Patents by Inventor George D. Pfaffmann
George D. Pfaffmann 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).
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Patent number: 8372222Abstract: A system and method for producing locally austempered ductile iron includes a computer program for closely controlling the heating and cooling of an iron part or workpiece. The process allows for the austempering of a relatively low cost iron workpiece to produce significantly higher quality end products. The locally austempered regions may be formed to a substantial controlled depth.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic CorporationInventors: George D. Pfaffmann, John R. Keough, Robert J. Madeira, Christopher Allen Bixler
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Patent number: 7269986Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming IP 2, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
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Patent number: 7024897Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
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Patent number: 7003996Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
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Publication number: 20040200550Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
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Publication number: 20040094244Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc., a Michigan corporationInventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
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Patent number: 6613164Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Nmn Wu
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Publication number: 20020003011Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
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Patent number: 6322645Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
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Patent number: 5373143Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature and heating rate of a workpiece during the induction heating cycle by inducing and detecting a plurality of eddy current pulses at varying frequencies during a short power interruption to the induction coil and correlating the pulses to generate a workpiece profile which is compared to a reference profile to determine whether to reject the inductively heated workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 5302215Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for selective heating a portion of a workpiece to achieve improved ausforming and isoforming processes when the workpiece is plastically deformed by mechanical working above the M.sub.s temperature. The process and apparatus includes a preheating step where a larger portion of the workpiece is preheated to less than the austenitic critical temperature while the final heating step conducted at a temperature higher than the austenitic critical temperature heats a smaller portion of the workpiece which is subsequently subjected to plastic deformation.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1991Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 5250776Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature and heating rate of a workpiece during the induction heating cycle by inducing and detecting a plurality of eddy current pulses at varying frequencies during a short power interruption to the induction coil and correlating the pulses to generate a workpiece profile which is compared to a reference profile to determine whether to reject the inductively heated workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1991Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 5157232Abstract: Metal workpieces having portions of different mass are sequentially stepped through a series of induction heating units having differently contoured inductors for inductively heating the workpiece portions of different mass so as to progressively elevate the portions of different mass to a uniform temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1990Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 5117613Abstract: An induction heating package sealing system includes a control which applies full power to an inductor of a first period and reduces power gradually for a second period. A seal temperature profile gradually approaching a temperature goal is thereby achieved which provides for a more uniform seal.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1991Date of Patent: June 2, 1992Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 5025123Abstract: A modular type replaceable heating unit with a downwardly facing heating ring for use in an apparatus for sealing a flat lid with a lower layer of heat bondable material onto the upper, generally flat surface of a flange extending around the periphery of an access opening in a container. The apparatus moves the heating unit between first and second positions. The apparatus includes a generally fixed high frequency power supply for energizing the heating ring, connecting the high frequency power supply to the heating ring only while the heating unit is moving between the first and second positions. The ring is forced against the lid as the power supply is energized and is released from the lid after the power supply has been de-energized. Preferably the ring is an inductor. A plurality of these heating units is carried by a turret to define individual heating stations on the turret which stations rotate to selectively energize the individual heating units.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1990Date of Patent: June 18, 1991Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, Charles S. Kubis, John P. Currie, Norbert R. Balzer, John Walter, Graham R. Adams
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Patent number: 5009395Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for selective heating a portion of a workpiece to achieve improved ausforming and isoforming processes when the workpiece is plastically deformed by mechanical working above the M.sub.s temperature. The process and apparatus includes a preheating step where a larger portion of the workpiece is preheated to less than the austenitic critical temperature while the final heating step conducted at a temperature higher than the austenitic critical temperature heats a smaller portion of the workpiece which is subsequently subjected to plastic deformation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1988Date of Patent: April 23, 1991Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventor: George D. Pfaffmann
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Patent number: 4996826Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a flat lid with a lower layer of heat bondable material onto the upper, generally flat surface of a flange extending around the periphery of an access opening in a container of the type used to store a substance subsceptible to deterioration when exposed to atmosphere for a prolonged time such as prepared foods, which method and apparatus moves a separate and distinct heating unit with a downwardly facing heating ring in a preselected path, preferably circular in shape, between first and second positions, includes a generally fixed high frequency power supply for energizing said heating ring, connects this fixed high frequency power supply to the individual heating rings of the moving heating unit only when the unit is moving between the first and second positions, and energizes the power supply only while the heating unit is moving between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1990Date of Patent: March 5, 1991Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, Norbert R. Balzer, Charles S. Kubis, John Walter
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Patent number: 4984414Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a flat lid with a lower layer of heat bondable material onto the upper, generally flat surface of a flange extending around the periphery of an access opening in a container of the type used to store a substance susceptible to deterioration when exposed to atmosphere for a prolonged time such as prepared foods, which method and apparatus moves a separate and distinct heating unit with a downwardly facing heating ring in a preselected path, preferably circular in shape, between first and second positions, includes a generally fixed high frequency power supply for energizing said heating ring, connects this fixed high frequency power supply to the individual heating rings of the moving heating unit only when the unit is moving between the first and second positions, and energizes the power supply only while the heating unit is moving between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1990Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, Charles S. Kubis, John P. Currie, Norbert R. Balzer, John Walter, Graham R. Adams
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Patent number: 4941306Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a flat lid with a lower layer of heat bondable material onto the upper, generally flat surface of a flange extending around the periphery of an access opening in a container of the type used to store a substance susceptible to deterioration when exposed to atmosphere for a prolonged time such as prepared foods, which method and apparatus moves a separate and distinct heating unit with a downwardly facing heating ring in a preselected path, preferably circular in shape, between first and second positions, includes a generally fixed high frequency power supply for energizing said heating ring, connects this fixed high frequency power supply to the individual heating rings of the moving heating unit only when the unit is moving between the first and second positions, and energizes the power supply only while the heating unit is moving between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1988Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, Norbert R. Balzer, Charles S. Kubis, John Walter, John P. Currie, Graham R. Adams
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Patent number: 4897518Abstract: A method of monitoring a heating cycle of an induction heating system wherein an inductor encircles a metal workpiece and an alternating current is applied through the inductor from a power supply during the heating cycle. This method comprising the steps of generating an analog signal representative of the voltage across the inductor, as the voltage varies during the heating cycle by changes in the electromagnetic characteristics of the workpiece as the workpiece is being heated; digitizing the voltage representative analog signal; creating a trace of the digitized voltage representative analog signal, with the trace being indicative of the electromagnetic characteristic of the workpiece as sensed by the inductor voltage during the heating cycle; and, comparing the created trace with a preselected pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1988Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Assignee: Tocco, Inc.Inventors: George M. Mucha, Jonathan W. Alexander, George D. Pfaffmann, Richard H. McKelvey