The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2012
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Crucible Intellectual Property, Llc, Dana Point, CA (US);
Theodore A. Waniuk, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Joseph Stevick, Glendora, CA (US);
Sean O'Keeffe, Cupertino, CA (US);
Dermot J. Stratton, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joseph C. Poole, San Francisco, CA (US);
Matthew S. Scott, Campbell, CA (US);
Christopher D. Prest, San Francisco, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US);
Abstract
Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.