Patents by Inventor Simon Harold Bruce

Simon Harold Bruce 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).

  • Method of operating a pumping system
    Patent number: 9903378
    Abstract: A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimise the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Method of operating a pumping system
    Patent number: 9062684
    Abstract: A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimize the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • METHOD OF OPERATING A PUMPING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150125312
    Abstract: A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimise the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Pumping system and method of operation
    Patent number: 8753095
    Abstract: A pumping system includes a pumping mechanism, a motor for driving the pumping mechanism, a device for supplying power of a variable frequency to the motor, a control device for setting a maximum value for a current in the motor, and a device for supplying to the control device data indicative of the temperature of gas exhaust from the pumping mechanism and a temperature of the stator of the pumping mechanism, wherein the control device is configured to use the received data to adjust the maximum value during operation of the pumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Method of degassing molten metal
    Patent number: 8221521
    Abstract: To degas a molten metal, a receptacle containing the molten metal and a layer of slag over the molten metal is positioned in a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated. As the pressure in the chamber reduces, gas is generated at the interface between the molten metal and the slag, which causes the slag to foam. To inhibit overflowing of slag from the receptacle, a gauge outputs a signal indicative of the level of the surface of the slag, and the rate of evacuation of the chamber is reduced to reduce the rate of gas generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • METHOD OF DEGASSING MOLTEN METAL
    Publication number: 20110107873
    Abstract: To degas a molten metal, a receptacle containing the molten metal and a layer of slag over the molten metal is positioned in a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated. As the pressure in the chamber reduces, gas is generated at the interface between the molten metal and the slag, which causes the slag to foam. To inhibit overflowing of slag from the receptacle, a gauge outputs a signal indicative of the level of the surface of the slag, and the rate of evacuation of the chamber is reduced to reduce the rate of gas generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: SIMON HAROLD BRUCE
  • Method of degassing molten metal
    Patent number: 7815845
    Abstract: To degas a molten metal, a receptacle containing the molten metal and a layer of slag over the molten metal is positioned in a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated. As the pressure in the chamber reduces, gas is generated at the interface between the molten metal and the slag, which causes the slag to foam. To inhibit overflowing of slag from the receptacle, a gauge outputs a signal indicative of the level of the surface of the slag, and the rate of evacuation of the chamber is reduced to reduce the rate of gas generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • METHOD OF OPERATING A PUMPING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100047080
    Abstract: A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimise the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOC GROUP PLC
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Pumping system and method of operation
    Publication number: 20090317261
    Abstract: A pumping system comprises a pumping mechanism, a motor for driving the pumping mechanism, means for supplying power of a variable frequency to the motor, control means for setting a maximum value for a current in the motor, and means for supplying to the control means data indicative of the temperature of gas exhaust from the pumping mechanism and a temperature of the stator of the pumping mechanism, wherein the control means is configured to use the received data to adjust the maximum value during operation of the pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce