Novelis, Inc.

Other

Gary Thornton

Leslie Calvin Hildenbrandt

Cara L Thornton

Jesse G Daybell

Lynn L Thornton

Raymond P Weber

Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.

Methods of and apparatus for determining particle inclusion and size in molten metal

Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits.

Methods of and apparatus for measuring metal cleanliness

An infant pacifier has a temperature sensitive material mounted on the front forming a 'mood stone'. The front of the pacifier would change color based on the body temperature of the infant using the pacifier. The pacifier includes a metal strip or other temperature conductive material that connects to the metal frame of the mood stone and wraps around to come in contact with the baby's lips when the baby is sucking on the pacifier. The metal strip carries the heat from the baby to the stone, facilitating color change as the child's temperature changes.

Mood pacifier

An adjustable bench exercising and rehabilitation apparatus has a bench pivotally attached near one end to a support structure resting on a horizontal surface. The bench has a hoisting device attached near its other end and secured to its support structure for raising and lowering the bench about its pivot point. The hoisting device is actuated by a control panel accessible to the user while reclining on the bench. At the upper end of the bench, the bench has an adjustable ankle retaining bolster to hold the user on the bench as it inclines. The upper end of the bench has an adjustable knee support device which can support its user's knees at a 135.degree. or a 90.degree. angle while on the bench.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Gary Thornton