Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Gretz

Ronald D. Gretz 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: 6145364
    Abstract: Large slabs are processed into memory free strip or plate. The large slabs are rolled into strip or plate on a rolling mill with a finishing temperature of above 1340.degree. F. The strip or plate is cooled inline to a temperature in the range of 900.degree.-650.degree. F. with the strip or plate laid out on a flat cooling conveyor. The speed of the strip or plate is slowed to speeds typical of cut-to-length lines. The strip or plate is side trimmed and cut to length and the strip or plate is subsequently stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Tippins Incorporated
    Inventors: William H. Tippins, George W. Tippins, Ronald D. Gretz
  • Patent number: 5727412
    Abstract: A method of processing large slabs into memory free strip or plate comprises the steps of: rolling the large slabs into strip or plate on a rolling mill with a finishing temperature above 1340.degree. F.; in-line cooling the strip or plate to a temperature in the range 900.degree. F. to 650.degree. F. with the strip or plate laid out on a flat cooling conveyor; slowing the speed of the strip or plate to speeds typical of cut-to-length lines; side trimming and/or cutting the strip or plate to lengths at temperatures above 500.degree. F.; cooling the strip or plate to a temperature below 300.degree. F.; and stacking the strip or plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tippins Incorporated
    Inventors: William H. Tippins, George W. Tippins, Ronald D. Gretz
  • Patent number: 5533248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of making coiled plate, sheet in coiled form or discrete plate. The apparatus is a slab caster and inline surface conditioner, hot strip and plate line. The apparatus includes a continuous strip caster forming a strand; a cutoff for cutting the strand into a slab of desired length; a slab conveyor table; a slab conditioning device inline with the slab conveyor table adapted to selectively receive slabs therefrom; a reheat furnace having an entry inline with the slab conveyor table; a feed and run back table at the exit of the reheat furnace; a single or twin stand hot reversing mill for reducing the slab to a coiling thickness; and a pair of coiler furnaces located on opposite sides of the hot reversing mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Tippins Incorporated
    Inventors: George W. Tippins, John E. Thomas, William H. Tippins, Ronald D. Gretz
  • Patent number: 4782683
    Abstract: The method of controlling strip flatness on a hot strip mill which includes a hot reversing mill as a final reducing stand comprises reducing the thickness of the workpiece by passing it back and forth along a pass line through the hot reversing mill while reducing the roll gap on the mill after each successive pass. The strain developed during rolling is equalized by passing the workpiece through a shape processor having a plurality of upper and lower rolls capable of intermeshing along the pass line and located immediately downstream of the hot reversing mill. The equalizing of the strain through the shape processor occurs during selected intermittent passes and/or through the last pass through the reversing mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Tippins Incorporated
    Inventors: George W. Tippins, John E. Thomas, Ronald D. Gretz
  • Patent number: 4583387
    Abstract: A hot strip mill having a final reducing stand and runout cooling means downstream of the reducing stand includes an incubator capable of coiling and decoiling the hot strip. The incubator is located intermediate the runout cooling means. In a preferred form the final reducing stand is a hot reversing mill. A second incubator and/or a temper mill and/or a slitter may be positioned downstream of the first incubator. The method of rolling includes isothermally treating the strip within a predetermined time and temperature range in the incubator prior to subsequent processing. The subsequent processing may include any one or more of the following: further deformation by cold rolling, temper rolling or cooling at a desired heat loss rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Tippins Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Ronald D. Gretz, George W. Tippins
  • Patent number: 4537643
    Abstract: A hot strip mill having a final reducing stand and runout cooling means downstream of the reducing stand includes an incubator capable of coiling and decoiling the hot strip. The incubator is located intermediate the runout cooling means. In a preferred form the final reducing stand is a hot reversing mill. A second incubator and/or a temper mill and/or a slitter may be positioned downstream of the first incubator. The method of rolling includes isothermally treating the strip within a predetermined time and temperature range in the incubator prior to subsequent processing. The subsequent processing may include any one or more of the following: further deformation by cold rolling, temper rolling or cooling at a desired heat loss rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Tippins Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Ronald D. Gretz, George W. Tippins
  • Patent number: 4505141
    Abstract: A hot strip mill having a final reducing stand and runout cooling means downstream of the reducing stand includes an incubator capable of coiling and decoiling the hot strip. The incubator is located intermediate the runout cooling means. In a preferred form the final reducing stand is a hot reversing mill. A second incubator and/or a temper mill and/or a slitter may be positioned downstream of the first incubator. The method of rolling includes isothermally treating the strip within a predetermined time and temperature range in the incubator prior to subsequent processing. The subsequent processing may include any one or more of the following: further deformation by cold rolling, temper rolling or cooling at a desired heat loss rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Tippins Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Ronald D. Gretz, George W. Tippins