Patents Examined by Upendra Roy
  • Patent number: 5284618
    Abstract: A niobium and titanium based alloy having a density less than 6.5 and possessing a high resistance to oxidation at high temperatures in the region of 900.degree. C. has a chemical composition comprising, in atomic percentages:more than 24% Nbfrom 30 to 48% Tifrom 21 to 38% Aland possibly up to 8% of at least one of Cr, Mo, V and Zr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignees: Association pour la Recherche et le Developpement des Methodes et Processus Industriels "A.R.M.I.N.E.S.", Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."
    Inventors: Michel L. Allouard, Yves C. Bienvenu, Christophe Delaunay, Christian A. B. Ducrocq, Gerard Lemaitre, Michel Marty, Andre Walder
  • Patent number: 5284620
    Abstract: A TiAl alloy base melt including at least one of Cr, C, Ga, Mo, Mn, Nb, Ni Si, Ta, V and W and at least about 0.5 volume % boride dispersoids is investment cast to form a crack-free, net or near-net shape article having a gamma TiAl intermetallic-containing matrix with a grain size of about 10 to about 250 microns as a result of the presence of the boride dispersoids in the melt. As hot isostatically pressed and heat treated to provide an equiaxed grain structure, the article exhibits improved strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Howmet Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Larsen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5284526
    Abstract: An integrated two-step process for producing low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in continuous furnaces from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 3% residual oxygen is disclosed. The residual oxygen present in non-cryogenically produced nitrogen is converted to moisture by mixing it hydrogen and passing the mixture through a reactor packed with a platinum group catalyst in the first step of the process. The reactor effluent stream containing a mixture of nitrogen, unreacted hydrogen, and moisture is mixed with a predetermined amount of a hydrocarbon gas and introduced into the heating zone of a continuous furnace in the second step of the process to 1) convert moisture to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reaction with the hydrocarbon gas via water gas shift reaction and 2) produce atmospheres in-situ suitable for heat treating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Diwakar Garg, Brian B. Bonner, Donald P. Eichelberger
  • Patent number: 5282908
    Abstract: A Mn-Si-Co-Fe-based high-strength brass alloy comprises, on the weight basis, 15 to 25% of Zn, 1.0 to 5.0% of Mn, 0.3 to 2.0% of Si, 0.01 to 0.5% of Fe, 0.01 to 2.0% of Co, 0.2 to 1.0% of Sn, 5 to 10% of Pb and the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The alloy has a novel intermetallic compound [Mn,Si,Co,Fe] substantially in the form of spheroids and has also fine grains. The alloy is adapted for use as sliding members or parts and has very good resistances to wear and corrosion, anti-seizing property and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Chuetsu Metal Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Nakashima, Takayuki Tanaka, Wataru Yago, Kenzo Yamamoto, Ken-ichi Ichida
  • Patent number: 5282907
    Abstract: The specification discloses chromium-niobium alloys which exhibit improved mechanical properties at high temperatures in the range of 1250.degree. C. and improved room temperature ductility. The alloys contain a Cr.sub.2 Nb-rich intermetallic phase and a Cr-rich phase with an overall niobium concentration in the range of from about 5 to about 18 at. %. The high temperature strength is substantially greater than that of state of the art nickel-based superalloys for enhanced high temperature service. Further improvements in the properties of the compositions are obtained by alloying with rhenium and aluminum; and additional rare-earth and other elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chain T. Liu, Masao Takeyama
  • Patent number: 5281285
    Abstract: Tri-titanium aluminide alloys are preferably deformed and heat treated below the beta transus temperature of the alloys to produce an improved combination of mechanical properties, specifically elevated temperature yield strength and creep resistance, and room temperature ductility and toughness. A preferred composition consists essentially of, in atomic percent, 24.5% aluminum, 12.5% niobium, 1.5% molybdenum, balance titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian J. Marquardt
  • Patent number: 5279642
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a high strength aluminum-based alloy powder comprising mixing Al or Al alloy powder with an Al--T--X alloy powder, wherein T is at least one selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, W, Ca, Li, Mg and Si; X is at least one selected from the group consisting of Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, La, Ce, Sm, Nd, Zr and Ti or Mm; and mechanically alloying the formed powder mixture. The aluminum-based alloy powder is excellent in workability and reliability by virtue of its high strength stability in the temperature range of from room temperature to an elevated temperature, its excellent ductility in the same temperature range and its low thermal expansion coefficient in the same temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Katsumasa Ohtera
