Patents by Inventor Nicholas V. Ross

Nicholas V. Ross 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: 6570141
    Abstract: In transverse flux induction heating of electrically conductive strip, conductors that cross the strip width are stacked, or connected, such that a multiple of the induced current flows across the strip width as compared to that which flows along the strip edges. Conductors across the width of the strip and conductors along the edges of the strip are connected in series to insure that the current which flows in the conductors is everywhere the same. In the case of two stacked cross conductors, this gives an I2R heating of four times the heating across the strip width as compared to that along the strip edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross
  • Publication number: 20020148830
    Abstract: In transverse flux induction heating of electrically conductive strip, conductors that cross the strip width are stacked, or connected, such that a multiple of the induced current flows across the strip width as compared to that which flows along the strip edges. Conductors across the width of the strip and conductors along the edges of the strip are connected in series to insure that the current which flows in the conductors is everywhere the same. In the case of two stacked cross conductors, this gives an I2R heating of four times the heating across the strip width as compared to that along the strip edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 6279646
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously casting molten metal, wherein the apparatus comprises first and second endless belts and first and second edge dam block continuous belts disposed to form a casting region wherein molten metal can be cast into strip. The edge dam blocks have a length longer than the endless belts to form catenaries spaced from the first endless belt. The edge dam blocks are inductively heated with induction heaters disposed in the catenaries to avoid temperature shock to the edge dam blocks during the casting and to minimize undesirable heat losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignees: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation, Barmet Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas V. Ross, Stanley W. Platek
  • Patent number: 5799720
    Abstract: The assembly is designed for transferring molten metal from a molten metal reservoir to a mold for casting molten metal. The assembly comprises a casting nozzle having an electrically conductive top wall and bottom wall and two side walls joined to the top wall and the bottom wall to form a passage therebetween for flowing molten metal from the reservoir to the mold, the top wall having a first outside surface and the bottom wall having a second outside surface. An inductive heater is positioned on at least one of the first surface and the second surface, the inductive heater positioned to heat the top wall and bottom wall. A layer of insulation is provided between the inductive heater and the first and second surfaces. A magnetic shield is provided to partially surround the inductive heater, the shield positioned to direct magnetic flux into the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Ajax Magnethermic Corp.
    Inventors: Nicholas V. Ross, C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5739506
    Abstract: An adjustable width transverse flux heating apparatus for induction heating in the moving workpiece includes first and second elements disposed in the common plane to form an inductive coil. The first and second conductor elements define a middle spacing in an internal cross-section area of the inductive coil. A monitor detects workpiece fractures and generates signals relating thereto. A motor system moves one of the conductor elements relative to the other in response to the signal generated by the workpiece monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Hanton, Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 5710411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hot reversing rolling mill for isothermally reducing a metal strip product. The mill includes a hot reversing mill stand with a pair of coilers positioned on opposite sides of the mill stand. At least one heater is positioned between one of the coilers and the mill stand with at least one strip cooling unit positioned between one of the coilers and the mill stand. A sensor is provided for sensing a strip parameter indicative of strip temperature as well as a controller for controlling each of the heating and cooling units in response to the sensed parameter. The rolling mill of the present invention can be utilized for isothermally rolling multiple passes of a metal strip product on the hot reversing mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignees: Tippins Incorporated, Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Tippins, John E. Thomas, Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 5156683
    Abstract: An apparatus for galvannealing steel strip includes an applying device for applying a coating of controlled thickness of a strip. A controller controls the thickness of the applied coating. A heating furnace heats the steel strip to produce a galvannealed product. Edge heaters for heating the edges of the steel strip by magnetic induction promote uniform temperature distribution across the steel strip. The uniform temperature distribution produces more uniform galvannealing in the product. The edge heaters have preselected operating frequencies. A modulating circuit imposes a frequency modulation on the operating frequencies of the edge heaters to avoid undesirable transverse flexural resonance in the galvannealed product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 5133402
    Abstract: An induction heating system is applied to a continuous molten metal casting apparatus having two endless flexible casting belts. The belts are arranged such that front surfaces of each belt faces the other belt and a pair of dam blocks arranged at the edges of one of the belts along with the belts themselves form a casting region. Molten metal is delivered to the casting region to form rectangular sheets of cast metal. Inductive heaters preheat the endless belts prior to the belts entry to the casting region. This preheating allows for continuous smooth casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 4761530
    Abstract: An improved electric induction furnace for use in the continuous heat treatment of a running length of coated metal strip moving in a substantially straight path through the furnace includes at least one heating coil extending completely around the path of the strip and extending in closely spaced relation to the opposed surfaces of the strip. The furnace is mounted on a track for movement transversely of the strip path, and each coil is provided with movable connector doors for opening and closing the continuous loops whereby when the coil is not energized, the connector doors may be disengaged to open the coil and permit the furnace to be moved along its track between a retracted non-use position and an online heat treating position. The coils are supported for transverse and angular adjustment to accurately align the coils with the strip whereby the opposed surfaces of the strip are substantially equal distant from the heating coils throughout the path through the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignees: National Steel Corporation, Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Scherer, Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 4751360
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for transverse flux heating of metal strips, continuously moved in spaced proximity to induction heating inductor assemblies, comprised of conductors and flux guides; the conductors having relatively straight portions extending generally parallel to the strip surface and perpendicular to the length of the strip and curved or tapered portions, the curved portion of the conductors adapted to be positioned adjacent to the edges of the strip to control the current distribution within the strip and to maintain a uniform temperture distribution across the strip to avoid distortion of the strip and thereby allowing the use of high power densities. The inductor assemblies may be adjustable and if adjustable, may be adjusted to evenly heat strips of variable width and thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 4694134
    Abstract: Apparatus for overheating the edges of a preheated formed skelp for the purpose of butt welding the skelp into pipe or tube. Induction coil assembly consisting of two (2) series connected loops, with a main conductor of each loop positioned within a magnetic flux guide and positioned adjacent to the open edges of the C-shaped skelp and the return conductors of each loop arranged externally on opposite side of the flux guide, providing localized overheating of the edges of the skelp prior to welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Ross