Patents by Inventor Charles W. Vigor

Charles W. Vigor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4382323
    Abstract: A preferred catalytic converter structure suitable for treating automotive exhaust gases comprises a wound corrugated metal foil and gas passages defined by facing foil surfaces of adjacent turns, wherein one surface carries platinum catalyst and the facing surface separately carries palladium catalyst for concurrently treating gases flowing therethrough. A preferred method for manufacturing said structure comprises applying platinum catalyst and palladium catalyst to distinct halves in length of both foil surfaces, which halves border along a transverse axis, and winding the foil about the axis to bring the surfaces into facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd R. Chapman, Charles W. Vigor, John F. Watton
  • Patent number: 4331631
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, a method is disclosed for preparing a metal foil composed of a ferritic stainless steel alloy and having a surface that is substantially covered by high aspect alumina whiskers. The preferred foil alloy comprises 15 to 25 weight percent Cr, 3 to 6 weight percent Al, 0.3 to 1.0 weight percent Y and the balance Fe. The method comprises forming the foil by a metal peeling process and treating the foil by heating in air at a temperature between about 870.degree. C. and about 930.degree. C. for a time sufficient to grow the alumina whiskers. In a particularly useful embodiment, the whisker-covered foil is coated with a noble metal-impregnated alumina layer and wound into a suitable cylindrical structure for use as a monolith-type catalytic converter for automotive exhaust gas treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd R. Chapman, Charles W. Vigor, John F. Watton
  • Patent number: 4318888
    Abstract: A preferred catalytic converter structure suitable for treating automotive exhaust gases comprises a wound corrugated metal foil and gas passages defined by facing foil surfaces of adjacent turns, wherein one surface carries platinum catalyst and the facing surface separately carries palladium catalyst for concurrently treating gases flowing therethrough. A preferred method for manufacturing said structure comprises applying platinum catalyst and palladium catalyst to distinct halves in length of both foil surfaces, which halves border along a transverse axis, and winding the foil about the axis to bring the surfaces into facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd R. Chapman, Charles W. Vigor, John F. Watton
  • Patent number: 4151435
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment thin curved rare earth-cobalt magnets supported on the interior surface of a steel casing are formed by hot isostatic compaction. Rare earth-cobalt powder is magnetically aligned and compacted to at least 65% of the theoretical density. The relatively strong, curved green compacts are positioned on a curved mandrel and placed in a closely fitting steel casing which is evacuated and sealed. The magnets are densified under isostatic gas pressure at elevated temperatures and bonded to the steel. The steel backing serves as an integral motor casing when such magnets are used in D.C. motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Jandeska, Charles F. Netherton, Charles W. Vigor
  • Patent number: 4123297
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, thin curved rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) compacts with good green strength are made by a stepwise process in the molding cavities of a portable compacting tooling. The powder is partially compacted and magnetically aligned in a first press equipped with magnetizing means. It is then transported in the tooling, which protects the powder from being disturbed during the transportation, to a second press where it is further compacted under much higher loads. The compacts thus formed can be further processed to form thin, curved, densified, permanent rare earth-cobalt magnets particularly suited for use as pole pieces in small, high-torque D.C. motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Jandeska, Charles F. Netherton, Charles W. Vigor
  • Patent number: 4104787
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment thin curved rare earth-cobalt magnets supported on the interior surface of a steel casing are formed by hot isostatic compaction. Rare earth-cobalt powder is magnetically aligned and compacted to at least 65% of the theoretical density. The relatively strong, curved green compacts are positioned on a curved mandrel and placed in a closely fitting steel casing which is evacuated and sealed. The magnets are densified under isostatic gas pressure at elevated temperatures and bonded to the steel. The steel backing serves as an integral motor casing when such magnets are used in D.C. motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Jandeska, Charles F. Netherton, Charles W. Vigor