US 12,332,611 B2
Video analysis-based algorithm for triggering power cutback in vacuum arc remelting
Nir Herscovici, Las Vegas, NV (US); and Ashish D. Patel, Wyomissing, PA (US)
Assigned to TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION, Henderson, NV (US)
Filed by TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION, Henderson, NV (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/731,753.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/180,961, filed on Apr. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0350294 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 13/02 (2006.01); C22B 9/04 (2006.01); C22B 9/20 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01)
CPC G05B 13/026 (2013.01) [C22B 9/04 (2013.01); C22B 9/20 (2013.01); G05B 13/024 (2013.01); G06T 7/0004 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20084 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30136 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30204 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for a vacuum arc remelting (VAR) process, the control system comprising:
a vision system including an imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to capture one or more images of an electrode within a vacuum chamber of the VAR process; and
a VAR monitoring system configured to determine a power adjustment phase of the VAR process based on the one or more images from the vision system, wherein:
the VAR monitoring system includes:
a vision analysis module configured to, by a processor, analyze the one or more images from the vision system to detect a pin, a slot or a combination thereof of a melt marker based on a remelt image process model,
the VAR monitoring system is configured to initiate the power adjustment phase by a VAR controller in response to the pin, the slot, or the combination thereof of the melt marker satisfying a predetermined melt marker condition.