Stephen A Engel

US Patent:

6440229, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Jul 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/620420

Inventors:

Stephen A. Engel - Florence SC

Assignee:

The Esab Group, Inc. - Florence SC

International Classification:

B23K 700

US Classification:

148194, 266 51

Abstract:

A lower pre-heat block assembly ( ) for use with a metal scarfing apparatus ( ) is disclosed. The lower pre-heat block assembly has a lower block ( ) and an extension ( ) engaged upon and in overlying relationship with a front face ( ) of the lower block. A gas discharge outlet ( ) is defined within the front face of the block. The extension may partially overlie the gas discharge outlet such that a gas discharge orifice ( ) is defined in the front face of the block by the extension. The extension includes an upper face ( ) which extends forwardly from the front face of the block, and is recessed with respect to an upper face ( ) of the block. So constructed, when a sheet-like oxidizing gas flow ( ) is passed over the upper faces of the block and the extension, respectively, and as a fuel gas ( ) is emitted through the gas discharge outlet, the fuel gas is pneumatically compressed between the oxidizing gas flow and the upper face of the extension such that the fuel gas is substantially uniformly distributed along the longitudinal length of the lower pre-heat block assembly and forms a uniform sheet-like fuel gas flow ( ) which underlies and adjoins the sheet-like oxidizing gas flow so as to prevent ambient air from aspirating into the oxidizing gas flow and thereby result in a smooth and uniformly scarfed surface on the metal workpiece.

US Patent:

40381080, Jul 26, 1977

Filed:

May 10, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/684833

Inventors:

Stephen August Engel - Shenorock NY
Ronald Elmer Fuhrhop - Suffern NY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B23K 706

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for making an instantaneous thermochemical start on the surface of a metal workpiece. The method resides in the use of laser beam focused to a small spot to bring the ferrous workpiece to ignition temperature in combination with a high intensity oxygen jet to cause the initiation of the thermochemical reaction. The laser beam may impinge the workpiece at a point about 1 cm behind the spot where the oxygen impinges the workpiece surface to a point about 10 cm ahead of such spot. Accordingly, the laser beam may penetrate the high intensity oxygen jet and still cause the thermochemical reaction to start instantaneously. The apparatus resides in a scarfing machine having a scarfing nozzle, an oxygen spreader nozzle and a laser assembly associated therewith. The oxygen spreader nozzle is mounted so as to provide high intensity oxygen jet on the surface of the workpiece ahead of the scarfing oxygen effluent from the scarfing nozzle. The laser assembly is mounted so that its optical system will direct a laser beam on the surface either ahead or behind the point of impingement of the oxygen jet.

US Patent:

40789500, Mar 14, 1978

Filed:

Dec 13, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/749967

Inventors:

Stephen August Engel - Shenorock NY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B23K 706

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

A scarfing nozzle and method for producing a fin-free scarfing cut at least as wide as the width of the nozzle. The method is characterized by directing a stream of oxygen at the spot to be scarfed from a scarfing nozzle which restricts the flow of oxygen at the edges of the oxygen stream such that the flow at the edges is insufficient to scarf the workpiece but sufficient to oxidize molten metal at the edges of the reaction zone to produce a fin-free scarfing cut at least as wide as the width of the nozzle. The nozzle is particularly useful for spot scarfing in gang arrangement.

US Patent:

61744913, Jan 16, 2001

Filed:

Sep 18, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/156992

Inventors:

Stephen A. Engel - Florence SC

Assignee:

The Esab Group, Inc. - Florence SC

International Classification:

B23K 706

US Classification:

266 51

Abstract:

A lower pre-heat block assembly (9) for use with a metal scarfing apparatus (5) is disclosed. The lower pre-heat block assembly has a lower block (38) and an extension (39) engaged upon and in overlying relationship with a front face (46) of the lower block. A gas discharge outlet (56) is defined within the front face of the block. The extension may partially overlie the gas discharge outlet such that a gas discharge orifice (70) is defined in the front face of the block by the extension. The extension includes an upper face (58) which extends forwardly from the front face of the block, and is recessed with respect to an upper face (41) of the block. So constructed, when a sheet-like oxidizing gas flow (82) is passed over the upper faces of the block and the extension, respectively, and as a fuel gas (85) is emitted through the gas discharge outlet, the fuel gas is pneumatically compressed between the oxidizing gas flow and the upper face of the extension such that the fuel gas is substantially uniformly distributed along the longitudinal length of the lower pre-heat block assembly and forms a uniform sheet-like fuel gas flow (90) which underlies and adjoins the sheet-like oxidizing gas flow so as to prevent ambient air from aspirating into the oxidizing gas flow and thereby result in a smooth and uniformly scarfed surface on the metal workpiece.

US Patent:

40408710, Aug 9, 1977

Filed:

Aug 26, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/607888

Inventors:

Stephen August Engel - Shenorock NY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B23K 706

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

A method for producing an individual, fin-free, spot scarfing cut on the surface of a workpiece characterized by directing at the spot to be scarfed, which has first been brought to a molten state, an oxygen stream at an inclined angle to the work surface, the intensity of said oxygen stream being gradually diminished toward its lateral edges so that the flow of oxygen at the edges of said stream is insufficient to scarf the workpiece, but sufficient to oxidize molten metal at the edges of the scarfing reaction zone, thereby preventing molten metal from solidifying on the work surface along the edges of the scarfing cut in an unoxidized state.

US Patent:

40849880, Apr 18, 1978

Filed:

Apr 25, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/789720

Inventors:

Stephen August Engel - Shenorock NY
Ronald Elmer Fuhrhop - Suffern NY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B23K 706
B23K 708

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

An instantaneous scarfing cut on the surface of a metal workpiece can be made by: (a) causing relative motion between the workpiece and a stream of scarfing oxygen gas, and simultaneously therewith (1) impinging at least one laser beam on the work surface so as to produce a heated path of desired length across said surface relative to its direction of motion, said heated path being produced by the laser beam heating a series of points on said surface to their oxygen ignition temperature, and (2) impinging a stream of scarfing oxygen onto said heated path, thereby causing an instantaneous scarfing cut to begin along said path, and (b) continuing the flow of scarfing oxygen until the desired length of cut has been produced.

US Patent:

42870054, Sep 1, 1981

Filed:

Mar 4, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/121606

Inventors:

Stephen A. Engel - Granite Springs NY

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B23K 700

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

A method for spot scarfing a metal workpiece comprising continuously producing a pilot puddle on the surface of the workpiece, spreading the pilot puddle to a preselected width with a high intensity stream of oxygen gas, and impinging a stream of scarfing oxygen gas on the spread puddle and an apparatus to practice same.

US Patent:

RE325112, Sep 29, 1987

Filed:

Apr 11, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/139450

Inventors:

Stephen A. Engel - Granite Springs NY
Ronald E. Fuhrhop - West Nyack NY

Assignee:

L-TEC Company - Florence SC

International Classification:

B23K 708

US Classification:

148 95

Abstract:

An instantaneous scarfing cut on the surface of a metal workpiece can be made by: (a) causing relative motion between the workpiece and a stream of scarfing oxygen gas, and simultaneously therewith (1) impinging at least one laser beam on the work surface so as to produce a heated path of desired length across said surface relative to its direction of motion, said heated path being produced by the laser beam heating a series of points on said surface to their oxygen ignition temperature, and (2) impinging a stream of scarfing oxygen onto said heated path, thereby causing an instantaneous scarfing cut to begin along said path, and (b) continuing the flow of scarfing oxygen until the desired length of cut has been produced.