Patents Examined by John Sheehan
  • Patent number: 6478888
    Abstract: A method is described for reducing surface oxide growth which heating aluminum containing surfaces in a vacuum environment prior to the deposition of a ceramic coating. The method comprises flowing an inert or non reactive gas into the coating apparatus adjacent to the surface to be coated to reduce oxygen reaction with the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Steven M. Burns
  • Patent number: 6475302
    Abstract: Disclosed is a permanent magnet which comprises an alloy containing a hard magnetic phase having a ThMn12 type tetragonal structure and a nonmagnetic phase. The alloy is represented by a general formula given below: [R1-a(M1)a][T1-b-c(M2)b(M3)c]dx&agr; where R is at least one rare earth element (including Y), Ml is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni, M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Bi, Sn, Mg, In and Pb, M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Ge, Zn, B, P and S, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and the atomic ratios of a, b, c, d and &agr; fall within the ranges of 0≦a≦0.6, 0.01≦b≦0.20, 0≦c≦0.05, 6≦d≦11, and 0.5≦&agr;≦2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Toshiya Sakamoto, Shinya Sakurada, Takao Sawa, Akihiko Tsutai, Akiko Saito, Masashi Sahashi
  • Patent number: 6475261
    Abstract: In an NiMnGa alloy represented by the chemical formula of Ni2+XMn1−X Ga, a composition ratio parameter X (mol) is selected within a range of 0.10≦X≦0.30. With this composition, the finish point of the reverse transformation of the martensitic transformation can be selected to a desired temperature within the range between −20° C. and 50° C., while the Curie point is also selected to a desired temperature within the range between 60° C. and 85° C. The alloy has the shape memory effect by the martensitic transformation and the reverse transformation. Furthermore, the alloy is induced with the reverse transformation by application of an external magnetic field at the martensite phase to exhibit the shape recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Minoru Matsumoto, Junji Tani, Toshiyuki Takagi, Kiyoshi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6475301
    Abstract: The invention is a method of forming a conversion coating on an aluminum surface. According to the method, the aluminum surface is conversion coated by first treating the surface with thermal degreasing or aqueous alkaline degreasing and then contacting the treated surface with an aqueous bath solution of KF. The concentration of KF in the solution is 2.0-25.0 wt. % and the temperature is 90-212° F. for at least 5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Adam Grab, Kimberly A. Lazarz, Matthew John Zaluzec, Timothy Van Evans
  • Patent number: 6475297
    Abstract: Corrosion resistant metal, either platinum or MCrAlY is bonded to a corrosion sensitive metal such as nickel based superalloys by coating the surface with the corrosion resistant metal particles held in a binder and covering this with a metalide generating tape. This is then heated to cause the formation of the metalide coating on the metal surface, which in turn, bonds the corrosion resistant metal to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin Rafferty, Bruce Rowe
  • Patent number: 6475304
    Abstract: Grain-oriented silicon steel sheet with Bi as an auxiliary inhibitor and a forsterite coating film having a Cr spinel oxide subscale of FeCr2O4 or FexMn1-xCr2O4 (0.6≦x≦1), made from a steel slab containing 0.005-0.20 wt % of Bi and 0.1-1.0 wt % of Cr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Toda, Kunihiro Senda, Mitsumasa Kurosawa, Makoto Watanabe, Atsuhito Honda
  • Patent number: 6475298
    Abstract: A method of improving the post-etch corrosion resistance of aluminum-containing wafers by performing a two-step post-etch passivation sequence which does not involve a plasma. In the first step the pressure is high, relative to typical passivation procedures, and the wafer temperature is relatively low. In the second step, the pressure is ramped down and the wafer temperature is ramped up. This two-step approach results in a more-efficient removal of chlorine from the wafer, and hence improved corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. O'Donnell, Gregory J. Goldspring
  • Patent number: 6475303
    Abstract: A glassy metal alloy consists essentially of the formula CoaNibFecMdBeSifCg, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, Mn and Nb, “a-g” are in atom percent and the sum of “a-g” equals 100, “a” ranges from about 25 to about 60, “b” ranges from about 5 to about 45, “c” ranges from about 6 to about 12, “d” ranges from about 0 to about 3, “e” ranges from about 5 to 25, “f” ranges from about 0 to about 15 and “g” ranges from about 0 to 6, said alloy having a value of the saturation magnetostriction between −3 ppm and +3 ppm. The alloy can be cast by rapid solidification from the melt into ribbon, sheet or wire form. The alloy exhibits non-linear B—H hysteresis behavior in its as-cast condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Hasegawa, Howard H. Liebermann, Ronald J. Martis
