Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for enabling drone activity in a property monitored by a property monitoring system without triggering a false alarm. In one aspect, the method includes actions of obtaining a location of the drone, identifying a first sensor installed at the property that is within a predetermined distance of the drone, detecting first sensor data generated by the first sensor that is within a predetermined distance of the drone, wherein the first sensor data includes data that is indicative of an event, determining whether a second sensor that is mounted to the drone is generating second sensor data that corroborates the event indicated by the first sensor data, and disregarding, by the property monitoring system, the first sensor data in determining whether to trigger an alarm.

Abstract: A method for making a curved tungsten alloy suture needle comprising the step of heating tungsten alloy needle blanks or a tungsten alloy suture needle to a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the alloy. The tungsten alloy suture needles described herein have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength, ductility, and surface color.

Abstract: A method of thermal forming of refractory alloy suture needles is disclosed. Needle blanks made from refractory alloys are used to form surgical needles, which are heated to a temperature above the ductile to brittle transition temperature but below the recrystallization temperature of the refractory alloy. The heated needle blanks are then mechanically formed into a surgical needle.

Abstract: A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility.

Abstract: A metallic material is made from at least one refractory metal or an alloy based on at least one refractory metal. The metallic material has an oxygen content of about 1,000 to about 30,000 ?g/g and the oxygen is interstitial.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a tungsten wire containing 1 to 10% by mass of rhenium, the wire having a point indicating a 2% elongation within a quadrangle formed by joining points with straight lines, where the values of x and y are point (20, 75), point (20, 87), point (90, 75), and point (90, 58), in this order; wherein the wire diameter of the tungsten wire is represented by x ?m, and the elongation of the tungsten wire is 2% after electrically heating with an electrical current which is a ratio of y % to the fusion current (FC) at the wire diameter x ?m, and wherein a semi-logarithmic system of coordinates is expressed by a horizontal axis using a logarithmic scale of the wire diameter x and a vertical axis using a normal scale of ratio y to the fusion current.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and a system for providing a gas mixture containing a fractional concentration of oxygen to oxidize and colorize the surfaces of the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of suture needles pass through the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the thermal treatment of tungsten electrodes having a fibrous mocrostructure and being free from thorium oxide for high-pressure discharge lamps, to such a tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, to a method of manufacturing a high-pressure gas discharge lamp with at least one such tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, to a high-pressure gas discharge lamp with at least one such tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, and to a lighting unit with at least one such high-pressure gas discharge lamp.

Abstract: A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for producing high-density composites of metallic glass alloy powders in combination with a refractory metal powder, and includes related methods for producing metallic glass alloys. The invention, in one aspect, employs a system of monitoring the temperature and hot isostatic pressing conditions during the consolidation of metallic compositions in order to produce higher densities and materials of a larger diameter, for example. In another aspect, the invention involves method whereby a third interfacial phase at a metallic glass alloy/refractory metal interface is effectively controlled to produce composites with advantageous properties.

Abstract: A tungsten wire containing 1 to 10% by mass of rhenium has a point which indicates a 2% elongation within a quadrangle formed by joining points with straight lines, where the values of x and y are point (20, 75), point (20, 87), point (90, 75), and point (90, 58), in this order, wherein the wire diameter of the aforementioned tungsten wire is represented by x &mgr;m, and the elongation of the tungsten wire is 2% after electrically heating with an electrical current which is a ratio of y % to the fusion current (FC) at the wire diameter x &mgr;m, and wherein a semi-logarithmic system of coordinates is expressed by a horizontal axis using a logarithmic scale of the aforementioned wire diameter x and a vertical axis using a normal scale of ratio y to the fusion current.

Abstract: Steel strips and methods for producing steel strips are provided. In an illustrated embodiment, a method includes continuously casting molten low carbon steel into a strip of no more than 5 mm thickness having austenite grains that are coarse grains of 100-300 micron width; and providing desired yield strength in the cast strip by cooling the strip to transform the austenite grains to ferrite in a temperature range between 850° C. and 400° C. at a selected cooling rate of at least 0.01° C./sec to produce a microstructure that provides a strip having a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. The low carbon steel produced desired microstructure.

Abstract: A large-diameter tungsten-lanthana rod having an elongated grain structure substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod is described. The large diameter rod is produced by rolling at a temperature greater than 1400° C. and less than 1700° C. to achieve at least about a 40% reduction in cross-sectional area. The high strength of the longitudinally elongated grain structure is desirable for applications such as rocket nozzles.

Abstract: Medical devices, medical device components, and methods of making the same. For example, one embodiment provides a method of shaping a reinforcing member through annealing. Another exemplary embodiment includes a method of making a medical device that includes such a shaped reinforcement member incorporated therein. Yet another exemplary embodiment provides a medical device including such a shaped reinforcing member therein.

Abstract: A large-diameter tungsten-lanthana rod having an elongated grain structure substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod is described. The large diameter rod is produced by rolling at a temperature greater than 1400° C. and less than 1700° C. to achieve at least about a 40% reduction in cross-sectional area. The high strength of the longitudinally elongated grain structure is desirable for applications such as rocket nozzles.

