Utilizing Wave Energy (e.g., Laser, Electromagnetic, Etc.) Plasma Or Electron Arc Or Beam Patents (Class 148/565)
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Patent number: 5512114Abstract: A process for making a spinneret from a single body of metal with a yield strength of more than 350 MPa involving drilling lead spinneret holes into the mass of the body, annealing only a thin layer of the body opposite the lead holes, and forming capillary spinneret holes through the annealed layer to connect with the lead holes.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1994Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Mark A. Short, Thomas E. Willis
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Patent number: 5512113Abstract: A one-piece single metal spinneret is disclosed having a capillary zone with capillaries of a length more than 1.5 times the capillary diameter and a yield strength, outside the capillary zone, of greater than 350 MPa. A process for making the spinneret is, also, disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1993Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Mark A. Short, Thomas E. Willis
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Patent number: 5508492Abstract: Apparatus for electric arc graining the surface of a traveling electrically conductive workpiece, the surface having a substantial area. The graining is effected by a continuous loop electrode having an elongated main body portion and an elongated continuous loop tip edge projecting laterally from a general plane of the main body portion for establishing an arc between the tip edge and the workpiece surface. The arc is moved about the continuous electrode tip by elongated magnetic means located in close proximity to the electrode, the magnetic means including a continuous loop pole member spaced outwardly of and concentric with the continuous loop tip edge. A second pole member of a polarity opposite the outer pole member is located in the general center of the closed loop tip edge.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1994Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Assignee: Aluminum Company of AmericaInventors: A. Victor Pajerski, Edward P. Patrick
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Patent number: 5496422Abstract: The corrosion resistance inherent in stainless steel is further improved by a cladding layer provided on the surface thereof. The cladding layer is formed of a coating material which is applied onto the surface of the stainless steel and, then, burnt to be fused by laser beams. The coating material contains a larger amount of Cr than that of the stainless steel. The thus fused material and a fused portion of the stainless steel are mixed with each other to form the cladding layer of remarkable corrosion resistance due to a larger amount of Cr contained therein. The formation of the cladding layer on the inner surface of a small diameter pipe is enabled by a coating film shaping device which has a jig for shaping the applied material into a film of a uniform thickness and by a laser irradiation torch which has an arrangement for emitting the laser means radially outward from the inside of the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1994Date of Patent: March 5, 1996Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norio Morishige, Kenji Hirano, Kiyofumi Ishikawa, Shuji Furuya
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Patent number: 5487797Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a sheet, band or strip of zirconium alloy or hafnium alloy, comprising hot roughing of an ingot into a blank, then hot rolling of this blank in the alpha domain, this hot rolling including several passes which follow one or more reheatings in a furnace at one or more temperatures (TR), each of which improves the formability of this blank, then cold rolling which consists of one or more cycles of rolling pinch passing/heat treatment. The hot rolling pass following the last furnace reheating is followed by reheating of the hot rolled blank by at least 100.degree. C. at more than 4.degree. C./s by infrared heating means with a wavelength between 0.8 and 5 micrometers. The hot rolling is then continued until the thickness at the end of the hot rolling is less than or equal to 0.8 times the thickness of the hot rolled blank. The product obtained is used for the manufacture of zirconium or hafnium alloy parts for water-type nuclear reactors.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1995Date of Patent: January 30, 1996Assignee: Cezus Compagnie Europeenne du ZirconiumInventors: Gerard Dumas, Pierre Barberis, Gerard Bunel
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Patent number: 5478419Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a flat product of zirconium alloy having a width between 50 and 600 mm from a flat cold rolled product. The cold rolled product is heated to the beta range and maintained in the beta range using an infra-red heating device with a wavelength of between 0.8 and 5 microns, the maximum temperature difference over the width of the product being less than 35.degree. C. The product is then rapidly cooled and optionally annealed to obtain a flat product, which can be a strip, sheet or band.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1994Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne du Zirconium CezusInventors: Gerard Dumas, Pierre Barberis, Gerard Bunel
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Patent number: 5462609Abstract: An essentially flat "arc-grained" surface of a sheet of aluminum alloy is produced with a coarse and non-uniform microstructure which, after it is coated with a durable phosphate-free coating, provides excellent lithoplate. Though such arc-grained microstructure is much coarser than an electrochemically etched surface typically used on lithoplate, the very coarse surface is peculiarly well-adapted to provide durable lithoplate after it is coated with a phosphate-free protective surface. After the coated surface is coated with a photoresist the excellent resolution of prints is maintained over a large number of repeated uses in an off-set printing press.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1993Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignee: Aluminum Company of AmericaInventors: Edward P. Patrick, A. Victor Pajerski
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Patent number: 5454886Abstract: Anti-microbial coatings and powders and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are formed by depositing an anti-microbial biocompatible metal by vapour deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. The anti-microbial effect of the coatings or powders may be further activated or enhanced by irradiating with a low linear energy transfer form of radiation such as gamma radiation.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1993Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Westaim Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burrell, Catherine L. McIntosh, Larry R. Morris
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Patent number: 5449879Abstract: A laser beam delivery system transmits a laser beam with sufficient power to heat treat a work surface. The laser beam is reflected and focused by a first reflector to a second reflector and then onto the work surface. The second reflector is mounted angularly to a rotatable shaft such that when the shaft is rotated, the second reflector rotates about a first optical axis which is separate from a second axis or shaft and at a frequency that produces an integrated energy ring that remains coupled.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1993Date of Patent: September 12, 1995Assignee: Laser Machining, Inc.Inventors: William E. Lawson, R. Olen Lund
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Patent number: 5447580Abstract: A method for heat treatment of nonferrous metals and alloys is described which comprises the steps of providing a billet of material comprising nonferrous metal or alloy; rapidly heating the billet to a temperature higher than the transus or solvus temperature of the material whereby a microstructure of uniform single phase grains is formed in a surface layer of preselected depth or other selected region in the billet with the starting microstructure of the material central of the billet; and cooling the billet to room temperature to preserve in the billet surface the high temperature single phase microstructure or a transformation product thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1994Date of Patent: September 5, 1995Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Sheldon L. Semiatin, Douglas R. Barker
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Patent number: 5445689Abstract: A method for improving the corrosion and wear resistance properties of aluminum honeycomb core panel construction is disclosed. In a first embodiment, a surface of an aluminum honeycomb metal specimen is melted using a pulsed ion beam and then left to cool by thermal diffusion. A layer of metallic glass demonstrating enhanced hardness and corrosion resistance properties formed integrally with the specimen surface results. In a second embodiment, the surface of the aluminum honeycomb metal specimen is coated with a thin film of metal material. Ions in the pulsed beam drive the atoms in the metal film into the near-surface region of the aluminum honeycomb metal specimen to create an alloy which also has enhanced corrosion and wear properties.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1994Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Michael G. Kornely
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Patent number: 5446258Abstract: A process for remelting metal surfaces, in particular, camshafts, using a laser. The invention shortens the cycle times and further increases cost-effectiveness by not requiring remelting in a plurality of steps. The process uses a laser beam which is focused to a rectangle. The length of the beam spot extends over the entire width of the workpiece surface of the cam. The power density and relative speed are set in order to achieve the desired remelting depth.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1993Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: MLI LasersInventor: Barry L. Mordike
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Patent number: 5411770Abstract: The surface of stainless steel can be hardened by coating a silicon nitride gel and then scanning by CO.sub.2 laser to form a surface alloy layer thereon. The thickness and hardness of the surface alloy layer are both uniform. The Vicker's hardness of the layer can be as high as 1200 Hv. This method can be operated in a common atmosphere or nitride atmosphere at normal pressure, therefore it is more economic than ion nitriding or plasma nitriding.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1994Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Wen-Ta Tsai, Ju-Tung Lee, Tai-Hwang Lai
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Patent number: 5360495Abstract: An apparatus and process for hardening cutting edges having various widths. The apparatus includes a plasma torch for projecting a plasma beam through an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle has a length parallel to the cutting edge and a width perpendicular to the cutting edge. The nozzle width is greater than the nozzle length. A variable electromagnet is located adjacent the nozzle for adjustably deflecting the plasma beam from a circular cross section beam to a widened beam. The electromagnet deflects the plasma beam at its width so that it is slightly wider than the width of the cutting edge to be hardened. The plasma beams with a smaller cross section have a lower power consumption and a constant gas flow rate than larger cross sectional beams.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Inventors: Albert Schuler, Wladimir Tokmakov
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Patent number: 5354963Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for surface heat treatment of rod-shaped, longitudinally extended materials with metal surfaces by means of an arc, which rotates and is magnetically driven around the axis of the billet, wherein the arc moves between an annular electrode (anode) and the billet serving as cathode that runs through it.According to the invention, the problem of developing improved measures for stabilizing an arc, inter alia, is solved by rotating the arc by a direct current magnet arranged behind the annular electrode in the direction in which the billet runs and at the same time the magnetic field induced by the direct current magnetic counteracts the pulling effect on the arc base point by the moved billet and the annular electrode current is divided into two divided currents.The field of application is primarily surface heat-treating of rod-shaped, longitudinally extended materials with metal surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1993Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: SKET Schwermaschinenbau MagdeburgInventors: Volker Muller, Manfred Fehn
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Patent number: 5338373Abstract: A process for making a large number of magneto-mechanically resonant markers having distinct resonant characteristics is disclosed. The process comprises modifying at least one surface of a glassy metal alloy strip so as to cause the effective length of the alloy strip to be different from the physical length thereof. Resonant markers comprising alloy strips treated by the process of the present invention display unique and distinguishable resonant characteristics which gives the marker a unique identity. The resonant markers can be used for article surveillance, inventory control and personnel identification.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1993Date of Patent: August 16, 1994Inventors: Robert M. VonHoene, Ryusuke Hasegawa
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Patent number: 5300159Abstract: A method for manufacturing superplastic forming/diffusion bonding tools and a wide range of other aerospace parts by forming a titanium aluminide interface layer from ion vapor deposition is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1987Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignee: McDonnell Douglas CorporationInventors: Michael D. Petzoldt, Steven M. Sullivan