  • Patent number: 5277718
    Abstract: A titanium alloy billet having improved response to ultrasonic inspection is described. The billet is given a thermomechanical treatment above the beta transus of the alloy immediately prior to ultrasonic inspection. The treatment may include beta annealing or mechanical deformation above the beta transus. The invention is particularly effective for beta-stabilized alpha-beta and beta titanium alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allen J. Paxson, Clifford E. Shamblen
  • Patent number: 5269857
    Abstract: A method for preparing a heat-treated article made of a superalloy, such as a turbine disk preform, includes furnishing an article made of a superalloy that is prone to quench cracking, usually after forging the article, and thereafter covering at least a portion of the article with a quench cladding having a thickness of at least about 1/8 inch so that the quench cladding is in direct thermal contact with the article. The quench cladding may be conveniently applied to the article by thermal spraying, which produces direct thermal contact between the quench cladding and the article, or by placing the article into the envelope of the quench cladding material and hot isostatically pressing to achieve a direct thermal contact between the envelope and the article. After the quench cladding is in place, the clad article is heated to elevated temperature and quenched from the elevated temperature to a lower temperature, and the envelope is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Swami Ganesh, William R. Butts, Raymond D. Rife, Thomas J. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 5268018
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a spray of atomized metal droplets includes providing an apparatus that forms a spray of molten metal droplets, the apparatus including a metal source and a metal stream atomizer, producing a stream of liquid metal from the metal source, and atomizing the stream of liquid metal with the metal stream atomizer to form the spray of molten metal droplets. A controlled spray of atomized metal droplets is achieved by selectively varying the temperature of the droplets in the spray of molten metal droplets, the step of selectively varying including the step of varying the flow rate of metal produced by the metal source, responsive to a command signal, and sensing the operation of the apparatus and generating the command signal indicative of the operation of the apparatus. The step of atomizing may be accomplished by directing a flow of an atomizing gas at the stream of liquid metal, and then selectively controlling the flow rate of the atomizing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David P. Mourer, Roy W. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5266131
    Abstract: A Zirlo alloy formed by beta quenching, hot deforming, recrystallize annealing and then cold deforming said alloy a plurality of times with recrystallize anneal steps performed between the cold deforming steps followed by stress relief annealing. The fabricating method can include a late stage beta quench step in place of one of the recrystallize anneal steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John P. Foster, Pamela M. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5264055
    Abstract: A method of producing a part having high strength and improved ductility from a titanium alloy having a composition, in percent by weight, or Mo equivalent 5 to 13 and Al equivalent 3 to 8, the balance being titanium and impurities, comprising the steps of hot working an ingot of the alloy including a roughing down under heat and preparation of a blank under heat, preheating to a temperature situated above the real beta transus of the hot worked alloy, and then final working of at least a part of this blank, after which the blank obtained is subjected to a solution heat treatment and then aged. The hot worked blank is cooled from the preheating temperature to a temperature for the beginning of final working which, under the conditions of the cooling of the blank, is at least 50.degree. C. below the real beta tansus and at least 10.degree. C. above the temperature of appearance of the alpha phase, so that the final working is sufficient to end within the alpha nucleation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne du Zirconium Cezus
    Inventors: Bernard Champin, Bernard Prandi
  • Patent number: 5264051
    Abstract: A TiAl composition is prepared to have high strength, high oxidation resistance and to have acceptable ductility by altering the atomic ratio of the titanium and aluminum to have what has been found to be a highly desirable effective aluminum concentration by addition of chromium, niobium, and silicon according to the approximate formula Ti-Al.sub.45 Cr.sub.2 Si.sub.2 Nb.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Shyh-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 5264054
