Patents Examined by Margery S. Phipps
  • Patent number: 5820700
    Abstract: A nickel base superalloy, having either columnar or equiaxed grain structure, which has significantly improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, and to fatigue in air is disclosed. The superalloy consists essentially of, in weight percent, about 0.006-0.17 carbon, about 6.0-22.0 chromium, up to about 17.0 cobalt, up to about 9.0 molybdenum, up to about 12.5 tungsten, up to about 5.0 titanium, up to about 6.7 aluminum, up to about 4.5 tantalum, up to about 2.5 hafnium, up to about 18.5 iron, up to about 3.25 rhenium, up to about 1.25 columbium, remainder nickel. The microstructure of the superalloy consists essentially of a plurality of fine, discrete carbide particles, .gamma.' precipitates in a .gamma. matrix, and is essentially free of script carbides, .gamma./.gamma.' eutectic islands and porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. DeLuca, Charles M. Biondo
  • Patent number: 5800639
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a type of novel material compositions for hydrogen storage. The material compositions includes a hydrogen storage Laves-phase alloy which has a material composition represented by A.sub.1-X B.sub.X C.sub.Y where A=(Zr or Hf).sub.1-X1 Ti.sub.X1 and X1 has a value between zero to one, B=La, Ce, Pr, Nd and mixed rare earth, alkaline, or alkaline earth metallic element, C=V.sub.Y1 Ni.sub.Y2, where Y1 has a value between zero to 0.8, Y2 has a value between 1.3 to 3.0, and X has a value between zero to 0.2 and Y has a value between 2.0 to 3.0. In a preferred embodiment, when the value of X is greater than zero, the Laves-phase alloy includes a plurality of B--Ni clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Mobius Green Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: De Yi Yan
  • Patent number: 5755897
    Abstract: An austenitic carbide-strengthened nickel/chromium/iron foregeable alloy comprises (in % by weight) 0.2 to 0.4% carbon, 25 to 30% chromium, 8 to 11% iron, more than 2.4 to 3.0% aluminum, 0.01 to 0.15% yttrium, 0.01 to 0.20% titanium, 0.01 to 0.20% niobium, 0.01 to 0.10% zirconium, 0.001 to 0.015% magnesium, 0.001 to 0.010% calcium, max 0.030% nitrogen, max 0.50% silicon, max 0.25% manganese, max 0.020% phosphorus, max 0.010% sulfur, balance nickel and unavoidable melting conditioned impurities. The quantity of precipitable carbon C* is in the range 0.083% to 0.300%, where C*=C.sub.tot. -(C.sub.diss. +C.sub.fix.Ti +C.sub.fix.Nb +C.sub.fix.Zr).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Krupp VDM GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Brill
  • Patent number: 5749979
    Abstract: A 14K gold alloy includes by weight percentages about 58.5 to 58.8% gold, 12.8 to 14.4% silver, 22.9 to 24.8% copper, 3.5 to 4.1% zinc and 0.2 to 0.5% cobalt. The alloy exhibits a relatively large uniform, fine grain size and may be repetitively hardened and softened as desired. The brightness of the alloy is exceptional and the color, which is quite distinctive among 14K gold alloys, is similar to rich colored 18K gold alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Dalow Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Carrano, Mark C. Hanna
  • Patent number: 5741378
    Abstract: An improved method is described for restoring the mechanical properties to carbide-containing Co-based superalloy gas turbine components which have been exposed to high temperatures and pressures for extended periods of time. The method includes solution heat treating to 2250.degree.-2300.degree. F. for one to twelve hours to dissolve complex carbides, and aging at approximately 1965.degree.-1975.degree. F. for two to twenty four hours. The rejuvenated components exhibit excellent high temperature creep properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Pietruska, S. Michael Kurpaska
  • Patent number: 5735974
    Abstract: A part of a light-water reactor, for example, a cladding for a light-water reactor has at least a portion made of an intermetallic compound, such as Ni.sub.3 Al, Ni.sub.2 Al.sub.3, TiAl, Ti.sub.3 Al, Pt.sub.2 Si, PtSi, FeAl.sub.2, CoAl, and MoSi.sub.2, thereby having limited irradiation degradation by fast neutrons, improved ductility and usability at high temperatures the intermetallic compound is produced by a process comprising a step of irradiating the intermetallic compound with at least one selected from the group consisting of a neutron, a light ion, and an electron. The intermetallic compound may contain a twin and a third additional element segregatedly present or forms a second phase at or near to a grain boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research
    Inventors: Akimichi Hishinuma, Katsumaro Fukai
  • Patent number: 5733389
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy conductor for use at ultra low temperature which involves the steps of adding at least one of the metallic and semimetallic effective elements selected from the group consisting of B, Ca, Ce, Ga, Y, Yb and Th, in a total amount of 6 to 200 weight ppm, into a previously prepared molten high purity aluminum having a purity of not less than 99.98 wt % to thereby obtain a molten metal mixture; casting the molten metal mixture to thereby obtain a casting; subjecting the casting to extrusion working at 150.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. in an area reduction ratio of 1:10 to 1:150 whereby an extrusion worked product is formed; and annealing the extrusion worked product at a temperature of 250.degree. C. to 530.degree. C. for 3 to 120 minutes, whereby an aluminum alloy conductor for use at ultra low temperature is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: Akihiko Takahashi, Hitoshi Yasuda, Karl Theodore Hartwig, Lacy Clark McDonald
  • Patent number: 5730931
    Abstract: A heat-resistant platinum material with more than 99.5% by weight platinum, with high long-term creep resistance and low grain growth at high temperature contains 0.1 to 0.35% by weight zirconium and/or zirconium oxide and 0.002 to 0.02% by weight boron and/or boron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Poniatowski, Ernst Drost, Stefan Zeuner
  • Patent number: 5725692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat treated, gamma prime precipitation strengthened nickel base alloy having an improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, particularly crack propagation. The alloy has a microstructure which is essentially free of script carbides, gamma--gamma prime eutectic islands and porosity. The microstructure further includes a plurality of regularly occurring large barrier gamma prime precipitates and a continuous field of fine cuboidal gamma prime precipitates surrounding the large barrier gamma prime precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. DeLuca, Charles M. Biondo, Howard B. Jones, Chris C. Rhemer
  • Patent number: 5718867
    Abstract: An alloy based on a silicide containing at least chromium and molybdenum contains the following constituents in atomic percent: chromium 41-55, molybdenum 13-35 and silicon 25-35, or chromium 35-55, molybdenum 13-35, silicon 13-35, yttrium 0.001-0.3, and/or tungsten 0.001-10. This alloy is distinguished by a high oxidation resistance and still has a mechanical strength at temperatures of over 1000.degree. C. which favors its use as structural material in gas turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Broan Boveri AG
    Inventors: Mohammed Nazmy, Corrado Noseda, Markus Staubli
  • Patent number: 5706881
    Abstract: A method of making a single crystal or columnar grain superalloy casting comprises casting a superalloy in a mold wherein at least one of the mold and optional core comprises an oxygen-bearing ceramic, directionally solidifying the superalloy to form a single crystal or columnar grain superalloy casting, and solution heat treating the superalloy casting. The heat treatment is conducted under an atmosphere including a carbon-bearing gas, such as a carbon monoxide and inert gas mixture, wherein the carbon-bearing gas is present in an effective amount to reduce loss of carbon from the casting during the heat treatment. The heat treatment can be conducted prior to removal of all of the mold and core, if present, such as, for example, when the cast mold is in the as-knocked out condition wherein residual mold and/or core material is present on the casting. Alternately, the heat treatment can be conducted after removal of the mold and core, if present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Grunstra, Julie A. Faison, Jacqueline B. Wahl
  • Patent number: 5698006
    Abstract: The improved intermetallic compounds represented by xNiAl+X (x=50.5-63.5), with dopant element X being selected from among Ti, Fe, V, W, Cr, Cu, Mo, Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr and B, are lightweight and have satisfactory oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength and, hence, are useful as structural materials in aerospace (as in space shuttles) and nuclear fields (for use in reprocessing facilities). A representative intermetallic compound having the formula NiAl+x(Mo/Re)+cB, wherein the ratio of Ni:Al is 56.5:43.5, the ratio of Mo:Re is either 1:1 or 1:0.5, x is between 0.1 and 1 at. %, and c is from 0 to 0.2 at. %, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventor: Shintaro Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 5695714
    Abstract: Gold-palladium alloys with a high gold content for dental applications should, for reasons of biocompatibility, not contain any toxically dubious components. For particularly corrosion-resistant and biocompatible Type 4 alloys, tin is needed as the only base-metal component in amounts between 0.7 and 5.8 wt % if one remains within defined limits in a palladium-tin diagram of FIG. 1, for Pt values less than 2%. Such alloys contain, in addition to gold and tin, 6 to 25 wt % palladium, 0 to 12 wt % platinum and 0 to 2 wt % of at least one of iridium, rhodium and/or ruthenium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kempf, Doris Hathaway, Gernot Schoeck, Hans-Martin Ringelstein, Bernd Meier
  • Patent number: 5693159
    Abstract: A process for producing a fine grain forged superalloy article having a high yield strength at intermediate temperatures. A preferred starting composition comprises, by weight, 15% Cr, 13.6% Co, 4.1% Mo, 4.6% Ti, 2.2% Al, 0.01% C, 0.007% B, 0.07% Zr, balance Ni. This material is forged at a temperature above the gamma prime solvus and at a true strain of at least 0.5. Alternately, the material may be forged below the gamma prime solvus temperature with intermediate super solvus anneals. The overaged material is then worked at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus. The resultant fine grain material is then heat treated or can be further isothermally forged prior to heat treatment to produce complex shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Roy L. Athey, John A. Miller, William J. Gostic, Paul D. Genereux, Timothy P. Fuesting
  • Patent number: 5693897
    Abstract: A high strength, heat resistant aluminum-based alloy having a composition represented by the general formula Al.sub.bal Ti.sub.a Fe.sub.b or the general formula Al.sub.bal Ti.sub.a Fe.sub.b M.sub.c, wherein M represents at least one element selected from among V, Cr, Mn, Co, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ce, La, Mm (misch metal), Hf, Ta and W; and a, b and c are, in weight percentage, 7.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.20, 0.2.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.6 and 0<c.ltoreq.6. A compacted and consolidated aluminum-based alloy having high strength and heat resistance is produced by melting a material having the above-specified composition, rapidly solidifying the melt into powder or flakes, compacting the resulting powder or flakes, and compressing, forming and consolidating the compacted powder or flakes by conventional plastic working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kita
  • Patent number: 5693156
    Abstract: Molybdenum alloys are provided with enhanced oxidation resistance. The alloys are prepared by the addition of silicon and boron in amounts defined by the area of a ternary system phase diagram bounded by the points Mo-1.0% Si-0.5% B, Mo-1.0% Si-4.0% B, Mo-4.5% Si-0.5% B, and Mo-4.5% Si-4.0 B. The resultant alloys have mechanical properties similar to other high temperature molybdenum alloys while possessing a greatly enhanced resistance to oxidation at high temperature. The alloys are composed of a matrix of body centered cubic molybdenum surrounding discrete intermetallic phases. A variety of alloying elements are added to the base composition to modify the alloy properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas M. Berczik
  • Patent number: 5683523
    Abstract: A light-weight super high vacuum vessel is disclosed in which a super high vacuum pressure over 10.sup.-10 Torr or over 10.sup.-11 Torr can be achieved using a simple evacuation system and/or with a sealing structure. The super high vacuum vessel contains a member comprising: from 0.02 wt. % to 1.00 wt. % of at least one platinum-group metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Re, and Os; from 0.1 wt. % to 3.0 wt. % of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Cu; from 0.1 wt. % to 3.0 wt. % of at least one rare earth series element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Y; impurity elements of C, N, and O, C being equal to or less than 0.05 wt. %, N being equal to or less than 0.05 wt. %, O being equal to or less than 0.08 wt. %; and Ti and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Megumi Nakanose, Seiji Ishimoto, Katsuichi Kikuchi, Kiyotaka Fujita
  • Patent number: 5683822
    Abstract: Alloy foils for liquid-phase diffusion bonding of heat-resisting metals in an oxidizing atmosphere comprise 6.0 to 15.0 percent silicon, 0.1 to 2.0 percent manganese, 0.50 to 30.0 percent chromium, 0.10 to 5.0 percent molybdenum, 0.50 to 10.0 percent vanadium, 0.02 to 1.0 percent niobium, 0.10 to 5.0 percent tungsten, 0.05 to 2.0 percent nitrogen, 0.50 to 20.0 percent phosphorus, plus 0.005 to 1.0 percent carbon, and/or either or both of 0.01 to 5.0 percent titanium and 0.01 to 5.0 percent zirconium, all by mass, with the balance comprising nickel and impurities, and have a thickness of 3.0 to 300 .mu.m. Alloy foils for liquid-phase diffusion bonding of heat-resisting metals in an oxidizing atmosphere are also available with substantially vitreous structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Hasegawa, Hisashi Naoi, Yuuichi Satoh, Hiroshi Ukeba
  • Patent number: 5680896
    Abstract: A method for producing rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen occlusive alloy ingot that contains 90 vol % or more of crystals having a crystal grain size of 1 to 50 .mu.m as measured along a short axis of the crystal and 1 to 100 .mu.m as measured along a long axis of the crystal. The method for producing the rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen occlusive alloy ingot involves melting a rare earth metal-nickel alloy and uniformly solidifying the alloy melt to have a thickness of 0.1 to 20 mm under cooling conditions of a cooling rate of 10.degree. to 1000.degree. C./sec and a sub-cooling degree of 10.degree. to 500.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Santoku Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Yuichi Miyake, Chikara Okada, Nobuyuki Kitazume
  • Patent number: 5679180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a .gamma." strengthened nickel based alloy having an improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and to a process for forming the same. The nickel based alloy consists essentially of from about 0.02 to 0.06 wt % carbon, from about 11 to 13 wt % chromium, from about 17 to 19 wt % iron, from about 2.80 to 3.30 wt % molybdenum, from about 5.75 to about 6.25 wt % columbium+tantalum, from about 1.75 to 2.25 wt % titanium, from about 0.4 to 0.8 wt % aluminum and the balance essentially nickel and is in single crystal form. The nickel based alloy of the present invention has particular utility in high pressure hydrogen environments such as rocket engine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. DeLuca