Patents Examined by Richard O. Dean
  • Patent number: 5395454
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning elongated objects of surface contaminants. The elongated objects are exposed to a liquid or solid inert gas at suitable quantities to embrittle the contaminants. The elongated objects are then drawn through a die orifice causing the embrittled surface contaminants to be removed from the elongated objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Liquid Air Corporation
    Inventor: Marc J. Robert
  • Patent number: 5395548
    Abstract: A distillable, non-azeotropic solvent mixture for electronic assembly cleaning in order to adequately remove solder flux and other residues traditionally removed using CFC-based azeotropes. The mixture is heated to at least the boiling point of component A but less than the boiling point of component B. Component A vaporizes (102), forming a vapor layer above the mixture (103). Condensing elements (101) near the top of the cleaning apparatus condense the vapor (102), returning it to the heated mixture (103) to be vaporized again. The assembly (104) to be cleaned is lowered through the vapor and then immersed in the mixture (103) before being positioned in the vapor (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Pfahl, Jr., James A. Wrezel, Lawrence R. Hagner
  • Patent number: 5395584
    Abstract: Nickel-base superalloy composition for the repair, coating or rebuilding of the surface of a superalloy substrate, such as a single crystal nickel-base superalloy, to impart thereto surface areas having improved high temperature properties such as hot corrosion resistance. The present compositions are applied by low heat-input welding processes, such as laser welding or plasma arc welding, and are formulated to provide hot corrosion resistance properties and yet to have good weldability properties. The composition contains, by weight percentages, 2-12.5 Cr, 6-17 Cr, 0.5-7 Mo, 0.5-4 Ta, 2.5-9.5 Al, 1-4 Re, 1.5-8.5 W, 0.01-2.5 Nb, 0.5-6 Ti, 0.01-0.7 Yt, 0.02-3.5 Hf, and balance Ni.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Berger, Michael Iovene
  • Patent number: 5393723
    Abstract: The catalyst is provided for improving the performance of hydrocarbon fuels used in internal combustion engines. The catalyst is a based metal alloy catalyst including tin, antimony, lead, mercury and thallium in the following proportions by weight percent:Sb 18-20Pb 4.5-5.5Hg 12-14Tl 0.1-0.5and the balance consisting essentially of Sn. The catalyst operates at ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure. The catalyst is intended to pretreat fuel before combustion and may be disposed in the fuel tank, fuel line or return fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Anthony W. Finkl
  • Patent number: 5391242
    Abstract: A high-strength and high-conductivity copper alloy sheet is provided, which consists of a composition of from 6 to 24 wt. % Ag, and Cu and impurities as the balance, and has a sheet structure in which Cu solid solution and Ag solid solution are streched into a fiber shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: National Research Institute for Metals
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sakal, Kiyoshi Inoue, Hiroshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 5391241
    Abstract: An Fe--Ni alloy cold-rolled sheet excellent in cleanliness and etching pierceability prepared as specified in the claims, which consists essentially of: 30 to 45 wt. % nickel, 0.1 to 1 wt. % manganese, 0.003 to 0.03 wt. % aluminum and the balance being iron and incidental impurities comprising up to 0.4 wt. % silicon, up to 0.1 wt. % chromium, up to 0.005 wt. % carbon, up to 0.005 wt. % nitrogen, up to 0.005 wt. % sulfur, up to 0.010 wt. % phosphorus, up to 0.002 wt. % oxygen, and up to 0.002 wt. % as converted into oxygen for non-metallic inclusions. The non-metallic inclusions contain at least CaO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and MgO, and the composition thereof is in a region of a melting point of at least 1,600.degree. C., which region is defined by the liquidus curve of 1,600.degree. C. in the CaO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --MgO ternary phase diagram. The non-metallic inclusions have a particle size of up to 6 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Teruyuki Hasegawa, Tadashi Inoue, Tomoyoshi Okita, Yoshiteru Kikuchi, Hidetoshi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 5389156
    Abstract: Contamination can be removed from equipment of a chemical processing flow path by pumping through the plant an aqueous solution at an elevated temperature of an extractant, such as terpene, and a surfactant mixture which traps contaminants for disposal in an environmentally acceptable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Serv-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishaneth K. Mehta, Richard W. Krajicek
  • Patent number: 5389165
    Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy useful in aircraft and aerospace structures which has low density, high strength and high fracture toughness consists essentially of the following formula:Cu.sub.a Li.sub.b Mg.sub.c Ag.sub.d Zr.sub.e Al.sub.balwherein a, b, c, d, e and bal indicate the amount in wt. % of alloying components, and wherein 2.8<a<3.8, 0.80<b<1.3, 0.20<c<1.00, 0.20<d<1.00 and 0.08<e<0.40. Preferably, the copper and lithium components are controlled such that the combined copper and lithium content are kept below the solubility limit to avoid loss of fracture toughness during elevated temperature exposure. The relationship between the copper and lithium contents also should meet the following relationship:Cu (wt. %)+1.5 Li (wt. %)<5.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Alex Cho
  • Patent number: 5389155
    Abstract: A process for use in gas pipelines, where the condensate liquid is withdrawn by passing a cylinder made out of a spongy polymeric material through the pipeline, includes propelling the cylinder by a small pressure difference between the trailing part of the cylinder and the front part of the cylinder, so that the displacement of the cylinder along the interior surfaces of the pipeline pushes the above mentioned condensate. The piston is made out of a spongy material, preferably flexible spongy polyurethane with a density lower than 40 kg per cubic meter so that the piston only suffers a maximum dimensional loss of 0.50% after traveling pipelines with a total length of more than 1000 km.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Petroleo Brisileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventor: Paulo Cesar Lima
  • Patent number: 5387292
    Abstract: The corrosion resistance inherent in stainless steel is further improved by a cladding layer provided on the surface thereof. The cladding layer is formed of a coating material which is applied onto the surface of the stainless steel and, then, burnt to be fused by laser beams. The coating material contains a larger amount of Cr than that of the stainless steel. The thus fused material and a fused portion of the stainless steel are mixed with each other to form the cladding layer of remarkable corrosion resistance due to a larger amount of Cr contained therein. The formation of the cladding layer on the inner surface of a small diameter pipe is enabled by a coating film shaping device which has a jig for shaping the applied material into a film of a uniform thickness and by a laser irradiation torch which has an arrangement for emitting the laser means radially outward from the inside of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Morishige, Kenji Hirano, Kiyofumi Ishikawa, Shuji Furuya
  • Patent number: 5387294
    Abstract: A hard surfacing alloy which has a Rockwell C hardness of greater than about 50 and which includes tungsten carbide, chromium carbide and bi-metallic chromium and tungsten carbide crystals which are precipitated in the alloy. Alloys of the present invention in their nominal composition comprise from about 12% to about 20% tungsten; from about 13% to about 30% chromium; an effective amount of carbon for forming carbides with the tungsten and chromium and include effective amounts of fluxes and melting point depressants and the like. The balance of the composition is nickel. The alloys include precipitated carbide crystals of chromium, tungsten and bi-metallic mixtures thereof which are interspersed through the hard surfacing alloy and are metallurgically bonded in the metal matrix of the alloy. The alloys have extremely low porosities and therefore are suitable for glass plunger and other applications where low porosity is essential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Wall Comonoy Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel C. DuBois
  • Patent number: 5385613
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for flushing an automatic transmission cooling system. A sealed pressurized canister having an outlet and no inlet and a biodegradable soap solution thereinside is coupled to the cooling system, and a valve releases the soap within the canister through the cooling system. A tube within the canister extends from the canister's outlet into the soap solution, and after the soap is expelled from the canister, the canister is inverted and pressurized air from the canister purges the soap solution from the cooling system. A bag may be provided to catch the waste soap solution emerging from the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Larry E. Coleman
  • Patent number: 5383980
    Abstract: Workpieces of steel are hardened by carburizing the surface and then quenching. The carburizing is performed by means of a plasma discharge in a vacuum, in the presence of gaseous hydrocarbons at voltages between 200 and 2000 volts, preferably between 300 and 1000 volts, and preferably with the admixture of argon. The plasma is produced by means of electrodes operated in a vacuum, the cathode of which serves as workpiece holder and is operated by pulsed operation. In order to achieve a uniform hardness distribution and to reduce the mass flow of carbon, even in the case of irregularly shaped workpieces, the carburization is performed at a total pressure between 14 and 30 mbar, the pulse duration is selected between 110 and 10,000 .mu.sec, and the pause duration is selected between 30 and 10,000 .mu.sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Leybold Durferrit GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Melber, Kyong-Tschong Rie, Frank Schnatbaum
