direction normal thereto while the vessel is at a standstill is disclosed. According to the invention, the refractory mass is initially shaped into balls prior to being centrifugally slung and the balls are centrifugally slung in rapid succession to form a mass jet. Also disclosed, is a device for so slinging a refractory mass on the walls of a vessel comprising a slinger head having a slinger wheel and a motor and at least one supply conduit for supplying refractory mass to be slung. The slinger wheel of the slinger head is disposed on one end of a shaft which shaft is extendable into a vessel, the slinger wheel being connected to an actuatable by a slinger motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Martin & Pagenstecher GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Karl-Dieter Beckers
  • Patent number: 4208039
    Abstract: A device for longitudinal cutting cast strands is disclosed. Disclosed is a means for transversely severing a strand into slabs, feeding the slabs selectively to a plurality of longitudinal cutting means and longitudinally cutting said slabs therein. Also disclosed is a novel longitudinal cutting means comprising a flame cutter and a cutting point opening in registry therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Thyssen Aktiengesellschaft vormals August Thyssen-Hutte
    Inventors: Erich Hoffken, Werner Kleine-Kleffmann, Rolf Bertram, Karl-Heinz Abele, Gunter Michalski