Patents Examined by Brian Walck
  • Patent number: 9090953
    Abstract: A method for reducing impurities in magnesium comprises: combining a zirconium-containing material with a molten low-impurity magnesium including no more than 1.0 weight percent of total impurities in a vessel to provide a mixture; holding the mixture in a molten state for a period of time sufficient to allow at least a portion of the zirconium-containing material to react with at least a portion of the impurities and form intermetallic compounds; and separating at least a portion of the molten magnesium in the mixture from at least a portion of the intermetallic compounds to provide a purified magnesium including greater than 1000 ppm zirconium. A purified magnesium including at least 1000 ppm zirconium and methods for producing zirconium metal using magnesium reductant also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Coffin, Arnel M. Fajardo
  • Patent number: 9085817
    Abstract: In a non-oriented electrical steel sheet, Si: not less than 1.0 mass % nor more than 3.5 mass %, Al: not less than 0.1 mass % nor more than 3.0 mass %, Ti: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, Bi: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, and so on are contained. (1) expression described below is satisfied when a Ti content (mass %) is represented as [Ti] and a Bi content (mass %) is represented as [Bi]. [Ti]?0.8×[Bi]+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Miyazaki, Hideaki Yamamura, Takeshi Kubota, Yousuke Kurosaki, Kazuto Kawakami, Kazumi Mizukami, Takeaki Wakisaka
  • Patent number: 9068252
    Abstract: Methods and technologies to maximize the aging response and the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are provided. In one embodiment, the aging process for the slowly-quenched aluminum alloys includes, but is not limited to, at least a two-stage solution treatment and a two-stage aging hardening. In the solution treatment, the components are first heat treated at an initial solution treatment temperature and then gradually heated up to about 5° C. to about 30° C. above the initial solution treatment temperature for the material. For the aging treatment, the castings/components are first aged at a lower temperature followed by a higher temperature for the subsequent aging stages. The temperature increase during solution treatment and/or aging can be in steps, in a continuous manner, or combinations thereof. Another embodiment includes a two stage aging process in which there is a non-isothermal aging step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Dale A. Gerard
  • Patent number: 9057118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, and apparatus for the recovery of precious metals. Accordingly, it provides a continuous process for obtaining a precious metal composition from a feedstock material, the process comprising the steps of: (i) heating a feedstock material in a plasma furnace to form an upper slag layer and a lower molten metal layer; (ii) removing the slag layer; (iii) removing the molten metal layer; (iv) allowing the removed molten metal layer to solidify; (v) fragmenting the solidified metal layer to form fragments; and (vi) recovering a precious metal composition from the fragments; wherein the feedstock material comprises a precious metal containing material and a collector metal, said collector metal being a metal or an alloy that is capable of forming a solid solution, an alloy or an intermetallic compound with one or more precious metals. This allows for high recovery yields of precious metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Tetronics (International) Limited
    Inventors: David Deegan, Tim Johnson
  • Patent number: 9044800
    Abstract: Bulk metallic articles having a high-aspect ratio that are formed of bulk metallic glass, that are net-shaped and that are produced under process conditions that maximize the quality and integrity of the parts as well as the life of the mold tool, thus minimizing production costs, and manufacturing methods for producing such articles are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William L. Johnson, Marios D. Demetriou, Joseph P. Schramm, Georg Kaltenboeck
  • Patent number: 9039847
    Abstract: A multiphase steel sheet has a steel composition containing, in percent by mass, more than 0.015% to less than 0.100% of carbon, less than 0.40% of silicon, 1.0% to 1.9% of manganese, more than 0.015% to 0.05% of phosphorus, 0.03% or less of sulfur, 0.01% to 0.3% of soluble aluminum, 0.005% or less of nitrogen, less than 0.30% of chromium, 0.0050% or less of boron, less than 0.15% of molybdenum, 0.4% or less of vanadium, 0.02% or less of titanium, wherein [Mneq] is 2.0 to 2.8, the balance being iron and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ono, Kenji Takahashi, Kaneharu Okuda, Shoichiro Taira, Michitaka Sakurai, Yusuke Fushiwaki
  • Patent number: 9034120
    Abstract: Provided is bearing steel excellent in workability after spheroidizing-annealing and in hydrogen fatigue resistance property after quenching and tempering. The bearing steel has a chemical composition containing, by mass %: 0.85% to 1.10% C; 0.30% to 0.80% Si; 0.90% to 2.00% Mn; 0.025% or less P; 0.02% or less S; 0.05% or less Al; 1.8% to 2.5% Cr; 0.15% to 0.4% Mo; 0.0080% or less N; and 0.0020% or less O, which further contains more than 0.0015% to 0.0050% or less Sb, with the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, to thereby effectively suppress the generation of WEA even in environment where hydrogen penetrates into the steel, so as to improve the roiling contact fatigue life and also the workability such as cuttability and forgeability of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumasa Hirai, Kiyoshi Uwai