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Patent number: 5271890Abstract: A coating film of a carbon allotrope is formed on a substrate by continuously supplying a fine carbon powder onto the substrate and simultaneously irradiating the fine carbon powder with a laser beam of a high output level thereby inducing sublimation of the fine carbon powder, and quenching the sublimated fine carbon powder to cause deposition thereof on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1992Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, Ministry of International Trade & IndustryInventors: Hirofumi Shimura, Shinya Sasaki, Yuji Enomoto
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Patent number: 5254185Abstract: Surface-coated components, such as contact pieces for vacuum switches, are produced by means of the method by melting open the surface of a metallic substrate (1) in a local area (15) by an energy flow (12) and combining an additive (8) with the melted-open material of the local area (15). It is intended to produce components with large areas with small outlay in apparatus by means of this method. This is attained by the following steps: Prior to melting open the local area (15), the substrate (1) is pre-heated to a temperature considerably above room temperature, but below its melting temperature. After pre-heating, the local area (15) on the surface of the substrate is melted open and the additive (8) is applied to the substrate surface in the form of a loose powder layer (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1991Date of Patent: October 19, 1993Assignee: Calor-Emag AGInventor: Ekkehard Schade
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Patent number: 5248130Abstract: A vehicle suspension member such as leaf spring (50) is provided having at least one plate (3) having an irradiation exposed region (R) therein that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending between opposite ends of plate (3) and operative to provide a metallurgical discontinuity extending therealong between opposite ends thereof that is effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to axis ("L/A").Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1991Date of Patent: September 28, 1993Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: Bohdan Lisowsky
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Patent number: 5231079Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of an electrical conductor.The process involves the application of high temperature and an external field to a conductor to induce a current flow and physicochemical transition in the conducting matrix.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1992Date of Patent: July 27, 1993Inventor: Dominic J. Giancola
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Patent number: 5164957Abstract: In a laser beam processing of the side surfaces of gear teeth, a rotatable disk is inserted in the recess between the teeth to reflect and redirect laser beam energy toward one surface while protecting the surface of an adjacent gear tooth. The rotatable disk is relatively thin and accordingly is cooled by means of liquid and/or gas jets. During the laser beam operation on the surfaces of the gear teeth, the laser beam, as well as the rotating disk, are translated across the face of the gear tooth.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1991Date of Patent: November 17, 1992Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Alvin H. Nakagawa, Richard L. Frohlich
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Patent number: 5156689Abstract: Zirconium or hafnium tubeshells, billets and channel sheets are produced by plasma arc melting the metal to form a liquid metal pool. The pool is poured into a mold to form a near net shape. The near net shape is reduced to final size while maintaining the metal temperature below the alpha-beta transition temperature throughout the size reducing step.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1991Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: Westinghouse Electric CorporationInventor: Steven C. Evans
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Patent number: 5145530Abstract: A method of hardening the surface of titanium and its alloys, and other structural metals which form hard carbides, by treating the surface thereof with a moving, discontinuous carbon arc.The metal surface to be hardened, and a carbon electrode are made opposite poles of an electric current source, and moved and/or rotated with respect to each other so that a multiplicity of discontinuous electric arcs are produced between the carbon electrode and the metal surface.Carbon particles transfer through the arc and alloy within craters of the instantly liquified and chilled substrate, producing a surface layer which, in the case of titanium, is hard and tough and adherent enough to form the working surface of abrasive cutting tools.The process improves the appearance and durability of consumer items and reduces friction and wear on machine parts.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1989Date of Patent: September 8, 1992Inventor: William E. Cassady
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Patent number: 5131957Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving properties of a solid material in a target (11) by providing shock waves therein. There are directed to the surface of the material (11) pulses of coherent radiation (12) having average energy fluence of at least about 10 Joules per square centimeter and rise time of not longer than about 5 nanoseconds within a fluorescence envelope lasting about 0.5 to 5 milliseconds, at a rate of about 1 radiation pulse per 100 to 200 microseconds.The leading edge of each pulse (12) is sharpened by providing in its path an aluminum film (18) about 150 to 5000 angstroms thick that is vaporized by the pulse and then is moved across the path so that a later pulse (12) strikes an area of the film (18) not already vaporized by an earlier pulse (12).The radiation (12) is amplified by an amplifier (23) comprising a rod of phosphate laser glass that was strengthened by an ion exchange process.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Harold M. Epstein, Allan H. Clauer, Boyd A. Mueller, Jeffrey L. Dulaney, Bernerd E. Campbell, Craig T. Walters
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Patent number: 5114499Abstract: The surface of a metal workpiece is remelted by a heat producing energy beam so as to form a molten metal layer thereon. While remelting the surface, a magnetic field is generated coaxially with the energy beam and is applied across the molten metal layer so as to cause the heat energy to flare and, thereby, produce a Lorentz force in the molten metal layer. By the Lorentz force, the molten metal is agitated. The heat energy and magnetic field are oscillated, or reciprocally moved, relative to the surface so as to cause a flow of the molten metal from the edges of the molten metal layer toward the center, thereby providing a uniform chilled layer thickness.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1991Date of Patent: May 19, 1992Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Hiroaki Kusunoki