Uniting Particles To Form Continuous Coating With Nondiscernible Particles Patents (Class 427/189)
  • Patent number: 7300683
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a resistance film with even thickness and at high speed even in a substrate having micro depressions and projections in its surface. A fine particle dispersion solution is prepared by adding a solution which decreases the absolute value of a ? potential at the fine particles and a solution which decreases dispersion stability of the fine particles into a solution in which metal oxide fine particles are stably dispersed, a substrate having an insulating surface is immersed in the fine particle dispersion solution to deposit a fine particle aggregation film, and then a resistance film is obtained by performing heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7297366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a novel patterned flexible linoleum sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: DLW Aktiengesellschaft, Inc.
    Inventors: Ole Markmann, Bernd Schulte
  • Patent number: 7288294
    Abstract: A method of crystallizing amorphous silicon, wherein the method includes supplying nanoparticles over a surface of an amorphous silicon layer; intermittently melting nanoparticles that reach the surface of the amorphous silicon layer while supplying the nanoparticles; and cooling the amorphous silicon layer to grow crystals using unmolten nanoparticles as crystal seeds, thereby forming a polysilicon layer. Externally supplied nanoparticles are used as crystal seeds to crystallize an amorphous silicon layer so that large grains can be formed. Accordingly, since the number and size of nanoparticles may be controlled, the size and arrangement of grains may also be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-ho Khang
  • Publication number: 20070231564
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is that in a sliding member whose substrate is improved in sliding characteristics by a coating layer comprising a solid lubricant, the coating layer is obtained as one having a low coefficient of friction and an excellent wear resistance. In the present invention, the coating layer 7 has a structure formed by laminating solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and contains not more than 10 mass % of a resin for binder 8 for bonding the solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and the lubricant plate crystal grains have a crystal structure formed by piling (00l) planes (wherein l is an integer of not less than 1) in parallel, the index of orientation of the (00l) planes being not less than 90% at least on the sliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ochi, Masahito Fujita, Takuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7255893
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense and crack-free hematite-containing protective layer on a metal-based substrate for use in a high temperature oxidising and/or corrosive environment comprises applying onto the substrate a particle mixture consisting of: 60 to 99 95 weight %, in particular 70 to 95 weight % such as 75 to 85 weight %, of hematite with or without iron metal and/or ferrous oxide; 1 to 25 weight %, in particular 5 8 to 20 weight % such as 8 to 15 weight %, of nitride and/or carbide particles, such as boron nitride, aluminium nitride or zirconium carbide particles; and 0 to 15 weight %, in particular 5 to 15 weight %, of one or more further constituents that consist of at least one metal or metal oxide or a heat-convertible precursor thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Moltech Invent S.A.
    Inventors: Thinh T. Nguyen, Vittorio De Nora
  • Patent number: 7255894
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component, in particular an aluminium electrowinning anode, for use at elevated temperature in an oxidising and/or corrosive environment comprises: applying onto a metal-based substrate layers of a particle mixture containing iron oxide particles and particles of a reactant-oxide selected from titanium, yttrium, ytterbium and tantalum oxides; and heat treating the applied layers to consolidate by reactive sintering of the iron oxide particles and the reactant-oxide particles to turn the applied layer into a protective coating made of a substantially continuous reacted oxide matrix of one or more multiple oxides of iron and the metal from the reactant-oxide. The metal-based substrate comprises at its surface during the heat treatment an integral anchorage-oxide of at least one metal of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Moltech Invent S.A.
