Patents Examined by John Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5552235
    Abstract: An embossed cold rolled metal (e.g. steel) sheet for use in manufacturing appliances and method of making same wherein the surface attributes of the embossed sheet are optimized to improve corrosion resistance of the painted product, promote uniform paint coverage of the sheet surface, reduce paint consumption, enable repainting without loss of pattern crispness, and provide consistent and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the painted sheet. The embossed sheet has a plurality of plateaus and impressions defined therein in a manner such that the arithmetic average surface roughness (Ra) of the plateaus is from about 50 to 100 microinches, the maximum impression depths over a given area are from about 0.0025 to 0.0032 inches, the impression walls define maximum slopes of from about 8-17 degrees, and there are no sharp corners or ridges at the transition points between plateaus and impressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Adel F. Bastawros, John G. Speer, Leo J. Deistler, Eugene H. Schuchert
  • Patent number: 5552233
    Abstract: An article is coated with a multilayer coating comprising a nickel layer deposited on the surface of the article, a tin-nickel alloy layer deposited on the nickel layer, a refractory metal, preferably zirconium, strike layer deposited on the tin-nickel alloy layer, and a refractory metal compound, preferably zirconium nitride, deposited on the refractory metal strike layer. The coating provides the color of polished brass to the article and also provides abrasion and corrosion protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Baldwin Hardware Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen R. Moysan, III, Rolin W. Sugg
  • Patent number: 5547769
    Abstract: A method and a coating are provided for attaining protection of a substrate being formed of chromium steel for a component of a turbomachine, against at least one of corrosive and erosive attack at a temperature up to approximately 500.degree. C. An aluminum-containing metal coating is applied to the substrate. At least the surface of the metal coating is hardened or age-hardened to form a protective coating containing aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Friedhelm Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5547771
    Abstract: A high-hardness metal skin film is formed of an aggregate of metal crystals. The area rate A of pyramid-shaped metal crystals in a surface of the skin film is in a range of A.gtoreq.40%. The aggregate contains at least one element selected from boron (B), carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) as an added element, wherein the B content is in a range of B.gtoreq.0.01% by weight, the C content is in a range of C.gtoreq.0.03% by weight, and the H content is in a range of H.gtoreq.0.01% by weight. The skin surface takes on an intricate aspect due to the presence of a large number pyramid-shaped metal crystals and hence, has a good oil retention. In addition, the wear of each pyramid-shaped metal crystal is inhibited by an increase in hardness produced with the containment of boron and/or carbon and/or hydrogen and therefore, the oil retention is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Gunji, Masamune Tabata, Kenji Dosaka, Kenji Hirose
  • Patent number: 5547768
    Abstract: A method for coating a substrate with a corrosion resistant surface comprises the steps of coating a portion of the substrate with a nickel (II) nitrate hexahydrate solution. The solution-coated substrate is then heated to a temperature greater than 303.degree. C. until a nickel oxide coating remains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Topolski, James M. Tanzosh
  • Patent number: 5545488
    Abstract: A self-stabilizing extrusion for closure assemblies, including awnings, canopies, and displays having an elongated hollow frame substantially rectangular in vertical cross-section with inside and outside surfaces which is constructed of a top wall perpendicularly connected to parallel side walls terminating in perpendicular flange members parallel to the top wall. A slot opening is formed between the flange members for the receipt of closure material. The side walls are also interconnected by a slot base to which the closure material is affixed. A base support is provided between the slot base and the inside surface of the top wall. The slot is defined by the slot opening, the inside surfaces of the side walls below the slot base, and the slot base. The top and side walls may also include a plurality of stabilizing recesses and stabilizing notches. The corners are also equipped with stabilizing recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: AWNEX, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ralph C. Burke
  • Patent number: 5541007
