Iron(fe) Or Iron Base Alloy Patents (Class 148/225)
  • Patent number: 11193188
    Abstract: A nitrided steel product or thin cast steel strip comprising, by weight, less than 0.25% carbon, between 0.20 and 2.0% manganese, between 0.05 and 0.50% silicon, less than 0.01% aluminum, niobium between 0.01 and about 0.20%, and between 0.01 and 0.075% nitrogen, and having a majority of the microstructure comprised of bainite and acicular ferrite, having more than 70% niobium in solid solution prior to nitriding and having yield strength between 650 MPa and 800 MPa and tensile strength between 750 MPa and 900 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuxuan Xie, Chen Zhu, Julie M. Cairney, Simon P. Ringer, Christopher R. Killmore, Frank Barbaro, James Williams
  • Patent number: 10563695
    Abstract: A bushing formed of different alloys selected to accommodate different operating conditions is provided. For example, the bushing could include an iron-based alloy in a portion of the bushing exposed to lower temperatures, and a cobalt-based alloy in a portion of the bushing exposed to higher temperatures. The first and second alloys could be axially or radially aligned. The iron based alloy includes 10 to 30 wt % Cr, 0 to 21 wt % Ni, 0 to 10 wt % Mo, 0 to 5 wt % W, 0 to 3 wt % C, 0 to 4 wt % V, 0 to 20 wt % Co, and a balance of Fe; and the cobalt based alloy includes 10 to 30 wt % Cr, 5 to 21 wt % Ni, 0 to 10 wt % Mo, 0 to 10 wt % W, 0 to 3 wt % V, 0.5 to 3 wt % C, and a balance of Co.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie John Farthing, Jens Wellmann
  • Patent number: 10323315
    Abstract: A carburizing device includes a furnace body that performs heat treatment on a treatment object to perform carburization treatment on the treatment object, in which: a heater configured to perform heat treatment on the treatment object is provided upright in a vertical direction within the furnace body; a gas supply section configured to supply a gas for burnout toward the heater is provided at a lower end part of the heater; the heater is inserted through a protective tube provided upright in the vertical direction; and the gas supply section is configured to supply the gas for burnout to between the protective tube and the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: IHI CORPORATION, IHI MACHINERY AND FURNACE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Katsumata, Masatoshi Mitsuzuka, Osamu Sakamoto, Takahiro Nagata
  • Patent number: 10202677
    Abstract: A production method of a carburized steel, which improves a gas carburizing property of a steel having a high Si content and suppress deterioration of productivity, includes preliminary and main gas carburizing processes. In the preliminary gas carburizing process, a steel having a chemical composition that contains C, Si, Mn, and Cr and, in mass %, satisfies Formula (1) is subjected to a gas carburizing treatment at a carburizing temperature Tp° C. that satisfies Formula (A) for 10 minutes to less than 20 hours. In the main gas carburizing process, a gas carburizing treatment is performed at a carburizing temperature Tr(° C.) that satisfies Formula (B) for a carburizing time tr minutes. 6.5<3.5[Si %]+[Mn %]+3[Cr %]?18??(1) 800?Tp<163×ln(CP+0.6)?41×ln(3.5×[Si %]+[Mn %]+3×[Cr %])+950??(A) 4<13340/(Tr+273.15)?ln(tr)<7??(B) Where, CP in the formula is substituted by a carbon potential during carburization in the preliminary carburizing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koyama, Manabu Kubota
  • Patent number: 9909582
    Abstract: A pump is disclosed. The pump may include at least one pumping mechanism. The at least one pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a substrate having a bore and a plunger formed of a substrate and slidably disposed within the bore in the barrel. The pump may further include a coating disposed on the plunger. The coating may include a main layer containing a tribological material and a sacrificial break-in layer disposed on the main layer, the break-in layer containing a tribological material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Campion, John Jay Truhan, Jr., Joshua Steffen, Shivangini Singh Hazari, Steven Charles Taylor, Michael James Pollard, Alan Ray Stockner
  • Patent number: 9080233
    Abstract: A spring consists of, by weight %, 0.27 to 0.48% of C, 0.01 to 2.2% of Si, 0.30 to 1.0% of Mn, not more than 0.035% of P, not more than 0.035% of S, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities. The spring has a nitrogen compound layer and a carbon compound layer at the surface at a total thickness of not more than 2 ?m. The spring has a center portion with hardness of 500 to 700 HV in a cross section and has a compressive residual stress layer at a surface layer. The compressive residual stress layer has a thickness of 0.30 mm to D/4, in which D (mm) is a circle-equivalent diameter of the cross section, and has maximum compressive residual stress of 1400 to 2000 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Suzuki, Yoshiki Ono, Shimpei Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9011613
