Abstract: A die casting system includes a vessel defining a reservoir with a controlled heater and an agitator for maintaining the bath of semi-solid metal in a homogeneous isothermal state, a transfer system capable of transferring a known quantity of metal in its semi-solid state to a mold cavity in a die casting machine, the transfer system including a heated suction tube, a vacuum source for vacuum ladling semi-solid metal from the bath to a die, and a plunger tip providing a path for free air flow to allow evacuation of the suction tube during casting and a metal replacement system for replacing the known quantity of transferred metal with a similar amount of liquid metal so that a stable homogeneous isothermal bath of semi-solid metal is controllably maintained to be available for die casting operations.

Abstract: A material system (60) contains close packed hollow shapes (50, 70) having a dense wall structure (52, 66), which are bonded together and which may contain a matrix binder material (56) between the shapes, where the system has a stable porosity, and is abradable and thermally stable at temperatures up to possibly 1700° C., where such systems are useful in turbine apparatus.

Abstract: A holder secured to the tip of a cutting torch supports a guide about which a hole is to be cut in a steel pipe or sheet. A fixture, magnetically attached to the pipe or sheet supports a magnetically retained fitting to be tack welded to the cut hole at the desired angular orientation relative to the pipe or sheet. After the fitting is tack welded, the fixture is removed and the weld is completed.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved method of projection welding which enables the sound welding of high-carbon, and high-tension low-alloy steels. A spacer is disposed between two parts to be joined by projection welding. At least one of the parts is made of a high-carbon, or high-tension low-alloy steel. The spacer is a thin sheet, or coating formed on at least one of those parts.

Abstract: An exothermic weld mold assembly for forming conductor to conductor welded connections. The exothermic weld mold assembly includes a crucible section having a U-shaped reaction chamber with exothermic material therein, and a mold section having a plurality of flat vertical exterior surfaces with holes drilled perpendicularly through the flat surfaces. A weld chamber is centrally located within the mold section, the weld chamber and the reaction chamber being communicably connected by a vertically extending tap hole. The holes are outfitted with guide sleeves projecting outwardly from the weld chamber. Conductors to be welded are inserted into the weld chamber through the guide sleeves.

Abstract: Spray form cell including a two-wavelength imaging pyrometer adapted to provide real-time measurement of the surface temperature distribution of a metal billet thereby formed. The steel billets may be advantageously used as tools in metal forming processes, injection molding, die casting tooling and other processes that require hard tooling, such as in the automotive industry. The steel billet is formed based on a goal of uniform surface temperature distribution thereby minimizing thermal stresses induced within the steel article thereby produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing spheres at predetermined positions on a substrate. The apparatus includes a platform to support the substrate at a first sphere placement position in the apparatus, and a placement station disposed above the platform that places spheres at locations on the substrate. The placement station includes a first container having a chamber to contain spheres, and a first carrier tray having a substantially horizontal upper surface that forms a lower surface of the chamber. The upper surface has a first section and a second section, the second section having a plurality of holes formed therein to receive spheres. The first carrier tray is movable to position the second section between a fill position beneath the first container and a place position disposed over the first sphere placement position.

Abstract: A capillary threading tool is used to thread bond wire through the capillary tool of a wire bond machine. The capillary threading tool includes a handle that is grasped to manipulate a body portion into a gap between the upper end of the capillary tube and the lower end of a guide tube that is positioned above the capillary tube. The body portion includes a guide surface that is placed in contact with the wire bond machine, and a vertical slot extending from the guide surface that terminates in a closed end having an inclined surface. The length of the slot is selected to position the lower edge of the inclined surface above the end of the capillary tube so the bond wire can be threaded into the capillary tube simply by forcing the end of the wire on the inclined surface.

Abstract: A novel and efficient process for the loading of metals onto adsorbent beds in an overall adsorption system comprising at least two beds can overcome many of the problems associated with traditional metal-loaded adsorbent preparation techniques. These problems include waste stream generation and disposal, drying requirements, and shrinkage/swelling effects. In addition to an adsorption bed, the system includes either an upstream bed (e.g. a pretreatment bed) or a downstream bed (e.g. a post treatment bed). These supplemental beds are often not loaded initially with metal, but can serve to guard against poisons and foulants that detrimentally affect the overall adsorption. The method is useful for in-situ ion exchange loading of metals for which the adsorbent has a strong affinity. The method is particularly advantageous for loading iodine-reactive metals (e.g. silver) onto zeolitic or resin-based adsorbents used for treating iodine-containing feeds, such as commercial acetic acid product streams.

