Patents by Inventor Gordon C. Ford
Gordon C. Ford 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: 10545106Abstract: A combustion tube comprises a generally cylindrical body with an outwardly extending tube stop spaced from one end of the combustion tube for engaging a combustion tube mounting assembly and fixing the tube in a precise position. Near the opposite end of the tube is an enlarged opening for receiving an upper seal assembly of a combustion furnace with the outer annular shoulder of the upper end of the tube having a rolled edge to facilitate the insertion of the tube through the seal in the upper seal assembly of the furnace. The combustion tube is made of quartz glass to withstand the temperatures encountered in the furnace. The combustion tube is specifically designed and adapted to be precisely positioned in an induction furnace with an easy tube removal system for the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 10209230Abstract: An electrode for a resistance analytical furnace has a central opening including a crucible-engaging surface and an annular flange spaced from the crucible-engaging surface. The flange has a lower surface with a plurality of grooves formed therein. The grooves are curved and extend from the central opening of the edge of the flange.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Octavio R. Latino, Gordon C. Ford, Lloyd A. Allen
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Patent number: 9879915Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Leco CorporatoinInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9874399Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9874400Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9808797Abstract: A resistance furnace provides an improved upper and lower electrode construction with significantly increased coolant flow. The lower electrode has a tip design that significantly lowers the electrode tip temperature during an analysis. The upper and lower electrodes also cooperate with an improved crucible design to significantly reduce the power required to fuse a specimen contained in the crucible. The furnace uniformly heats the floor and lower side walls of a crucible, which lowers the power requirement for specimen fusion and provides higher structural benefits to provide consistent analysis and manufacturing yields. The crucible has a cylindrical body and pedestal base with an annular smoothly curved concave indentation therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Joshua N. Wetzel, Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9541287Abstract: An automatic cleaning assembly for an analytical furnace is detachable from the filter chamber above the combustion tube. The cleaning assembly includes a rotating brush which is lowered through the filter chamber and into the combustion tube while a vacuum is drawn through the lower seal of the combustion tube. This results in a higher vacuum pressure differential and improved flow rate for removing dust from the filter of the furnace and the combustion tube.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Gordon C. Ford, Joshua N. Wetzel, Kevin R. Brushwyler
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Patent number: 9527076Abstract: A graphite crucible has a cylindrical body with an upper opening for receiving a sample for analysis and a disk-shaped pedestal base. The pedestal base includes a bottom surface with a centrally formed circular indentation. An inwardly projecting concave arcuate annular indentation extends between the body and pedestal base with a smoothly curved radius of curvature. The upper and lower walls of the arcuate indentation diverge outwardly at an angle of from about 56° to about 60°.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Joshua N. Wetzel, Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9470701Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head and moves between an induction furnace pedestal and a crucible loading station, such that one pair of arms pick up a crucible loaded with a preweighed sample, the shuttle moves to the induction furnace, where the other pair of arms grip and remove a spent crucible. The shutter head then rotates to deposit the new sample-holding crucible onto the pedestal and subsequently moves out of the furnace area to a sample disposal chute positioned between the crucible loading station and the furnace, whereupon the spent crucible is dropped for disposal. The shuttle head is then rotated and moved to the loading station to pick up a new crucible.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9188598Abstract: An improved sample handling carousel is mounted to an analytical furnace at an acute angle and includes sample holding cavities which are readily visible at eye level to an operator. The rotary carousel can be easily removed from a stepwise driven drive shaft for filling the carousel at a remote location, such as a weighing station, or can be filled directly while mounted on the drive shaft. A tray is positioned below the carousel and has a slot for dropping a sample when one of the sample holding cavities aligns with the slot in the tray. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carousel is made of aluminum or a transparent polymeric material, such as acrylic.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Publication number: 20150268181Abstract: A combustion tube comprises a generally cylindrical body with an outwardly extending tube stop spaced from one end of the combustion tube for engaging a combustion tube mounting assembly and fixing the tube in a precise position. Near the opposite end of the tube is an enlarged opening for receiving an upper seal assembly of a combustion furnace with the outer annular shoulder of the upper end of the tube having a rolled edge to facilitate the insertion of the tube through the seal in the upper seal assembly of the furnace. The combustion tube is made of quartz glass to withstand the temperatures encountered in the furnace. The combustion tube is specifically designed and adapted to be precisely positioned in an induction furnace with an easy tube removal system for the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Publication number: 20150226714Abstract: An electrode for a resistance analytical furnace has a central opening including a crucible-engaging surface and an annular flange spaced from the crucible-engaging surface. The flange has a lower surface with a plurality of grooves formed therein. The grooves are curved and extend from the central opening of the edge of the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Octavio R. Latino, Gordon C. Ford, Lloyd A. Allen
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Patent number: 9039342Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head and moves between an induction furnace pedestal and a crucible loading station, such that one pair of arms pick up a crucible loaded with a preweighed sample, the shuttle moves to the induction furnace, where the other pair of arms grip and remove a spent crucible. The shutter head then rotates to deposit the new sample-holding crucible onto the pedestal and subsequently moves out of the furnace area to a sample disposal chute positioned between the crucible loading station and the furnace, whereupon the spent crucible is dropped for disposal. The shuttle head is then rotated and moved to the loading station to pick up a new crucible.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 9042425Abstract: An electrode for a resistance analytical furnace has a crucible-engaging surface and an end spaced from the crucible-engaging surface having a plurality of grooves formed therein. A manifold mounted on the end of the electrode defines a dust recovery plenum and includes an outlet communicating with the plenum for coupling to a vacuum source to remove debris from the electrode. The improved electrode and electrode cleaning manifold positioned on the electrode provides a turbulent airflow for removal of dust and debris from an analytical furnace.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Octavio R. Latino, Gordon C. Ford, Lloyd A. Allen
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Publication number: 20150125247Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head and moves between an induction furnace pedestal and a crucible loading station, such that one pair of arms pick up a crucible loaded with a preweighed sample, the shuttle moves to the induction furnace, where the other pair of arms grip and remove a spent crucible. The shutter head then rotates to deposit the new sample-holding crucible onto the pedestal and subsequently moves out of the furnace area to a sample disposal chute positioned between the crucible loading station and the furnace, whereupon the spent crucible is dropped for disposal. The shuttle head is then rotated and moved to the loading station to pick up a new crucible.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Publication number: 20150036713Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Publication number: 20150036714Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Publication number: 20150023383Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 8884193Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Leco CorporationInventor: Gordon C. Ford
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Patent number: 8657550Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head. The shuttle is removably plugged into a sliding block of a carriage to move between a furnace and a crucible loading station. The carriage includes mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic plugs or sockets which couple to mating sockets or plugs of the shuttle. A linear actuator extends between the carriage and the furnace base to raise and lower the carriage and shuttle coupled thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Leco CorporationInventors: Gordon C. Ford, Raghu Murthy