Patents by Inventor Carol A. Girrell

Carol A. Girrell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Fluidized bed apparatus for treating metals
    Patent number: 4671496
    Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for conducting various metal treatment processes including nitriding, carbonitriding, nitrocarburizing, surface activation, and selective oxidation in any desired sequence in the same fluidized bed furnace. The apparatus comprises a fluidized bed furnace having a humidifier system including a humidifier and superheater and the method involves exposing a metal workpiece sequentially to at least two separate metal treatment atmospheres in a fluidized bed furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Carol A. Girrell, Joseph E. Japka
  • Surface treatment of metals
    Patent number: 4547228
    Abstract: This application disclosed a method and apparatus for conducting various metal treatment processes including nitriding, carbonitriding, nitrocarburizing, surface activation, and selective oxidation in any desired sequence in the same fluidized bed furnace. The apparatus comprises a fluidized bed furnace having a humidifier system including a humidifier and superheater and the method involves exposing a metal workpiece sequentially to at least two separate metal treatment atmospheres in a fluidized bed furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Carol A. Girrell, Joseph E. Japka
  • Apparatus for metal treatment
    Patent number: 4524957
    Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and method for heat treating metal workpieces in chemically controlled environments produced by decomposition of an atmosphere precursor, e.g. methanol or ethyl acetate, introduced to a heated fluidized bed retort as a vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Staffin, Carol A. Girrell, Mario A. Fronzoni
  • Method for metal treatment using a fluidized bed
    Patent number: 4512821
    Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and method for heat treating metal workpieces in chemically controlled environments produced by decomposition of an atmosphere precursor, e.g. methanol or ethyl acetate, introduced to a heated fluidized bed retort as a vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Staffin, Carol A. Girrell, Mario A. Fronzoni
  • Heat treatment processes utilizing H.sub.2 O additions
    Patent number: 4208224
    Abstract: In a process for carburizing ferrous parts, nitrogen gas is supplied to the vestibule of an integral quench furnace while a gaseous carbon source is supplied without a carrier gas to the furnace hot zone. H.sub.2 O is introduced into the hot zone at the rate of 0.1-15 ml/min such that upon vaporization thereof a furnace hot zone atmosphere is formed which includes up to about 40% nitrogen, at least 14% CO and 40% H.sub.2. Subsequent to carburizing, parts may be annealed or bright hardened in the same furnace by increasing the H.sub.2 O flow rate to the hot zone to establish an atmosphere comprised of at least 60% H.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol A. Girrell