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: TerraPower, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon David McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140370415
    Abstract: A stainless steel separator for fuel cells and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method includes preparing a stainless steel sheet as a matrix, performing surface modification on a surface of the stainless steel sheet to form a Cr-rich passive film having a comparatively increased amount of Cr in a superficial layer of the stainless steel sheet by decreasing an amount of Fe in the superficial layer of the stainless steel sheet, and forming a coating layer on the surface of the surface-modified stainless steel sheet. The coating layer is one selected from a metal nitride layer (MNx), a metal/metal nitride layer (M/MNx), a metal carbide layer (MCy), and a metal boride layer (MBz) (where 0.5?x?1, 0.42?y?1, 0.5?z?2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Yoo Taek JEON, Kyeong Woo CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20140366993
    Abstract: A method of carburizing ferrous metal parts that includes the steps of providing a furnace for heating the metal parts and a process chamber, purging the air atmosphere from the process chamber and heating said process chamber to a temperature of at least 1100° F., feeding a gas to the process chamber and a source of air at a constant flow rate to the process chamber, boosting the process chamber by feeding an enriching gas to the process chamber to create a carbon potential of at least 0.5%, and more preferably of at least 1.4%, cleaning the process chamber by decreasing the flow of enriching gas to the process chamber to create a carbon potential of less than about 0.25%, repeating the boosting step after performing said cleaning step, and repeating the cleaning step after performing said boosting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: George E. Barbour
  • Publication number: 20140352848
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for adjusting the pore size of a porous metal material and the pore structure of a porous metal material. The method comprises: permeating at least one element into the surface of the pores of the material to generate a permeated layer on the surface of the pores, so that the average pore size of the porous material is reduced to within a certain range, thus obtaining a pore structure of the porous metal material having the pores distributed on the surface of the material and the permeated layer provided on the surface of the pores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMET TECHNOLOGIES CHENGDU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin Gao, Yuehui He, Tao Wang, Bo Li
  • Publication number: 20140291080
    Abstract: A hand-held work implement having a tool has a braking device for the tool that includes a brake band which wraps around a brake drum. The brake band and the brake drum undergo friction as they move relative to one another during braking. At least one of the band or drum comprises an austenitic steel, a duplex steel, super duplex steel, a nickel-base alloy or a cobalt-base alloy and has a base body and a marginal layer. The hardness of the marginal layer is approximately 150% to approximately 600% of the hardness of the base body and the carbide proportion in the marginal layer is less than approximately 0.5% by weight. A process for production of the foregoing includes diffusing carbon and/or nitrogen into a marginal layer at a temperature of less than 500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Apfel, Manfred Schumacher, Ralf Cornelsen
  • Patent number: 8845823
    Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Expanite A/S, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet—DTV
    Inventors: Thomas Lundin Christiansen, Thomas Strabo Hummelshøj, Marcel A. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 8845825
    Abstract: The present invention provides spring use heat treated steel which is cold coiled, can achieve both sufficient atmospheric strength and coilability, has a tensile strength of 2000 MPa or more, and can improve the performance as a spring by heat treatment after spring fabrication, that is, high strength spring-use heat treated steel characterized by containing, by mass %, C: 0.45 to 0.9%, Si: 1.7 to 3.0%, and Mn: 0.1 to 2.0%, restricting N: to 0.007% or less, having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, and satisfying, in terms of the analyzed value of the extracted residue after heat treatment, [amount of Fe in residue on 0.2 ?m filter/[steel electrolysis amount]×100?1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Hashimura, Tatsuro Ochi, Takayuki Kisu, Hiroshi Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20140247915
    Abstract: A method for producing a wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant stainless steel part for a nuclear reactor is provided. This method comprises steps of providing a blank in stainless steel; shaping the blank; finishing the blank to form the part in stainless steel, the finishing step allowing the prevented onset or the removal of work hardness on the outer surface of the part; hardening the outer surface of the part via diffusion of one or more atomic species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Dominique Hertz
  • Patent number: 8808470
    Abstract: Provided is a production method including: heating a workpiece at a temperature higher than an Ac1 transformation point in a carburizing atmosphere; slowly cooling the workpiece at not more than 70° C./Hr down to a temperature T satisfying Formula (1) while maintaining the carburizing atmosphere: Ar1?20?T(° C.)?300° C. . . . (1); and cooling the workpiece in an oxidizing atmosphere. According to this method, it is possible to efficiently produce a high-carbon chromium bearing steel whose depth of the recarburized layer or the overcarburized layer is within a range from 0 to 0.2 mm, having less machining allowance, and excellent in machinability, using a steel tube after hot tube-making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Syunichi Ootsuka, Yoshitaka Nishiyama, Tadashi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8758527
    Abstract: A surface processing method includes the step of increasing a surface hardness of a metal having a nominal composition that includes about 0.21-0.25 wt % carbon, about 2.9-3.3 wt % chromium, about 11-12 wt % nickel, about 13-14 wt % cobalt, about 1.1-1.3 wt % molybdenum, and a balance of iron from a first hardness to a second hardness. For example, the method is used to produce a surface-hardened component that includes a core section having a first hardness between about 51 HRC and 55 HRC and a case section having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Tapas K. Mukherji, Michael E. Dandorph, Bruce D. Hansen, Edward J. Karedes
  • Patent number: 8696830
    Abstract: A process for the high temperature carburization of steel comprising heating said steel in a vacuum furnace in the presence of a hydrocarbon carburizing gas in combination with hydrogen wherein said carburizing gas/hydrogen combination is administered to the vacuum furnace by cyclically reducing the pressure in the furnace followed by the pulsed addition of the hydrocarbon carburizing gas with hydrogen at partial pressure followed by a second diffusion cycle wherein the steel is further annealed for a time sufficient to allow for the additional deposition of from about 0.8% to about 3.0% m/o of said carbon onto the surface of said steel to permit the further migration of the carbon from the steel surface to the interior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Moyer
  • Publication number: 20140048181
    Abstract: A flat steel product, intended to be formed into a component by hot press forming and having a base made of steel, onto which a metal anti-corrosion coating of a Zn or a Zn alloy is applied. A separate finishing coat is applied to at least one of the free surfaces of the flat steel product. The finishing coat includes at least one base metal compound (oxide, nitride, sulphide, sulphate, carbide, carbonate, fluoride, hydrate, hydroxide, or phosphate). Also, a method enabling the production of a flat steel product of this kind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Janko Banik, Marc Blumenau, Maria Koeyer, Tobias Lewe, Axel Schrooten
  • Patent number: 8608868
    Abstract: A method for improving surface mechanical properties of non-austenitic stainless steels comprises steps of: providing a non-austenitic stainless steel material; placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in an environment containing at least one austenite-stabilizing element, and implanting the austenite-stabilizing elements into a surface of the non-austenitic stainless steel material to form a modified layer enriched with the austenite-stabilizing elements; and placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere to make the modified layer in contact with the carbon-bearing atmosphere, and maintaining the non-austenitic stainless steel material at a carburizing temperature below 600° C. to implant carbon into the modified layer to form a carburized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Powder Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuen-Shyang Hwang, Li-Hui Cheng, Yung-Chung Lu, Yang-Liang Fan, Po-Han Chen
  • Publication number: 20130327604
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a brake rotor having a surface oxide layer and methods of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Holly, Douglas N. Reed
  • Patent number: 8557056
    Abstract: A tool steel, in particular a hot-work steel, has the following composition: 0.26 to 0.55% by weight C; less than 2% by weight Cr; 0 to 10% by weight Mo; 0 to 15% by weight W; wherein the W and Mo contents in total amount to 1.8 to 15% by weight; carbide-forming elements Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta forming a content of from 0 to 3% by weight individually or in total; 0 to 4% by weight V; 0 to 6% by weight Co; 0 to 1.6% by weight Si; 0 to 2% by weight Mn; 0 to 2.99% by weight Ni; 0 to 1% by weight S; remainder: iron and inevitable impurities. The hot-work steel has a significantly higher thermal conductivity than known tool steels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rovalma, S.A.