    Inventors: Thinh T. Nguyen, Vittorio De Nora
  • Publication number: 20070141374
    Abstract: An environmentally resistant gas turbine engine disk is disclosed. The disk includes a substrate metal having locally enriched surface regions, the locally enriched surface regions comprising alloying elements present in a higher percentage than found in the substrate metal. A method for making the disk and other articles is also disclosed. The method includes furnishing a plurality of powder particle substrates made of a substrate metal, providing a nonmetallic precursor of a metallic coating material, wherein the metallic coating material includes an alloying element that is thermophysically melt incompatible with the substrate metal, contacting the powder particle substrates with the nonmetallic precursor, and chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor to form coated powder particles comprising the powder particle substrates having a surface-enriched layer of the metallic coating material thereon, wherein the step of chemically reducing is performed without melting the powder particle substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David P. Mourer, Kenneth R. Bain
  • Patent number: 7223445
    Abstract: A process for the deposition of particulate material of a desired substance on a surface includes: (i) charging a particle formation vessel with a compressed fluid; (ii) introducing into the particle formation vessel a first feed stream comprising a solvent and the desired substance dissolved therein and a second feed stream comprising the compressed fluid, wherein the desired substance is less soluble in the compressed fluid relative to its solubility in the solvent and the solvent is soluble in the compressed fluid, and wherein the first feed stream is dispersed in the compressed fluid, allowing extraction of the solvent into the compressed fluid and precipitation of particles of the desired substance; (iii) exhausting compressed fluid, solvent and the desired substance from the particle formation vessel at a rate substantially equal to the rate of addition of such components to the vessel in step (ii) through a restrictive passage to a lower pressure whereby the compressed fluid is transformed to a gaseous
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V. Mehta, Ramesh Jagannathan, Seshadri Jagannathan, Kelly S. Robinson, Karen L. Pond, Bradley M. Houghtaling
  • Patent number: 7220456
    Abstract: A process for the patterning of a desired substance on a surface includes: (i) charging a particle formation vessel with a compressed fluid; (ii) introducing into the particle formation vessel a first feed stream comprising a solvent and the desired substance dissolved therein and a second feed stream comprising the compressed fluid, wherein the desired substance is less soluble in the compressed fluid relative to its solubility in the solvent and the solvent is soluble in the compressed fluid, and wherein the first feed stream is dispersed in the compressed fluid, allowing extraction of the solvent into the compressed fluid and precipitation of particles of the desired substance; (iii) exhausting compressed fluid, solvent and the desired substance from the particle formation vessel at a rate substantially equal to a rate of addition of such components to the vessel in step (ii) through a restrictive passage to a lower pressure whereby the compressed fluid is transformed to a gaseous state, and wherein the re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V. Mehta, Ramesh Jagannathan, Seshadri Jagannathan, David J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7201940
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices for the treatment of heart disease and particularly to endo-arterial prostheses, which are commonly called stents. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of manufacturing and coating stents utilizing thermal spray processing (TSP). In one aspect the invention involves the use of TSP for the manufacture of fine grained tubing for subsequent use as a stent or other tubular or ring-based implant, or the manufacture of intermediate sized tubing that may then be drawn to final size tubing and for the coating of a stent. An average grain size of less than 64 microns is achieved by the invention resulting in a stent having an annular wall average thickness of about eight or more grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Pamela A. Kramer
  • Patent number: 7163715
    Abstract: Thermal spray processing and cold spray processing are utilized to manufacture porous starting materials (such as tube stock, wire and substrate sheets) from biocompatible metals, metal alloys, ceramics and polymers that may be further processed into porous medical devices, such as stents. The spray processes are also used to form porous coatings on consolidated biocompatible medical devices. The porous substrates and coatings may be used as a reservoir to hold a drug or therapeutic agent for elution in the body. The spray-formed porous substrates and coatings may be functionally graded to allow direct control of drug elution without an additional polymer topcoat. The spray processes are also used to apply the drug or agent to the porous substrate or coating when drug or agent is robust enough to withstand the temperatures and velocities of the spray process with minimal degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Pamela A. Kramer
  • Patent number: 7094441
    Abstract: A polymeric linking agent enables the manufacture of photovoltaic cells on flexible substrates, including, for example, polymeric substrates. Photovoltaic cells may be fabricated by a relatively simple continuous manufacturing process, for example, a roll-to-roll process, instead of a batch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni G. Chittibabu, Russell Gaudiana, Bill Beckenbaugh, Lian Li, Michael Lee
  • Patent number: 7070829
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing a sensing film for gas sensors by sintering particles comprising a metal or a metal oxide on a substrate, where the sensing film for gas sensors having excellent sensor properties such as sensitivity and responsibility can be easily and simply formed. A nano-meter order particle (100), a dispersant (110) for preventing aggregation of the particles (100), and a scavenger (120) for trapping the dispersant (110) at the sintering are mixed in a solvent (130) to prepare a paste body (140), and this paste body (140) is coated on a base material and fired, thereby forming a sensing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignees: DENSO Corporation, Harima Chemicals, Inc., Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Totokawa, Yorishige Matsuba, Yoshihisa Misawa, Hideyuki Gotoh, Katsuhisa Osako, Masaaki Oda, Norimichi Saito, Toshihiro Suzuki, Noriyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 7066977
    Abstract: A method for producing fine or ultra fine powder particles comprising mixing a metal alkoxide with a non-metallic hydride in an organic solvent, agitating the mixed solution, and then burning the mixed solution. The burning process comprises igniting the solution directly or burning the solution in situ. A self-sustaining flame will result. When the precursor solution burns, the metallic compound will be co-fired with the organic solvent. As a result, fine or ultra fine particles of mixed metal will burst from the flame, or thrust through the flame and be synthesized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Fu-Kuo Huang
  • Patent number: 6949300
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for preparing aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces in heat exchangers for brazing by depositing thereon a kinetic sprayed brazing composition. The process simultaneously deposits monolith or composite coatings that can include all braze materials and corrosion protection materials used in the brazing of aluminum fins to plates and tubes in a single stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan A. Gillispie, Zhibo Zhao, John Robert Smith, Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Yang Luo, Hartley F. Hutchins
  • Patent number: 6896933
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a non-obstructed interior opening in a kinetic spray nozzle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a mixture of particles including first particle population and a second particle population; entraining the mixture of particles into a flow of a gas at a temperature below the melt temperature of the particle populations; and directing the mixture of particles entrained in the flow of gas through a supersonic nozzle to accelerate the first particle population to a velocity sufficient to result in adherence of the first particle population on a substrate positioned opposite the nozzle. The operating conditions of the kinetic spray system are selected such that the second particle population is not accelerated to a velocity sufficient to result in adherence when it impacts the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith, Daniel William Gorkiewicz, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Bryan A. Gillispie, Nilesh B. Patel
  • Patent number: 6890593
    Abstract: A method for coating moisture sensitive inorganic particles, such as phosphors, comprising mixing the inorganic particles having a particle size of about 1 to 100 micrometers with nanometer-sized coating particles, and firing the mixture to soften or melt the nanometer-sized particles about the inorganic particles, forming a moisture impervious coating. The coated particles are washed to remove excess particles, and dried. Coated moisture sensitive phosphor particles are impervious to moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventor: Yongchi Tian
  • Patent number: 6855301
    Abstract: The present invention includes carbon synthesis devices and systems. The invention also includes machines and instruments using those aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes methods of carbon synthesis. The present invention includes an array of carbon nanotubes, each nanotube having a longitudinal axis. The nanotubes are placed into an array such that the longitudinal axes of all nanotubes in the array are substantially parallel. The array may be a two-dimensional array or a three-dimensional array. The present invention also includes methods of preparing such carbon molecular clusters and arrays thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Joseph William Rich, Vish V. Subramaniam, Elke Christina Plonjes, Walter Reuben Lempert
  • Patent number: 6833275
    Abstract: A composition which contains stabilized conjugates composed of colloidal particles and biomolecules is obtained by adding a detergent to a solution containing biomolecules before or/and during treatment of colloidal particles with this solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventor: Alfons Nichtl
  • Patent number: 6833192
    Abstract: The invention refers to a new process for preparing coated crystals by coating crystal template particles with alternating layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and/or nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Max-Planck Gesellschaft Zur Forderrung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Caruso, Dieter Trau, Helmuth Möhwald, Reinhard Renneberg
  • Patent number: 6830775
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a superconducting quantum interference type magnetic fluxmeter including forming an input coil and a pickup coil integrated with the input coil by electrophoretically depositing high-temperature superconducting fine particles on a surface of the first cylindrical ceramic substrate, and sintering the fine particles, forming a high-temperature superconductor magnetic shield tube by electrophoretically depositing high-temperature superconducting fine particles on an entire surface of the second cylindrical ceramic substrate, and sintering the fine particles, magnetically coupling the input coil and the high-temperature superconducting quantum interference type element by placing the pickup coil such that a distal end portion thereof is inserted within a lower end portion of the magnetic shield tube and inserting the high-temperature superconducting quantum interference type element from an upper end portion of the magnetic shield tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Masaharu Kawachi, Masahito Yoshizawa, Nobuyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6814795
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hot melt conductor paste composition that includes conductive particles and glass particles dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer system. The hot melt conductor paste composition according to the invention is a solid at room temperature, but melts at a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 90° C. to form a flowable liquid that can be applied to a silicon substrate by screen printing. The hot melt conductor paste composition is particularly suitable for use in the fabrication of photovoltaic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: Kristina H. McVicker, Aziz S. Shaikh, Kenneth H. Magrini, Todd K. Williams, Luis C. Tolentino, David M. Stotka
  • Patent number: 6811813
    Abstract: A method for coating moisture sensitive inorganic particles, such as phosphors, comprising mixing the inorganic particles which have a particle size of about 1 to 100 micrometers with nanometer sized coating particles, as of silica, and firing to soften or melt the nanometer sized particles, forming a moisture-impervious inorganic coating on the inorganic particles. The coated particles are washed to remove any uncoated particles and dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventor: Yongchi Tian
  • Patent number: 6811812
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a nozzle for a kinetic spray system that uses much lower powder pressures than previously used in kinetic spray systems. The method permits one to significantly decrease the cost of the powder delivery portion of the system, to run the system at higher temperatures for increased deposition efficiency and to eliminate clogging of the nozzle. The nozzle is a supersonic nozzle having a throat located between a converging region and a diverging region, with the diverging region defined between the throat and an exit end. At least one injector is positioned between the throat and the exit end with the injector in direct communication with the diverging region. The powder particles to be sprayed are injected through the at least one injector and entrained in a gas flowing through the nozzle. The entrained particles are accelerated to a velocity sufficient to cause them to adhere to a substrate positioned opposite the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste
  • Publication number: 20040214938
    Abstract: An in-situ method for repairing a thermal barrier coating deposited on a component that has suffered localized spallation including depositing a ceramic paste on a surface area of the component exposed by the localized spallation, the ceramic paste including a ceramic material in a binder material, the ceramic material including solid zirconia particles, the binder material including a silicone compound. The method also including heating the binder material to yield a repair coating that covers the surface area of the component, the silicone compound promoting the bonding of the solid zirconia particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: James A. Ruud, Kevin H. Janora
  • Publication number: 20040209082
    Abstract: An improved process of coating tacky or soft polymer pellets to maintain a free-flowing property, uses a liquid binder, in conjunction with an anti-tack or partitioning powder such as talc to prevent aggregation during storage. The binder is a non-volatile material such as an oil or plasticizer including triglycerides, mono-/di-glycerides, acetylated mono-/di-glycerides, fatty acids, epoxidized triglycerides, phthalates, benzoates, sebacates, lactates, citrates, mineral oils etc. Applications of this process include chewing gum bases, hot-melt adhesives, sealants, rubber masterbatches, powdered rubber, and other soft and tacky polymer materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Willy W. Lee, John M. Meyer, Jingping Liu
  • Publication number: 20040209101
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automated process for the antistatic coating of plastic moulding surfaces after production of the plastic moulding or after subsequent optional working of the moulding or finishing of the surface, and before cleaning of the plastic moulding by an aqueous washing process, and/or before polarization by chemical and/or physical methods, or to an automated process for the antistatic coating of the surface of a plastic-coated and/or lacquer-coated moulding prior to cleaning and/or lacquering of the coated moulding, an antistatic coating being applied by bringing the plastic and/or lacquer surface into contact with a solution containing at least one surfactant and at least 20 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Franz Dressler, Eckart Schonfelder
  • Publication number: 20040197520
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fabric coating, which simulates a viscose flocking finish, relative to at least one layer of the fabric coating, and which is particularly relevant to crushed foam coatings, includes the steps of providing fine beads of polymer, which are hollow and partially filled with selected solvents, or solvent blends or other volatile substances, and adding these beads to a coating compound in its wet state. Thereafter, coating the fabric with the resultant compound and oven drying the resulting compound on the fabric, then raising the temperature of the coating to crosslink the polymer and expand the polymer beads within the coating layer. The fabric coating produced by the method, and a fabric coated with the fabric coating made by the method, are also claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Frederick Hall
  • Patent number: 6780499
    Abstract: A porous, low-k dielectric film that has good mechanical properties as well as a method of fabricating the film and the use of the film as a dielectric layer between metal wiring features are provided. The porous, low-k dielectric film includes a first phase of monodispersed pores having a diameter of from about 1 to about 10 nm that are substantially uniformly spaced apart and are essentially located on sites of a three-dimensional periodic lattice; and a second phase which is solid surrounding the first phase. Specifically, the second phase of the film includes (i) an ordered element that is composed of nanoparticles having a diameter of from about 1 to about 10 nm that are substantially uniformly spaced apart and are essentially arranged on sites of a three-dimensional periodic lattice, and (ii) a disordered element comprised of a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 2.8 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen McConnell Gates, Christopher B. Murray, Satyanarayana V. Nitta, Sampath Purushothaman
  • Publication number: 20040162641
    Abstract: A method for color matching using a combination of two or more powder coatings having different colors from each other to give a target color, wherein lightness, blending weight ratio and volume-average particle size of the powder coatings to be combined satisfy the formula (I); and a method for preparing a coating film comprising applying powder coatings combined by the above method to a substrate. According to this method, since a coating film having homogeneous color with low mottling is obtained from two or more powder coatings having different colors from each other, the method can be used as a simplified process for color matching using the powder coatings requiring only a few primary color powder coatings to be furnished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Shoichi Suzuki, Yukiya Sato, Kazuhiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6773763
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a permanent magnet by the steps of preparing an admixture of magnetic material and binder material, the admixture material having a particle size of less than 325 mesh. Then heating a carrier gas to a temperature substantially below the melting point of either component of the admixture. The admixture is introduced into the carrier gas and the admixture is sprayed atop a ductile carrier. The admixture adheres to the carrier and forms a solid permanent magnet. An electric field is applied to the sprayed admixture to create a permanent magnetic moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, John Matthew Ginder, Robert Corbly McCune
  • Patent number: 6773765
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a flexible magnet with an induced anisotropy, and in particular to a process for making a flexible anisotropic magnet by thermal spraying in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The method may be used to fabricate a substrate having a flexible anisotropic magnetic coating or a free standing anisotropic flexible magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Richard J. Gambino, Dongil Shin, Jeffrey A. Brogan
  • Patent number: 6759085
    Abstract: A cold spraying process for forming a coating of powder particles sprayed in a gas substantially at ambient temperature onto a workpiece is improved by placement in a low ambient pressure environment in which the pressure is substantially less than atmospheric pressure. The low pressure environment acts to substantially accelerate the sprayed powder particles, thereby forming an improved coating of the particles on the workpiece. The low ambient pressure environment is provided by a vacuum tank coupled to a vacuum pump and having both the workpiece and a cold spray gun located therein. The cold spray gun is coupled to a source of pressurized inert gas as well as to a feeder for providing a flow of the powder to be sprayed. A gas compressor downstream of the vacuum pump compresses gas from the vacuum tank for recycling to the source of pressurized gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (US) Inc.
    Inventor: Erich Muehlberger
  • Patent number: 6756115
    Abstract: The invention relates to particles with opalescent effect—especially 3-D structural color pigments-based on solid colloidal crystals of monodispersed spheres and the manufacturing processes suitable for large-scale production of such solid colloidal crystal products. The particles with opalescent effect contain a sphere based crystal structure (or super-lattice) built up by monodisperse spheres and one or more secondary types of much smaller colloidal particles occupying partially or completely the empty spaces between the monodisperse spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: EM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoyi Fu, Diane Lewis
  • Patent number: 6753036
    Abstract: Described herein is a method to fabricate porous thin-film electrodes for fuel cells and fuel cell stacks. Furthermore, the method can be used for all fuel cell electrolyte materials which utilize a continuous electrolyte layer. An electrode layer is deposited on a porous host structure by flowing gas (for example, Argon) from the bottomside of the host structure while simultaneously depositing a conductive material onto the topside of the host structure. By controlling the gas flow rate through the pores, along with the process conditions and deposition rate of the thin-film electrode material, a film of a pre-determined thickness can be formed. Once the porous electrode is formed, a continuous electrolyte thin-film is deposited, followed by a second porous electrode to complete the fuel cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alan F. Jankowski, Jeffrey D. Morse, Randy Barksdale
  • Patent number: 6749862
    Abstract: A method and composition for deterring wood damage, such as caused by woodpeckers. The method includes blending Isophorone with an epoxy resin and acrylic based sealant to form a resin composition and mixing the resin composition with a solvent resistant epoxy hardener to form a coating material. The coating material is then used to coat a wood surface to seal and coat the wood for deterring woodpecker damage to the wood. The composition may include clay and flocculated silica thickeners therein. The coating composition includes Isophorone blended with an epoxy resin and micro-capsules of acrylic and is mixed with a solvent resistant epoxy hardener. The Isophorone will not blend with the epoxy compound but blends with the acrylic resin and disperses throughout the coating composition. The solvent resistant epoxy hardener is used in connection with the epoxy compound, acrylic resin and solvent Isophorone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Phillip G. Landers
  • Patent number: 6747076
    Abstract: A wood adhesive formulation containing furfuryl alcohol, lignin, maleic anhydride, and iron and zinc catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The University of New Brunswick
    Inventors: Marc H. Schneider, Jonathan G. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20040081753
    Abstract: A conveyor system for a powder paint spray booth including spaced continuous parallel first and second moving belts supported by a plurality of spaced rollers enclosed within a sealed housing and a powder paint collector located below the powder paint spray booth which receives powder paint from between the sealed housings. The continuous belts are formed of stainless steel each having a width of less than ten inches and grating is provided between the housings permitting personnel to walk over the conveyor system without damaging the stainless steel belts. The collector system includes a V-shape baffle having an apex located between the conveyor housings directing powder paint into collectors on opposed sides of the conveyor units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: William Mainieri, Bernd Kreuzer, Richard A. Cantin, Bradley M. Hare
  • Patent number: 6726953
    Abstract: A method for depositing a metal having a high corrosion resistance and a low contact resistance against carbon to a separator for a fuel cell enabling provision of an inexpensive separator for a fuel cell by depositing a metal having a high corrosion resistance and a low contact resistance against carbon to the surface of a metal conveniently by simple equipment while using as a preform a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum as a material having a high productivity and low price and in addition capable of reducing the weight by making the sheet thickness thin, comprising projecting to a separator of a unit cell for forming the fuel cell a solid plating material comprised of core particles having a higher hardness than the separator and coated with a metal having a high corrosion resistance and a low contact resistance against carbon so as to compulsorily deposit the metal coated on this solid plating material to the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: Sintobrator, Ltd., Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Hisada, Hiroshi Kihira
  • Patent number: 6715196
    Abstract: A method of coating metallic substrates with weldable primer and at least one powder coating is provided by the present invention. The base powder coating contains flake pigments that align parallel to the surface when the powder coating is heated. Optionally, a clear top coating is applied over the base powder coating. Substrates coated by the method of coating are also provided. The method of coating allows substrates coated with weldable primer to be assembled into assemblies or finished parts by welding, and then to be coated with the powder basecoat and clear coat. The parts prepared have striking visual effects and performance comparable to conventional automotive parts but are prepared more efficiently and economically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: John Reising, Richard S. Tansey, Gregory J. McCollum, Ronald J. Isger
  • Patent number: 6712864
    Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures which enhances handling of carbon nanotubes, enabling them to be applied in a wide variety fields such as electronic devices, functional materials, and structural materials containing carbon nanotubes, and a method for producing them are provided. A method for manufacturing carbon nanotube structures includes the step of forming liquid bridges of a liquid at gaps among plural objects and/or at plural gaps among portions of an object. The plural carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the liquid and linked together, then arranged structurally to the liquid bridges, and the carbon nanotube structures are manufactured in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunaga Horiuchi, Hisae Yoshizawa, Masaaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6699606
    Abstract: A sanitary ware comprises a sanitary ware body and a surface glaze layer provided on the sanitary ware body. The surface glaze layer has a center line average roughness Ra of less than 0.07 &mgr;m as measured with a stylus type surface roughness tester according to JIS B 0651-1996.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Machida, Koichi Hayashi, Hirotaka Ishibashi, Tomoyasu Ichiki, Masaaki Ito, Masami Ando, Atsushi Kitamura, Toshihiro Aoshima, Katsuhiro Kawakami, Satoshi Horiuchi, Makoto Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6673396
    Abstract: In a known method for producing an SiO2 blank, SiO2 particles are formed in a burner flame of a deposition burner and are deposited under the effect of an electrical field on a substrate. Starting therefrom, in order to indicate a simple and inexpensive method by means of which blanks can be produced with a predetermined, in particular axially homogeneous, mass and density distribution, it is suggested according to the invention that the geometrical shape of the burner flame (8) is adjusted by the effect of the electrical field (9) in dependence upon the geometrical parameter of a deposition surface (12; 21) of the substrate (1) that is assigned to the burner flame (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz Fabian
  • Patent number: 6673386
    Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a surface of a panel substrate, includes electrically charging pattern-forming material particles, jetting out the electrically charged pattern-forming material particles through a nozzle by applying electrostatic force to the pattern-forming material particles to form a pattern, and fixing the pattern onto the panel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daido Komyoji, Naoko Matsuda, Akira Fukano, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Akira Kumon, Hiroyuki Naka
  • Patent number: 6669984
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a powder coating composition and a method. The method improves the color strength of a cured film of the powder-based coating composition. To produce the powder-based coating composition, the method begins by combining a powder-based binder, specifically a resin and a cross-linking agent, with a pigment and a surfactant to form a mixture. The mixture is then extruded thereby forming an extrudate of the mixture. The extrudate is cooled and then ground to produce the powder-based coating composition from the extrudate of the mixture. Next, the powder-based coating composition is spray applied to a substrate and cured to form the cured film. The surfactant in the mixture improves the color strength of the powder-based coating composition and the cured film so that the amount of pigment included in the mixture can ultimately be reduced. Additionally, certain physical properties of the cured film are not compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Anchor, William H. Alford, Gregory W. Drewno
  • Patent number: 6666946
    Abstract: Methods of high speed coating a pigment-containing liquid coating material onto a substrate so as to avoid visible pigment separation in the coating material in its as coated state. In the method, a pigment-containing liquid coating material is applied to a substrate, while the substrate is moving at a high line speed of at least about 15.24 m/min., to form a coated layer. The coating material is applied to the substrate along a substantially straight, dynamic wetting line where the coating material first contacts the moving substrate. The coating material is of the type that will exhibit visible pigment separation on its interface surface when the coating material is coated onto the fast moving substrate, without the use of a substantially straight wetting line. The wetting line is substantially straight when a significant amount of visible pigment separation does not occur at the chosen high line speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Shannon D. Sharp, Paul J. Toftness, Ian D. Gates, James A. Smart
  • Patent number: 6660398
    Abstract: The invention concerns powder thermosetting coating compositions comprising (a) an amorphous polyester containing carboxyl groups, rich in isophthalic acid and neopentylglycol, optionally branched with a polycarboxylic acid or a polyol containing at least three functional groups; (b) a semicrystalline polyester containing carboxyl groups prepared from one or several saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with linear chain, and from a saturated aliphatic diol with linear or cyclic chain optionally branched with a polycarboxylic acid or with a polyol containing at least three functional groups, and having a melting point (Tm) of at least 40° C. and an acid value of 5 to 50 mg of KOH/g, and (c) a cross-linking agent. Said compositions are useful for preparing powder paints and varnishes providing excellent quality coatings whereof the brilliance, measured at an angle of 60°, according to the ASTM D 523 standard is always less than 50%, that is half-gloss or matt coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: UCB, S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Moens, Kris Buysens, Daniel Maetens
  • Patent number: 6652773
    Abstract: A polymer dispersion composition obtained by dispersing an electrode active material and a polymer having a gel content of 50% or more in an organic dispersion medium of which boiling point at 760 mmHg is 80° C. or above. The composition is successfully usable as, for instance, a binder composition for batteries, and the battery produced therefrom is high in initial capacity and small in the drop of capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Maeda, Toshihiro Inoue, Haruhisa Yamamoto, Keiko Imai
  • Publication number: 20030207148
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for preparing aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces in heat exchangers for brazing by depositing thereon a kinetic sprayed brazing composition. The process simultaneously deposits monolith or composite coatings that can include all braze materials and corrosion protection materials used in the brazing of aluminum fins to plates and tubes in a single stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan A. Gillispie, Zhibo Zhao, John Robert Smith, Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Yang Luo, Hartley F. Hutchins
  • Patent number: 6641860
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing printed circuit boards are disclosed. The methods utilize various printing techniques to apply conductive compositions to substrates in the creation of printed circuit boards. The method of manufacturing printed circuit board comprises the step of applying conductive composition to a substrate through a cold welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: T-Ink, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Terrance Z. Kaiserman, Keith J. Margolin