Abstract: For a pipe joining method using shape memory alloy capable of preventing a shape memory capacity loss due to a pipe's tolerance, a shape memory alloy joint having an inner diameter greater/less than an outer diameter of pipes to be joined is installed at the outer/inner circumference of a pipe joining portion, and the pipes and the shape memory alloy joint are simultaneously enlarged/reduced. In addition, a general metal joint having an inner diameter greater/less than an outer diameter of shape memory alloy pipes to be joined is installed at the outer/inner circumference of a shape memory alloy pipe joining portion, and the shape memory alloy pipes and the general metal joint are simultaneously enlarged/reduced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multiple walled tube comprising a rolling of a plated metal strip through at least two complete revolutions to form a tube having at least a double wall which has a plated layer on the inside of the tube, said rolling being followed by a heating of the tube to cause the surface of the tube walls, which are in contact with one another, to be brazed and wherein said metal strip is plated on one side, the other side being formed by the steel of the metal strip and wherein said brazing is realised by brazing directly the plated side on the steel.

Abstract: A method for applying at least one bond coating on a surface of a metal-based substrate is described. A foil of the bond coating material is first attached to the substrate surface and then fused thereto, e.g., by brazing. The foil is often initially prepared by thermally spraying the bond coating material onto a removable support sheet, and then detaching the support sheet. Optionally, the foil may also include a thermal barrier coating applied over the bond coating. The substrate can be a turbine engine component.

Abstract: A method of solid state welding for joining metal parts having opposed planar and parallel surfaces which includes quickly heating the opposed surfaces of the metal parts with a high frequency induction heater to the hot working temperature of the metal parts in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, continuously moving at least one of the parts relative to the other part generally parallel to the parallel surfaces of the parts, and quickly bringing the opposed surfaces of the parts together with an axial force approximately equal to the conventional friction welding forging force while continuing the relative motion of the parts until the absorbed kinetic energy is approximately equal to ten percent of the energy input required by conventional friction welding.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of supporting lead fingers during a wire bonding process and method of preventing the bonding apparatus and clamping assembly from applying force against the die. The present invention includes the use of a movable arm with a portion that is positionable under a portion of the lead fingers of a lead frame during the wire bonding process to provide increased stability of the lead fingers and prevent the bonding apparatus and clamping assembly from applying force against the die. The present invention also provides for the transfer of heat from the heat block directly to the lead fingers during the wire bonding process. The present invention includes the use of a clamp for stabilizing lead fingers during the wire bonding process.

Abstract: For the manufacture of composite panels (16) it is proposed that they be held essentially upright by means of holding devices (17) and that welding by means of a laser welding plant (11, 13) be performed in this position. This affords a considerable space saving compared with the conventional horizontal arrangement in which the composite panels are processed and handled.

Abstract: A pipe welding tool for delivering inert gas to the interior of pipes being welded. The tool has a center tube and a pair of clamps extending around the tube that support a number of extendible hinged arms. The arms are collapsible, thus allowing the entire tool to adjust to fit within a pipe. Once in the pipe, the arms are released and tensioned against the walls of the pipe. A nozzle is positioned on top of the tube. A quick connect coupling is located at the bottom of the tube and connects with a gas source providing an inert gas. A hose connects the quick connect coupling with the nozzle. A gas lens, connected to the nozzle, has a plurality of holes around its side wall. When the gas is fed into the gas lens, the gas lens releases the gas through the holes in the lens in a 360 degree planar pattern. When positioned within a pair of pipes adjacent to a seam, the tool can serve to provide inert gas to the interior of the pipes and prevent the pipes from burning.

Abstract: A reflow apparatus includes at least one heating unit. Each of the at least one heating unit includes an air blower for circulating air; a partition for defining an air circulating path; at least a first slit heater and a second slit heater for heating a workpiece with the circulating air, the workpiece having a first surface and a second surface; and a furnace housing for accommodating the workpiece. The air blower includes a first fan for blowing the air toward the first surface of the workpiece, a second fan for blowing the air toward the second surface of the workpiece, and a motor for rotating the first fan and the second fan. The first fan and the second fan are provided in correspondence with the at least the first slit heater and the second slit heater.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding wind chimes reduces the likelihood that a glass insert will fracture when they are placed in a mold and the mold is charged with molten metal. The casting temperature of the molten metal is adjusted to compensate for the surface area of the glass insert that is contacted by the molten metal. The glass insert are annealed prior to molding. A flexible mold is utilized. The tolerances of the glass insert are carefully controlled. The molded wind chime is carefully cooled.

Abstract: A method of producing microbore holes in a multi-layer substrate (5), preferably a printed circuit board substrate, that is displaced below writing optics (4) by an XY stage (6), using the optics to generate a spot from a light source (1), preferably a laser. The method reduces the treatment time and preferably compensates for distortions in the substrate material. To this end, the position of the spot within a working field is changed simultaneously with the treatment positions by electronically controlled, movable mirrors. The position of the substrate is determined by an interferometer (9, 11), and the signals corresponding to the substrate position are processed by a suitable computer system (16) to obtain an actual position of the table system. The computer system (16) is preferably provided with all bore hole coordinates and additional information such as bore hole diameter, especially in tabular form.