Patents Examined by Lois Zheng
  • Aluminum alloy material for storage container for high-pressure hydrogen gas
    Patent number: 9249483
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a 6000-series aluminum alloy material for a high-pressure gas container which has both of resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and mechanical properties. In the aluminum alloy material for a high-pressure gas container, the contents of Fe, Mn and Cu fall within narrower ranges than the standard composition of AA6066 alloy. The aluminum alloy material is produced to have a structure in which a predetermined amount of fine dispersed particles are dispersed therein and coarse crystallized materials are small, and therefore strength and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement are improved, which are required for a high-pressure gas container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., MITSUBISHI ALUMINUM COMPANY, LTD., UACJ Corporation, NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD., SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Manabu Nakai, Shigenobu Yasunaga
  • Method and system for preparing shaped particles
    Patent number: 9242298
    Abstract: The present technology provides an illustrative method for preparing shaped nanoparticles. The method includes passing a metal vapor to a shaping apparatus and condensing the metal vapor within the shaping apparatus to form selectively-shaped metal nanoparticles. The method may also include forming the metal vapor by heating a bulk metal. In an embodiment, the shaping apparatus comprises a mesh separator that include a plurality of nano-sized, square-shaped pores or a plurality of shaping cups that includes a plurality of recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: David Max Roundhill
  • Controlled coating apparatus, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 9238864
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems may operate to provide a first reactant as a gas that flows under reduced atmospheric pressure to interact with a surface, such as a tool body surface, the interaction confined to a passage within the tool body, wherein the passage includes the surface and extends without interruption from an entrance end of the passage to an exit end of the passage. Additional activity may include providing a second reactant as a gas under the reduced atmospheric pressure, subsequent to the first reactant, to interact with the surface of the tool body; and repeated provision of the first and second reactants until a selected coating thickness on the surface is formed. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Pelletier
  • Surface treatment to passivate sublimation surfaces to hydrophobic contaminants
    Patent number: 9227379
    Abstract: The sublimation capability of a porous metal plate used in a sublimator is maintained by heating the porous metal plate at an elevated temperature in a flowing stream of oxygen for an extended period of time to form an oxidized surface. A short chain molecule, such as citric acid, is attached to the oxidized surface having multiple functional carboxylate groups and no hydrophobic tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space System International, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Steele, William F. Oehler, Tony Rector
  • Chemical conversion coating for protecting magnesium alloys from corrosion
    Patent number: 9228263
    Abstract: A chromate-free, self-healing conversion coating solution for magnesium alloy substrates, composed of 10-20 wt. % Mg(NO3)2.6H2O, 1-5 wt. % Al(NO3)3.9H2O, and less than 1 wt. % of [V10O28]6? or VO3? dissolved in water. The corrosion resistance offered by the resulting coating is in several hundreds of hours in salt-spray testing. This prolonged corrosion protection is attributed to the creation of a unique structure and morphology of the conversion coating that serves as a barrier coating with self-healing properties. Hydroxoaluminates form the backbone of the barrier protection offered while the magnesium hydroxide domains facilitate the “slow release” of vanadium compounds as self-healing moieties to defect sites, thus providing active corrosion protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NEI Corporation
    Inventors: Gaurang Bhargava, Fred M. Allen, Ganesh Skandan, Peter Hornish, Mohit Jain
  • Forming method of laminated structure by internal oxidation
    Patent number: 9222168
    Abstract: A forming method of a laminated structure by internal oxidation is provided. An alloy coating layer is formed. The alloy coating layer has a columnar grain structure and includes a first metal element and a second metal element, and the first metal element is oxidized more easily than the second metal element. Thereafter, a thermal oxidation treatment process is performed to the alloy coating layer, so as to form a plurality of oxide layers and a plurality of metal layers stacked alternately with each other from a surface portion of the alloy coating layer. A material of the oxide layers includes an oxide of the first metal element, and a material of the metal layers includes the second metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan Ocean University
    Inventor: Yung-I Chen
  • Metal surface treatment aqueous solution and method for inhibiting whiskers on a metal surface
    Patent number: 9200168
    Abstract: A tin or tin alloy plating film surface treatment aqueous solution that can reduce whiskers on the surface of a tin or tin alloy plating film, and can provide a favorable tin or tin alloy plating film using a simple method for tin or tin alloy plating films that are used on electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventor: Yutaka Morii