  • Patent number: 5383975
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for cleaning pipelines and especially ventilation pipes and ducts in buildings, and includes a nozzle connected to a supply conduit through which a pressurized medium can flow. The arrangement includes a nozzle opening directed back toward the supply conduit. The nozzle opening is in the form of a large continuous annular gap which extends along the periphery of the nozzle and is connected to the supply conduit and the source of a pressurized medium. The gap directs the medium toward the inner walls of the pipe or duct and effects a cleaning of the inner walls. The nozzle is moved into the pipe or duct as a result of reaction forces generated from discharge of the pressurized medium through the nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Johan Faxon
  • Patent number: 5383979
    Abstract: In a process for producing a workpiece from sintered metal, especially from sintered iron, the latter is subjected, after sintering, to a steam treatment at temperatures below 500.degree. C., especially at 430.degree.-480.degree. C., at a steam partial pressure of from 20 to 80 mbar, especially from 30 to 50 mbar, to form an oxide layer on the surface, and to subsequent surface-hardening. Workpieces, especially internally geared wheels for starters, having a wear-resistant surface and, in the core, properties unchanged by the hardening are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 5383973
    Abstract: A method for removal of undesirable foreign matter from the interior of existing duct systems. The method comprises the insertion of a plurality of members into a stream of air within the existing duct to loosen the dirt adhering to the duct walls. The members are capable of receiving and holding a static electric charge on their exterior surfaces so that when the members are agitated within the stream of air and against the duct, a static electrical charge is placed thereon. The electrical charge causes a portion of the foreign matter to be attracted to and adhere to the members. The stream of air with the members and loose foreign matter entrained therein is then removed from the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: ADCS/Air Duct Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ward E. Curry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5383972
    Abstract: A carpet cleaning and maintenance method wherein the steps of pre-spraying and extracting a solvent from a carpet and applying and extracting a low sudsing detergent from the carpet are alternated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Interface Service Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale A. Waltz
  • Patent number: 5382295
    Abstract: An aqueous alkaline cleaner for aluminum has a pH in the range from 10.0-12.0 and contains:(A) from 0.5 to 10.0 g/L of an alkali builder component;(B) from 0.5 to 10.0 g/L of aminoalkyl- and/or hydroxyalkyldi-phosphonic acids and/or their water soluble salts;(C) from 0.1 to 3.0 g/L of an aluminum ion sequestering agent component; and(D) from 0.5 to 5.0 g/L of a surfactant component.Cleaning aluminum and aluminum alloy with such a cleaner generates an excellent surface condition with respect to de-smutting performance, water wettability, avoidance of black smut production, blackening, and paint adherence at least as good as that achieved with conventional acid cleaners, without requiring any acid wash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Aoki, Yoji Ono
  • Patent number: 5382296
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning a semiconductor product of particles accumulated on its surface and of metallic and organic contamination. According to the invention, the washing of the semiconductor product is carried out with an acid-water solution with a dilution ratio between 1:10.sup.6 -1:10.sup.3 advantageously between 1:10.sup.5 -1.0.sup.4. Advantageously the employed acid is for instance hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid or hydrofluoric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Okmetic Oy
    Inventor: Olli Anttila
  • Patent number: 5380347
    Abstract: A blast media for stripping contaminants from a solid surface comprises abrasive particles and a surfactant in the form of a granular surfactant-clathrate compound formed of a surfactant and a water soluble compound having clathration capability such as urea. The surfactant reduces the amount of water soluble residues which remain on the targeted surface and enhances the removal of dirt, grease and oil from the targeted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Winston, Benny S. Yam, Keith A. Jones