    Inventor: Isaac Valls Angles
  • Publication number: 20130263972
    Abstract: Provided is a production method including: heating a workpiece at a temperature higher than an Ac1 transformation point in a carburizing atmosphere; slowly cooling the workpiece at not more than 70° C./Hr down to a temperature T satisfying Formula (1) while maintaining the carburizing atmosphere: Ar1?20?T(° C.)?300° C. . . . (1); and cooling the workpiece in an oxidizing atmosphere. According to this method, it is possible to efficiently produce a high-carbon chromium bearing steel whose depth of the recarburized layer or the overcarburized layer is within a range from 0 to 0.2 mm, having less machining allowance, and excellent in machinability, using a steel tube after hot tube-making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syunichi Ootsuka, Yoshitaka Nishiyama, Tadashi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8540825
    Abstract: A low-temperature stainless steel carburization method comprises steps: providing a stainless steel material; placing the stainless steel material in a halogen-free reducing environment and maintaining the stainless steel at a first temperature ranging 1,050 to 1,400° C.; and placing the stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere and maintaining the stainless steel material at a second temperature lower than 600° C. to implant carbon atoms into the stainless steel material to form a carburized layer on the surface of the stainless steel material. A halide-bearing gas or solution is not to be applied to activate the passivation layer, so the fabrication cost would be reduced and the safety of carburization process would be enhanced. Besides, the environment can be prevented from halide pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Powder Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuen-Shyang Hwang, Li-Hui Cheng, Yung-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 8425691
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for tempering steel comprising carburizing said steel in a vacuum furnace in the presence of a hydrocarbon carburizing gas in combination with hydrogen wherein said carburizing gas/hydrogen combination is administered to the vacuum furnace by cyclically reducing the pressure in the furnace followed by the pulsed addition of the hydrocarbon carburizing gas consisting of an acetylene/hydrogen mixture is in a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:10 to replenish the air removed in the pressure reduction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Moyer
  • Patent number: 8337639
    Abstract: A mixed powder layer is applied by coating to a cavity of a forging die made of an Fe-base alloy, at least to the region of the cavity to be reinforced or repaired, the mixed powder layer comprising the first element powder capable of being converted into a carbide to enhance the hardness of the forging die and the second element powder having a melting point lower than that of the first element powder. Die reinforcing is carried out by forging a work by using a forging die covered with the mixed powder layer and heat-treating the die by utilizing the working heat generated in the forging to thereby make the layer reflow and diffuse the carbide in the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Kumaki, Mitsuo Kuwabara, Kazuo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8317939
    Abstract: In a first step of a method of gas carburizing, a steel treatment object is heated in a carburizing atmosphere comprising a carburizing gas until the surface carbon concentration of the treatment object reaches the final target value that is not higher than the solid solubility limit at a carburizing temperature that is not higher than the peritectic point, at which steel transforms from ? iron and liquid phase to ? iron, and is not less than the eutectic point, at which steel transforms from liquid phase to ? iron and cementite. In a second step the gas carburizing is advanced after the first step so that the carburizing depth of the treatment object increases while the surface carbon concentration of the treatment object is kept at the final target value by reducing the carbon potential of the carburizing gas with the lapse of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Koyo Thermo Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Showa Tachisato
  • Patent number: 8313587
    Abstract: A method for producing a torque transmission device such as a fixed constant velocity ball joint constructed as an opposed track joint in which the curvatures bases of the tracks of the joint deviate in their axial course from the curvatures of the ball contact lines. The method is characterized in that prior to the formation of a longitudinal profile of a joint component, the component is brought to an increased hardness by a hardening process and a diffusion layer is partially or completely removed in the region of the longitudinal profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Szentmihalyi, Mathias Lutz, Ekkehard Koerner
  • Patent number: 8293028
