Patents by Inventor Terence D. La Sorda

Terence D. La Sorda 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: 9267187
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Patent number: 8932385
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Publication number: 20140047953
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. LA SORDA
  • Patent number: 8568654
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Publication number: 20130104699
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE INDUSTRIAL U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Patent number: 8403187
    Abstract: A system for delivering a fluid into a container includes a housing configured to be secured to the container. The housing includes a reservoir to receive and retain a fluid as a liquid, and the housing further includes an opening that provides fluid communication between the reservoir and an interior within the container so as to facilitate a flow of inert gas which is formed from vaporization of the liquid within the reservoir into the container interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Publication number: 20130025415
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface, The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE INDUSTRIAL U.S. LP
    Inventors: TERENCE D. LA SORDA, STEWART C. JEPSON
  • Publication number: 20120103137
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. LA SORDA
  • Publication number: 20090288520
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE INDUSTRIAL U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Publication number: 20090064821
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: Terence D. La Sorda, Stewart C. Jepson
  • Publication number: 20080184848
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Publication number: 20080182022
    Abstract: A system for delivering a fluid into a container includes a housing configured to be secured to the container. The housing includes a reservoir to receive and retain a fluid as a liquid, and the housing further includes an opening that provides fluid communication between the reservoir and an interior within the container so as to facilitate a flow of inert gas which is formed from vaporization of the liquid within the reservoir into the container interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda