Patents by Inventor Paul M. Crafton
Paul M. Crafton 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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Publication number: 20150343531Abstract: A system and method for forming and heat treating metal castings is provided with a vertical heat treatment unit positioned adjacent and downstream from a pouring station at which a series of molds are filled with a molten metal to form the castings. The vertical heat treatment unit includes a vertically oriented furnace chamber in which the castings are received, and which has a reduced footprint to reduce the manufacturing floor space required for the vertical heat treatment unit, and to enable the vertical heat treatment unit to be positioned in close proximity to the pouring station.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2015Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Volker Knobloch
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Publication number: 20140261904Abstract: A system and method for formation and processing of pressurized die cast metal articles or components includes an injection or casting station in which a series of cast metal articles are formed within a series of dies by the introduction of a metal material into the dies. The dies are then moved to a retention area where the metal material is permitted to solidify to form the castings, after which the dies are opened and the castings removed therefrom, and subsequently are transferred to a short cycle solution heat treatment station. The castings are conveyed through the short cycle solution heat treatment station with the castings maintained within a series of fixtures to dimensionally support and stabilize the castings during solution heat treatment thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, Paul M. Crafton, Shanker Subramaniam
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Patent number: 8663547Abstract: A furnace for heat treating a metal workpiece is provided. A method and system for processing a workpiece also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Shanker Subramanian
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Publication number: 20120211191Abstract: A furnace for heat treating a metal workpiece is provided. A method and system for processing a workpiece also are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2012Publication date: August 23, 2012Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Shanker Subramanian
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Patent number: 7641746Abstract: An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of the heat treatment line, the castings are subjected to heating sufficient to arrest cooling of the castings at or above a process control temperature for the metal thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
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Publication number: 20090206527Abstract: A furnace for heat treating a metal workpiece is provided. A method and system for processing a workpiece also are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Shanker Subramanian
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Publication number: 20080264527Abstract: An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of the heat treatment line, the castings are subjected to heating sufficient to arrest cooling of the castings at or above a process control temperature for the metal thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Ian French
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Patent number: 7438119Abstract: A system for reclaiming sand from a casting process includes a chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of baffles defining a circuitous path for the sand therebetween, a heating element for providing heat to the chamber, and a fluidizing distributor for directing the sand through the chamber. A method of reclaiming waste sand also is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French, Shanker Subramanian, James R. Garrett
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Publication number: 20080236779Abstract: A system and method for forming and heat treating metal castings is provided with a vertical heat treatment unit positioned adjacent and downstream from a pouring station at which a series of molds are filled with a molten metal to form the castings. The vertical heat treatment unit includes a vertically oriented furnace chamber in which the castings are received, and which has a reduced footprint to reduce the manufacturing floor space required for the vertical heat treatment unit, and to enable the vertical heat treatment unit to be positioned in close proximity to the pouring station.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Volker Knobloch
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Patent number: 7338629Abstract: A system and method for forming and heat treating a metal casting are provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
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Patent number: 7331374Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dislodging a mold from a casting formed within the mold. The mold may be removed from the casting by scoring the mold and applying a force sufficient to cause the mold to fracture and break into pieces. Additionally, the mold may be fractured by either explosive charges placed in the mold pack or by high energy pulsations directed at the mold. Once the mold is fractured and broken into various pieces it may then be dislodged from the casting.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French, Volker R. Knobloch, Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, James R. Garrett, John W. Dalton
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Patent number: 7290583Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply fluid to the castings for heat treating the castings and degrading the sand cores for removal from the castings.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French, Franz Ruegg
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Patent number: 7275582Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply heat to the castings for heat treating the castings and dislodging the sand cores for removal from the castings.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2003Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
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Patent number: 7273015Abstract: A system for combustion and removal of residual carbon within fly ash particles in which the fly ash particles are fed into an array of process units for combustion. The fly ash particles are subjected to heat and motive air such that as the fly ash particles pass through the particulate bed, they are heated to a sufficient temperature to cause the combustion of the residual carbon within the particles. The fly ash particles thereafter are conveyed in a dilute phase for further combustion through the reactor chamber away from the particulate bed and exhausted to an ash capture. The fly ash is then separated from the exhaust air that conveys the ash in its dilute phase with the air being further exhausted and the captured fly ash particles being fed to a feed accumulator for re-injection to the reactor chamber or discharge for further processing.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., William Thome
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Patent number: 7258755Abstract: An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of the heat treatment line, the castings are subjected to heating sufficient to arrest cooling of the castings at or above a process control temperature for the metal thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
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Patent number: 7252134Abstract: Various systems and apparatuses for processing a metal casting are provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Ian French, Jim Garrett
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Patent number: 7047894Abstract: A system for combustion and removal of residual carbon within fly ash particles in which the fly ash particles are fed into an array of process units for combustion. The fly ash particles are subjected to heat and motive air such that as the fly ash particles pass through the particulate bed, they are heated to a sufficient temperature to cause the combustion of the residual carbon within the particles. The fly ash particles thereafter are conveyed in a dilute phase for further combustion through the reactor chamber away from the particulate bed and exhausted to an ash capture. The fly ash is then separated from the exhaust air that conveys the ash in its dilute phase with the air being further exhausted and the captured fly ash particles being fed to a feed accumulator for re-injection to the reactor chamber or discharge for further processing.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., William Thome
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Patent number: 6910522Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply fluid to the castings for heat treating the castings and degrading the sand cores for removal from the castings.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French, Franz Ruegg
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Patent number: 6901990Abstract: A method and system of processing castings is provided in which one or more castings are deposited into a mobile furnace and moved from one station to another of a multi-station casting processing system. The interior of the mobile furnace is heated so as to maintain the temperature of the casting within a desired range of temperatures. The multi-station casting processing system may include a casting machine, a fluidized bed and a quench tank. The method may include transferring a casting into the mobile furnace and moving the furnace from one station to another.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert Howard, Paul M. Crafton, Scott P. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr., Volker R. Knobloch
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Publication number: 20040123786Abstract: A system for combustion and removal of residual carbon within fly ash particles in which the fly ash particles are fed into an array of process units for combustion. The fly ash particles are subjected to heat and motive air such that as the fly ash particles pass through the particulate bed, they are heated to a sufficient temperature to cause the combustion of the residual carbon within the particles. The fly ash particles thereafter are conveyed in a dilute phase for further combustion through the reactor chamber away from the particulate bed and exhausted to an ash capture. The fly ash is then separated from the exhaust air that conveys the ash in its dilute phase with the air being further exhausted and the captured fly ash particles being fed to a feed accumulator for re-injection to the reactor chamber or discharge for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, James L. Lewis, William Thome