Patents Assigned to Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
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Publication number: 20150289605Abstract: Embodiments relates to a hook side fastener having hooks and a loop side fastener having loops. The hooks and/or loops are made of bulk solidifying amorphous metal alloy. Other embodiments relate to methods of making and using the hook side and loop side fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2012Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Christopher D. Prest, Joseph C. Poole, Theodore A. Waniuk, Quoc Tran Pham, Joseph Stevick
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Patent number: 9108243Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device comprising: vacuum chamber; a stage configured to receive BMG in a molten state or a BMG feedstock, configured to spin, and located in the vacuum chamber; a heater configured to melt the BMG feedstock or to keep BMG in a molten state molten; wherein the stage comprises one or more conduits therein and the conduits are configured to accommodate a cooling fluid. Also disclosed herein is a method of forming a solid BMG sheet, the method comprising: disposing BMG in a molten state onto a stage; spreading the BMG in a molten state into a sheet of BMG in a molten state by spinning the stage; cooling the sheet of BMG in a molten state to form a solid BMG sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Joseph W. Stevick
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Patent number: 9044805Abstract: Described herein is a method of selectively depositing molten bulk metallic glass (BMG). In one embodiment, a continuous stream or discrete droplets of molten BMG is deposited to selected positions. The deposition can be repeated as needed layer by layer. One or more layers of non-BMG can be used as needed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignees: Apple Inc., Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Christopher D. Prest, Joseph C. Poole, Joseph Stevick, Theodore Andrew Waniuk
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Publication number: 20150144292Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus comprising at least one gate and a vessel, the gate being configured to move between a first position to restrict entry into an ejection path of the vessel and contain a material in a meltable form within the vessel during melting of the material, and a second position to allow movement of the material in a molten form through the ejection path. The gate can move linearly or rotate between its first and second positions, for example. The apparatus is configured to melt the material and the at least one gate is configured to allow the apparatus to be maintained under vacuum during the melting of the material. Melting can be performed using an induction source. The apparatus may also include a mold configured to receive molten material and for molding a molded part, such as a bulk amorphous alloy part.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2011Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Quoc Tran Pham, Michael Deming, Theodore A. Waniuk, Sean O'Keeffe
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Publication number: 20150131694Abstract: Disclosed is an induction shield configured to substantially reduce emissions emitted from an induction heat source (e.g., coil) during use. The shield is positioned adjacent to a vessel (e.g., in an injection system) having a melting portion configured to receive meltable material to be melted therein and an induction heat source positioned adjacent the vessel configured to melt the meltable material received in the melting portion of the vessel. The shield may include a tube configuration configured to flow liquid therein to absorb heat emitted from the heat source. The tube configuration can comprise a single tube or multiple tubes. The shield can be positioned adjacent the induction source in a helical manner, for example, or at ends of the vessel. The shield can be used during melting of amorphous alloy and for forming a part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: QuocTran Pham, Sean Timothy O'keeffe, Joseph Stevick, Theodore A. Waniuk
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Patent number: 8978736Abstract: Described herein is a plunger of an injection molding machine, comprising a plunger body; a plunger tip that is a separate element from the plunger body and comprises an end surface configured to directly contact a molten material used in injection molding in the injection molding machine; wherein thermal conductance across the end surface of the plunger tip may be adjustable by moving the plunger tip relative to the plunger body such that temperature of the plunger tip may be adjusted during injection molding. When this plunger is used to injection molding of a BMG, it allows reduction of formation of crystalline phases near the plunger tip and allows replacement of the plunger tip without replacement of the plunger body.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Joseph W. Stevick
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Patent number: 8944140Abstract: BMG may be squeeze cast in a squeeze cast machine. The squeeze cast machine may have a vacuum chamber, a transfer sleeve entirely located inside the vacuum chamber, and a plunger inside the transfer sleeve. The transfer sleeve may be configured to receive BMG feedstock from outside the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber may prevent contamination of a BMG in a molten state. The plunger may push a BMG in a molten state into a mold.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Joseph W. Stevick
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Patent number: 8936664Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of melting, comprising: providing a mixture of alloy elements that are at least partially crystalline; and heating the mixture in a container to a temperature above a melting temperature of the alloy elements to form an alloy, wherein the container comprises silica, and wherein the mixture comprising Zr and is free of Ti and Be.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Theodore Andrew Waniuk
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Patent number: 8927176Abstract: Collector plates made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing ruggedness, lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing, and methods of making such collector plates from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Trevor Wende
