Patents by Inventor Glenn A. Erichsen
Glenn A. Erichsen 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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Publication number: 20240139910Abstract: Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods of operating an abrasive fluid jet system that recycles and reuses abrasive particles. The systems and methods described enable accurate metering and consistent feeding of wet abrasive particles thereby reducing the time and cost of operations associated with drying the recycled abrasive particles prior to reuse. The system may adjust a ratio of wet abrasive to dry abrasive being provided to a cutting head to form an abrasive fluid jet. Components of the system may overcome challenges associated with clumping and other issues that result in difficulty metering wet abrasive.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Jordan J. Hopkins, Adrian T. Kirn, Blake G. Bozlee, Ethan E. Romanoff, Glenn A. Erichsen, Mohamed A. Hashish
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Publication number: 20230330812Abstract: Systems and methods for providing real-time modification of cutting process programs using feedback from one or more sensors which measure one or more operational parameters of a cutting process and/or cutting apparatus. The sensor readings may be used to provide real-time modification of a motion program after such motion program has been provided to a motion controller. Examples of such operational parameters may include waterjet pump supply pressure, the abrasive mass flow rate, the force of the waterjet on the target piece, etc. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize a cutting algorithm or program to calculate actual cut quality based on one or more sensor inputs, and to generate warnings or system shut-downs accordingly. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize inspection devices to inspect coupons or first articles, and use the inspection data to autonomously modify motion programs and/or cutting process models without user intervention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Alex M. Chillman, Jordan J. Hopkins, Adam G. Law, Amanda C. Kotchon, Paul H. Tacheron, Charles D. Burnham, Brian Kent, Mohamed Hashish, Craig D. Sunada, Jiannan Zhou
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Patent number: 11724361Abstract: Systems and methods for providing real-time modification of cutting process programs using feedback from one or more sensors which measure one or more operational parameters of a cutting process and/or cutting apparatus. The sensor readings may be used to provide real-time modification of a motion program after such motion program has been provided to a motion controller. Examples of such operational parameters may include waterjet pump supply pressure, the abrasive mass flow rate, the force of the waterjet on the target piece, etc. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize a cutting algorithm or program to calculate actual cut quality based on one or more sensor inputs, and to generate warnings or system shut-downs accordingly. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize inspection devices to inspect coupons or first articles, and use the inspection data to autonomously modify motion programs and/or cutting process models without user intervention.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Alex M. Chillman, Jordan J. Hopkins, Adam G. Law, Amanda C. Kotchon, Paul H. Tacheron, Charles D. Burnham, Brian Kent, Mohamed Hashish, Craig D. Sunada, Jiannan Zhou
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Publication number: 20210379729Abstract: Systems and methods for providing real-time modification of cutting process programs using feedback from one or more sensors which measure one or more operational parameters of a cutting process and/or cutting apparatus. The sensor readings may be used to provide real-time modification of a motion program after such motion program has been provided to a motion controller. Examples of such operational parameters may include waterjet pump supply pressure, the abrasive mass flow rate, the force of the waterjet on the target piece, etc. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize a cutting algorithm or program to calculate actual cut quality based on one or more sensor inputs, and to generate warnings or system shut-downs accordingly. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize inspection devices to inspect coupons or first articles, and use the inspection data to autonomously modify motion programs and/or cutting process models without user intervention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Alex M. Chillman, Jordan J. Hopkins, Adam G. Law, Amanda C. Kotchon, Paul H. Tacheron, Charles D. Burnham, Brian Kent, Mohamed Hashish, Craig D. Sunada, Jiannan Zhou
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Patent number: 9597772Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically determining jet orientation parameters to correct for potential deviations in three dimensional part cutting are provided. Example embodiments provide an Adaptive Vector Control System (AVCS), which automatically determines speeds and orientation parameters of a cutting jet to attempt to insure that a part will be cut within prescribed tolerances where possible. In one embodiment, the AVCS determines the tilt and swivel of a cutting head by mathematical predictive models that examine the cutting front for each of “m” hypothetical layers in a desired part, to better predict whether the part will be within tolerances, and to determine what corrective angles are needed to correct for deviations due to drag, radial deflection, and/or taper.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Dana Haukoos, Hyun Jung
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Publication number: 20130253687Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically determining jet orientation parameters to correct for potential deviations in three dimensional part cutting are provided. Example embodiments provide an Adaptive Vector Control System (AVCS), which automatically determines speeds and orientation parameters of a cutting jet to attempt to insure that a part will be cut within prescribed tolerances where possible. In one embodiment, the AVCS determines the tilt and swivel of a cutting head by mathematical predictive models that examine the cutting front for each of “m” hypothetical layers in a desired part, to better predict whether the part will be within tolerances, and to determine what corrective angles are needed to correct for deviations due to drag, radial deflection, and/or taper.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: FLOW INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Dana Haukoos, Hyun Jung
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Patent number: 8423172Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically determining jet orientation parameters to correct for potential deviations in three dimensional part cutting are provided. Example embodiments provide an Adaptive Vector Control System (AVCS), which automatically determines speeds and orientation parameters of a cutting jet to attempt to insure that a part will be cut within prescribed tolerances where possible. In one embodiment, the AVCS determines the tilt and swivel of a cutting head by mathematical predictive models that examine the cutting front for each of “m” hypothetical layers in a desired part, to better predict whether the part will be within tolerances, and to determine what corrective angles are needed to correct for deviations due to drag, radial deflection, and/or taper.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Dana Haukoos, Hyun Jung
