Patents Examined by Kevin Kerns
  • Patent number: 7234506
    Abstract: A ceramic core for use in casting an article such as for example an airfoil, wherein the ceramic core has a pocket located at or near a region of the core that is otherwise associated with occurrence of a localized casting defect in the cast article. A covering is disposed on the core to cover the pocket and provide core outer surface features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Grunstra, John Corrigan
  • Patent number: 7225968
    Abstract: A system and method of using friction stir welding and friction stir processing to perform crack repair or preventative maintenance of various materials and structures, wherein the structures include pipeline, ships, and nuclear reactor containment vessels, wherein the friction stir welding and processing can be performed on various materials including metal matrix composites, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, and wherein the friction stir welding and processing can be performed remotely and in harsh environments such as underwater or in the presence of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignees: Sii Megadiamond, Inc., Advanced Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Russell J. Steel, Jonathan A. Babb, Chris Reed, Brian E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7222657
    Abstract: A metal object is formed by die-casting with the use of a specially treated mold. The mold has cavity-defining surfaces covered by a heat-insulating layer made of a material that includes ceramic powder and heat-resistant resin. Molten metal is injected into the cavity coated with the heat-insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Kimura, Kota Nishii
  • Patent number: 7216795
    Abstract: A mechanical weldable fitting for use in tapping a pipe includes a first and second metal collar, each formed of attachable upper and lower semi-toroidal portions that when assembled on the pipe providing spaced-apart external cylindrical surfaces. Each collar having at least one internal circumferential sealing groove therein that receives a gasket formed about the pipe. A lower semi-tubular metal containment member is positioned on the external cylindrical surfaces of the collars. An upper semi-tubular metal containment member is positioned on the external cylindrical surfaces of the collars. The upper containment member having an integral upwardly extending tubular access portion affording passage for tapping the pipe. The upper and lower containment members are welded to each other and to the collars to fully encompass a portion of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony R. Garrison, Larry J. Oden, James E. Terry, Dixit B. Kadakia
  • Patent number: 7216691
    Abstract: A process for the casting of metals includes the steps of providing a mold, delivering a molten metal into the mold, solidifying the molten metal, and removing at least a portion of the mold. The step of removing at least a portion of the mold begins before the step of solidifying the molten metal has been finished. An apparatus to deliver a solvent to a mold is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Alotech Ltd. LLC
    Inventors: John R. Grassi, John Campbell, George W. Kuhlman
  • Patent number: 7216693
    Abstract: A temperature regulation device for the strip (3) produced in a continuous casting plant with ingot mold (16) comprising a pair of cooled, parallel, counter-rotating rolls (2, 2?), closed by two plates at the axial ends of the rolls, includes a pair of substantially rectangular panels (5) placed symmetrically under the plane of the rolls axis, with its longest dimension substantially parallel to the axis of the rolls. Ducts (6, 8, 8?) are provided which feed a series of jets (7) to spray cooling gas onto the strip surface (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Nuredin Kapaj, Alfredo Bassarutti, Giampietro Zamo′, Alfredo Poloni
  • Patent number: 7210515
    Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7207374
    Abstract: A substrate is coated by applying a first layer atop the substrate and comprising, in major weight part, a non-refractory first metal. A second layer is applied atop the first layer and comprises, in major weight part, a carbide and/or nitride of a second metal. A third layer is applied atop the second layer and comprises, in major weight part, a ceramic. The substrate may be a refractory metal-based investment casting core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua E. Persky, Joseph J. Parkos, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7207373
    Abstract: A substrate is coated by applying an essentially pure aluminum first layer to a surface of the substrate. At least a first portion of the first layer is oxidized so as to provide a protective coating of desired properties. The substrate may be a refractory metal-based investment casting core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Parkos, Jr., Gary M. Lomasney, Joshua E. Persky
  • Patent number: 7201211
    Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous casting ingot mold equipped with an immersed nozzle (3) provided with lateral outlets (2) opposite the small sides (5) of the ingot mold, and whereof the pattern of molten metal flows can be naturally in single loop or double loop, or even unstable. The invention is characterized in that it consists in using sliding magnetic fields acting, at the nozzle, on the flows of liquid metal reaching the ingot mold through the nozzle orifices, said magnetic fields being generated by polyphase linear electromagnetic field windings (14, 14?, 15, 15?) arranged opposite at least one side of the ingot mold on either side of the nozzle, preferably opposite one large side and advantageously both, so as to set, or stabilizes, a permanent pattern in double loop mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Rotelec
    Inventor: Siebo Kunstreich
  • Patent number: 7199325
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting tubulars by forge welding involves arranging the tubular ends that are to be interconnected at a distance, up to a few millimeters from each other in a shield gas chamber, into which a reducing non-explosive flushing fluid mixture (e.g. N2+H2) is injected; heating each tubular end within the space by means of at least three electrodes that are pressed at circumferentially spaced intervals against the wall of each tubular, adjacent to the tubular end such that a high frequency electrical current is transmitted in a substantially circumferential direction through the tubular segments between the electrodes; and moving the thus uniformly heated tubular ends towards each other until a forge weld is formed between the heated tubular ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Alford, Anthony Thomas Cole, Klisthenis Dimitriadis
  • Patent number: 7185799
