Producing Hollow Article (e.g., Tube, Etc.) Patents (Class 264/632)
  • Patent number: 11426274
    Abstract: A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent includes an annulus section and at least one foldable section. The stent is movable between an unfolded condition in which the foldable section is longitudinally spaced from the annulus section, and a folded condition in which the foldable section is at least partially positioned radially adjacent the annulus section. The valve assembly is positioned within the annulus section of the stent in the folded condition of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Benson, Ott Khouengboua, Peter N. Braido
  • Patent number: 10751923
    Abstract: An employed rear mold is comprised of a plurality of mold pieces. The plurality of mold pieces include a first mold piece which forms a first partial internal surface of the internal surface of the rear mold along the entire circumference of the internal surface, and a second mold piece which is located axially forward of the first mold piece and forms a second partial internal surface of the internal surface of the rear mold along the entire circumference of the internal surface. Releasing the molded body includes starting to move the first mold piece rearward in relation to a rear molded portion, and, subsequently to starting to move the first mold piece, starting to move the second mold piece rearward in relation to the rear molded portion, thereby disassembling the rear mold into the plurality of mold pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kurono, Hironori Uegaki, Toshitaka Honda, Hiroyuki Hazama, Kuniharu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Kawaji
  • Patent number: 9452570
    Abstract: An information handling system chassis is built at least in part from ceramic elements. For example, a transparent aluminum oxide ceramic portion covers a touchscreen to provide a rigid outer surface for accepting end user inputs. As another example, a ceramic chassis element has a ceramic material formed around a metal material of similar substance with bonding of the ceramic to the underlying material enhanced with oxidation of the outer surface of the metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Abbatiello, Deeder M. Aurongzeb
  • Patent number: 9028741
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and a binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having multiple through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and multiple partition portions formed between the through-holes, applying sealant composition including aluminum hydroxide particles, talc particles, kaolin particles, water and organic binder to either end of each through-hole of the body in the longitudinal direction such that the honeycomb structure of the body has each through-hole sealed at one end, and sintering the body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure sealed by the sealant composition such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Yamayose
  • Patent number: 8974722
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and a binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and partitions formed between the through-holes, immersing each of end portions of the body in the longitudinal direction into a sealant slurry heated at a temperature in the range of from 50° C. to 100° C. such that the sealant slurry infiltrates into the through-holes at one of the end portions of the body and seals either end of each of the through-holes of the body, and sintering the body having the honeycomb structure such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Yamayose
  • Publication number: 20150042023
    Abstract: A hybrid part for use in a gas turbine engine has a platform and an attachment feature. The platform and an exterior portion of the attachment feature are formed from a monolithic ceramic material. A ceramic matrix composite material is located adjacent interior portions of the platform and the attachment feature and is bonded to the monolithic ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael G McCaffrey, John E Holowczak
  • Patent number: 8926886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of multichannel nerve conduits for use in the repair of nerve injury. In particular, the invention relates to collagen multichannel nerve conduits which are suitable for use in repair of peripheral nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: National University of Ireland, Galway
    Inventors: Abhay Pandit, Li Yao, Anthony Windebank
  • Patent number: 8926891
    Abstract: Manufacture of ceramic honeycomb fired body. Green molded body is placed on a firing base and fired. The firing base and green molded body are each a column containing a ceramic raw material and having a partition wall forming a plurality of flow paths, and patterns of end surfaces of the two partition walls are the same as each other as seen from an extending direction of the flow paths. The green molded body is placed on the firing base displaced in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance, or rotated around a vertical axis V of the green molded body by a predetermined angle ?, so that only a part of the lower side end surface of the partition wall of the green molded body is in contact with the upper side end surface of the partition wall of the firing base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kousuke Uoe
  • Patent number: 8871122
