Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle wheel is provided with the steps of forming a wheel rim preform by injection molding a material made of alloy wherein the wheel rim preform includes a holed center, a grooved rim, a plurality of spokes interconnecting the holed center and an inner surface of the grooved rim, and a plurality of openings each formed in the spoke; preparing an endless CFRP work piece; cutting the CFRP work piece into a plurality of CFRP members; placing the CFRP members in the openings of the spokes; and heating the wheel rim perform at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time to melt the CFRP members, thereby forming a finished wheel.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a method of eliminating a shrinkage cavity in a metal ingot cast by direct chill casting. The method involves casting an upright ingot having an upper surface at an intended height. Upon completion of the casting, the lower tip of the spout is maintained below the molten metal near the center of the upper surface. The metal flow through the spout is terminated and a partial shrinkage cavity is allowed to form as metal of the ingot shrinks and contracts. Before the partial cavity exposes the lower tip of the spout, the cavity is preferably over-filled with molten metal, while avoiding spillage of molten metal, and then the flow of metal through the spout is terminated. These steps are repeated until no further contraction of the metal causes any part of the upper surface to contract below the intended ingot height.

Abstract: A method for forming an object, including providing at least a first material having a melting point at a first temperature and a second material having a melting point at a second temperature; heating at least a portion of the first and second materials above the first and second temperatures to form a substantially molten alloy, the molten alloy having a solidifying point at a third temperature, the third temperature being less than the first temperature and the second temperature; and providing substantially solid further material to at least a portion of the molten alloy, the further material having a melting point at a temperature greater than the third temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a vacuum processing chamber comprising a volume which is defined by a wall and which can be evacuated, said wall being made of aluminum by casting, said wall comprising an outer face and an inner face, said inner face faces the volume, and a method for improving the inner face of the wall of a vacuum processing chamber, wherein the inner face of said wall is smoothened by grinding and is subsequently pearl-blasted or shot-blasted. Vacuum processing chambers obtained by said methods are provided too.

Abstract: A method of making a sputtering target includes providing a backing structure, and forming a die cast copper indium gallium sputtering target material on the backing structure.

Abstract: A safety door automatic opening/closing device is capable of freely (arbitrarily) setting and controlling the opening/closing speed and the open position to shorten a waiting time required to open/close a safety door and capable of eliminating a touch switch; and a method of controlling the same.

Abstract: This manufacturing apparatus for a multi-channel tube having a plurality of parallel channels includes: a crucible; and a die set for forming the multi-channel tube from molten copper supplied from the crucible, the die set including: a hollow portion having an inner surface shaped like the profile of the multi-channel tube; punches which are inserted into the hollow portion from an inlet end of the hollow portion to define a space between the inner surface of the hollow portion and each of the punches; and a feed passage which is disposed between the crucible and the space, and configured to feed the molten copper from the crucible to the space, the molten copper being supplied from the crucible to the space within the die set through the feed passage to solidify as it passes through the hollow portion.

Abstract: System and method for fusing a chaplet to a casting. The method includes placing the chaplet on an upper surface of a mold; distributing a heater around the chaplet such that the heater is not exposed to the casting; placing a core on the chaplet such that the mold and the core define a component of a machine; heating the chaplet with the heater to a predetermined temperature; and pouring the casting in the mold, around the core and the chaplet, when the chaplet is at the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method involves forming a core assembly. The forming includes deforming a wire, the deforming including increasing a transverse linear dimension along at least one portion of the wire. The wire is assembled to a ceramic core.

Abstract: A turbine engine airfoil includes an airfoil structure having an exterior surface providing a leading edge. A radially extending first cooling passage is arranged near the leading edge and includes first and second portions. The first portion extends to the exterior surface and forms a radially extending trench in the leading edge. The second portion is in fluid communication with a second cooling passage. In one example, the second cooling passage extends radially, and the first cooling passage wraps around a portion of the second cooling passage from a pressure side to a suction side between the second cooling passage and the exterior surface. In the example, the first portion is arranged between the pressure and suction sides. In one example, the first cooling passage is formed by arranging a core in an airfoil mold. The trench is formed by the core in one example.

Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.

Abstract: A casting apparatus and a method of forming a casting using the casting apparatus is disclosed, the casting apparatus comprising a ladle having a hollow interior adapted to receive a molten material therein; a nozzle in fluid communication with the hollow interior, the nozzle having a first portion disposed outside of the ladle and a second portion disposed within the hollow interio; an additive feeder in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the ladle; and a gas conduit in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the ladle.

