Abstract: The apparatus includes a molten material cladding apparatus comprising a crucible and a molten material dispensing tool engaged therewith. The crucible and molten material dispensing tool form a chamber to retain molten material, the molten material flowing through passageways in the molten material dispensing tool to form menisci in a bore thereof. An extrusion passing through the molten material dispensing tool punctures the menisci, wherein molten material flows through the molten material dispensing tool and clads the outer surface of the extruded product passing therethrough. By using menisci of molten material, a smooth surfaced, uniform thickness clad product is produced having a wide range of cladding thicknesses.

Abstract: Aluminum based alloy primarily for use in aircraft and aerospace components consists essentially of the composition: 2.60 to 3.30 weight percent copper, 0.0 to 0.50 weight percent manganese, 1.30 to 1.65 weight percent lithium, 0.0 to 1.8 percent magnesium, and from 0.0 to 1.5 weight percent of grain refinement elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, and chromium. Up to about 0.5 wt. % zinc and up to about 1.5 wt. % titanium may also be present. Minor impurities may also be present. These alloys exhibit an improved combination of characteristics including low density, high strength, high corrosion resistance and good fracture toughness.

Abstract: A flow-vectored downspout includes a pouring tube and a flow diffuser arranged on an end thereof. The flow diffuser includes horizontal slots disposed toward the faces of an ingot during a continuous casting process with horizontal and angled slots disposed toward the ingot sides. The flow diffuser also includes at its bottom a domed diverter which facilitates transition of vertical molten metal flow through the pouring tube into a substantially horizontal flow pattern for discharge into a mold cavity through the arrangement of horizontal and angled slots. The particular arrangement of slots provides distribution to all areas of the ingot to be cast with minimal turbulence. The flow-vectored downspout is especially adapted for direct chill or electromagnetic casting without the use of a channel bag or the like. A continuous casting method using the downspout is also provided.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer laminated drag cast aluminum alloy container stock material includes, in a preferred embodiment, drag casting an aluminum alloy suitable for forming into beverage containers into a sheet. The sheet is then cold rolled, at least one of the sheet's surfaces is cleaned and pretreated and a polymer material is laminated thereto. The polymer laminate on the drag cast aluminum alloy surface permits the use of drag cast aluminum alloy sheet material to be utilized, for example, as aluminum beverage container stock material.

Abstract: An aluminum based alloy useful in aircraft and aerospace structures which has low density, high strength and high fracture toughness consists essentially of the following formula:Cu.sub.a Li.sub.b Mg.sub.c Ag.sub.d Zr.sub.e Al.sub.balwherein a, b, c, d, e and bal indicate the amount in wt. % of alloying components, and wherein 2.4<a<3.5, 1.35<b<1.8, 0.25<c<0.65, 0.25<d<0.65 and 0.08<e<0.25, and the alloy has a density of 0.0945 to 0.0960 lbs/in.sup.3. Preferably, the relationship between the copper and lithium components also meets the following tests:more preferably the relationship meets the following tests:6.5<a+2.5b<7.5, 2b-0.8<a<3.75b-1.9.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering metallic aluminum from furnace dross. The method includes reducing the particle size of the dross and passing the resulting dross particles over the surface of an inclined linear induction motor to separate the more conductive, aluminum-metal-containing particles from the less or non-conductive particles that contain little or no metallic aluminum. The linear induction motor provides an electromagnetic field that operates to levitate the conductive, aluminum-containing particles, while those particles that include little or no aluminum are not affected by the electromagnetic field. A flow splitter positioned at the lower end of the motor separates the conductive particles from the substantially non-conductive particles. Metallic aluminum recovery rates of about 55% and higher of the aluminum contained in the furnace dross have been achieved. The resulting product has been enriched by a factor of twelve times over that of the infeed material.

Abstract: An engine block for an internal combustion engine including at least one bore, and a cylindrical liner that is pressed into the bore to define the inner cylindrical surface along which the piston reciprocates. The inner surface of the bore and the outer surface of the liner are each coated with a zinc or zinc alloy coating that is metallurgically bonded to the respective surfaces to form intermetallic bonds. The liner is pressed into the bore while the liner and bore are at an elevated temperature approximately corresponding to the melting temperature of zinc, in order to unite the liner and block by means of a metallurgical bond. The metallurgical bond is substantially continuous to provide a continuous metallic path for improved heat transfer and structural strength between the liner and the block material. The liner can be formed either from cast iron or from an aluminum alloy, and the engine block is preferably cast from an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring coolant quenching rates includes a metallic disk supported on a ceramic tube, the metallic disk including a plurality of thermocouples therein. The metallic disk is heated from above by a torch and coolant is sprayed on the underside of the disk. Changes in temperature throughout the metallic disk are detected by the thermocouples to measure various quenching parameters. The metallic disk may be surrounded by insulating material to maintain heat flow through the disk in a predetermined manner. By heating, insulating and cooling the metallic disk, temperature measurements can be quantified into heat transfer rates to investigate various heat transfer mechanisms and different types of coolants.

Abstract: An aluminum-lithium based alloy which comprises 10-20 wt. % silicon, 1.5-5.0 wt. % copper, 1.0-4.0 wt. % lithium, 0.45-1.5 wt. % magnesium, 0.01-1.3 wt. % iron, 0.01-0.5 wt. % manganese, 0.01-1.5 wt. % nickel, 0.01-1.5 wt. % zinc, 0.01-0.5 wt. % silver, 0.01-0.25 wt. % titanium and the balance aluminum. The alloy is utilized to cast high temperature assemblies including pistons which have a reduction in density and similar mechanical properties including tensile strengths to alloys presently used.

Abstract: A coated wire or other elongated article production system having means to form wire or other elongated article in tandem with an extruder of substantially solvent-free polymer in tubular form around the wire or article. The tubular polymer is applied to the wire or article with the aid of a vacuum, and the froming speed relative to the rate of polymer extrusion is controlled to thin the tubular polymer between its extrusion and its contact with the wire or article.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating shredded particles, for instance particles of used beverage cans, into respective fractions that contain greater amounts of one of a plurality of alloys from which the cans have been made. The method includes screening the shredded material to provide particles having a desired particle size, and gravimetrically separating the screened particles into a plurality of groups based upon the mass of the particles. The heaviest bulk density group of particles is selected for further processing and is first preferably passed through a flattening device to flatten the particles, which are then conveyed through a varying magnetic field provided by a linear induction motor so that the particles containing higher concentrations of higher conductivity alloys can be further separated from particles of alloys having lower electrical conductivities.

Abstract: An aluminum based alloy useful in aircraft and airframe structures which has low density and consists essentially of the following formula:Mg.sub.a Li.sub.b Zn.sub.c Ag.sub.d Al.sub.balwherein a ranges from 0.5 to 10%, b ranges from 0.5 to 3.0%, c ranges from 0.1 to 5.0%, d ranges from 0.1 to 2.0%, and bal indicates the balance of the alloy is aluminum, with the proviso that the total amount of alloying elements cannot exceed 12.0%, with the further proviso that when a ranges from 7.0 to 10.0%, b cannot exceed 2.5% and c cannot exceed 2.0%.

Abstract: An improved method for extracting lithium from aluminum-lithium alloys includes providing an electrorefining cell which contains a cathode comprising a pure molten tin pool and a source of lithium from a molten aluminum-lithium alloy. The lithium is extracted from the Al-Li alloy by applying an electric current through the electrorefining cell whereby lithium dissolves from the molten Al-Li alloy into the tin pool and forms a tin-lithium alloy. The formed Sn-Li alloy may be recovered by casting under a salt layer and cooled to solidification. In a further aspect, the recovered Sn-Li alloy may be processed to further recover lithium therefrom by either electrolytic recovery in a separate electrolytic cell, vacuum distillation or a chemical extraction process.

Abstract: Molten metal supply trough extends over station for continuously casting ingots, and has side channels each conducting the metal to a spout supplying an ingot. Simultaneously liftable gates control flow into the respective side channels.

Abstract: A mold for the casting of aluminum sow ingots includes a mold box having a bottom wall and side walls that define a generally rectangular mold cavity. The bottom wall includes a central raised longitudinally extending protrusion and side longitudinally extending protrusions adapted to define corresponding depressions in the ingot bottom. The side depressions establish ledges for receiving a pair of fork lift blades or tines entering the ledges from either transverse side of the ingot perpendicular to the ledges. A pair of transversely extending protrusions in the mold bottom wall establish corresponding transverse depressions in the mold bottom that are perpendicular to the central longitudinal depression and equispaced from the central transverse axis by a distance enabling the pair of fork lift blades to enter the transverse depressions from a direction perpendicular to either of the longitudinally extending ingot sides to provide a dual entry feature for ease of handling.

Abstract: A process for improving the properties of an aluminum-lithium product formed from a slab, such as an ingot or billet, of an aluminum-lithium alloy. Improved properties include superplastic response, reduced edge cracking during rolling, and reduced formation of stains during annealing. The process includes heating the slab to an elevated temperature to solutionize its soluble constituents, holding the slab at the elevated temperature to allow its soluble constituents to go into solution, cooling the slab to a rolling initiation temperature above about 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.), and hot/warm rolling the slab to a desired gauge.

Abstract: An aluminum core alloy for use in the manufacture of brazed heat exchanger assemblies having high resistance to corrosion and moderate strength. A preferred composition of the aluminum base alloy consists of from 0.13 to 0.22% titanium, from 0.8 to 1.5% manganese, 0.4 to 0.6% copper, up to 0.7% iron, up to 0.3% silicon, up to 0.3% magnesium, with the balance being essentially aluminum and normal impurities. Another preferred composition, which is a modification of the preceding composition, includes 0.3 to 0.6% magnesium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the length and/or width of a piece of material, such as hot aluminum plate. The apparatus has a measuring range defined by a plurality of cameras. A video screen is selectively connectable to the cameras to depict their viewing ranges. The apparatus, after an operator has aligned an indicator with a depicted edge of material, automatically calculates the distance of the depicted edge from a fixed point, such as the centerline of a shear.

Abstract: An aluminum core alloy for use in the manufacture of brazed heat exchanger assemblies having high resistance to corrosion and moderate strength. A preferred composition of the aluminum base alloy consists of from 0.13 to 0.22% titanium, from 0.8 to 1.5% manganese, 0.4 to 0.6% copper, up to 0.7% iron, up to 0.3% silicon, up to 0.3% magnesium, with the balance being essentially aluminum and normal impurities. Another preferred composition, which is a modification of the preceding composition, includes 0.3 to 0.6% magnesium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the speed of rotation of a shaft. A sensor senses the speed of rotation and generates a first signal representative of the sensed speed. A controller compares the first signal with a second signal representative of a predetermined speed and generates an error or control signal representative of the comparison. The control signal is fed to the field of an alternator in such manner that the field of the alternator increases as the sensed speed increases over the predetermined speed. The field of the alternator opposes rotation of the alternator shaft. The alternator shaft is operatively associated with the shaft whose speed is being controlled so that the increase in alternator field force results in the application of a braking force on the shaft to thereby reduce its speed of rotation to the desired speed. As the shaft's speed approaches the desired speed, the alternator field force is decreased so as to prevent reduction of the shaft's speed below the desired value.