Patents by Inventor Robert Charles Whitaker

Robert Charles Whitaker 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: 10514302
    Abstract: A method for feeding a cored wire into molten metal contained in a vessel comprises positioning the cored wire at a first position wherein a leading tip of the cored wire is proximate an entry point of the vessel, the entry point being above a surface of the molten metal, the cored wire comprising an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber; feeding the cored wire at a first speed for a first duration from the first position to a second position wherein the leading tip of the cored wire is immersed within the molten metal and lies within a measuring plane, such that a leading tip of the optical fiber projects from the cover and is exposed to the molten metal; and subsequently feeding the cored wire at a second speed for a second duration to take a first measurement of the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: HERAEUS ELECTRO-NITE INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Kendall, Robert Charles Whitaker, Marc Straetemans, Dominique Feytongs, Jack Childs
  • Patent number: 10359589
    Abstract: A consumable cored wire for measuring a temperature of a molten steel bath includes an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber in a plurality of layers. One layer is a metal pipe, also called metal jacket or metal tube. An intermediate layer, also called filler, is arranged beneath the metal tube. The intermediate layer is a rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Kendall, Robert Charles Whitaker, Marc Straetemans, Jack Childs, Dominique Feytongs
  • Patent number: 10295411
    Abstract: An optical cored wire includes an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber. The cover surrounds the optical fiber in a plurality of layers. One layer is a metal coat, also called a metal jacket or a metal tube. An intermediate layer, also called filler, is arranged beneath the metal tube. The intermediate layer is formed from a thermal insulating material having a melting point in the temperature ulnae of 1000° C. to 1500° C., such that the pieces of the intermediate layer are fluid upon exposure to the molten metal temperatures and a portion of the intermediate layer, the entire intermediate layer and/or the cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber can melt immediately upon immersion into the molten metal or immediate exposure to the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Kendall, Robert Charles Whitaker, Marc Straetemans, Jack Childs, Dominique Feytongs
  • Patent number: 10203463
    Abstract: A consumable cored wire for measuring a temperature of a molten steel bath includes an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber in a plurality of layers. One layer is a metal pipe, also called metal jacket or metal tube. An intermediate layer, also called filler, is arranged beneath the metal tube. The intermediate layer is a rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Kendall, Robert Charles Whitaker, Marc Straetemans, Jack Childs, Dominique Feytongs
  • Publication number: 20180180484
    Abstract: A method for feeding a cored wire into molten metal contained in a vessel comprises positioning the cored wire at a first position wherein a leading tip of the cored wire is proximate an entry point of the vessel, the entry point being above a surface of the molten metal, the cored wire comprising an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber; feeding the cored wire at a first speed for a first duration from the first position to a second position wherein the leading tip of the cored wire is immersed within the molten metal and lies within a measuring plane, such that a leading tip of the optical fiber projects from the cover and is exposed to the molten metal; and subsequently feeding the cored wire at a second speed for a second duration to take a first measurement of the molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Kendall, Robert Charles Whitaker, Marc Straetemans, Dominique Feytongs, Jack Childs
  • Patent number: 7785528
    Abstract: A guide system for signal lines includes a guide tube, through which the signal lines are guided, a cooling system which laterally surrounds the guide tube and has at least one coolant chamber and at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the coolant. The coolant chamber is tubular in construction and is hermetically sealed by a seal at least at one end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Whitaker, Andrew David Butler
  • Patent number: 7748896
    Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a temperature of a molten metal bath by an optical fiber surrounded by a cover. The optical fiber is immersed in the molten bath, and the radiation absorbed by the optical fiber in the molten bath is fed to a detector, wherein the optical fiber is heated when immersed in the molten bath. The heating curve of the optical fiber has at least one point P(t0, T0), wherein the increase ?T1 in the temperature T of the optical fiber over the time ?t in a first time interval t0??t up to the temperature T0 is smaller than the increase ?T2 in the temperature of the optical fiber over the time ?t in an immediately following second time interval t0+?t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Francis Dams, Frank Seutens, Robert Charles Whitaker