    Abstract: A carburizing process for increasing the hardness of a case region of a steel component. In one form the application includes plating the outer surface of a stainless steel component with nickel prior to carburizing. One component includes a stainless steel object having a hardened case substantially free of continuous phase grain boundary carbides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hammond, Udayan Trivedi, Thomas L. Doubts, Douglas C. Steckbauer
  • Publication number: 20120255652
    Abstract: A method for improving surface mechanical properties of non-austenitic stainless steels comprises steps of: providing a non-austenitic stainless steel material; placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in an environment containing at least one austenite-stabilizing element, and implanting the austenite-stabilizing elements into a surface of the non-austenitic stainless steel material to form a modified layer enriched with the austenite-stabilizing elements; and placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere to make the modified layer in contact with the carbon-bearing atmosphere, and maintaining the non-austenitic stainless steel material at a carburizing temperature below 600° C. to implant carbon into the modified layer to form a carburized layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Kuen-Shyang HWANG, Li-Hui CHENG, Yung-Chung LU, Yang-Liang FAN, Po-Han CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120247620
    Abstract: A low-temperature stainless steel carburization method comprises steps: providing a stainless steel material; placing the stainless steel material in a halogen-free reducing environment and maintaining the stainless steel at a first temperature ranging 1,050 to 1,400° C.; and placing the stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere and maintaining the stainless steel material at a second temperature lower than 600° C. to implant carbon atoms into the stainless steel material to form a carburized layer on the surface of the stainless steel material. A halide-bearing gas or solution is not to be applied to activate the passivation layer, so the fabrication cost would be reduced and the safety of carburization process would be enhanced. Besides, the environment can be prevented from halide pollution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Kuen-Shyang Hwang, Li-Hui Cheng, Yung-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 8231742
    Abstract: To provide an iron-based composite material which has higher abrasion and seizure resistance, and more excellent impact absorbing property as compared with a steel material, and which has higher mechanical strength as compared with a cast iron material, and also a method of manufacturing the iron-based composite material. The iron-based composite material includes at least a steel structure layer 12, a cast iron structure layer 14, and a carburized structure layer 13 which is formed by carburizing the steel structure between the steel structure layer 12 and the cast iron structure layer 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Seguchi, Masatoshi Oguro
  • Publication number: 20120111456
    Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: EXPANITE A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Lundin Christiansen, Thomas Strabo Hummelshøj, Marcel A. J. Somers
  • Publication number: 20110311334
    Abstract: This invention relates to a blind fastener having a hollow sleeve with high surface hardness and sufficient elongation, and to a novel heat treatment method therefor. The method for the heat treatment of the blind fastener includes austempering. The austempering includes a step in which a hollow sleeve of cold-rolled low carbon steel with a carbon percentage of 0.08 to 0.13% is heated and maintained from 800° C. to 950° C. during carburization, and a subsequent step in which isothermal maintenance is performed from 320° C. to 500° C. The resulting carbon percentage (CP) value is from 0.3 to 0.5%. Even in the case of a low carbon steel blind fastener, the austempering can harden the surface of the sleeve and soften the inner portion other than the surface for suitable elongation in order to provide a blind fastener having a sleeve with high surface hardness and sufficient elongation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: NEWFREY LLC
    Inventor: Takanori MAKINO
  • Patent number: 8075991
    Abstract: A stainless steel material for a fuel cell, used for a fuel cell or a cartridge for the fuel cell, having a magnetic permeability of 1.000 to 2.500, and forming a layer having a value of chromium atomic %/iron atomic % of not less than 3.0 in the most surface thereof, and/or the layer of thickness of not less than 12 nm calculated as SiO2 having an oxygen atomic % of not less than 20%. Even when brought into contact with the content solution exhibiting acidity of the fuel cell, the stainless steel material reliably suppresses the elution of metal ions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouki Kinouchi, Wataru Kurokawa, Shouzou Shintani, Kinuyo Shintani, legal representative, Daisuke Imoda, Kenji Yoshihiro, You Yamamori
