Patents by Inventor Michel THYS

Michel THYS 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: 10378824
    Abstract: A device for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, includes an optical fiber and a guiding tube having an immersion end and a second end opposite to the immersion end. The optical fiber is partially arranged in the guiding tube. An inner diameter of the guiding tube is larger than an outer diameter of the optical fiber. A first plug is arranged at the immersion end of or within the guiding tube proximate the immersion end of the guiding tube. The optical fiber is fed through the first plug and the first plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the guiding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Patent number: 10024732
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding an optical fiber from a coil and for recoiling unused fiber for use in an apparatus for measuring the temperature of a melt is provided. The feeding device includes a support for a coil, a feeding mechanism for decoiling the optical fiber from the coil and recoiling the optical fiber, at least one motor for driving the feeding mechanism, and a load for the optical fiber which avoids a spring back effect of the optical fiber from the coil. Blockage is avoided when decoiling and recoiling the optical fiber from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Patent number: 10024731
    Abstract: An immersion device for measuring the temperature of a melt with an optical fiber, preferably a metal coated optical fiber, in a metallurgical vessel includes a feeding channel, feeding means for feeding an optical fiber into a disposable guiding tube and for feeding the disposable guiding tube together with the optical fiber into the melt, and control means for monitoring the position of an end of the optical fiber relative to an end of the disposable guiding tube. The relative position determines the quality of a temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Patent number: 9989419
    Abstract: An immersion device for disposable guiding tubes of a robotic immersion device includes a stack for the disposable guiding tubes, a feeding channel for feeding an optical fiber into the disposable guiding tube and for feeding the disposable guiding tube together with the optical fiber into a melt, and a transfer mechanism for transferring one disposable guiding tube from the stack into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Publication number: 20180080715
    Abstract: A device for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, comprises an optical fiber and a guiding tube having an immersion end and a second end opposite to the immersion end. The optical fiber is partially arranged in the guiding tube. An inner diameter of the guiding tube is larger than an outer diameter of the optical fiber. A first plug is arranged at the immersion end of or within the guiding tube proximate the immersion end of the guiding tube. The optical fiber is fed through the first plug and the first plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the guiding tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS
  • Patent number: 9863709
    Abstract: A device for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, includes an optical fiber and a guiding tube having an immersion end and a second end opposite to the immersion end. The optical fiber is partially arranged in the guiding tube. An inner diameter of the guiding tube is larger than an outer diameter of the optical fiber. A first plug is arranged at the immersion end of or within the guiding tube proximate the immersion end of the guiding tube. The optical fiber is fed through the first plug and the first plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the guiding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Patent number: 9726545
    Abstract: A method, device and apparatus are provided for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, with an optical fiber, fed into the melt through a disposable guiding tube. The optical fiber and an immersion end of the tube are immersed into the melt and have feeding speeds which are independent from each other. An elastic plug is arranged within the tube or at an end of the tube opposite the immersion end. The optical fiber is fed through the elastic plug, and the elastic plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the tube, which has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a fiber coil and a feeding mechanism for feeding the optical fiber and the tube, including at least two independent feeding motors, one for feeding the optical fiber and one for feeding the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus Neyens, Michel Thys, Frank Stevens
  • Publication number: 20160216161
    Abstract: An immersion device for measuring the temperature of a melt with an optical fiber, preferably a metal coated optical fiber, in a metallurgical vessel includes a feeding channel, feeding means for feeding an optical fiber into a disposable guiding tube and for feeding the disposable guiding tube together with the optical fiber into the melt, and control means for monitoring the position of an end of the optical fiber relative to an end of the disposable guiding tube. The relative position determines the quality of a temperature measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160216160
    Abstract: An immersion device for disposable guiding tubes of a robotic immersion device includes a stack for the disposable guiding tubes, a feeding channel for feeding an optical fiber into the disposable guiding tube and for feeding the disposable guiding tube together with the optical fiber into a melt, and a transfer mechanism for transferring one disposable guiding tube from the stack into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160216162
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding an optical fiber from a coil and for recoiling unused fiber for use in an apparatus for measuring the temperature of a melt is provided. The feeding device includes a support for a coil, a feeding mechanism for decoiling the optical fiber from the coil and recoiling the optical fiber, at least one motor for driving the feeding mechanism, and a load for the optical fiber which avoids a spring back effect of the optical fiber from the coil. Blockage is avoided when decoiling and recoiling the optical fiber from the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20150323258
    Abstract: A device for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, comprises an optical fiber and a guiding tube having an immersion end and a second end opposite to the immersion end. The optical fiber is partially arranged in the guiding tube. An inner diameter of the guiding tube is larger than an outer diameter of the optical fiber. A first plug is arranged at the immersion end of or within the guiding tube proximate the immersion end of the guiding tube. The optical fiber is fed through the first plug and the first plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the guiding tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20140321504
    Abstract: A method, device and apparatus are provided for measuring the temperature of a melt, particularly of a molten metal, with an optical fiber, fed into the melt through a disposable guiding tube. The optical fiber and an immersion end of the tube are immersed into the melt and have feeding speeds which are independent from each other. An elastic plug is arranged within the tube or at an end of the tube opposite the immersion end. The optical fiber is fed through the elastic plug, and the elastic plug reduces a gap between the optical fiber and the tube, which has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a fiber coil and a feeding mechanism for feeding the optical fiber and the tube, including at least two independent feeding motors, one for feeding the optical fiber and one for feeding the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Jacobus NEYENS, Michel THYS, Frank STEVENS