    Abstract: A method facilitates fabricating a cellular cushion. The method comprises injecting material into a mold in an injection molding process to form a cushion first layer that includes a plurality of hollow cells that extend outward from the base and are each coupled together in flow communication, coupling a second layer to the first layer, and coupling an injection stem in flow communication to the plurality of hollow cells to enable an operating pressure within the cells to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Star Cushion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Gerard Fraser
  • Patent number: 8871140
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing inorganic hollow yarns, such as cermets, oxide-non oxide composites, poorly sinterable non-oxides, and the like, at low costs. The method includes preparing a composition comprising a self-propagating high temperature reactant, a polymer and a dispersant, wet-spinning the composition through a spinneret to form wet-spun yarns, washing and drying the wet-spun yarns to form polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns, and heat-treating the polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns to remove a polymeric component from the polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns while inducing self-propagating high temperature reaction of the self-propagating high temperature reactant to form inorganic hollow yarns. The composition comprises 45˜60 wt % of the self-propagating high temperature reactant, 6˜17 wt % of the polymer, 0.1˜4 wt % of the dispersant, and the balance of an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Churl-Hee Cho, Do-Kyung Kim, Jeong-Gu Yeo, Young-Soo Ahn, Dong-Kook Kim, Hong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8865614
    Abstract: A process for producing a ringlike oxidic shaped body by mechanically compacting a pulverulent aggregate introduced into the fill chamber of a die, wherein the outer face of the resulting compact corresponds to that of a frustocone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Knut Eger, Jens Uwe Faust, Holger Borchert, Ralf Streibert, Klaus Joachim Mueller-Engel, Andreas Raichle
  • Patent number: 8865037
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing foamed thermoplastic films and trash bags wherein a foaming agent is added to a base thermoplastic resin. The resultant foaming agent/base resin mixture is extruded to form a single-ply foamed thermoplastic film. The film may be formed into bag, such as a trash bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: VINXI, L.L.C.
    Inventor: John Charles Marrelli
  • Patent number: 8865054
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and binder such that raw material paste including the titania particles, the alumina particles and the binder is prepared, extruding the raw material paste through a die for forming a honeycomb structure such that a body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure is formed, supporting the body extruded from the die on a holder while moving the holder along extrusion direction at a moving speed relative to an extruding speed of the raw material based on a target diameter size set for the body such that the diameter of the body held by the holder changes to the target diameter size, and sintering the body having the honeycomb structure with the target diameter size such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure with the target diameter size is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Yamayose
  • Patent number: 8852486
    Abstract: A molded discrete low stress gasket is constructed of restructured filled PTFE for use in corrosive or severe chemical environments under relatively low bolt loads. The gasket has a gasket surface and includes a raised outer sealing ring and a raised inner sealing ring. The gasket may constructed from a restructured filled PTFE material, with the sealing rings deforming at lower pressures than the remaining portions of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: T. Scott Tanner, Stefan Pitolaj
  • Patent number: 8845936
    Abstract: A process for preparing hollow ceramic or metal microspheres, comprising the steps of: forming ceramic or metal slurry, comprising ceramic or metal powders, water and dispersant and having a certain solid phase content, into a stable foam slurry by using a foaming agent; introducing the stable foam slurry into a centrifugal atomization equipment to atomize it into hollow slurry droplets, while being sprayed into a molding chamber; drying rapidly to form hollow microsphere green body; collecting the hollow microsphere green body and sintering. The hollow microsphere prepared has a particle size of 0.001-1.5 mm and high quality and low cost. The process is adapted to produce various inorganic material powders into hollow microspheres. The present invention also provides a device for preparing hollow ceramic or metal microspheres and hollow microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hebei YL-Bangda New Materials Limited Company
    Inventors: Jinlong Yang, Kai Cai, Xiaoqing Xi, Guojun Ge, Yong Huang
  • Patent number: 8778256
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Huang, Jonathan P. Durcan
  • Patent number: 8741031