  • Publication number: 20110293849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a brake disc (BS) for a vehicle, comprising a main body (G) of a metal material, in particular gray cast iron, which has friction surfaces (R). The friction surfaces (R) are after-treated according to the invention by carboring, carbonitriding, case hardening, gas nitriding, oxide nitriding, gas nitro carburizing, plasma nitriding, plasma oxidizing, borating, plasma carborating or plasma borating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Oliver Lembach, Ralph Mayer
  • Patent number: 8012902
    Abstract: Disclosed are partially deactivated metal catalysts useful for modifying structures of nanomaterials. The present invention is also directed to a method for preparing the partially deactivated metal catalysts, which comprises patterning a substrate with micelles containing iron nanoparticles, removing the micelles from the patterned substrate to deposit the iron nanoparticles thereon, nitriding the iron nanoparticles using a nitrogen plasma, and exposing the nitrided iron nanoparticles to a mixture of ethanol and nitric acid to remove iron from the surface of the nitrided nanoparticles. The iron nitride metal catalyst with a nano-size according to the present invention comprises a core that includes deactivated iron nitride and an active shell surrounding the core. Thus, when preparing a carbon nanotube, the metal catalyst can be effectively used to control the number of walls formed in the carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeung Ku Kang, Kyung Min Choi, Jung Hoon Choi, Saji Augustine, Weon Ho Shin, Seong Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 7998282
    Abstract: A method of heat-treating a steel member including carburizing a steel member in a carburizing gas under a reduced pressure. The steel member is then cooled in a cooling gas having a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. A desired portion of the cooled steel member is then heated using high-density energy. The steel member is then quenched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: AISIN AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Taniguchi, Hisao Shirai, Koji Ohbayashi, Kazuaki Okada, Hideo Kanisawa, Shuji Kozawa
  • Publication number: 20110133595
    Abstract: An alternator includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a rotor core having a first core portion and a second core portion. The rotor core is processed by cementation, so that the first core portion has carbon content that gradually decreases from the outer surface toward the central line of the rotor core till reaching a predetermined carbon content. The second core portion has carbon content lower than that of the first core portion. With these arrangements, the alternator can reduce turn-on speed and increase outputs. A method of manufacturing the non-homogenous rotor core of the alternator is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: UNIPOINT ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 7955450
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the heat treatment of workpieces in a heat treatment furnace, wherein the treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment furnace is circulated. According to the invention, a propellant is injected into the heat treatment furnace in such a manner that the treatment atmosphere is essentially circulated by the injected propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Mahlo, Gerd Waning
  • Publication number: 20110092300
    Abstract: A method for producing a torque transmission device such as a fixed constant velocity ball joint constructed as an opposed track joint in which the curvatures bases of the tracks of the joint deviate in their axial course from the curvatures of the ball contact lines. The method is characterized in that prior to the formation of a longitudinal profile of a joint component, the component is brought to an increased hardness by a hardening process and a diffusion layer is partially or completely removed in the region of the longitudinal profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Volker SZENTMIHALYI, Mathias LUTZ, Ekkehard KOERNER
  • Patent number: 7846272
    Abstract: A treated austenitic steel and method for treating same includes an austenitic steel and a non-metal chemical element incorporated into a surface of the steel. The surface has a bi-layered structure of a compound layer at a top and an underlying diffusion layer, which protects said surface against hydrogen embrittlement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Thorsten Michler
  • Publication number: 20100116377
    Abstract: A carbon hardened surface is produced in a metal workpiece without forming carbide precipitates by carburizing the workpiece at high temperature carburization conditions, rapidly quenching the workpiece, and then carburizing the workpiece under low temperature carburization conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Sunniva R. Collins, Peter C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20100037991
    Abstract: Low temperature carburization of a workpiece surface is accomplished faster by impregnating the surface with a diffusion promoter prior to or during the low temperature carburization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Sunniva R. Collins, William H. Glime, Gary W. Henrich, Andrew P. Marshall, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Peter C. Williams, Geroge R. Vraciu