    Abstract: Solder connections are created between the substrate of an electronic package and a circuit board having lengths that are longer than the width. The solder connections are created by locating solder balls of power or ground connections close enough to one another so that, upon reflow to the circuit board the solder balls combine, creating a larger solder connection. Signal solder balls, however, remain separated. The power or ground solder balls on a particular bond pad are separated from one another by portions of a removable solder mask that keep the solder balls spherical in shape during solder ball attachment to the electronic package. However, it is removed prior to reflow to the circuit board, thus creating a larger, longer solder connection between the electronic package and circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tom E. Pearson, Dudi I. Amir, Terrance J. Dishongh
  • Patent number: 7165599
    Abstract: In a metal molding machine provided having a tilt to a clamping device with an injection unit which is constituted by a liquid metallic material reservoir in which a cylinder having a nozzle portion at the tip portion equipped with a heating device at the outer periphery and an injection plunger having advance or retreat freely in the inside, and the injection cylinder at the rear portion, the metallic material feeding to the above liquid metallic material reservoir is performed in liquid by melt to the temperature of above the liquidus temperature in a melting cylinder standing the liquid metallic material reservoir to liquid metallic material surface from a feeding pipe having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the cylinder. The melting and feeding of metallic material is performed at an atmosphere of an inert gas such as argon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoto Takizawa, Toshiyasu Koda, Mamoru Miyagawa, Kazuo Anzai, Koji Takei, Ko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7165600
    Abstract: A mold for the casting of metals including an aggregate comprising a refractory particulate material and a soluble binder which provides for minimal heat transfer between the mold and the molten metal during filling. The aggregate preferably includes at least a proportion of particulate material having a heat diffusivity at least as low as silica sand to reduce the chilling effect of the mold. The mold is removed from the casting the action of a solvent, which simultaneously cools and solidifies the casting at a maximum rate. Processes for forming the mold and the casting of metals using the mold are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Alotech Ltd. LLC
    Inventors: John R. Grassi, John Campbell, George W. Kuhlman
  • Patent number: 7159642
    Abstract: A method and strand guide for supporting, guiding and cooling casting strands (1) made of steel, especially preliminary sections (2) for girders, which are cooled by injected water (29) and are drawn, serve to prevent cracks, especially surface cracks, from appearing in the microstructure by adapting the cooling conditions of the surface of the strand in the region of the secondary cooling, and serve to prevent undercooling of the strand shell, wherein in order to avoid an undesirable solidification structure on the upper flange edges or in other cross-sectional areas, the cooling and support of the beam blank format are so adapted to the solidification range that cooling and support are provided exclusively where a crater is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag
    Inventors: Adolf Gustav Zajber, Dirk Letzel, Wilfried Milewski, Thomas Fest, Heinz-Dietrich Schneider, Lothar Fischer, Herbert Brotzki
  • Patent number: 7156144
    Abstract: A spray head for a spraying tool for spraying the halves of a casting tool is described, in which the connection is made to a traveling arm provided with the media-carrying passages through distributing blocks disposed one under the other, from which the connection is made to spray bars through cross connections. The new configuration is selected such that the connection of the spray bars can be made selectively to the one or other of the media passages. By arranging a plurality of distributing blocks together, the addition of spray bars can also be performed stack-wise at varying distances from the particular distributing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Oskar Frech GmbH +Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Erhard, Hubert Pschenitschni
  • Patent number: 7156284
    Abstract: Methods of bonding two components may include positioning the components relative to one another to obtain a desired orientation. Once the desired orientation is obtained, the components can be bonded in the desired orientation with metal wherein a temperature of both components is maintained below a melting temperature of the metal while bonding. Related structures are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Unitive International Limited
    Inventors: Glenn A. Rinne, Krishna K. Nair
  • Patent number: 7156282
    Abstract: A titanium-aluminide turbine wheel (120, 220, 320, 420) is joined to the end of a shaft (110, 210, 310, 410) by utilizing a titanium surface on the end of the shaft to be joined to the wheel, and electron-beam welding the wheel onto the titanium surface on the shaft. A steel shaft (110, 310, 410) can have a titanium-containing end piece (130, 330, 430) mechanically joined (by brazing, bonding, or welding) to the end of the shaft, and the end piece can be directly electron-beam welded to the wheel. Alternatively, the shaft (210) can be formed as a titanium member and the end (212) of the shaft can be directly electron-beam welded to the wheel (220). In another embodiment, a ferrous end piece (330) is mechanically joined to the titanium-aluminide turbine wheel (320) and then the end piece is directly electron-beam welded to the end of a steel shaft (310). Alternatively, a silver-titanium alloy member (430) is sandwiched between the wheel (420) and a steel shaft (410) and is melted to join the parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillipe Renaud, Marc Wilson
  • Patent number: 7152775
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic welding apparatus that includes a magnetic source and a ferromagnetic device to apply pressure to at least one component being joined during the ultrasonic welding process. The magnetic source is positioned proximate the ultrasonic transducer, and when the component to be ultrasonically welded is adjacent the ultrasonic transducer, the ferromagnetic device is positioned opposite the component from the magnetic source and the ultrasonic transducer to apply pressure. A magnetic source comprising an electromagnet provides an adjustable pressure to the component. The ferromagnetic device defines a generally spherical surface so that it advantageously remains in position relative to the magnetic source if the component is moved relative to the ferromagnetic device. In addition, the ferromagnetic device may comprise a magnet to increase the magnetic force between the magnetic source and ferromagnetic device, which increases the pressure applied to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eugene A. Jackson, Mark F. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 7150309
    Abstract: A cast-in-place cylinder bore liner (15) is disclosed for use in sand casting of engine cylinder blocks, the cylinder bore liner (15) having a protuberant portion (60) adjacent a first end (61) thereof, whereby accuracy in the positioning of cast-in-place bore liners (15) is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P. Newcomb