Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Simpson

Stephen D. Simpson 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: 7947218
    Abstract: A cooling device including an air source, preferably a fan, that provides air flow and a shroud for directing air flow from the air source at an object, particularly a coil of material, preferably a metal or metal alloy having a temperature greater than the ambient room temperature. The cooling device provides cooling efficiency by directing the air from the air source at an increased velocity to a desirable area or areas on an end surface of the object, thereby increasing heat transfer from the object. The cooling device shroud includes an air directing surface that influences the direction of air flow across the object in a desired pattern. Methods for preparing cooling devices and for cooling objects are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Simpson, Jean-Francois Ruta
  • Patent number: 6595222
    Abstract: An automatic system is used for controlling the cleaning stage of a strip cleaning line, e.g. an aluminum strip cleaning line. The cleaning line includes a chemical cleaning section and at least one rinse section, with cleaning solution being sprayed onto the top and bottom faces of the aluminum strip as it passes through the cleaning section. A programmable logic controller has a dwell time set point for each coil of aluminum strip, which gives for standard conditions of chemical concentration and temperature the time the strip should be exposed to the spray. The controller receives input signals based on the measured temperature and concentration of the cleaning solution and adjusts the dwell time of the cleaning solution spray on the aluminum strip accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Stephen D. Simpson, Gregory J. Courval
  • Publication number: 20030084930
    Abstract: An automatic system is used for controlling the cleaning stage of a strip cleaning line, e.g. an aluminum strip cleaning line. The cleaning line includes a chemical cleaning section and at least one rinse section, with cleaning solution being sprayed onto the top and bottom faces of the aluminum strip as it passes through the cleaning section. A programmable logic controller has a dwell time set point for each coil of aluminum strip, which gives for standard conditions of chemical concentration and temperature the time the strip should be exposed to the spray. The controller receives input signals based on the measured temperature and concentration of the cleaning solution and adjusts the dwell time of the cleaning solution spray on the aluminum strip accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen D. Simpson, Gregory J. Courval
  • Patent number: 6524391
    Abstract: An automatic system is used for controlling the cleaning stage of a strip cleaning line, e.g. an aluminum strip cleaning line. The cleaning line includes a chemical cleaning section and at least one rinse section, with cleaning solution being sprayed onto the top and bottom faces of the aluminum strip as it passes through the cleaning section. A programmable logic controller has a dwell time set point for each coil of aluminum strip, which gives for standard conditions of chemical concentration and temperature the time the strip should be exposed to the spray. The controller receives input signals based on the measured temperature and concentration of the cleaning solution and adjusts the dwell time of the cleaning solution spray on the aluminum strip accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Stephen D. Simpson
  • Patent number: 6494961
    Abstract: An automatic control system is provided for acid concentration in an aluminum strip cleaning line wherein an aluminum strip is contacted with an acid solution while passing through an acid cleaning bath and the concentration of the acid in the bath is adjusted by adding either concentrated acid or water to the bath. A conductivity probe is provided in the acid bath and generates a first signal approximately proportional to the free acid concentration of the bath. An on-line process titrator periodically samples the acid bath and by a dual endpoint titration obtains the free acid concentration and total acid concentration of the bath and thereby generates a second signal indicative of the actual free acid concentration and the total acid concentration. These first and second signals are fed to a programmable logic controller, which based on the signal from the titrator calculates a correction factor for the signal from the conductivity probe to thereby obtain a corrected value for free acid concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Stephen D. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20020139391
    Abstract: An automatic system is used for controlling the cleaning stage of a strip cleaning line, e.g. an aluminum strip cleaning line. The cleaning line includes a chemical cleaning section and at least one rinse section, with cleaning solution being sprayed onto the top and bottom faces of the aluminum strip as it passes through the cleaning section. A programmable logic controller has a dwell time set point for each coil of aluminum strip, which gives for standard conditions of chemical concentration and temperature the time the strip should be exposed to the spray. The controller receives input signals based on the measured temperature and concentration of the cleaning solution and adjusts the dwell time of the cleaning solution spray on the aluminum strip accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen D. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20020139397
    Abstract: An automatic control system is provided for acid concentration in an aluminum strip cleaning line wherein an aluminum strip is contacted with an acid solution while passing through an acid cleaning bath and the concentration of the acid in the bath is adjusted by adding either concentrated acid or water to the bath. A conductivity probe is provided in the acid bath and generates a first signal approximately proportional to the free acid concentration of the bath. An on-line process titrator periodically samples the acid bath and by a dual endpoint titration obtains the free acid concentration and total acid concentration of the bath and thereby generates a second signal indicative of the actual free acid concentration and the total acid concentration. These first and second signals are fed to a programmable logic controller, which based on the signal from the titrator calculates a correction factor for the signal from the conductivity probe to thereby obtain a corrected value for free acid concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen D. Simpson