  • Patent number: 6471788
    Abstract: A method employing oxide film conversion coatings prepared using ferrate (VI) as the oxidizing agent is disclosed. Metal substrates or surfaces, such as aluminum, aluminum alloys or other metals, are contacted with an aqueous solution comprising ferrate (VI) anions to form a corrosion resistant conversion coating on the surface thereof. The ferrate anion concentration is preferably between about 0.0166% and about 1.66% by weight. The coating process is carried out by dipping, spraying, or painting at temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 100° C. for a period of time ranging from about 1 second to about 5 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Lynntech Coatings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zoran Minevski, Jason Maxey, Carl Nelson, Cahit Eylem
  • Patent number: 6471787
    Abstract: A process for the production of oriented-grain electrical steel sheet with high magnetic characteristics, and more precisely a process in which the slab obtained from continuous casting is continuously nitrided by a reaction between aluminium and nitrogen is described. Amount, size and distribution of precipitates are controlled, enabling a high-temperature continuous heat treatment during which the primary-recrystallization and a high-temperature nitriding are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Acciai Speciali Terni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Cicale', Stefano Fortunati, Giuseppe Abbruzzese
  • Patent number: 6471786
    Abstract: The inventive method for preparing nanocomposite magnet powder includes the step of preparing material alloy powder for a nanocomposite magnet represented by a general formula Fe100−x−y−z−uRxByCozMu where R is a rare-earth element of which 90-100 atomic percent is Pr and/or Nd while 0-10 atomic percent is another lanthanoid and/or Y, and the molar fractions x, y, z and u meet the inequalities of 2≦x≦6, 16≦y≦20, 0.2≦z≦7 and 0.01≦u≦7, respectively. The powder includes a metastable phase and an amorphous structure existing in a metal structure. Heat treatment is performed for the material alloy powder to crystallize Fe3B and Fe—R—B compounds from the amorphous structure. An integral value of the difference between a temperature-time curve represented by the temperature of the material alloy powder as a function of the heat treatment time during the heat treatment and a reference temperature-time curve is in a range from 10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Special Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Shigemoto, Satoshi Hirosawa, Hirokazu Kanekiyo
  • Patent number: 6471789
    Abstract: An amorphous metal alloy strip is disclosed having a width greater than about one inch and a thickness less than about 0.003 inch, this alloy consists essentially of 77 to 80 atomic percent iron, 12 to 16 atomic percent boron and 5 to 10 atomic percent silicon with incidental impurities. The strip has a 60 cycle per second core loss of less than about 0.100 watts per pound at 12.6 kilogauss, saturation magnetization of at least 15 kilogauss, and a coercive force of less than about 0.04 oersteds. Such alloy is further characterized by increased castability and the strip produced therefrom exhibits at least singular ductility. A method of producing such optimum strip is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: ATI Properties
    Inventors: S. Leslie Ames, Vilakkudi G. Veeraraghavan, Stephen D. Washko
  • Patent number: 6468440
    Abstract: Magnet powder has a composition expressed by (R1XR2YBZT100−X−Y−Z)100−QNQ (in formula, R1 is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements, R2 is at least one kind of element selected from Zr, Hf and Sc, T is at least one kind of element selected from Fe and Co, and X, Y, Z and Q are numbers satisfying 2 atomic %≦X, 0.01 atomic %≦Y, 4≦X+Y≧20 atomic %, 0≦Z≦10 atomic %, and 0.1≦Q≦20 atomic %, respectively), and TbCu7 crystal phase as a principal phase. In such magnet powder, a ratio of fine particles of which maximum diameter is 22 &mgr;m or less is 20% by weight or less. Alternatively, surface roughness of particles constituting the magnet powder is 5 &mgr;m or less in terms of maximum height Ry provided in JIS B 0601-1994. Accordingly, to such a magnet powder, excellent magnetic properties can be obtained with reproducibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Tomohisa Arai, Masami Okamura, Keisuke Hashimoto, Takahiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 6468364