  • Patent number: 9023158
    Abstract: A steel material superior in high temperature characteristics and toughness is provided, that is, a steel material containing, by mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.03%, Si: 0.05% to 0.40%, Mn: 0.40% to 1.70%, Nb: 0.02% to 0.25%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.025%, N: 0.0008% to 0.0045%, B: 0.0003% to 0.0030%, restricting P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Al: 0.03% or less, and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, where the contents of C and Nb satisfy C—Nb/7.74?0.02 and Ti-based oxides of a grain size of 0.05 to 10 ?m are present in a density of 30 to 300/mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Yoshida, Hiroshi Kita, Teruhisa Okumura, Hirokazu Sugiyama, Teruyuki Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 9011615
    Abstract: Provided are a bake hardening steel having a crystalline grain size of ASTM No. 9 or more and a method for preparing the bake hardening steel by controlling the winding, rolling and cooling conditions. The bake hardening steel includes: C:0.0016˜0.0025%, Si:0.02% or less, P:0.01˜0.05%, S:0.01% or less, sol.Al:0.08˜0.12%, N:0.0025% or less, Ti:0.003% or less, Nb:0.003˜0.011%, Mo:0.01˜0.1%, B:0.0005˜0.0015% or less, balance Fe and other inevitable impurities, wherein % is weight %, and Mn and P satisfy the relation of ?30(° C.)?803P?24.4Mn?58.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: POSCO
    Inventors: Seong-Ho Han, Il-Ryoung Sohn, Shin-Hwan Kang, Min-Ki Seun
  • Patent number: 9011810
    Abstract: An electrode material obtained using a polyol process and a synthesis method is provided. The synthesis method includes steps of preparing a mixed solution by mixing a transition metal compound, a polyacid anionic compound and a lithium compound with a polyol solvent; and obtaining a resultant product by reacting the mixed solution in a heating apparatus. There is an advantage in that the electrode material, which has crystallinity due to a structure such as an olivine structure or a nasicon structure, can be synthesized using a polyol process at a low temperature without performing a heat treatment proces. The nanoelectrode material synthesized by the method has a high crystallinity, uniform particles, and a structure having a diameter ranging from several nanometers to several micrometers. Further, the electrode material has a high electrochemical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University
    Inventors: Jae Kook Kim, Dong Han Kim, Tae Ryang Kim
  • Patent number: 8999281
    Abstract: The scintillator single crystal of the invention comprises a cerium-activated orthosilicate compound represented by the following general formula (1). The scintillator single crystal of the invention exhibits improved scintillation properties by reduced segregation between elements in the crystal ingot. Lm2?(x+y+z)LnxLuyCezSiO5??(1) (Wherein Lm represents at least one element selected from among Sc and Y and lanthanoid elements with lower atomic numbers than Lu, Ln represents at least one element selected from among Sc, Y, B, Al, Ga and In and lanthanoid elements with ion radii intermediate between Lm and Lu, x represents a value of greater than zero and no greater than 0.5, y represents a value of greater than 1 and less than 2, and z represents a value of greater than zero and no greater than 0.1.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Naoaki Shimura, Tatsuya Usui
  • Patent number: 8986470
    Abstract: A nickel material, which comprises by mass percent, C: 0.003 to 0.20% and one or more elements selected from Ti, Nb, V and Ta: a total content less than 1.0%, the contents of these elements satisfying the relationship specified by the formula of “(12/48) Ti+(12/93) Nb+(12/51) V+(12/181) Ta—C?0”, with the balance being Ni and impurities, does not deteriorate in the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance even when it is used at a high temperature for a long time and/or it is affected by the heat affect on the occasion of welding. Therefore, it can be suitably used as a member for use in various chemical plants including facilities for producing caustic soda, vinyl chloride and so on. Each element symbol in the above formula represents the content by mass percent of the element concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Anada, Junichi Higuchi, Kiyoko Takeda
  • Patent number: 8980021
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy and a method of casting. At least one of zirconium, scandium, a nucleating agent selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, aluminides and borides, and rare earth elements are added to the alloy while in the molten state such that upon solidification, the cast alloy exhibits improved hot tear resistance. In a particular form, the nucleating agent may be titanium diboride for grain refining. Other agents that can be used for grain refining include scandium, zirconium, silicon, silver and one or more rare earth elements. In the case of rare earth elements, mischmetal may be used as a precursor. Combinations of titanium diboride and at least one other agent are especially effective in reducing the incidence of hot tearing in products cast from the modified aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Herbert W. Doty, Fawzy H Samuel, Ahmed M Nabawy
  • Patent number: 8968492
    Abstract: There is provided a brass free from lead (Pb) and possessing excellent machinability, castability, mechanical properties and other properties. A brass consisting of not less than 55% by weight and not more than 75% by weight of copper (Cu), not less than 0.3% by weight and not more than 4.0% by weight of bismuth (Bi), and y % by weight of boron (B) and x % by weight of silicon (Si), y and x satisfying the following requirements: 0?x?2.0, 0?y?0.3, and y>?0.15x+0.015ab, wherein a is 0.2 when Bi is 0.3% by weight ?Bi<0.75% by weight; 0.85 when Bi is 0.75% by weight ?Bi<1.5% by weight; and 1 when Bi is 1.5% by weight ?Bi?4.0% by weight, b is 1 when the apparent content of zinc (Zn) is not less than 37% and less than 41%; and 0.75 when the apparent content of Zn is not less than 41% and not more than 45%, the balance consisting of Zn and unavoidable impurities, is excellent in castability, as well as, for example, in machinability and mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Uchida
  • Patent number: 8961715
    Abstract: Aluminum alloy products about 4 inches thick or less that possesses the ability to achieve, when solution heat treated, quenched, and artificially aged, and in parts made from the products, an improved combination of strength, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance, the alloy consisting essentially of: about 6.8 to about 8.5 wt. % Zn, about 1.5 to about 2.00 wt. % Mg, about 1.75 to about 2.3 wt. % Cu; about 0.05 to about 0.3 wt. % Zr, less than about 0.1 wt. % Mn, less than about 0.05 wt. % Cr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities and a method for making same. The instantly disclosed alloys are useful in making structural members for commercial airplanes including, but not limited to, upper wing skins and stringers, spar caps, spar webs and ribs of either built-up or integral construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gary H. Bray, Dhruba J. Chakrabarti, Diana K. Denzer, Jen C. Lin, John Newman, Gregory B. Venema, Cagatay Yanar, Julien Boselli
  • Patent number: 8956470
    Abstract: A steel (known as super bainite steel) containing between 90% and 50% bainite, the rest being austenite, in which excess carbon remains within the bainitic ferrite at a concentration beyond that consistent with equilibrium; there is also partial partitioning of carbon into the residual austenite. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the steel contains in weight percent: carbon 0.6 to 1.1%, silicon 1.5 to 2.0%, manganese 0.5 to 1.8, nickel up to 3%, chromium 1.0 to 1.5, molybdenum 0.2 to 0.5%, vanadium 0.1 to 0.2%, balance iron save for incidental impurities. Excellent properties are obtained if the manganese content is about 1% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Harshad Kumar Dharamshi Hansraj Bhadeshia, Carlos Garcia-Mateo, Peter Brown
  • Patent number: 8956474
    Abstract: A pressure resistant and corrosion resistant copper alloy contains 73.0 mass % to 79.5 mass % of Cu and 2.5 mass % to 4.0 mass % of Si with a remainder composed of Zn and inevitable impurities, in which the content of Cu [Cu] mass % and the content of Si [Si] mass % have a relationship of 62.0?[Cu]?3.6×[Si]?67.5. In addition, the area fraction of the ? phase “?”%, the area fraction of a ? phase “?”%, the area fraction of a ? phase “?”%, the area fraction of the ? phase “?”%, and the area fraction of a ? phase “?”% satisfy 30?“?”?84, 15?“?”?68, “?”+“?”?92, 0.2?“?”/“?”?2, “?”?3, “?”?5, “?”+“?”?6, 0?“?”?7, and 0?“?”+“?”+“?”?8. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a brazed structure made of the above pressure resistant and corrosion resistant copper alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Shindoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 8911696
    Abstract: High purity MnO and zinc oxide may be efficiently recovered from alkaline and/or carbon zinc batteries using a process involving the treatment of the crushed batteries with an alkali hydroxide to produce insoluble manganese oxides and an alkali zincate solution. Zinc oxide is obtained by reacting the zinc solution with carbon dioxide or an acid such as a mineral acid and furnacing. The manganese oxides are converted to MnO by furnacing under an inert atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Retriev Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: W. Novis Smith, James Applegate
  • Patent number: 8911571
    Abstract: This invention discloses an L,R,C method and equipment for casting amorphous, ultracrystallite and crystallite metal slabs or other shaped metals. A workroom (8) with a constant temperature of tb=?190° C. and a constant pressure of pb=1 bar, and liquid nitrogen of ?190° C. and 1.877 bar is used as a cold source for cooling the casting blank. A liquid nitrogen ejector (5) ejects said liquid nitrogen to the surface of ferrous or non-ferrous metallic slabs or other shaped metals (7) with various ejection quantity v and various jet velocity k. Ejected liquid nitrogen comes into contact with the casting blank at cross section c shown in FIG. 2. This method adopts ultra thin film ejection technology, with a constant thickness of said film at 2 mm and ejection speed Kmax of said liquid nitrogen at 30 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Zhuwen Ming
  • Patent number: 8900383
    Abstract: A method of producing a high tenacity metal wire material having improved bending and torsional properties as well as high toughness and excellent fatigue resistance is provided without losing tenacity and elongation property. In the method, when a heat treatment is performed at a temperature range of 90-300° C. on a metal wire material of high-carbon steel containing 0.5-1.1% by mass of carbon atoms and having a processing strain of 2.5 or greater and tensile strength of 3,000 MPa or greater, a relationship between heat treatment time t(s) and heat treatment temperature T(K) at said temperature range represented by the equation: 0.1?Ln(t)?10100/T+20?11 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ohno