  • Patent number: 7650710
    Abstract: A body of iron, steel or other such ferrous material is protected from thermochemical erosion by a layer of an iron nitride having a relatively low nitrogen content. The atomic percentage of nitrogen in the iron nitride layer is no greater than 20%, and in specific embodiments is in the range of 10-15%. The nitride layer may have a layer of a refractory material deposited thereatop. Some refractory materials include metals such as chromium. The invention has specific utility for protecting gun barrels, turbines, internal combustion engines, drilling equipment, machine tools, aerospace systems and chemical reactors which are exposed to extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Specifically disclosed is a gun barrel which incorporates the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Paul J. Conroy, James M. Garner, Charles Leveritt
  • Publication number: 20100012228
    Abstract: To provide an iron-based composite material which has higher abrasion and seizure resistance, and more excellent impact absorbing property as compared with a steel material, and which has higher mechanical strength as compared with a cast iron material, and also a method of manufacturing the iron-based composite material. The iron-based composite material includes at least a steel structure layer 12, a cast iron structure layer 14, and a carburized structure layer 13 which is formed by carburizing the steel structure between the steel structure layer 12 and the cast iron structure layer 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Seguchi
  • Publication number: 20090266615
    Abstract: A drill rod includes a first end section, a mid-section, wherein the first end section and the mid-section are connected and wherein the first end section is manufactured using different steel than is used for the mid-section. Such a configuration can reduce the costs associated with forming a drill rod while maintaining the functionality of such a drill rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Jing James Yao
  • Publication number: 20090202187
    Abstract: A non-magnetizable rolling bearing component made of an austenitic material and comprising a hardened surface layer wherein the component of the invention is a material used for making the component contains manganese and a method for making such a rolling bearing component wherein the surface-proximate layer of the material of the rolling bearing component contains an admixture of manganese, is carburized at an elevated temperature in an oxygen-rich atmosphere and the rolling bearing component is then cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Ernst Strian, Stefan Birkner, Ralf Winter, Julia (Amberger) Hermann
  • Patent number: 7559995
    Abstract: A process for heat treating metal workpieces contains with respect to an efficient process control the following successive operations following directly one after the other: a heating phase; an enrichment phase; a first cooling phase; a bonding phase; a second cooling phase; and a concluding quenching phase. Workpieces processed by a method of this type are distinguished by a comparatively great fatigue limit and fatigue strength with simultaneous high resistance to wear and tear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ipsen International GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Edenhofer
  • Publication number: 20090145523
    Abstract: An exhaust gas guide assembly with an improved high-temperature wear resistance, oxidation resistance, high-temperature strength or the like for a VGS turbocharger is provided. According to the invention, the exhaust gas guide assembly for a VGS turbocharger includes adjustable blades, a turbine frame and an adjusting mechanism is characterized in that a heat resisting member constitutes the exhaust gas guide assembly to remarkably enhance high-temperature durability or the like of the exhaust gas guide assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Shinjiro Ohishi, Yukio Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090114046
    Abstract: An iron-base sintered part having high density and totally enhanced strength, toughness and abrasion resistance, a manufacturing method of the iron-base sintered part, and an actuator are disclosed. The iron-base sintered part is formed by an iron-nickel-molybdenum-carbon-based sintered alloy, has density of 7.25 g/cm3 or more, and has a carburization quenched structure. A method for manufacturing the iron-base sintered part includes a molding process of charging a raw mixture powder of an iron-nickel-molybdenum-based metal powder and a carbon-based powder into a cavity of a molding die and compressing the raw powder in the cavity to form a consolidation body, a sintering process of sintering the consolidation body at a sintering temperature to form a sintered alloy, and a carburization quenching process of heating the sintered alloy in a carburization atmosphere and quenching the heated alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Saito, Takumi Mio, Koji Nishi, Hajime Fukami, Kentaro Yamauchi, Hiroyuki Yao, Masayuki Yamamoto, Hideki Yamazaki