Patents by Inventor Werner Hendrik Grobler

Werner Hendrik Grobler 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: 9617611
    Abstract: A process for quenching heat treated metal parts using a liquid quenchant and high pressure is disclosed. In general, the process includes the steps of providing a load of heat treated metal parts in a pressure vessel wherein the load is at an elevated temperature after being heat treated. In a subsequent step, a liquid quenchant is injected into the pressure vessel such that a vapor of the liquid quenchant forms rapidly in the pressure vessel and cools the metal parts. The step of injecting the liquid quenchant into the pressure vessel is continued for a time sufficient to establish a desired peak vapor pressure in the pressure vessel. An apparatus for carrying out the disclosed process is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: IPSEN, INC.
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Bernd Edenhofer, Craig A. Moller
  • Patent number: 9458519
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a metal workload from an elevated heat treating temperature are disclosed. The process includes the step of flowing a vegetable oil quenchant over the metal workload to provide a cooling rate sufficient to transform the metal substantially completely to a desired second phase comprising martensite, bainite, pearlite, or a combination thereof within a preselected time period. The apparatus includes a quenching chamber that has a base, an upper housing, a door, and an associated actuator for opening and closing the quenching chamber. The apparatus also includes a vessel for holding a volume of a vegetable oil quenchant, means for conducting the vegetable oil quenchant from the vessel to the quenching chamber, and means disposed in the quenching chamber for flowing the vegetable oil quenchant over a metal workload disposed in the quenching chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: IPSEN, INC.
    Inventors: Aymeric Goldsteinas, Werner Hendrik Grobler
  • Patent number: 8992213
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a fan drive shaft in a vacuum heat treating furnace is disclosed. The sealing apparatus includes a housing having an annular body and a central opening. An inflatable first seal surrounds the central opening of the annular body. A second seal surrounds the central opening and is adjacent to the inflatable first seal. The sealing apparatus also includes a channel formed in the annular body adjacent to the second seal for conducting a purging fluid into the central opening. A means for injecting the purging fluid into the central opening is operably connected to the channel. A vacuum heat treating furnace and a fan drive system incorporating the sealing apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ipsen, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Moller, Werner Hendrik Grobler, Jake Hamid
  • Patent number: 8747731
    Abstract: In a device for preparing process gases (3) for heat treatments of metallic materials/workpieces, the respective process gas (3) is to be fed into at least one treatment chamber (1.1) in an industrial furnace (1) having been practically fully prepared, homogenised and heated, and the method is to be carried out both with newly built and particularly with already existing installations of industrial furnaces (1) with the aid of the device, wherein the process gas (3) is prepared with compression at temperatures uncoupled from the temperature in the treatment chamber (1.1), in a process separate from the heat treatment process in the treatment chamber (1.1), and in a temperature range up to about 1250° C., and is rendered usable for economical and low-emission heat treatment (FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ipsen, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Peter Haase, Bernd Edenhofer, Jens Bechthold, Thorsten Requardt, Thomas Eversmann
  • Publication number: 20140090754
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a metal workload from an elevated heat treating temperature are disclosed. The process includes the step of flowing a vegetable oil quenchant over the metal workload to provide a cooling rate sufficient to transform the metal substantially completely to a desired second phase comprising martensite, bainite, pearlite, or a combination thereof within a preselected time period. The apparatus includes a quenching chamber that has a base, an upper housing, a door, and an associated actuator for opening and closing the quenching chamber. The apparatus also includes a vessel for holding a volume of a vegetable oil quenchant, means for conducting the vegetable oil quenchant from the vessel to the quenching chamber, and means disposed in the quenching chamber for flowing the vegetable oil quenchant over a metal workload disposed in the quenching chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: IPSEN, INC.