Abstract: A discharge wire usable in an electrification device includes a tungsten wire subjected to mirror finish processing and an oxidized layer formed by heating the surface of the tungsten wire at a temperature in the range 400 to 600° C., wherein the film has a thickness in the range of 0.01 to 0.3 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Methods for producing medium-density articles from recovered high-density tungsten alloy (WHA) material, and especially from recovered WHA scrap. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes forming a medium-density alloy from WHA material and one or more medium- to low-density metals or metal alloys. In another embodiment, medium-density grinding media, such as formed from the above method, is used to mill WHA scrap and one or more matrix metals into particulate that may be pressed and, in some embodiments, sintered to form medium-density articles therefrom.

Abstract: An x-ray cathode filament comprises a recrystallized coiled wire that comprises rhenium in a range from about 3 to about 7 weight percent with the balance being tungsten that is doped with potassium at a concentration in a range from about 30 to about 110 PPM. The filament comprises interlocked grains of an average size greater than about 20 microns.

Abstract: A method of imparting high strength, high ductility, and high fracture toughness to a refractory metal alloy workpiece includes: (i) subjecting the workpiece to at least one pass that reduces the initial cross-sectional area of said workpiece, (ii) annealing the workpiece subsequent to the at least one pass, and (iii) subjecting the workpiece to a final working step comprising at least one pass conducted at a temperature between ambient and 300.degree. C., the final working step further reducing the cross-sectional area of the workpiece such that the total reduction in the initial cross-sectional area of the workpiece is approximately 40%-75% and the final cold working is 0.30 to 0.75 of the total reduction in cross-sectional area. The resulting article has a tensile yield strength of approximately 170-200 Ksi, a tensile elongation of approximately 12%-17%, and a Charpy 10 mm Smooth Bar impact toughness of approximately 100 ft.-lb. to 240 ft.-lb.

Abstract: A tungsten heavy alloy composition comprising tungsten, iron and elements selected from the groups X, Y and Z and having the formula W.sub.100-p Fe.sub.i X.sub.j Y.sub.k Z.sub.l. Such that "X" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn and Co; "Y" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo and V; "Z" is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ti and Al; "i" ranges from 5 to 19.5 weight percent; "j" ranges from 0.05 to 6 weight percent; "k" ranges from 0.15 to 5 weight percent; "l" ranges from 0.05 to 4 weight percent; and "p" is the mathematical sum of i, j, k and l, and ranges from 7 to 20 such that "100-p" ranges from 93 to 80 weight percent. The blended powder mixture thus formed is hot consolidated to full density. The hot consolidated blended powder mixture is subjected to a hardening heat treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing thermomechanical processing of gears in which precise control of the thermal, metallurgical and mechanical action during the forming process is maintained. The apparatus comprises an induction heating system which reaustenitizes the surface of the gear with minimum decarburization, a material transfer system which provides timely operations on the work piece, tooling and fixture adjustments which provide accurate initial conditions for forming, and a process control architecture that provides the precise sequence and timing necessary to achieve metallurgically sound and dimensionally accurate gears. The induction heating cycle can be controlled from the peak, average or minimum gear surface temperature detected with a high response optical pyrometer. An inert environment is maintained around the workpiece during the induction heating and transfer to quenching above the M.sub.s temperature.

Abstract: A tungsten based heavy alloy having a W--Ni--Fe based composition containing traces of lanthanum or calcium, thereby capable of exhibiting high toughness, irrespective of the content of impurities such as phosphorous and sulfur contained therein, the cooling rate after the sintering treatment and the re-heating treatment. The present invention provides a method for making the high toughness tungsten based heavy alloy. The tungsten based heavy alloy of the present invention is useful to manufacture warheads for breaking armor plates, which require high toughness.

Abstract: A method for heat-treatment of tungsten based alloys, capable of improving impact toughness while keeping tensile strength and elongation. The method comprises maintaining a sintered tungsten based alloy consisting of 86 to 99 weight % tungsten and the balance at least one selected from a group consisting of nickel, iron, copper, cobalt and molybdenum, at a temperature ranged from 950.degree. to 1,350.degree. C. for a maintenance time of one minute to 24 hours, quenching the sintered alloy in water or in oil, and repeating the maintaining and quenching steps.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Tungsten heavy alloys comprising by weight from about 80 to about 100% tuten and from about 0 to about 20% of one or more heavy alloying metals are produced by introducing powders of tungsten and the alloying metals into a thermal spray plasma gun, melting the powders in the hot zone of the gun to form a molten alloy and then spraying the molten alloy in droplet form into a collecting chamber where the droplets are solidified, and the resultant alloy in powdered form is collected. The powdered alloy can be further mixed with powdered copper, iron, nickel, cobalt or tantalum and compacted by dynamic or explosive compaction to form a near full density material. Full density materials are produced by further thermomechanical processing of the compact.