Patents by Inventor James Widdis

James Widdis 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: 11414744
    Abstract: A method to operate an apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the feed tube runs from a container adapted to contain a liquid metal to the evaporator device and wherein an electromagnetic pump is provided in the feed tube and a valve in the feed tube between the electromagnetic pump and the evaporator device. An at least partially gas permeable electromagnetic pump, which is enclosed in a pressure controlled enclosure, is used in the method wherein electromagnetic pump and the pressure controlled enclosure are controlled such that filling and draining of the evaporator device and feed tube can be done without affecting the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo Zoestbergen, Colin Commandeur, Roland Jan Snijders, Eduard Paul Mattheus Bakker, Peter William Hazelett, Douglas Alexander Hamilton, Stephen James Widdis, Timothy Dean Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11261860
    Abstract: A method to control the temperature of an electromagnetic pump in an apparatus wherein a liquid metal is supplied through a feed tube from a container adapted to contain a liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the temperature of the electromagnetic pump is controlled by controlling one or more of the force exerted on the liquid metal in the container, the current of the electromagnetic pump, and/or the strength of the magnet field of the electromagnetic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo Zoestbergen, Colin Commandeur, Roland Jan Snijders, Eduard Paul Mattheus Bakker, Peter William Hazelett, Douglas Alexander Hamilton, Stephen James Widdis, Timothy Dean Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11220739
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the apparatus includes a container adapted to contain a liquid metal, a feed tube from the closed container to the evaporator device and an electromagnetic pump provided in the feed tube, and wherein the electromagnetic pump is placed in a vacuum enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo Zoestbergen, Colin Commandeur, Roland Jan Snijders, Eduard Paul Mattheus Bakker, Peter William Hazelett, Douglas Alexander Hamilton, Stephen James Widdis, Timothy Dean Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20210239110
    Abstract: A method to control the temperature of an electromagnetic pump in an apparatus wherein a liquid metal is supplied through a feed tube from a container adapted to contain a liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the temperature of the electromagnetic pump is controlled by controlling one or more of the force exerted on the liquid metal in the container, the current of the electromagnetic pump, and/or the strength of the magnet field of the electromagnetic pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo ZOESTBERGEN, Colin COMMANDEUR, Roland Jan SNIJDERS, Eduard Paul Mattheus BAKKER, Peter William HAZELETT, Douglas Alexander HAMILTON, Stephen James WIDDIS, Timothy Dean KAISER
  • Publication number: 20190264320
    Abstract: A method to operate an apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the feed tube runs from a container adapted to contain a liquid metal to the evaporator device and wherein an electromagnetic pump is provided in the feed tube and a valve in the feed tube between the electromagnetic pump and the evaporator device. An at least partially gas permeable electromagnetic pump, which is enclosed in a pressure controlled enclosure, is used in the method wherein electromagnetic pump and the pressure controlled enclosure are controlled such that filling and draining of the evaporator device and feed tube can be done without affecting the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo ZOESTBERGEN, Colin COMMANDEUR, Roland Jan SNIJDERS, Eduard Paul Mattheus BAKKER, Peter William HAZELETT, Douglas Alexander HAMILTON, Stephen James WIDDIS, Timothy Dean KAISER
  • Publication number: 20190153587
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the apparatus includes a container adapted to contain a liquid metal, a feed tube from the closed container to the evaporator device and an electromagnetic pump provided in the feed tube, and wherein the electromagnetic pump is placed in a vacuum enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo ZOESTBERGEN, Colin COMMANDEUR, Roland Jan SNIJDERS, Eduard Paul Mattheus BAKKER, Peter William HAZELETT, Douglas Alexander HAMILTON, Stephen James WIDDIS, Timothy Dean KAISER
  • Patent number: 5387859
    Abstract: A power converter that can be used either as a start converter or as a variabe speed constant frequency converter is utilized within a stepped waveform VSCF system having engine start capability. Interfacing with the converter are a load bus, a contactor, a field excitation controller and a starter/generator having a main generator, an exciter generator and a permanent magnet generator. Magnetic components and semiconductor components perform multi-functions and minimal degradation of input power quality occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Muthu K. Murugan, Robert C. Eckenfelder, James Widdis