    Inventors: Aymeric Goldsteinas, Werner Hendrik Grobler
  • Patent number: 8465603
    Abstract: For regulating process gases for heat treatments of metal materials/workpieces in industrial furnaces (1), which have at least one treatment chamber (2), at least one burnoff point (4) having at least one first valve (4.1), and a regulator (5) having pressure meter (5.1), the burnoff point (4) is only to be opened as a function of requirements related to the process gas. For this purpose, in a first step, with open first valve (4.1), a quantity of a flushing gas (6.1) of the gas mixture (6) of the respective process gas is supplied in a controlled manner to the industrial furnace (1) and then burned off, in a second step, the valve (4.1) is closed, the industrial furnace (1) is regulated to a preset furnace pressure and this is permanently detected via the pressure meter (5.1), in a third step, with the target pressure of the industrial furnace achieved, this pressure is detected via the pressure meter (5.1) and maintained, the first valve (4.1) further remaining closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: IPSEN, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Thomas Eversmann, Bernd Edenhofer, Jens Bechthold, Dirk Joritz, Nils Bernhagen
  • Patent number: 8333852
    Abstract: In a method and with a device for preparing process gases (3) for heat treatments of metallic materials/workpieces, the respective process gas (3) is to be fed into at least one treatment chamber (1.1) in an industrial furnace (1) having been practically fully prepared, homogenised and heated, and the method is to be carried out both with newly built and particularly with already existing installations of industrial furnaces (1) with the aid of the device, wherein the process gas (3) is prepared with compression at temperatures uncoupled from the temperature in the treatment chamber (1.1), in a process separate from the heat treatment process in the treatment chamber (1.1), and in a temperature range up to about 1250° C., and is rendered usable for economical and low-emission heat treatment (FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ipsen, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Peter Haase, Bernd Edenhofer, Jens Bechthold, Thorsten Requardt, Thomas Eversmann
  • Publication number: 20120247627
    Abstract: A process for quenching heat treated metal parts using a liquid quenchant and high pressure is disclosed. In general, the process includes the steps of providing a load of heat treated metal parts in a pressure vessel wherein the load is at an elevated temperature after being heat treated. In a subsequent step, a liquid quenchant is injected into the pressure vessel such that a vapor of the liquid quenchant forms rapidly in the pressure vessel and cools the metal parts. The step of injecting the liquid quenchant into the pressure vessel is continued for a time sufficient to establish a desired peak vapor pressure in the pressure vessel. An apparatus for carrying out the disclosed process is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Bernd Edenhofer, Craig A. Moller
  • Publication number: 20110139265
    Abstract: For regulating process gases for heat treatments of metal materials/workpieces in industrial furnaces (1), which have at least one treatment chamber (2), at least one burnoff point (4) having at least one first valve (4.1), and a regulator (5) having pressure meter (5.1), the burnoff point (4) is only to be opened as a function of requirements related to the process gas. For this purpose, in a first step, with open first valve (4.1), a quantity of a flushing gas (6.1) of the gas mixture (6) of the respective process gas is supplied in a controlled manner to the industrial furnace (1) and then burned off, in a second step, the valve (4.1) is closed, the industrial furnace (1) is regulated to a preset furnace pressure and this is permanently detected via the pressure meter (5.1), in a third step, with the target pressure of the industrial furnace achieved, this pressure is detected via the pressure meter (5.1) and maintained, the first valve (4.1) further remaining closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Thomas Eversmann, Bernd Edenhofer, Jens Bechthold, Dirk Joritz, Nils Bernhagen
  • Publication number: 20110042866
    Abstract: In a method and with a device for preparing process gases (3) for heat treatments of metallic materials/workpieces, the respective process gas (3) is to be fed into at least one treatment chamber (1.1) in an industrial furnace (1) having been practically fully prepared, homogenised and heated, and the method is to be carried out both with newly built and particularly with already existing installations of industrial furnaces (1) with the aid of the device, wherein the process gas (3) is prepared with compression at temperatures uncoupled from the temperature in the treatment chamber (1.1), in a process separate from the heat treatment process in the treatment chamber (1.1), and in a temperature range up to about 1250° C., and is rendered usable for economical and low-emission heat treatment (FIG. 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Ipsen, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Hendrik Grobler, Peter Haase, Bernd Edenhofer, Jens Bechthold, Thorsten Requardt, Thomas Eversmann
  • Publication number: 20100196836
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a fan drive shaft in a vacuum heat treating furnace is disclosed. The sealing apparatus includes a housing having an annular body and a central opening. An inflatable first seal surrounds the central opening of the annular body. A second seal surrounds the central opening and is adjacent to the inflatable first seal. The sealing apparatus also includes a channel formed in the annular body adjacent to the second seal for conducting a purging fluid into the central opening. A means for injecting the purging fluid into the central opening is operably connected to the channel. A vacuum heat treating furnace and a fan drive system incorporating the sealing apparatus are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Craig Moller, Werner Hendrik Grobler, Jake Hamid