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Patent number: 8882940Abstract: Bulk solidifying amorphous alloys exhibiting improved processing and mechanical properties and methods of forming these alloys are provided. The bulk solidifying amorphous alloys are composed to have high Poisson's ratio values. Exemplary Pt-based bulk solidifying amorphous alloys having such high Poisson's ratio values are also described. The Pt-based alloys are based on Pt—Ni—Co—Cu—P alloys, and the mechanical properties of one exemplary alloy having a composition of substantially Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.5 are also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: William Johnson, Jan Schroers
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Publication number: 20140328714Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of making an alloy feedstock, comprising: forming a first composition by combining Fe with a first nonmetal element; forming a second composition by combining Fe with a plurality of transition metal elements; forming a third composition by combining the second composition with a second nonmetal element; and combining the first composition with the third composition to form an alloy feedstock.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Quoc Tran Pham
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Patent number: 8858868Abstract: Disclosed is a temperature regulated vessel, and method for using the same, having a body configured to melt meltable material received therein, and one or more temperature regulating lines within the body configured to flow a liquid therein for regulating a temperature of the meltable material received in the melting portion. The vessel has a poor or low thermally conductive material on one or more of its parts, such as on the melting portion, on exterior surfaces of the body, and/or surrounding the temperature regulating lines to increase melt temperature of the material. The melting portion can also have indentations in its surface, and low thermally conductive material can be provided in the indentations. The vessel can be used to melt amorphous alloys, for example.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: John Kang, Quoc Tran Pham, Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Sean Timothy O'Keeffe, Joseph W. Stevick
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Publication number: 20140290901Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for loading one or more alloy ingots into a molding machine. The apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a plurality of the alloy ingots and dispense one or more of the alloy ingots into a melt zone of the molding machine through an opening in a mold of the machine. The holder is moved in a perpendicular direction with respect to an axis along a center of the opening in the mold between a first position in line with the opening in the mold to dispense one or more of the alloy ingots and a second position away from the opening in the mold. The apparatus can carry ingots of amorphous alloy material so that when the machine melts and molds the material, it forms a bulk amorphous alloy containing part.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Joseph W. Stevick
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Publication number: 20140293384Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to forming nano- and/or micro-replication directly embossed in a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy comprising a metal alloy by superplastic forming of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the metal alloy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2011Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Sean Timothy O'keeffe, Tran Quoc Pham, Theodore Andrew Waniuk
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Publication number: 20140283959Abstract: A method to form an enclosure or assembly which is fitted together and joined via a thermoplastic forming operation in order to seal the enclosure and hinder attempts to tamper with the contents.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Tran Quoc Pham, Dennis Ogawa
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Publication number: 20140284503Abstract: Radiation shielding structures comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and methods of making radiation shielding structures and components in near-to-net shaped forms are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2011Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventors: Joseph Stevick, Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Tran Quoc Pham
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Publication number: 20140262110Abstract: BMG may be squeeze cast in a squeeze cast machine. The squeeze cast machine may have a vacuum chamber, a transfer sleeve entirely located inside the vacuum chamber, and a plunger inside the transfer sleeve. The transfer sleeve may be configured to receive BMG feedstock from outside the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber may prevent contamination of a BMG in a molten state. The plunger may push a BMG in a molten state into a mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC.Inventor: Joseph W. Stevick
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Patent number: RE45353Abstract: A method of making composites of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, and articles made thereof, containing at least one type or reinforcement material, wherein the composite material preferably comprises a high volume fraction of reinforcement material and is fully-dense with minimum porosity are provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: Atakan Peker
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Patent number: RE45414Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuous casting of amorphous alloy sheets having large sheet thickness using bulk solidifying amorphous alloys are provided. Thick continuous amorphous alloy sheets made of bulk solidifying amorphous alloys are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLCInventor: William L. Johnson
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Patent number: RE45658Abstract: Metallic foams comprising high viscosity materials and apparatuses and methods of manufacturing such foams, and more particularly methods for controllably manufacturing metallic foams from bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignees: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC, California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jan Schroers, William L. Johnson, Christopher Thomas Veazey, Marios D. Demetriou