    Abstract: A composite hollow ceramic fiber includes a porous hollow core supporting a thin, dense sheath. The non-gas-tight core comprises a first ceramic material and an interconnecting network of pores. The gas-tight sheath comprises a second ceramic material. The fiber is made by extruding core and sheath suspensions from a spinnerette. The core suspension includes particles of the first ceramic material, a polymeric binder, a solvent, and a pore former material insoluble in the solvent. The sheath suspension includes particles of the second ceramic material, a polymeric binder and a solvent. The nascent hollow fiber is coagulated in a coagulant bath to effect phase inversion of the polymeric binders. The resultant green fiber is sintered in a two step process. First, the binders and pore former material are burned off. Second, the sheath is densified and the second ceramic material is sintered without fully sintering the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Madhava R. Kosuri, Dean W. Kratzer
  • Patent number: 8723087
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon-fiber pipe which is hollow and has a net shape, by knitting carbon fibers and general fibers, applying carbon or ceramic, and heating to burn the general fibers, and a carbon fiber heating lamp using the carbon-fiber pipe are provided. The carbon fiber heating lamp includes a vacuum glass tube, a tubular carbon fiber pipe, which is knitted using carbon fiber and general fiber as a raw material and has a hollow part, and a heating element. The heating element includes the tubular carbon fiber pipe which has a predetermined length and is installed in the vacuum glass tube, and generates heat using power supplied from an exterior through both terminals provided on an outer portion of the vacuum glass tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong-youn Cho
  • Publication number: 20140059971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermal insulation materials made of hollow oxide particles. Use of hollow oxide particles having an overall thermal conductivity of less than 0.026 W/(mK) is for example suitable for the building sector or other areas where thermal insulation is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Bjørn Petter Jelle, Bente Gilbu Tilset, Susie Jahren, Arild Gustavsen, Tao Gao
  • Patent number: 8658071
    Abstract: A method for enabling a lining (14) to be applied to a pipe elbow or bend C comprises the steps of connecting a tie member (12) to an end of a flexible elongate mandrel (1), drawing the tie member through the elbow or bend so as to draw the mandrel therethrough and locate opposing ends of the mandrel adjacent to opposing respective ends of the elbow or bend, and securing the mandrel ends in relation to the respective ends of the elbow or bend. The mandrel can be adapted to the elbow or bend by locating the elbow or bend in a given orientation and deriving a profile S of the elbow or bend while in that orientation, removing the elbow or bend and then locating the mandrel in the given orientation, and adjusting the mandrel in relation to the profile of the elbow or bend to adapt it thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Weir Vulco, S.A.
    Inventors: Ricardo Abarca Melo, Wilfredo San Martin Cisterna, Jaime Ramirez Toledo
  • Patent number: 8585947
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a composite block of closed geometry, in the form of a continuous ring, based on fibers and on a crosslinkable resin, by continuous winding and superposition of several layers of a tape of reinforcement fibers embedded in a matrix based on a composition comprising a crosslinkable resin. The process comprises from upstream to downstream, the following steps: producing a rectilinear arrangement (12) of reinforcement fibers (11) and conveying this arrangement in a feed direction (F); degassing the arrangement (12) of fibers by the action of a vacuum (13); after degassing, impregnating said arrangement (12) of fibers under vacuum with said resin composition in the liquid state (17); passing the pre-preg thus obtained through a die (20) to make said pre-preg into the form of a tape (21) composed of reinforcement fibers (11) in their liquid resin (17) matrix, the thickness of said tape being less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Meraldi, Antonio Delfino
  • Patent number: 8585939
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a sintered annular nuclear fuel pellet includes molding nuclear fuel powder or granule, an oxide of a fissile element (M), to fabricate an annular nuclear fuel green body. A rod-like shaped structure is inserted into the annular nuclear fuel green body and sintered in a slight oxidizing gas atmosphere such that the oxide of the fissile element has a balanced O/M ratio higher than a desired O/M ratio (oxygen/fissile element) of a final sintered annular nuclear fuel pellet, while being maintained in a cubic phase. The sintered annular nuclear fuel pellet is then reduced in a reductive gas atmosphere so as to have the desired O/M ratio in the state that the rod-like shaped structure is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Woo Rhee, Dong-Joo Kim, Kun-Woo Song, Jong-Hun Kim, Keon-Sik Kim, Jae-Ho Yang, Chill-Sun Ryu
  • Patent number: 8574693
    Abstract: A preform is formed by compounding a resin made from poly-L-lactic acid with a functional filler and subjecting a mouth portion to a heat treatment. Also, a hollow shaped product is produced by blow-molding the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugai, Masato Suzuki, Hiromi Shimura, Junichi Chiba
  • Patent number: 8557148
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a sintered annular nuclear fuel pellet includes: molding nuclear fuel powder or granules to fabricate an annular nuclear fuel green body; inserting a rod-like shaped structure into the annular nuclear fuel green body; sintering the rod-like shaped structure-inserted annular nuclear fuel green body in a reductive gas atmosphere; and separating the sintered annular nuclear fuel pellet from the rod-like shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Woo Rhee, Dong-Joo Kim, Jong-Hun Kim, Jae-Ho Yang, Keon-Sik Kim, Kun-Woo Song, Chill-Sun Ryu
  • Patent number: 8491716
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing inorganic hollow yarns, such as cermets, oxide-non oxide composites, poorly sinterable non-oxides, and the like, at low costs. The method includes preparing a composition comprising a self-propagating high temperature reactant, a polymer and a dispersant, wet-spinning the composition through a spinneret to form wet-spun yarns, washing and drying the wet-spun yarns to form polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns, and heat-treating the polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns to remove a polymeric component from the polymer-self propagating high temperature reactant hollow yarns while inducing self-propagating high temperature reaction of the self-propagating high temperature reactant to form inorganic hollow yarns. The composition comprises 45˜60 wt % of the self-propagating high temperature reactant, 6˜17 wt % of the polymer, 0.1˜4 wt % of the dispersant, and the balance of an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Churl-Hee Cho, Do-Kyung Kim, Jeong-Gu Yeo, Young-Soo Ahn, Dong-Kook Kim, Hong-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20130147098
    Abstract: An outer ring, an inner ring and a ball that are a rolling contact member formed of sintered ? sialon inexpensive and capable of reliably ensuring sufficient durability, is constituted of a sintered body containing ? sialon as a main component and having a remainder formed of an impurity, and the outer ring, the inner ring and the ball have raceway/rolling contact surfaces, i.e., an outer ring raceway surface, an inner ring raceway surface and a ball rolling contact surface included in a portion having an outer ring high density layer, an inner ring high density layer and a ball high density layer higher in density than an inner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Katsutoshi MURAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8449800
    Abstract: A preventative maintenance method of strengthening the connection between high pressure, in situ piping. An encapsulation mold is installed over a properly functioning, non-leaking coupling or joint interconnecting pipe sections carrying gas in excess of 60 psi. A resin sealant having tensile strength in excess of 3000 psi fills the mold, so that it circumscribes the coupling and adjacent portions of the pipe sections extending from the coupling, forming a permanent bond to the coupling and pipe sections. The method prevents high pressure pipe connection pullout, which otherwise could lead to catastrophic failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Howard Hardwick
  • Publication number: 20130095299
    Abstract: A method of making a sintered article in which a solid object is embedded includes forming a green body of compressed particles with the solid body is partially embedded. The green body includes an opening across which the solid body extends. The green body is sintered to form a sintered body and the opening permits deformation of the solid body in response to stress applied during the sintering process. A sintered article in which a solid body is at least partially embedded includes an opening. The solid body extends across the opening so that the solid body can deform within the opening. The opening in the solid body prevents distortion of the sintered body from a planar configuration during sintering, even when the green body is relatively thin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: EVANS CAPACITOR COMPANY
    Inventor: David A. EVANS
  • Patent number: 8415268
    Abstract: A process for producing a ringlike oxidic shaped body by mechanically compacting a pulverulent aggregate introduced into the fill chamber of a die, wherein the outer face of the resulting compact corresponds to that of a frustocone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Knut Eger, Jens Uwe Faust, Holger Borchert, Ralf Streibert, Klaus Joachim Mueller-Engel, Andreas Raichle
  • Patent number: 8414814
    Abstract: A biodegradable polymer stent with radiopacity and a method of making and using a stent with enhanced mechanical strength and/or controlled degradation for use in a bodily lumen is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Biosensors International Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Horng Su, Debashis Dutta
  • Patent number: 8409487
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing hollow structures such as spars for helicopter rotor blades, fixed wings for aircraft, and other aerostructures can include the provision of a path for gases to exit the material from which the spar is formed as the material is heated and cured, to help eliminate voids within the material caused by the presence of such gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Peter G. C. Dixon
  • Patent number: 8398796
