Patents by Inventor Ronald M. Streigle

Ronald M. Streigle 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: 10946440
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ALMEX USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 10864576
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 10646919
    Abstract: A process in direct chill casting wherein molten metal is introduced into a casting mold and cooled by impingement of a liquid coolant on solidifying metal in a casting pit including a movable platen and an occurrence of a bleed-out or run-out is detected the process including exhausting generated gas from the casting pit; and introducing an inert gas into the casting pit, the inert gas having a density less than a density of air; reducing any flow of the liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20180229296
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20180154433
    Abstract: A process in direct chill casting wherein molten metal is introduced into a casting mold and cooled by impingement of a liquid coolant on solidifying metal in a casting pit including a movable platen and an occurrence of a bleed-out or run-out is detected the process including exhausting generated gas from the casting pit; and introducing an inert gas into the casting pit, the inert gas having a density less than a density of air; reducing any flow of the liquid coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9950360
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20180093323
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9895744
    Abstract: A process in direct chill casting wherein molten metal is introduced into a casting mold and cooled by impingement of a liquid coolant on solidifying metal in a casting pit including a movable platen and an occurrence of a bleed-out or run-out is detected the process including exhausting generated gas from the casting pit; and introducing an inert gas into the casting pit, the inert gas having a density less than a density of air; reducing any flow of the liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ALMEX USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9849507
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ALMEX USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9764380
    Abstract: A system comprising at least one furnace including a melt containing vessel; an intermediate casting product station coupled to the at least one furnace and operable to receive a molten metal from the at least one furnace, the intermediate casting product station including a casting pit, at least one moveable platen disposed in the casting pit, an array of exhaust ports about at least a top periphery of the casting pit, and an array of gas introduction ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; and an inert gas source operable to supply an inert gas to the array of gas introduction ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20170209919
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9616493
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ALMEX USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20150367409
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20150139852
    Abstract: A system comprising at least one furnace including a melt containing vessel; an intermediate casting product station coupled to the at least one furnace and operable to receive a molten metal from the at least one furnace, the intermediate casting product station including a casting pit, at least one moveable platen disposed in the casting pit, an array of exhaust ports about at least a top periphery of the casting pit, and an array of gas introduction ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; and an inert gas source operable to supply an inert gas to the array of gas introduction ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20150132180
    Abstract: A process in direct chill casting wherein molten metal is introduced into a casting mold and cooled by impingement of a liquid coolant on solidifying metal in a casting pit including a movable platen and an occurrence of a bleed-out or run-out is detected the process including exhausting generated gas from the casting pit; and introducing an inert gas into the casting pit, the inert gas having a density less than a density of air; reducing any flow of the liquid coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20150078959
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ALMEX USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 8479802
    Abstract: Direct chill casting that allows for the continuous or serial introduction of an inert fluid into the coolant stream during casting while allowing for stoppage of the coolant flow and introduction of only inert fluid as the coolant in the event of a “bleed out” or “run out”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 8365808
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle