Patents by Inventor Matthew A. Cibula
Matthew A. Cibula 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).
-
Publication number: 20230349024Abstract: Magnetic field components measured around and along a remelting furnace and other measured furnace parameters are used to estimate concentricity of the electrode within the crucible of the furnace, to estimate a distribution of drip shorts across a gap between the electrode and the melt pool, or to detect, locate, and categorize anomalous events during the remelting process. Those can be used to control the operation of the furnace during the remelting process, or incorporated into a longitudinal or three-dimensional map of the resulting ingot. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, or a neural network can be employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, Nathan L. Pettinger, Daniel R. McCulley, Paul E. King
-
Patent number: 11674191Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Publication number: 20230141555Abstract: Magnetic field components are measured at multiple longitudinal positions and used to calculate estimated longitudinal position and length of a transversely localized electric current segment flowing across a gap between conductive bodies. The apparatus can be used with a remelting furnace. The electrode and ingot act as the conductive bodies, and arcs, discharges, or slag currents are the current segments spanning the gap. Actuators for movable sensors can be coupled to the sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to move the sensors along with the moving gap. An actuator for moving one of the conductive bodies can be coupled to sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to maintain the gap distance within a selected range as the gap moves.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: KW Associates LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, Joshua R. Motley, Nathan L. Pettinger
-
Patent number: 11459627Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
-
Publication number: 20220154300Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Patent number: 11243273Abstract: Magnetic field components are measured at multiple longitudinal positions and used to calculate estimated longitudinal position and length of a transversely localized electric current segment flowing across a gap between conductive bodies. The apparatus can be used with a remelting furnace. The electrode and ingot act as the conductive bodies, and arcs, discharges, or slag currents are the current segments spanning the gap. Actuators for movable sensors can be coupled to the sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to move the sensors along with the moving gap. An actuator for moving one of the conductive bodies can be coupled to sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to maintain the gap distance within a selected range as the gap moves.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, Joshua R. Motley, Nathan L. Pettinger
-
Patent number: 11236404Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Publication number: 20210395845Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
-
Publication number: 20210286024Abstract: Magnetic field components are measured at multiple longitudinal positions and used to calculate estimated longitudinal position and length of a transversely localized electric current segment flowing across a gap between conductive bodies. The apparatus can be used with a remelting furnace. The electrode and ingot act as the conductive bodies, and arcs, discharges, or slag currents are the current segments spanning the gap. Actuators for movable sensors can be coupled to the sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to move the sensors along with the moving gap. An actuator for moving one of the conductive bodies can be coupled to sensors in a servomechanism arrangement to maintain the gap distance within a selected range as the gap moves.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: KW Associates LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, Joshua R. Motley, Nathan L. Pettinger
-
Patent number: 11022656Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
-
Publication number: 20200355731Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Patent number: 10761116Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Publication number: 20200241078Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
-
Patent number: 10514413Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: KW Associates LLCInventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
-
Publication number: 20190219615Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
-
Publication number: 20180088164Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside