Patents Examined by Michael E. Lavilla
  • Patent number: 7153590
    Abstract: A composite copper foil (10) comprises a carrier foil (12) formed by electrodeposition onto a cathode, the carrier foil (12) having a cathode side formed in contact with the cathode and an opposite electrolyte side. A very thin release layer (14) is on the electrolyte side of said carrier foil (12). A thin functional foil (16) formed by deposition of copper has a front side in contact with the release layer (14) and an opposite back side. The electrolyte side of the carrier foil (12) has a surface roughness Rz less than or equal to 3.5 ?m. There is also presented a method for manufacturing such a composite copper foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Circuit Foil Luxembourg Trading S.a.R.L.
    Inventors: Raymond Gales, René Lanners, Michel Streel, Akitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7150921
    Abstract: A bi-layer bond coating for use on metal alloy components exposed to hostile thermal and chemical environment, such as a gas turbine engine, and the method for applying such coatings. The preferred coatings include a bi-layer bond coat applied to the metal substrate using high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying. Bi-layer bond coatings in accordance with the invention consist of a dense first inner layer (such as iron, nickel or cobalt-based alloys) that provides oxidation protection to the metal substrate, and a second outer layer having controlled porosity that tends to promote roughness, mechanical compliance, and promotes adherence of the thermal barrier coating (TBC). Preferably, the outer, less dense layer of the bi-layer bond coat is formed from a mixture of metallic powder and polyester to adjust and control the porosity, but without sacrificing mechanical compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Warren Arthur Nelson, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Sharon Trombly Swede, David Vincent Bucci, Joseph Debarro, Terry Howard Strout, Tyrone Robert Mortensen
  • Patent number: 7150918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically conductive element for an electrochemical cell comprising an electrically conductive corrosion-susceptible metal substrate having a surface susceptible to passivation by forming oxides in the presence of oxygen. The surface is treated to remove any oxides present, and then is overlaid with an electrically conductive corrosion-resistant coating comprising one or more elements from Groups 4, 5, 10, or 11 of the Periodic Table, and then a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive polymer-based coating. The underlying substrate thus has improved corrosion-resistance while maintaining electrical conductivity. Other preferred aspects of the present invention include methods of treating the electrically conductive contact element to resist corrosion while still maintaining electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Brian K. Brady
  • Patent number: 7150924
    Abstract: Discloses is a metal-based resistance heat-generation element. The element comprises a core made of a platinum group metal or refractory metal, and a coating film formed on the core. The coating film has at least two layers including a core-side inner layer of a Re—Cr based ? (sigma) phase and a surface-side outermost layer of an aluminide or silicide. Alternatively, the element may comprise a core made of an alloy containing a platinum group metal or refractory metal and Re and Cr diffused therein, and a coating film formed on the core. The coating film has at least one layer including an aluminide or silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventor: Toshio Narita
  • Patent number: 7147934
    Abstract: A chemically processed steel sheet comprises a steel base coated with an Al—Si alloy plating layer, whose Si content is preferably adjusted to 5–13 mass % as a whole and to 7–80 mass % at a surface, and a converted layer generated on the surface of the plating layer. The converted layer contains both soluble and scarcely-soluble compounds. The soluble compound, such as a manganese oxide or hydroxide, or a valve metal fluoride, is once dissolved into water in an atmosphere and then re-precipitated as scarcely-soluble compounds at defective parts of the converted layer. The scarcely-soluble compounds act as a barrier for corrosion prevention of a base steel. Due to the re-precipitation, i.e., self-repairing faculty, excellent corrosion resistance of the converted layer is still maintained even after defects are introduced therein during plastic deformation of the steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Mitsuo Asabuki, Shigeyasu Morikawa, Shinya Furukawa, Hirofumi Taketsu
  • Patent number: 7144599
    Abstract: The ferrous metal chemical conversion coating is comprised of mixed oxides and organometallic compounds of aluminum and iron. A ferrous metal substrate is immersed for a period of time in a bath composition, at a temperature, at a pH, and at a concentration for each constituent of the bath composition, that will form a coating with the desired characteristics. The bath composition comprises water, aluminum salt, oxalic acid, and an oxidizer. The conversion coating is amorphous in nature and can be formed as thin as 1 micron with a coating weight in the range of about 40–250 milligrams per square foot. When sealed with an appropriate rust preventive material, the coating enhances corrosion resistance of the ferrous metal substrate. It is an effective absorbent base for paint finishes. When top coated with a lubricant, the conversion coating aids (a) assembly of parts, (b) break-in of sliding surfaces, and (c) anti-galling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Birchwood Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William V. Block, Bryce D. Devine
  • Patent number: 7144492
    Abstract: The application of anti-corrosion base coating by cataphoretic painting (KTL) is well known in manufacturing automobile body parts. However the cataphoretic paint can penetrate only incompletely or possibly not at all into the gap in the contact areas of the components joined to each other. This type of gap is conventionally scaled following cataphoretic painting, in order to ensure corrosion protection for the entire assembly. The present invention makes it possible to dispense with the sealing in the production of an assembly of joined conductive components and nevertheless to ensure a sufficient corrosion protection. By introducing topographic changes in the components projecting from their surface in the known contact areas and then joining these components, they are spaced apart by the projecting topographic changes in such a manner that during cataphoretic painting the paint wets the entire surface of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Becker, Alfred Fuchs, Klaus Goth, Markus Knoeller, Dirk Lindenau, Claus-Dieter Reiniger, Daniel Zauner
  • Patent number: 7138188
    Abstract: A magnetic ribbon or sheet is coated with an electrical insulator prior to formation of a magnetic implement. Manufacture of the magnetic implement is accomplished in a single process without a need for co-winding magnetic and insulator ribbons. Thermal property differences between the magnetic material and the insulator operate during heat treatment to enhance magnetic property modification of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Metglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Hasegawa, Carl Eugene Kroger
  • Patent number: 7135240
    Abstract: A thermal spray composition and method of deposition for abradable seals for use in gas turbine engines, turbochargers and steam turbines. The thermal spray composition includes a solid lubricant and a ceramic preferably comprising 5 to 60 wt % total of the composition in a ratio of 1:7 to 20:1 of solid lubricant to ceramic, the balance a matrix-forming metal alloy selected from Ni, Co, Cu, Fe and Al and combinations and alloys thereof. The solid lubricant is at least one of hexagonal boron nitride, graphite, calcium fluoride, lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, barium fluoride, tungsten disulfide and molybdenum disulfide particles. The ceramic includes at least one of albite, illite, quartz and alumina-silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (Canada) Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Fiala, Anthony Peter Chilkowich, Karel Hajmrle
  • Patent number: 7132130
    Abstract: An environmentally-friendly process for applying a chrome finish on a substrate is provided. The chrome finish comprises a thin film of aluminum and chromium deposited onto the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. The thin layer can consist of three separately deposited metallic layers including a chromium layer sandwiched between a pair of aluminum layers or can consist of a single, simultaneously co-deposited layer of aluminum and chromium in a ratio of 10% to 70% by weight chromium and 30% to 90% aluminum. The structure of a coated substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Systems Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Terence J. Kloss
  • Patent number: 7132158
    Abstract: A composite material useful for the manufacture of a circuit has a support layer, a metal foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of 15 microns or less and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the support layer, the release layer disposed between and contacting both the support layer and the metal foil layer. A reactive element containing layer, which may be the support layer, effective to react with gaseous elements or compounds to form thermally stable compounds contacts the release layer. The composite material is preferably subjected to a low temperature heat treatment. The combination of the low temperature heat treatment and the reactive element containing layer results in reduced defects including blisters in the copper foil during subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brenneman, Szuchain F. Chen
  • Patent number: 7128949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a pre-coating process, which utilizes metallic plating as a surface pre-treatment for a ferrous-alloy precursor prior to applying a corrosion-inhibiting coating to improve the overall corrosion protection of the pre-treated and pre-coated component. Preferably the ferrous-alloy precursor is a heat-treatable, precipitation-hardenable stainless-steel material and the pre-treatment is a cadmium or a zinc-nickel alloy plating without a subsequent chromate or phosphate seal finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Keener, Michael A. Mendoza
  • Patent number: 7125613
    Abstract: A coated metal article includes a ferrous metal substrate, and an abraded metallic coating on the substrate, wherein the abraded metallic coating has a substantially uniform patterned appearance which simulates the surface appearance of polished stainless steel. A top coating, which may be a relatively thick PVC coating or a thin coating of polyester, epoxy, or acrylic, may overlie the abraded metallic coating on an obverse side of the substrate. The metallic coating may be a Zinc-Nickel alloy and a pre-treatment coating may be applied beneath the top coating. A primer coating may be applied beneath the PVC top coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation, Engineered Materials and Solutions Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Tullis, Rebecca A. Jones, Kevin R. Sanchez, James E. Blanton, Joseph M. Ilk, Santos Ares, David M. Christopher
  • Patent number: 7122219
    Abstract: An electrode for use in hydrogen generation comprising a conductive base and a coating layer formed thereon of a composition obtainable by thermally decomposing, in the presence of an organic acid, a mixture comprising at least one type of platinum compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Houda, Yasuhide Noaki, Kentaro Sako
  • Patent number: 7118809
    Abstract: A high-strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is provided which comprises a composite structure consisting essentially of ferrite and martensite. The steel comprises, by mass %, C: 0.05 to 0.12%, Si: not more than 0.05%, Mn: 2.7 to 3.5%, Cr: 0.2 to 0.5%, Mo: 0.2 to 0.5%, Al: not more than 0.10%, P: not more than 0.03%, and S: not more than 0.03%. The high-strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet has not only excellent spot weldability, but also excellent “stability of material properties”, including tensile strength, total elongation, and yield strength, in a high range of strengths from 780 to 1180 MPa, even if the manufacturing condition (especially, the condition of the cooling process after annealing the steel sheet) is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Utsumi, Katsuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7112372
    Abstract: Panel assemblies that include a core sandwiched between face sheets made from composite material. A pigmented topcoat layer is applied directly to the composite material without the need for a separate adhesive. The pigmented topcoat layer includes a thermoplastic binder resin/pigment mixture that can be cured with the composite material in a single step. The topcoat may include permanent and/or temporary substrates for carrying the binder resin/pigment mixture and for providing a surface finish to the panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hexcel Reinforcements
    Inventors: Dana Blair, Paul Conroy, Paul MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 7108923
    Abstract: A copper foil for a printed circuit board has a rust preventing layer formed by a trivalent chromium chemical conversion treatment on a surface of the copper foil that the copper foil is bonded to a base material for the printed circuit board. T copper foil is of copper or copper alloy, and the rust preventing layer contains 0.5 to 2.5 ?g/cm2 of chromium converted into metallic chromium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ito, Katsuyuki Matsumoto, Kenji Yokomizo, Yasuhiro Kusano, Shinichiro Shimizu, Muneo Kodaira, Katsumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7101469
    Abstract: A metal piece having an organic coating with improved corrosion resistance and adhesion is described which comprises a zinc or zinc alloy plated metal piece having on its surface, a chromate film deposited from an aqueous acidic chromium solution comprising trivalent chromium as substantially the only chromium ion present, and a cathodic electrocoated siccative organic coating on the chromate film. A process for obtaining such coated metal pieces also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: John R. Kochilla, Morgan Bishop, William B. Staples
  • Patent number: 7101589
    Abstract: A method for protecting from corrosion an element comprised of magnesium or a magnesium alloy comprises applying an adhesion promoter after applying a chromate solution to a surface of the element, whereby the chromate solution creates a corrosion-resistant chromate layer on the surface. The method further includes applying an organic coating, such as a resin seal, over the adhesion promoter so as to provide a seal from water and corrosive elements. The adhesion promoter provides improved adhesion between the chromate layer and the organic coating. Corrosion may be removed from the magnesium element before the application of the chromate solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James H. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 7090894
    Abstract: A bond coat composition is provided for applying to the surface of a ceramic composite component between the composite substrate and the thermal barrier coat. The composition includes an alumina powder, a silica-yielding liquid, glass frits, and sufficient solvent to permit mixing of the components and forming a bond coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Melton Carper, Andrew Jay Skoog, Jane Ann Murphy