Patents by Inventor Vince Fontana

Vince Fontana 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).

  • Publication number: 20240102474
    Abstract: A device includes a molten metal pump and a metal-transfer conduit. A clamp may be used to attach the metal-transfer conduit to the pump. The pump has a pump base including an indentation configured to receive the metal-transfer conduit and align the pump outlet with the transfer inlet. The pump outlet may be formed in the indentation and preferably near the center of the indentation in order to better align with the transfer inlet. As the pump operates it moves molten metal through a pump outlet that is in communication with a transfer inlet in the metal-transfer conduit. The molten metal enters the transfer inlet, moves upwards in a passage in the metal-transfer conduit, and out of a transfer outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Cooper, Vince Fontana
  • Publication number: 20240042519
    Abstract: A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump and one or more vibration sensors (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data, such as the temperature of the molten metal, and/or the depth of the molten metal, ad/or parameters related to the operation of the pump. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Fontana, James Robert Daniels
  • Patent number: 11873845
    Abstract: A device includes a molten metal pump and a metal-transfer conduit. A clamp may be used to attach the metal-transfer conduit to the pump. The pump has a pump base including an indentation configured to receive the metal-transfer conduit and align the pump outlet with the transfer inlet. The pump outlet may be formed in the indentation and preferably near the center of the indentation in order to better align with the transfer inlet. As the pump operates it moves molten metal through a pump outlet that is in communication with a transfer inlet in the metal-transfer conduit. The molten metal enters the transfer inlet, moves upwards in a passage in the metal-transfer conduit, and out of a transfer outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Cooper, Vince Fontana
  • Patent number: 11858037
    Abstract: A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump and one or more vibration sensors (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data, such as the temperature of the molten metal, and/or the depth of the molten metal, ad/or parameters related to the operation of the pump. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Fontana, James Robert Daniels
  • Publication number: 20230001474
    Abstract: A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump and one or more vibration sensors (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data, such as the temperature of the molten metal, and/or the depth of the molten metal, ad/or parameters related to the operation of the pump. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC.
    Inventors: Vince Fontana, James Robert Daniels
  • Publication number: 20220381246
    Abstract: A device includes a molten metal pump and a metal-transfer conduit. A clamp may be used to attach the metal-transfer conduit to the pump. The pump has a pump base including an indentation configured to receive the metal-transfer conduit and align the pump outlet with the transfer inlet. The pump outlet may be formed in the indentation and preferably near the center of the indentation in order to better align with the transfer inlet. As the pump operates it moves molten metal through a pump outlet that is in communication with a transfer inlet in the metal-transfer conduit. The molten metal enters the transfer inlet, moves upwards in a passage in the metal-transfer conduit, and out of a transfer outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Cooper, Vince Fontana
  • Patent number: 11471938
    Abstract: A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump, and one or more of a temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple), one or more of a device (such as a laser or float) to measure the depth of the molten metal, and one or more of a vibration sensor (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the temperature of the molten metal, and/or about the depth of the molten metal, and/or about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Fontana, James Robert Daniels
  • Publication number: 20200360988
    Abstract: A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump, and one or more of a temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple), one or more of a device (such as a laser or float) to measure the depth of the molten metal, and one or more of a vibration sensor (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the temperature of the molten metal, and/or about the depth of the molten metal, and/or about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Fontana, Robert Daniels