    Abstract: A method of green joining ceramic components is disclosed, particularly for use in forming a discharge body for a ceramic metal halide lamp. The process includes providing a first green ceramic component having a male joining surface, and providing a second green ceramic component having a female joining surface dimensioned to matingly receive the first component. The first and second green ceramic components are assembled along the joining surfaces, the assembled components are uniformly heated to join the first and second components. The joined components are next cooled in a cooling bath that uniformly cools the joined components. Thereafter, the joined green part may be inserted in the furnace for debindering and sintering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Glenn H. Kuenzler, Thomas J. Boyle, Michael Vincent Yee, Brian Danison
  • Publication number: 20130056915
    Abstract: A sintered material based on silicon carbide (SiC) reactively sintered between 1,100° C. and 1,700° C. to form a silicon nitride binder (Si3N4), intended in particular for fabricating an aluminum electrolysis cell, including 0.05% to 1.5% of boron, the Si3N4/SiC weight ratio being in the range 0.05 to 0.45. Application, in particular, to an electrolysis cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CENTRE DE RECHERCHES ET D'ETUDES EUROPEEN
    Inventors: Eric Jorge, Olivier Marguin, Lionel Moitrier, Olivier Citti
  • Patent number: 8309014
    Abstract: A rotatable turntable tool is used in trimming wheel-thrown pottery. The turntable tool includes a base portion, a bearing member, and a cap portion which is rotatably attached to the base portion. A method of trimming an unfired clay workpiece includes steps of inverting the workpiece and placing it at a central portion of a wheel head on a potter's wheel; placing the turntable tool on top of a central portion of the inverted workpiece; pressing downwardly on the cap portion of the turntable tool while rotating said wheel head to stabilize the workpiece, whereby the base portion of the turntable tool rotates with the workpiece, while the cap portion is substantially restrained from rotating; and applying a trimming tool to an edge of the workpiece to remove unwanted clay therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Piepenburg
  • Patent number: 8277620
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present techniques provide electrolyzers made using thermoformed electrode assemblies and diaphragm assemblies. Each electrode assembly is made from two plastic rings and an electrode plate using a twin sheet thermoforming technique. A first plastic ring is laid in a mold having the appropriate shape to form the electrode assembly. The electrode plate is laid on top of the first plastic ring and is generally centered on the ring. The second plastic ring is laid over the electrode plate, and is generally centered over the electrode plate. The plastic is heated to soften the plastic, and a vacuum is pulled on the mold to pull the softened plastic into the shape of the mold. The mold is closed over the assembly to seal the two plastic rings together. After cooling, the molded part may be removed, resulting in a hollow plastic rim surrounding an electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard Scott Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 8257633
    Abstract: Cast material rotor (200,300,500,800) with profiled helical outer surface (208,308,508,808). Cast material layer (502,802) can be disposed between core (504,804) and tube (506,806). Profiled helical outer surface (208,308) can be in tube 206 or cast material layer 302, respectively. Method of forming rotor 200 can include filling void between outer surface 212 of core 204 and longitudinal bore 210 of tube 206 having profiled helical outer surface 208 with cast material 202 in fluid state, and solidifying cast material 202. Tube 206 can be disposed within profiled helical bore 714 of mold 700, e.g., before solidifying cast material 202. Method of forming rotor 300 can include filling void between outer surface 312 of core 304 and profiled helical bore 714 in mold 700 with cast material 302 in fluid state, solidifying cast material 302 to impart profiled helical outer surface 308 thereto, and removing mold 700 from cast material 302.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Sindt, Michael Shepherd, Hossein Akbari
  • Patent number: 8257418
    Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a catheter tube, an inflatable balloon, the ends of which are attached to the catheter tube, and a stent attached around the balloon. The stent extends at least partly along the length of the balloon. In an uninflated state, at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent is provided with a relief structure which is substantially disappeared in an inflated state of the balloon. A related method involves manufacturing a balloon catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrik Jozef Maria Meens, Derk Trip
  • Publication number: 20120181208
    Abstract: An article and method for spreading a substance about a surface is disclosed. The article includes a hollow, frangible shell having an opening. The shell is filled with a substance and a plug closes. A user throws the article at the surface where the substance is desired to be spread. Upon impact, the shell shatters scattering the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: George V. Kronen
  • Publication number: 20120068390
    Abstract: A method of making a spark plug insulator includes forming green ceramic core tube and core nose performs. The core nose perform is nested within the firing end of the core tube perform and they are fired to sinter them and to form a direct bond between them in a region of overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: William John Walker, JR.
  • Patent number: 8137611
    Abstract: A method of processing solid core ceramic matrix composite articles. The method improves the physical characteristics of the article by forming the airfoil using a co-processing method wherein a refractory ceramic is cast against a preformed ceramic matrix composite (CMC) shell. In one aspect, the shell is continuous to help prevent delaminations. In another aspect, the shell is open. In one embodiment, the article includes a split line. The split line helps the article to be less susceptible to damage caused from internal strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Merrill, Christian X. Campbell, Thomas Barrett Jackson
  • Patent number: 8097202
    Abstract: A powder metallurgy process for the manufacture of powders of a refractory ceramic material, comprising the consecutive steps of: (i) obtaining a dry mixture of a hafnium dioxide HfO2 powder and an yttrium oxide Y2O3 powder; (ii) step of granulation by pelletization of the dry mixture under stirring in order to obtain a granulated mixture, this granulation step comprising the spraying, into the dry mixture, of an aqueous solution comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG); (iii) drying of the granulated mixture; (iv) filling of a mold with said granulated mixture; (v) isostatical or semi-isostatical pressing of the granulated mixture in order to obtain a compact mixture; (vi) sintering of the compact mixture in order to obtain a refractory ceramic material at a solidus temperature in the range between 2500° C. and 2800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique—CEA
    Inventors: Mélusine Ferrier, Pascal Piluso
  • Publication number: 20110284466
    Abstract: A durable on-column tunneled frit was developed for use in nanoflow UPLC systems. The frit was tunneled during sol-gel reaction. The tunneled-frit fabrication process is easy and reproducible in terms of back pressure and durability. This design creates low backpressure with high liquid flow, which is suitable for the nanoflowUPLC application. A short packing (2 cm C18 particle) tunneled-frit column was demonstrated to sustain 10,000 psi continuous liquid flow for over one week without any particle leakage or pressure instability. The tunneled-frit was also successfully applied to the fabrication of nanoUPLC trapping and analytical column system. It was demonstrated to have high separation efficiency and sensitivity for the analysis of tryptic peptides as well as improved detection sensitivity for phosphopeptide analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Chao-Jung Chen, Mei-Chun Tseng, Yet-Ran Chen
  • Patent number: 7922964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing ceramic hollow fibers from nanoscale particles and to hollow fibers produced in such a manner. The inventive method is characterized in that the ceramic material has a solids content of >25% by volume, preferably >30% by volume and is processed by means of extrusion and spinning. The hollow fiber is sintered according to conventional sintering methods. A hollow fiber produced in this manner is used for metal, polymer and ceramic matrix reinforcements, for artificial organs, for microsystems technology components, for fiber optical waveguides, for ceramic membranes, for solid electrolyte in fuel cells (SOFC), for tissue engineering and for producing extremely light ceramic parts, such as heat shields or brake systems, that are subjected to temperature stresses. The inventive ceramic batch can also be processed by means of silk screening whereby resulting in the production of filigree structures over the ceramic silk screening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: ItN Nanovation AG
    Inventor: Ralph Nonninger
  • Publication number: 20110024956
    Abstract: A sintered material based on silicon carbide (SiC) reactively sintered between 1,100° C. and 1,700° C. to form a silicon nitride binder (Si3N4), intended in particular for fabricating an aluminum electrolysis cell, including 0.05% to 1.5% of boron, the Si3N4/SiC weight ratio being in the range 0.05 to 0.45. Application, in particular, to an electrolysis cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CENTRE DE RECHERCHES ET D'ETUDES EUROPEEN
    Inventors: Eric Jorge, Olivier Marguin, Lionel Moitrier, Olivier Citti
  • Publication number: 20100283169
    Abstract: This invention is directed toward process and material optimization of electrolytic cell separation processes designed to generate consistent electrolytic solutions in a better salt-converting and efficient manner, as well as to increase the amount of free available chlorine generated by the electro-chemical activation of the salt. This is generally accomplished by provision of ceramic diaphragm and/or polymer membranes characterized by optimal design, construction, manufacturing, and assemblage to exacting and precise specifications with respect to chemical and material compositions, slurry formulations, ceramic mold tolerances, ceramic firing and curing conditions, dimensional measurements for thickness, dimensional measurements for gapping and placement between the anode and cathode electrodes, and machining tolerance control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Stuart A. Emmons
  • Patent number: 7767134
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an article with template shaped channels by (a) mixing a precursor with a fibrous template, (b) forming the mixture into a pre-determined shape, (c) curing the mixture to form a precursor composite, (d) carbonizing the precursor composite, and (e) decomposing the fibrous template to yield a shaped carbon article with template shaped channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Shuzhong Zhuang, Liqun Yu, John B. Paine, III
  • Patent number: 7699903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for production of a porous ceramic body and a corresponding porous ceramic body which can find application, in particular, as filter, or filter membrane in cross-flow filtration. According to the method of the invention, a bimodal ceramic powder mixture is moulded to give a moulded body, which is subsequently recrystallised by conditioning at high temperature, such that the fine particles melt and link the large particles firmly together by deposition thereon, such that, in defined regions (2,3), a porous ceramic body with a homogeneous structure of almost uniform particle size and pore size is formed, whereby the pores provide an interconnected, open, three-dimensional network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Saint-Gobain Industrie Keramik Rödental GmbH, Liq Tech
    Inventors: Per Stobbe, Udo Hack
  • Publication number: 20090315227
    Abstract: A powder metallurgy process for the manufacture of powders of a refractory ceramic material, comprising the consecutive steps of: (i) obtaining a dry mixture of a hafnium dioxide HfO2 powder and an yttrium oxide Y2O3 powder; (ii) step of granulation by pelletization of the dry mixture under stirring in order to obtain a granulated mixture, this granulation step comprising the spraying, into the dry mixture, of an aqueous solution comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG); (iii) drying of the granulated mixture; (iv) filling of a mold with said granulated mixture; (v) isostatical or semi-isostatical pressing of the granulated mixture in order to obtain a compact mixture; (vi) sintering of the compact mixture in order to obtain a refractory ceramic material at a solidus temperature in the range between 2500° C. and 2800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Commissariat Á L' Energie Atomique- CEA
    Inventors: Mélusine Ferrier, Pascal Piluso
  • Publication number: 20090260845
    Abstract: The present invention reduces the amount of lead used in a display device and improves its long-term moisture resistance. This display device includes: a panel (1b) provided with a hole (11) formed therein; a phosphate glass member (13); and a tube (12) mounted on the panel (1b) via the glass member (13) so as to cover the hole (11). The glass member (13) is bonded to at least a partial area of the inner wall surface of the tube (12) and to a partial area of the panel (1b), so that the entire periphery of the end face of the tube (12) located on the side of the hole (13) is in contact with the panel (1b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KAI, Shinya HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 7556761
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing core-sheath composite fiber includes the steps of: preparing hollow fiber in a form of filament of which some parts forms communicating pores from an outer surface of the fiber to a hollow portion thereof, or in a form of filament segment with open ends; sealing adjacent porous parts or open ends of the same filament respectively in pressure containers and vacuum containers; adding filling materials into pressure containers, and keeping the porous parts or open ends completely immersed in the filling materials; pressurizing the pressure containers using compressed gas, and evacuating the vacuum containers, then the filling materials being absorbed through the communicating pores or opens into the hollow portion of the fiber. During the process of the present invention to manufacture core-sheath composite fiber, most areas of outer surface of the fiber do not contact the filling materials, thus most areas of the outer surface is clean, which is advantageous for post treating or use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Shenzhen Yang Qian Material Application Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gong Wenzhong