    Abstract: An anticorrosion treatment of an aluminium/zinc alloy surface is disclosed. The treatment includes the steps of forming on the alloy surface a coating of a solution which contain 5-40 grams of molybdenum per litre of the solution, 2-19% by volume of a phosphoric acid, and a surface etchant. The treatment also includes drying the coating to form a dried coating having a loading of molybdenum of at least 10 mg/m2 of the dried coating and of phosphorus of at least 15 mg/m2 of the dried coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: BHP Steel (JLA) Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Shannon Marecic
  • Patent number: 6468365
    Abstract: An R—T—B sintered permanent magnet having a composition including 28-33 weight % of R, and 0.5-2 weight % of B, the balance being substantially T and inevitable impurities, wherein R is at least one rare earth element including Y, at least one heavy rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Tb and Ho being indispensable, and T is Fe or Fe and Co, the permanent magnet having a crystal structure comprising first R2T14B-type, main-phase crystal grain particles having a higher heavy rare earth element concentration than that of a crystal grain boundary phase, and second R2T14B-type, main-phase crystal grain particles having a lower heavy rare earth element concentration than that of the crystal grain boundary phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Uchida, Tsunehiro Kawata
  • Patent number: 6464800
    Abstract: A visible colored chromium- and phosphorus-free conversion coating can be formed on a metal surface by contacting it with an aqueous liquid composition that comprises an alizarine dye and a product of chemical interaction between a first initial reagent component selected from the group consisting of fluoroacids of the elements titanium, zirconium, hafnium, boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, and tin; and a second initial reagent component selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, and tin and all of oxides, hydroxides, and carbonates of all of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Carlson, Patrick A. Scalera, Therese E. Niemi, Shawn E. Dolan
  • Patent number: 6461451
    Abstract: A method of treating a surface of a stacked aluminum alloy ingot during a heating process. Spacer blocks are positioned adjacent aluminum alloy ingots to form a stack, wherein the spacer block has a support surface contacting a contact surface of the aluminum alloy ingot, and at least one of the support surface and the contact surface include a fluorine containing material. The stack is heated to at least a temperature at which the fluorine containing material decomposes or vaporizes such that a layer of a fluorinated oxide compound is formed at the interfaces between the ingots and the spacer blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Harenski, Roger W. Kaufold, Brian J. Morrissey, Robert L. Shadwick, Jr., Larry F. Wieserman
  • Patent number: 6461450
    Abstract: A process for controlling the layer weight during the phosphating of steel strip zinc-coated on one or both sides, using a phosphating solution which contains 1 to 6 g/l zinc ions and 10 to 30 g/l phosphate ions, characterized in that a Fe(II) ion content within the range of 3 to 100 mg/l is established in the phosphating solution. The higher the Fe(II) content, the lower is the layer weight. An alteration in the Fe(II) content of 3 to 20 mg/l results in an alteration in the layer weight of about 0.1 g/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft fur Aktien, Thyssen Krupp Stahl AG
    Inventors: Joerg Riesop, Franz-Gerd Ricke, Frank Panter, Dieter Geruhn, Hubertus Peters, Manfred Wessel, Andreas Klare
  • Patent number: 6458182
    Abstract: A process for producing a high-purity Mn material comprising the steps of premelting crude Mn at 1250-1500° C. and vacuum distilling the melt at 1100-1500° C. The degree of vacuum during the vacuum distillation ranges from 5×10−6 torr to 10 torrs. A crucible for use in the vacuum distillation is a double crucible, which consists of inner and outer crucibles, and a carbon felt packed in the space therebetween. A high-purity Mn material for thin film deposition which contains a total of not more than 100 ppm impurity metallic elements, not more than 200 ppm oxygen, not more than 50 ppm nitrogen, not more than 50 ppm S, and not more than 100 ppm C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Shindo, Tsuneo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6458219
    Abstract: This invention provides a metal surface-treating method which comprises a chemical conversion step of dipping a substrate in an acidic aqueous zinc phosphate solution, and using an aqueous zinc nitrite solution as an accelerator, said aqueous zinc nitrite solution being substantially free of calcium ion and containing 0 to 6500 ppm of sodium ion and 0 to 20 ppm of sulfate ion in case of assuming the concentration of zinc nitrite [Zn(NO2)2] therein to be 10 weight % as NO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignees: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chihara, Kenji Tsuge, Yutaka Kinose, Toru Hata, Eriko Okuno, Takahiro Nagayama