  • Cylindrical member, cylindrical member for image forming apparatus, electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
    Patent number: 9201316
    Abstract: A cylindrical member includes aluminum, and has an average area of crystal particles of an outer circumferential surface which is smaller than an average area of crystal particles of an inner circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamashita, Masaru Agatsuma, Yoshifumi Shoji, Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Suto
  • Method and apparatus for heating a pre-coated plate of steel
    Patent number: 9194034
    Abstract: A pre-coated plate of steel is heated in a furnace to form an intermetallic alloying layer on the plate at least in an area thereof. Air is pretreated through drying to produce dried air which is fed into the furnace to control the atmosphere within the furnace while the pre-coated plate is in the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBIL TECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Steins, Matthias Rode, Markus Pellmann, Karsten Bake, Christian Hielscher
  • Methods of resizing holes
    Patent number: 9187816
    Abstract: Methods of reducing an initial cross-sectional area of a hole in a component to a predetermined cross-sectional area including preparing a composition comprising at least an aluminum alloy with a melting temperature higher than aluminum, applying the composition to an interior surface of the hole, and then heating the component to cause a metal within the component to diffuse from the component into the composition and react with the aluminum alloy in the composition to form a coating on the interior surface of the hole. The heating step is performed to selectively modify the initial cross-sectional area of the hole and thereby directly attain the predetermined cross-sectional area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Gerard Pope, Dennis William Cavanaugh, John Gregory Obeirne, Eric Eicher McConnell, Mark Lawrence Hunt, Canan Hardwicke
  • Non-oriented electrical steel sheet and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 9187830
    Abstract: A non-oriented electrical steel sheet includes: a base iron (1); and a tension applying type insulating film (2) of not less than 1 g/m2 nor more than 6 g/m2 on a surface of the base iron (1). An oxide layer (3) containing at least one type of oxide selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, and Cr and having a thickness of not less than 0.01 ?m nor more than 0.5 ?m is formed on the surface of the base iron (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Kubota, Yousuke Kurosaki, Masahiro Fujikura, Takahide Shimazu
  • System and process for aluminization of metal-containing substrates
    Patent number: 9178240
    Abstract: A system and method are detailed for aluminizing surfaces of metallic substrates, parts, and components with a protective alumina layer in-situ. Aluminum (Al) foil sandwiched between the metallic components and a refractory material when heated in an oxidizing gas under a compression load at a selected temperature forms the protective alumina coating on the surface of the metallic components. The alumina coating minimizes evaporation of volatile metals from the metallic substrates, parts, and components in assembled devices during operation at high temperature that can degrade performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yeong-Shyung Chou, Jeffry W. Stevenson
  • Sandwich material with high strength at high temperature for thin strips in heat exchangers
    Patent number: 9169541
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a sandwich?material for brazing, comprising the steps of: providing a core layer of a first alloy that contains (by wt. %): 0.5-2.0% Mn, ?1.0% Mg, ?0.2% Si, ?0.3% Ti, ?0.3% Cr, ?0.3% Zr, ?0.2% Cu, ?3% Zn, ?0.2% In, ?0.1% Sn and ?0.7% (Fe+Ni), the rest Al and ?0.05% of each of unavoidable impurities; providing a barrier layer of a second alloy that contains (by wt. %): ?0.2% Mn+Cr, ?1.0% Mg, 1.6-5% Si, ?0.3% Ti, ?0.2% Zr, ?0.2% Cu, ?3% Zn, ?0.2% In, ?0.1% Sn and ?1.5% (Fe+Ni), the rest Al and ?0.05% of each of unavoidable impurities; rolling the layers together so that they adhere and form a sandwich material; heat treating the sandwich material at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time so that the Si-content is equalized to 0.4-1% in both core layer and barrier layer; rolling the sandwich material to a final thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Gränges Sweden AB
    Inventors: Hans-Erik Ekström, Anders Oskarsson
  • Method for forming an aluminosilicate-zeolite layer on a metal substrate, the coated substrate and the use thereof
    Patent number: 9169563
    Abstract: A method is described for forming an aluminosilicate-zeolite layer on an aluminum-containing substrate by in situ direct crystallization. Aluminum-rich aluminosilicate-zeolite coatings on aluminum-containing metal substrates obtained by this method are advantageous, for example, in sorption-based fields of application, such as heterogeneous catalysis, in separation and cleaning processes, in sorption heat pumps, in conjunction with immobilized catalysts and in microreaction technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sortech AG
    Inventors: Ralph Herrmann, Wilhelm Schwieger, Jurgen Bauer
  • Method of colouring tin and tin-containing articles
    Patent number: 9163312