    Abstract: A method for providing improved ductility in a gamma titanium aluminide is taught. The method involves adding inclusions of boron to the titanium aluminide containing chromium, carbon, and niobium and thermomechanically working the casting. Boron additions are made in concentrations between 0.5 and 2 atomic percent. Fine grain equiaxed microstructure is found from solidified melt. Property improvements are achieved by the thermomechanical processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Shyh-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 5259593
    Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying a disturbance to the stream, preferably an amplitude modulated disturbance, to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for disturbing the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Melissa E. Orme, Eric P. Muntz
  • Patent number: 5259893
    Abstract: A process for generating in-situ low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing and heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in a continuous furnace from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is presented. The disclosed process involves mixing nitrogen gas containing residual oxygen with a predetermined amount of a hydrocarbon gas, feeding the gaseous mixture through a nonconventional device into the hot zone of a continuous heat treating furnace, converting residual oxygen to an acceptable form such as a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, a mixture of moisture, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, or a mixture of carbon monoxide, moisture, and hydrogen, and using the resultant gaseous mixture for annealing and heat treating metals and alloys, brazing metals, sintering metal and ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian B. Bonner, Diwakar Garg, Donald P. Eichelberger
  • Patent number: 5258081
    Abstract: Artificially aged aluminum-lithium alloys are given an auxiliary heat treatment at or after completion of ageing to improve short-transverse properties, particularly fracture toughness. The auxiliary heat treatment comprises heating the material steadily to a reversion temperature above the ageing temperature by at least 20.degree. C. but not higher than 250.degree. C., retaining the material briefly at temperature then cooling to room temperature. Typically the treatment involves heating to a reversion temperature in the range 190.degree.-230.degree. C. with a hold at this temperature of around 5 minutes. Boosted properties decay with extended exposure to temperatures of 60.degree. C. and above but may be restored by reimposition of the auxiliary heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Christopher J. Peel, Stanley P. Lynch
  • Patent number: 5258053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for granulating a stream of molten metal which falls from a launder or the like, down into a liquid cooling bath contained in a tank. The metal stream divides into droplets in the liquid cooling bath and the droplets solidify and form solid granules. The cooling liquid has substantially uniform flow across the tank in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the falling metal stream. The flow of cooling liquid has a velocity of less than 0.1 m/sec. The distance from the outlets of the launder to the surface of the liquid cooling bath is kept less than 100 times the diameter of the metal stream measured as the metal stream leaves the launder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Elkem a/s
    Inventors: Karl Forwald, Rune Fossheim, Torbjorn Kjelland
  • Patent number: 5256369
    Abstract: A Titanium base alloy with improved superplastic, hot workability, cold workability, and mechanical properties is provided. The alloy has about 4% Al and 2.5% V, with below 0.15% O, with 2% Fe and 2% Mo, 0.85.about.3.15 wt. % Mo, and at least one element from the group of Fe, Ni, Co, and Cr as beta stabilizing elements, and as contributing elements to the lowering of beta transus, finally to the improvement of the superplastic properties, and hot and cold workability, with the grain size of below 5 .mu.m. A method of making thereof is provided with the reheating temperature between beta transus minus 250.degree. C. and beta transus.A method of superplastic forming thereof is provided with the heat treating temperature between beta transus minus 250.degree. C. and beta transus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Kuninori Minakawa, Kazuhide Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5256216
    Abstract: Zircaloy 2 or 4 strip is heat treated in the beta range, followed by rapid cooling by passing the strip between a first and second roller pair, each roller pair having two oppositely disposed rollers gripping the strip. Each roller pair is connected to a source of an electric current so as to complete an electric circuit including the source, the roller pairs and the strip, which causes heating of the strip to the beta range. The strip is heated at a rate less than 40.degree. C./sec between 750.degree. and 1000.degree. C., held at 1000.degree.-1100.degree. for less than 2 minutes and cooled at a rate of at least 40.degree. C./sec between 1000.degree. C. and 600.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne Du Zirconium Cezus
    Inventors: Gerard Bunel, Charles Chauvel-Trepier, Jean-Pierre Gros, Daniel Charquet