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy wiring layer comprising 0.01 to 1.0 wt. % of scandium, or 0.01 to 1.0 wt. % of scandium and 0.01 to 3.0 wt. % of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium, copper, boron, hafnium and rare-earth elements other than scandium, and the balance aluminum having a purity of not less than 99.99%. A process for producing the same and an aluminum alloy sputtering target used therefor are also disclosed. The aluminum alloy wiring layer of the present invention is suitable as an advanced large-scale integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Ueda, Kazunari Takemura
  • Patent number: 5538798
    Abstract: Apparatus and directed to improved gating for the investment casting of metal wood golf club heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Niemin Porter & Co. d/b/a Cast Alloys, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Sheehan
  • Patent number: 5536587
    Abstract: A shaft bearing is formed from an aluminum alloy that has approximately 8% Sn, 2.5% Si, 2% Pb, 0.8% Cu and 0.2% Cr on a weight-percentage basis. The tin has an average particle size less than 5 microns and the silicon has an average particle size less than 5 microns. The alloy may be formed into a continuous solid strip by a quench casting operation, wherein molten alloy is fed into an interface between two internally-cooled rolls to freeze the alloy into a solid strip condition in less than one second. The aluminum alloy strip can be pressure bonded to a steel backing strip to form a composite strip useful in forming a shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Warren J. Whitney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5536586
    Abstract: A composite hydrogen storage alloy material includes a hydrogen storage alloy material and a surface material bonded to the surface of the hydrogen storage alloy material. The surface material has a potential energy between those of hydride of the hydrogen storage alloy and hydrogen gas and permits migration of hydrogen between the inside and outside of the hydrogen storage alloy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsushio, Kenichi Yamamoto, Shinichi Tanioka, Tsuyoshi Morishita, Toru Ogasawara, Tsutomu Shimizu, Hironobu Fujii, Shinichi Orimo
  • Patent number: 5534354
    Abstract: A method to superplastic form sandwich structures is provided. A series of worksheets are joined together at selected locations through the use of partial penetration welding. The worksheets are subsequently superplastic formed in order to form a sandwich structure. The method allows a different number of worksheets to be used at different points throughout the sandwich structure. This results in a sandwich structure with a different internal reinforcement at different locations in the sandwich structure. In the preferred embodiment, a wing is fabricated from a series of worksheets partial penetration welded together using a laser. The worksheets are superplastic formed to producing a wing with a different internal reinforcement at two or more locations in the wing. The wing includes a pair of double thickness skins that define a major portion of aerodynamically smooth outer surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul S. Gregg, Matthew G. Kistner, Jeff D. Will
  • Patent number: 5534358
    Abstract: A process for plating aluminum alloy substrates (10), such as 390 aluminum alloy pistons (12), with iron comprises (a) plating on the aluminum substrate a layer of zincate from a zincate bath; (b) plating on the zincate layer a layer (14) of nickel from an electroless nickel bath; (c) plating on the nickel layer a layer (16) of iron from an iron ammonium sulfate bath; and (d) plating on the iron layer a layer (18) of tin from an alkaline tin bath. During the electroless plating, the zincate layer, which protects the underlying aluminum against oxidation, is sacrificed. All of these baths are environmentally much safer than cyanide and chloride. They are also cost effective and can be utilized in a totally closed loop plating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Sue Troup-Packman
  • Patent number: 5534357
    Abstract: A brazing sheet for vacuum brazing is provided wherein the sheet is cladded with an aluminum alloy brazing filler metal having a content of Mg sufficient for vacuum brazing but less than 1.2 wt. % and wherein the Mg.sub.2 Si particle size among Mg contained in the metal is not more than 5 .mu.m as a typical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nonoyama, Shoei Teshima, Haruhiko Otsuka, Yasuyuki Tanaka, Kouji Hiragami
  • Patent number: 5527625
    Abstract: A metal member having at least one edge formation, and a web extending from the edge formation, a plurality of generally triangular openings formed in the web at spaced intervals, the triangular formations being alternately reversed relative to one another, a plurality of generally diagonal struts extending between adjacent triangular openings, edge portions along either edge of the web portion, with the struts extending from one said edge portion to the other and merging integrally therewith, flange formations formed from the web around the generally triangular openings, and lying at an angle thereto, whereby to form the diagonal struts with a generally channel shaped cross section, and forming intermittent flanges along the web edges at the base of each triangular opening, the triangular openings defining generally curved corners, and, generally three-sided indentations formed in the web edge at the roots of each of the diagonal struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Ernest R. Bodnar