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Publication number: 20110287692Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically determining jet orientation parameters to correct for potential deviations in three dimensional part cutting are provided. Example embodiments provide an Adaptive Vector Control System (AVCS), which automatically determines speeds and orientation parameters of a cutting jet to attempt to insure that a part will be cut within prescribed tolerances where possible. In one embodiment, the AVCS determines the tilt and swivel of a cutting head by mathematical predictive models that examine the cutting front for each of “m” hypothetical layers in a desired part, to better predict whether the part will be within tolerances, and to determine what corrective angles are needed to correct for deviations due to drag, radial deflection, and/or taper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Dana S. Haukoos, Hyun Jung
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Patent number: 7803036Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice M. Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Michael Knaupp, Charles M. Wakefield, Andrew P. Sterne, Glenn A. Erichsen
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Patent number: 7331842Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice M. Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert J. Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles M. Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew P. Sterne, Glenn A. Erichsen
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Publication number: 20070190901Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew Sterne, Glenn Erichsen
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Publication number: 20070190900Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew Sterne, Glenn Erichsen
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Publication number: 20070184758Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew Sterne, Glenn Erichsen
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Publication number: 20070180939Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew Sterne, Glenn Erichsen
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Publication number: 20060149410Abstract: Methods and systems for automating the control of fluid jet orientation parameters are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Waterjet Control System (a “DWCS”) to dynamically control the orientation of the jet relative to the material being cut as a function of speed and other process parameters. Orientation parameters include, for example, the x-y position of the jet along the cutting path, as well as three dimensional orientation parameters of the jet, such as standoff compensation values and taper and lead angles of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the DWCS uses a set of predictive models to determine these orientation parameters. The DWCS preferably comprises a motion program generator/kernel, a user interface, one or more replaceable orientation and process models, and a communications interface to a fluid jet apparatus controller. Optionally the DWCS also includes a CAD module for designing the target piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2005Publication date: July 6, 2006Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Mira Sahney, Michael Knaupp, Charles Burnham, Mohamed Hashish
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Publication number: 20060040590Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2004Publication date: February 23, 2006Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Felice Sciulli, Andreas Meyer, Robert Mann, Michael Knaupp, Charles Wakefield, Chidambaram Raghavan, Andrew Sterne, Glenn Erichsen
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Patent number: 6996452Abstract: Methods and systems for automating the control of fluid jet orientation parameters are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Waterjet Control System (a “DWCS”) to dynamically control the orientation of the jet relative to the material being cut as a function of speed and other process parameters. Orientation parameters include, for example, the three dimensional orientation parameters of the jet, such as standoff compensation values and taper and lead angles of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the DWCS uses a set of predictive models to determine these orientation parameters. The DWCS preferably comprises a motion program generator/kernel, a user interface, one or more replaceable orientation and process models, and a communications interface to a fluid jet apparatus controller. In one embodiment the DWCS embedded in the controller and performs a “look-ahead” procedure to automatically control cutting head orientation.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Mira K. Sahney, Michael Knaupp, Charles D. Burnham, Mohamed A. Hashish
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Publication number: 20040236461Abstract: Methods and systems for automating the control of fluid jet orientation parameters are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Waterjet Control System (a “DWCS”) to dynamically control the orientation of the jet relative to the material being cut as a function of speed and other process parameters. Orientation parameters include, for example, the x-y position of the jet along the cutting path, as well as three dimensional orientation parameters of the jet, such as standoff compensation values and taper and lead angles of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the DWCS uses a set of predictive models to determine these orientation parameters. The DWCS preferably comprises a motion program generator/kernel, a user interface, one or more replaceable orientation and process models, and a communications interface to a fluid jet apparatus controller. Optionally the DWCS also includes a CAD module for designing the target piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Mira K. Sahney, Michael Knaupp, Charles D. Burnham, Mohamed A. Hashish
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Patent number: 6766216Abstract: Methods and systems for automating the control of fluid jet orientation parameters are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Waterjet Control System (a “DWCS”) to dynamically control the orientation of the jet relative to the material being cut as a function of speed and other process parameters. Orientation parameters include, for example, the x-y position of the jet along the cutting path, as well as three dimensional orientation parameters of the jet, such as standoff compensation values and taper and lead angles of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the DWCS uses a set of predictive models to determine these orientation parameters. The DWCS preferably comprises a motion program generator/kernel, a user interface, one or more replaceable orientation and process models, and a communications interface to a fluid jet apparatus controller. Optionally the DWCS also includes a CAD module for designing the target piece.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2001Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Jiannan Zhou, Mira K. Sahney, Michael Knaupp
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Publication number: 20030167104Abstract: Methods and systems for automating the control of fluid jet orientation parameters are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Waterjet Control System (a "DWCS") to dynamically control the orientation of the jet relative to the material being cut as a function of speed and other process parameters. Orientation parameters include, for example, the x-y position of the jet along the cutting path, as well as three dimensional orientation parameters of the jet, such as standoff compensation values and taper and lead angles of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the DWCS uses a set of predictive models to determine these orientation parameters. The DWCS preferably comprises a motion program generator / kernel, a user interface, one or more replaceable orientation and process models, and a communications interface to a fluid jet apparatus controller. Optionally the DWCS also includes a CAD module for designing the target piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2001Publication date: September 4, 2003Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Glenn A. Erichsen , Jiannan Zhou , Mira K. Sahney , Michael Knaupp