Patents by Inventor Victor F. Rundquist

Victor F. Rundquist 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: 10640846
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20190185961
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are disclosed, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. Ultrasonic devices containing these probes, and methods for molten metal degassing using these ultrasonic devices, also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Patent number: 10316387
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are disclosed, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. Ultrasonic devices containing these probes, and methods for molten metal degassing using these ultrasonic devices, also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Patent number: 10233515
    Abstract: An apparatus may comprise a degassing system and a treatment station. The treatment station may comprise a shell, a refractory disposed in the shell, and insulation disposed between the shell and the refractory. The refractory may comprise a first plurality of slots, a second plurality of slots, and a trough. The first plurality of slots may be upstream from the degassing system and the second plurality of slots may be downstream from the degassing system. A first skim brick may be slideably disposed in a first one of the first plurality of slots and a second skim brick may be slideably disposed in a first one of the second plurality of slots. A first filter may be slideably disposed in a second one of the first plurality of slots and a second filter may be slideably disposed in a second one of the second plurality of slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20180354028
    Abstract: Methods for removing sludge and/or impurities from a molten metal are disclosed herein, as well as sludge removal devices and systems for use in the methods. Sludge removal devices that can reduce the downstream deposition of sludge in certain process components through upstream deposition and subsequent removal from the molten metal are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin Scott Gill, Michael Caleb Powell
  • Publication number: 20170166996
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 9617617
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20170067134
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are disclosed, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. Ultrasonic devices containing these probes, and methods for molten metal degassing using these ultrasonic devices, also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Patent number: 9528167
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are described, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. These probes can be used in ultrasonic devices, and the ultrasonic devices can be used in molten metal processing operations to reduce the amount of dissolved gasses and impurities in molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Patent number: 9382598
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath through the tip of the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 9327347
    Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 9258852
    Abstract: A system for melting a substance may be provided. The system may include a crucible insulated with fused silica, a microwave generator configured to supply microwaves, and at least one burner probe extending into the crucible. The at least one burner probe may include a wave guide. The wave guide may be configured to receive microwaves from the microwave generator and transmit the microwaves. The at least one burner probe may further include an absorber. The absorber may have a geometry configured to cause a minimal amount of microwave energy to be reflected back into the wave guide. In addition, the absorber may include a one piece cast of silicon carbide configured to dissipate heat along an exterior of the absorber. The absorber may be further configured to receive the microwaves from the wave guide and convert energy from the microwaves into the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, William J. Gregory, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 9253826
    Abstract: A system for melting a substance may be provided. The system may comprise a microwave generator, at least one wave guide, a melter assembly, and at least one thermal insulator. The at least one wave guide may connect the microwave generator to at least one power transfer element. The at least one wave guide may be configured to transfer microwave energy from the microwave generator to a refractory assembly. The melter assembly may comprise the refractory assembly and the at least one power transfer element connected to the refractory assembly. The refractory assembly may comprise at least one absorption element configured to transfer microwave energy, received from the at least one power transition element, into heat energy. The at least one thermal insulator may be configured to allow the microwaves to penetrate to the at least one absorption element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, William J. Gregory, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20150135901
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are disclosed, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. Ultrasonic devices containing these probes, and methods for molten metal degassing using these ultrasonic devices, also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Patent number: 8991472
    Abstract: A computer executing a software algorithm may be used to detect a depression in a temperature profile. The temperature profile may be smoothed to eliminate noise. Next, the temperature profile's center may be extracted. A polynomial may be fitted to extracted data. An algorithm used to fit the polynomial may guarantee that the fitted curve's peak may be below the actual temperature data's peak. Next, residuals may be calculated by subtracting the fitted curve from the actual data. If there is a dip at the center, then the residuals in the center may be less than zero. The software algorithm executing on the computer may then make a decision based on a sign of the residuals. For example, residuals less than zero may indicate bar porosity. Residuals above zero may indicate no porosity. The magnitude of the residuals may then be used to classify a size of a detected defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Ralph B. Dinwiddie, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140352908
    Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 8844897
    Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20140123812
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath through the tip of the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 8652397
    Abstract: Ultrasonic devices having an integrated gas delivery system are described, and these devices can be used to remove dissolved gasses and impurities from molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20140008848
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill