Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Gary P. Topolosky
  • Patent number: 5968601
    Abstract: There is claimed a method for depositing fluid material from a linear nozzle in a substantially uniform manner across and along a surface. The method includes directing gaseous medium through said nozzle to provide a gaseous stream at the nozzle exit that entrains fluid material supplied to the nozzle, said gaseous stream being provided with a velocity profile across the nozzle width that compensates for the gaseous medium's tendency to assume an axisymmetric configuration after leaving the nozzle and before reaching the surface. There is also claimed a nozzle divided into respective side-by-side zones, or preferably chambers, through which a gaseous stream can be delivered in various velocity profiles across the width of said nozzle to compensate for the tendency of this gaseous medium to assume an axisymmetric configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: David D. Leon, Robert L. Kozarek, Adel Mansour, Norman Chigier
  • Patent number: 5955048
    Abstract: There is provided a flash activated hydrotalcite which, when extruded to sizes of about 1/16 inch or more, has a crush load strength of at least about 7 pounds. The process for making this extrudate includes: (a) providing a hydrotalcite compound; (b) heating said compound for less than two seconds to one or more temperatures above about 482.degree. C. (900.degree. F.); (c) cooling said heated compound; (d) collecting said cooled compound; (e) forming said compound into an extrudate; and (f) reactivating said extrudate by heating to one or more temperatures above about 400.degree. C. (752.degree. F.) for about 20 minutes or more. Further strength improvements are achieved by exposing these extrudates to steam for at least about 8 hours prior to step (f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Vito Cedro, III, John M. Stinson, Jr., Mark L. Weaver, James H. Richardson
  • Patent number: 5954117
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for casting metal between two casting surfaces (8, 10), such as a roll caster, by feeding molten metal (16) into the caster. A fine, uniform layer of carbonaceous material (32) is applied to the exterior of the casting surface (28) upstream of a casting zone (2). Thereafter, the molten metal is solidified as it passes through the casting zone (Z), and the gauge of the solidified metal is reduced at least 10%. The cast sleet (12) of this invention exhibits a uniform surface appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Alcoa Aluminio Do Nordeste S.A.
    Inventor: Wilton D. Godinho
  • Patent number: 5884388
    Abstract: A friction-wear aluminum part which includes a metal substrate and friction-wear coating applied to at least a portion of the outer surface to said substrate. The coating is a mixture of both aluminum and stainless steel. On a preferred basis, the surface of the substrate is intentionally roughened or grooved to facilitate bonding of the coating thereto. An associated method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward P. Patrick, A. Victor Pajerski, Roger W. Kaufold, Robert J. Speer
  • Patent number: 5879475
    Abstract: There is claimed a forged structural member suitable for aerospace applications and having improved combinations of strength and toughness. The member is made from a substantially vanadium-free, lithium-free aluminum-based alloy consisting essentially of: about 4.85-5.3 wt. % copper, about 0.5-1.0 wt. % magnesium, about 0.4-0.8 wt. % manganese, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % silver, about 0.05-0.25 wt. % zirconium, up to about 0.1 wt. % silicon, and up to about 0.1 wt. % iron, the balance aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the Cu:Mg ratio of said alloy being between about 5 and 9, and more preferably between about 6.0 and 7.5. The invention exhibits a typical longitudinal tensile yield strength of about 71 ksi or higher at room temperature and can be forged into aircraft wheels or various brake and other product forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Lynette M. Karabin
  • Patent number: 5871247
    Abstract: A wheel puller for handling a heavy wheel assembly. The puller comprises a beam having one end for securing a heavy wheel assembly thereto, and an opposite end having a weight member connected thereto. The weight member has a mass comparable to the wheel assembly. At a location intermediate the beam ends, the hook of a lifting device is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: John B. Greenwell, Charles E. Lander, David L. Williamson, Stanley G. Barrett, Linda Ingram, Gary K. Jeffries, Donald K. Whitledge, Edwin A. Kuhn, James E. Havener, Michael F. Virden, John H. Scott
  • Patent number: 5865914
    Abstract: There is claimed a lower wing structure for a commercial jet aircraft which includes a substantially unrecrystallized rolled plate member made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 3.6 to 4.0 wt. % copper, about 1.0 to 1.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.7 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to 0.25 wt. % zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. On a preferred basis, the alloy products of this invention include very low levels of both iron and silicon, typically on the order of less than 0.1 wt. % each, and more preferably about 0.05 wt. % or less iron and about 0.03 wt. % or less silicon. This alloy composition may be rolled to form lower wing skin plates and extruded or rolled to form wing box stringers therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Lynette M. Karabin, John Liu, Allison S. Warren, Gary H. Bray
  • Patent number: 5863359
    Abstract: There is claimed a lower wing structure for a commercial jet aircraft which includes a substantially unrecrystallized rolled plate member made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 3.6 to 4.0 wt. % copper, about 1.0 to 1.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.7 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to 0.25 wt. % zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. On a preferred basis, the alloy products of this invention include very low levels of both iron and silicon, typically on the order of less than 0.1 wt. % each, and more preferably about 0.05 wt. % or less iron and about 0.03 wt. % or less silicon. This alloy composition may be rolled to form lower wing skin plates and extruded or rolled to form wing box stringers therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Lynette M. Karabin, John Liu, Allison S. Warren, Gary H. Bray
  • Patent number: 5829136
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a hand hole extending from a first surface to a second surface. The hand hole has a zone of a minimum dimension intermediate the first surface and the second surface. The hand hole is preferably tapered from the first surface to the minimum dimension zone and tapered from the second surface to the minimum dimension zone. Associated methods of making the vehicle wheel are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Ralph C. Botterman, Michael J. Doran
  • Patent number: 5800927
    Abstract: There is claimed a sheet or plate structural member suitable for aerospace applications and having improved combinations of strength and toughness. The member is made from a substantially vanadium-free, lithium-free, aluminum-based alloy consisting essentially of: about 4.85-5.3 wt. % copper, about 0.5-1.0 wt. % magnesium, about 0.4-0.8 wt. % manganese, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % silver, about 0.05-0.25 wt. % zirconium, up to about 0.1 wt. % silicon, and up to about 0.1 wt. % iron, the balance aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the Cu:Mg ratio of said alloy being between about 5 and 9, and more preferably between about 6.0 and 7.5. The invention exhibits a typical tensile yield strength of about 77 ksi or higher at room temperature and can be processed into various lower wing members or into the fuselage skin of high speed aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Lynette M. Karabin
  • Patent number: 5776424
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making a monovalent inorganic anion-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material by first reacting a magnesium-containing powder and a transition alumina powder in a carboxylic acid-free, aqueous suspension to form a meixnerite intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with a monovalent inorganic anion, in its acid or soluble salt form, to make a hydrotalcite-like material. The latter is then separated from the suspension. Representative materials include a bromide-, chloride-, nitrate- or vanadate-intercalated, hydrotalcite-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, Vito Cedro, III, William E. Horn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5747135
    Abstract: A memory media-ready substrate having a substrate, a hardening layer and a film made of a nonferromagnetic material that is disposed between the substrate and the film. A memory disk including the film and associated methods of making a hardening layer-ready substrate, the memory media-ready substrate and the memory disk are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Dhruba J. Chakrabarti, Richard A. Hoffman, Craig L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5730951
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making a polyvalent inorganic anion-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material by first reacting a magnesium-containing powder and a transition alumina powder in a carboxylic acid-free, aqueous suspension to form a meixnerite intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with a polyvalent inorganic anion, in its acid, acid salt or ammonium salt form, to make a hydrotalcite-like material. The latter is then separated from the suspension. Representative materials include a borate- metatungstate- and paramolybdate-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, Vito Cedro, III, William E. Horn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5728363
    Abstract: There is provided an improved method for making synthetic hydrotalcite by first reacting powdered magnesium oxide with a high surface area, transition alumina in a solution or suspension to form a meixnerite-like intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with an anion source such as an acid, and most preferably carbon dioxide, to form the layered double hydroxide which is separated from the suspension by filtering, centrifugation, vacuum dehydration or other known means. On a preferred basis, the transition alumina combined with activated magnesia consists essentially of an rehydratable alumina powder having a surface area of 100 m.sup.2 /g or greater. To make related double hydroxide compounds, still other reactants such as bromides, chlorides, boric acids, or salts thereof, may be substituted for the carbon dioxide gas fed into this suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, William E. Horn, Jr., Vito Cedro, III
  • Patent number: 5728366