    Abstract: A method of coloring the surface of a tin-containing article is provided, the method comprising contacting at least a portion of the surface of the article with a solution comprising a thiosulphate, preferably under substantially neutral or acidic conditions. In one embodiment, the solution contains sodium thiosulphate and citric acid and further comprises a copper salt, together with acetone and/or glycerol. The method is preferably conducted at elevated temperatures, in particular by heating the solution to a temperature of from 45 to 85° C. The method is particularly suitable for the coloring of pewter articles, but may be applied to a wide range of tin-containing materials and tin alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: University of Plymouth
    Inventor: Trish Woods
  • Aqueous treating solution for forming black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating on zinc or zinc alloy and method of forming black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating
    Patent number: 9157154
    Abstract: A treating solution for forming on a surface of either zinc or a zinc alloy a hexavalent-chromium-free trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating which has an even black appearance and satisfactory corrosion resistance. The treating solution has a long treating-bath life. Also provided is a method of forming a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating. The aqueous treating solution, which is for forming a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating on zinc or a zinc alloy, contains trivalent chromium ions, a phosphoric ester and/or phosphorous ester, and a sulfur compound. The method is a method of chemically treating zinc or a zinc alloy which comprises using the aqueous treating solution to chemically treat the zinc or zinc alloy at a solution temperature of 10-60° C., whereby a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating is formed on the zinc or zinc alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DIPSOL CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Manabu Inoue
  • Galvannealed steel sheet and producing method thereof
    Patent number: 9133536
    Abstract: A galvannealed steel sheet includes: a steel sheet; a galvannealed layer which is formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet and includes Al, Fe, and the balance composed of Zn and inevitable impurities; and a composite oxide layer of Mn, Zn, and P which is formed on the surface of the galvannealed layer, includes Mn, P, and Zn, and has the P/Mn ratio of equal to or higher than 0.3 and equal to or lower than 50. The galvannealed layer includes a flat portion having an area ratio of equal to or higher than 10% and equal to or lower than 70% and a rough portion which is at a position closer to the steel sheet than the flat portion at the interface of the galvannealed layer and the composite oxide layer 5. The composite oxide layer of Mn, Zn, and P contains an amorphous compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Honda, Noriyuki Suzuki, Yoichi Ikematsu
  • Sliding closure for a receptacle containing molten metal
    Patent number: 9108245
    Abstract: Sliding closure for a receptacle containing molten metal includes a housing frame that can be fastened to a spout of the receptacle, a first refractory base plate and a sliding unit having a refractory sliding plate that is sealingly pressed against the first base plate by spring elements and a contiguous refractory spout sleeve contained in the housing frame. The case has a second base plate juxtaposed to the first base plate and displaceable inside the housing frame at a right angle to the direction of movement of the sliding unit from an initial position in which the first base plate is in an operating position towards a final position in which the second base plate is in the operating position. It is therefore possible to replace the base plate, which wears outs quickly, by a new base plate in a rapid and convenient manner without interrupting the casting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Stopinc Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benno Steiner, Werner Keller, Urs Truttmann
  • Method for producing a flat steel product provided with a metal protective layer by way of hot dip coating
    Patent number: 9096919
    Abstract: Optimal wetting and adhesion of the hot-dip coating by way of pre-oxidation in a DFF pre-heating furnace and humidification of the annealing atmosphere in a holding zone is achieved in a hot dip galvanised flat steel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Marc Blumenau, Oliver Brehm, Michael Peters, Rudolf Schoenenberg, Andreas Westerfeld, Martin Norden
  • Surface conditioning composition, method for producing the same, and surface conditioning method
    Patent number: 9096935
    Abstract: A surface conditioning composition for use in surface conditioning of a metal prior to being subjected to a phosphate-based chemical conversion treatment, in which the surface conditioning composition has a pH of 3 to 12, and includes at least one kind of zinc compound particles selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide particles, zinc hydroxide particles, and basic zinc carbonate particles; phosphoric acid and/or condensed phosphoric acid; and an amine compound having a specific structure and in which the zinc compound particles are dispersed and stabilized by the phosphoric acid and/or condensed phosphoric acid, and the amine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Chemetall GmbH
    Inventors: Toshio Inbe, Yusuke Wada, Masanobu Futsuhara