Abstract: A process for the production of an aluminum-diamond composite, characterized by comprising the step of preparing a diamond powder having a specific diameter, the step of adding a colloidal silica to the diamond powder to form a slurry, the step of subjecting the slurry to press forming or slip casting to produce a compact of the diamond particles, the step of firing the compact either in air or in a nitrogen atmosphere to form a porous diamond preform, the step of heating the porous diamond preform, the step of heating an aluminum alloy to a temperature equal to or above the melting point of the alloy and impregnating the molten alloy into the porous diamond preform to make a flat plate-like aluminum-diamond composite wherein both surfaces are covered with surface layers containing an aluminum-base metal, and the step of working the aluminum-diamond composite into an aluminum-diamond composite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flaskless molding machine that can use a matching plate of different thicknesses. The flaskless molding machine has two molding flasks that have a matching plate sandwiched between them, the two molding flasks being positioned in a way such that one of opening ends of the molding flasks is opposed to each other and each of the other opening ends of the molding flasks is engaged with a squeezing board, and a pair of spaces is formed, into which spaces molding sand is filled by air through each of the openings for introducing the molding sand, disposed on a wall of each of the two molding flasks that are opposed to each other, the flaskless molding machine thus constituted being able to mold two molds by squeezing the molding sand with the squeezing boards.

Abstract: A method of making a treating wash includes mixing brass granules with acetone, mixing carbon nanotube material, iron pyrite granules and copper granules in the acetone brass mixture, and straining the liquid from the remaining solid material. Methods of treating materials such as brass granules, iron pyrite granules, carbon nanotube material, and brass granules comprises washing the materials in the treating wash, followed by straining and drying the materials.

Abstract: A method of controlling the formation of crocodile skin surface roughness on thin cast strip by forming a casting pool of molten metal of less than 0.065% carbon supported on casting surfaces above a nip, assembling a rotating brush to contact the casting surfaces in advance of contact with the molten metal, and controlling the energy exerted by rotating brushes against the casting surfaces of the casting rolls to clean and expose a majority of the projections of the casting surfaces of the casting rolls by providing wetting contact with the molten metal of the casting pool. The cleaning step is controlled by controlling the energy of the rotating brush against the casting rolls based on the difference between the detected light reflected from the casting surfaces and the light reflected when the casting surfaces are clean, and automating the method.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and related methods. The device has a structured material positioned between an electron collecting electrode and a hole collecting electrode. An electron transporting/hole blocking material is positioned between the electron collecting electrode and the structured material. In a specific embodiment, negatively charged carriers generated by optical absorption by the structured material are preferentially separated into the electron transporting/hole blocking material. In a specific embodiment, the structured material has an optical absorption coefficient of at least 103 cm?1 for light comprised of wavelengths within the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold powder supply apparatus using the waste heat of a tundish, which can collect waste heat from molten steel in the tundish, and preheat and dry mold powder. The mold powder supply apparatus using the waste heat of a tundish according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a powder hopper that is mounted to a frame close to a tundish to absorb heat radiated from the top of the tundish, through one side; an agitator that agitates mold powder filled in the powder hopper; and a supply pipe that is connected to the bottom of the powder hopper to supply the powder hopper into a mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting nozzle for a horizontal strip casting system, especially for casting steel strip. The casting nozzle is connected to a feed channel and is designed as a rectangular refractory hollow block, the outlet region of which being only slightly above the cooled continuous belt which accommodates the outflowing melt. The hollow block is subdivided at least once in the direction of casting and a narrow sealing element is arranged on the partition side of the segments, the width of the remaining gaps in the partition area being selected as to close when the casting nozzle is operated.

Abstract: A method of continuous casting a beam blank adapted for impact absorption is disclosed. The method includes: introducing molten steel into a continuous casting mold from a tundish through an immersion nozzle to perform non-oxidation casting, wherein the immersion nozzle is disposed at one side of the continuous casting mold forming both side flanges of a beam blank, and the molten steel is introduced into the continuous casting mold through the immersion nozzle. The method is advantageous in that it is possible to produce steel adapted for low-temperature impact absorption, and productivity is improved due to the increase of the number of consecutive heats of continuous casting.