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making monovalent organic anion-intercalated hydrotalcite-like materials by first reacting a magnesium-containing powder and a transition alumina powder in a carboxylic acid-free, aqueous suspension to form a meixnerite intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with a monovalent organic anion to form a hydrotalcite-like material. The latter is then separated from the suspension. Representative materials include a stearate-, acetate- or benzoate-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, Vito Cedro, III, William E. Horn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5728365
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making a divalent inorganic anion-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material by first reacting a magnesium-containing powder and a transition alumina powder in a carboxylic acid-free aqueous suspension to form a meixnerite intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with a divalent inorganic anion, in its acid, acid salt or ammonium salt form, to make a hydrotalcite-like material. The latter is then separated from the suspension. Representative materials include a sulfate- and metavanadate-intercalated hydrotalcite-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, Vito Cedro, III, William E. Horn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5728364
    Abstract: There is provided an improved method for making synthetic hydrotalcite by first reacting a divalent metal compound with a trivalent metal oxide powder in a carboxylic acid-free, aqueous solution or suspension to form an intermediate. This intermediate is then contacted with an anion source such as carbon dioxide; a carbonate-containing compound; an acid or an ammonium salt to form a layered double hydroxide having the formula:A.sub.1-x B.sub.x (OH).sub.2 C.sub.z.mH.sub.2 O, where A represents a divalent metal cation, B represents a trivalent metal cation, C represents a mono- to polyvalent anion, and x, z and m satisfy the following conditions: 0.09<x<0.67; z=x/n, where n=the charge on the anion; and 2>m>0.5. Said layered double hydroxide is typically separated from the suspension by filtering, centrifugation, vacuum dehydration or other known means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Edward S. Martin, John M. Stinson, Vito Cedro, III, William E. Horn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5711018
    Abstract: An industrial waste management facility (IWMF) for disposing of spent potlining includes a co-current gas-fired rotary kiln for containing a molten pool of spent potlining throughout the entire length of the rotary kiln from the inlet to the outlet, an ash quencher and cooler for receiving molten residue from the discharge end of the rotary kiln, a secondary combustion chamber, and a down-draft transition chamber for channeling discharge gases from the rotary kiln to the secondary combustion chamber. Pneumatic injection slingers feed and distribute spent potlining into the inlet end of the rotary kiln. A discharge dam provides a predetermined average depth of molten bath material in the rotary kiln over its entire length. A blended ratio of comminuted materials injected through the pneumatic injection slinger feeder is adjusted and controlled in response to signals received from a radiative optical kiln bath temperature measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Herman J. Hittner, R. Lee Byers, John N. Lees, Jr., David W. Rierson, Ludmila Dinter-Brown
  • Patent number: 5707113
    Abstract: A wheel cover assembly is disclosed for a wheel that is mounted to a vehicle by a plurality of wheel mounting means comprised of threaded studs and associated nuts. This assembly includes a generally rigid hub cap and a plurality of reusable fasteners which are used to secure the hub cap to the wheel. The hub cap has a generally circular outline, with a plurality of notches spaced about its periphery and a flange extending into each of said notches. A notch in the hub cap is provided for each stud, so that when the wheel cover assembly is positioned on a wheel, the hub cap covers the central portion of the wheel, and each stud and associated nut is located in a notch of the hub cap. Each fastener includes a closed top end portion and a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the closed top end portion so as to define a generally hollow cavity therein. A terminal collar depends from the bottom of and around the periphery of the sidewall of each fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Vincent T. Russell
  • Patent number: 5672401
    Abstract: Metal sheet product, more particularly food can stock and beer and beverage can tab, end and body stock, is treated with a lubricant made by blending a mixture consisting essentially of about 25-90 wt.% of: (i) an ester selected from the group consisting of: bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate (or DOS), butyl stearate, and an acetylated, partially hydrogenated soybean oil; and (ii) about 10-75 wt.% of a blend consisting essentially of: (a) about 35-65 wt.% of a polyalphaolefin; and (b) about 65-35 wt.% of a microcrystalline wax; with a balance of incidental additives and impurities. With said composition applied thereon, in preferred average thicknesses between about 3-110 mg/ft.sup.2 for can tab stock and between about 3-35 mg/ft.sup.2 for can end and body stock, the invention produces prelubricated can stock in a suitable condition for conversion without further lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: James R. Anglin, Julie A. Urbanski, Theresa S. Knighton