  • Patent number: 5525429
    Abstract: A metallic article and method for producing such an article, having a metallic substrate, at least one metallic layer sprayed onto a laser shock peened surface area of the substrate, and a region having deep compressive residual stresses imparted by laser shock peening extending into the substrate from the laser shock peened surface. The metallic substrate and or layer may be made from an alloy such as a Cobalt or a Nickel based superalloy. The substrate may be made from Nickel Base forgings or Titanium base forgings. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a gas turbine engine rotor component such a disk and, more particularly, a turbine disk suitable for use in a hot section of a gas turbine engine. The invention may be used for new or refurbished parts to restore dimensions of the component and, in particular, radial dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Seetharamaiah Mannava, William D. Cowie, Stephen J. Ferrigno
  • Patent number: 5523171
    Abstract: A reinforced material for an automobile connecting rod prepared by rolling a straight-interwoven stainless steel wire mesh of about 100 to 200 mesh into a cylindrical shape, carbonitriding the stainless steel wire mesh, and placing the stainless steel wire mesh into a mold with a molten aluminum alloy is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byong-Eun Yoon, Myung-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 5516594
    Abstract: Fasteners which are nonallergenic and permit magnetic detection of lost or broken needles in the clothing on which they are used, comprising a fastener body, an undercoat of nonmagnetic Ni--P alloy plating, and a top layer of nonmagnetic Ni--Sn alloy plating. The compositional ratio by weight of the Ni--Sn alloy is in the range of Sn:Ni=1:2.2.about.2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Scovill Japan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 5516593
    Abstract: An airfoil and its sub components for a gas turbine engine have a convex wall and a concave wall that are connected at leading and trailing edges. Internal supports extending from the convex and concave walls define a series of airfoil supports that have at least one primary cavity between them. Internal supports in the proximity of the edges define material absorption cavities that have a smaller cross-section than the cross section of the primary cavities. Pressure applied to the walls during the diffusion bonding process forces material inside the airfoil, and most particularly the airfoil edges, to yield towards the center of the airfoil. The material absorption cavities absorb material that yields during the diffusion bonding process and prevent buckling of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Weisse, Steven L. Meulink
  • Patent number: 5514483
    Abstract: The improved organic composite coated steel plate includes a zinc or zinc alloy plated steel plate as a substrate that has on its surface a chromate film the Cr.sup.6+ content of which is no more than 70% of the total Cr content and which is deposited in an amount of 5-500 mg/m.sup.2 in terms of metallic chromium, the chromate film being overlaid with a resin layer that is deposited in an amount of 0.1-3 g/m.sup.2 on a dry weight basis and which is formed primarily of water-dispersed silica and one organic resin member as selected from the group consisting of an anionic aqueous resin, a nonionic aqueous resin and an anionic aqueous urethane resin. This steel plate is adapted for not contaminating the environment of the earth in the process of its manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeko Sujita, Ryoichi Muko, Kyoko Hamahara, Kazuo Mochizuki, Nobuyuki Morito
  • Patent number: 5514481
    Abstract: A light metal casting for use in combination with a metal holder for mounting heavy subassemblies, such as doors or the like, to a light metal frame member of a light metal vehicle body framework, including a first, vertical leg portion having an outward facing surface to which a metal holder is mounted, and a second, inwardly-extending horizontal leg portion connected at an upper end of the first leg portion. The second leg portion is provided with a vertical through-hole oriented transversely to its surface, and, at the edge of the opening which faces the first leg, an upstanding tongue member is formed integrally on the second leg which points away from the first leg and can be bent over the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Robert Spies, Norbert Enning, Heinrich Timm