Patents by Inventor Francis Caron

Francis Caron 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).

  • Publication number: 20230340652
    Abstract: This disclosure provides an aging process or a method for aging aluminum alloys. For example, the aging process can be performed on 6xxx Al-Si-Mg-Cu aluminum alloys to result in production of such alloys with improved intergranular corrosion (IGC) resistance. The disclosed aging process includes subjecting a solution heat treated and quenched 6xxx aluminum alloy to a temperature above an aging hardening temperature of said alloy but below the solution heat treatment temperature for a short period of time, and then subjecting said alloy to an aging heat treatment at an aging hardening temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.
    Inventors: Xinyan YAN, Francis CARON, Guy LALIBERTE
  • Publication number: 20230087550
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Dumont, Francis Caron, Patrice Côte, Jean-Francois DesMeules
  • Publication number: 20230024665
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a 6xxx aluminum alloy having: silicon (Si) in an amount of 0.70 wt % to 1.1 wt % based on a total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy; magnesium (Mg) in an amount of 0.75 wt % to 1.15 wt % based on the total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy; a weight ratio of Mg to Si in the 6xxx aluminum alloy from 0.68:1.0 to 1.65:1.0; and copper (Cu) in an amount of 0.30 wt % to 0.8 wt % based on the total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy. Some embodiments of the present disclosure further relate to a method including steps of: casting an exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy, homogenizing the exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy; extruding the exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy; and aging the 6xxx aluminum alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Xinyan Yan, Francis Caron
  • Patent number: 11541454
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ALCOA CANADA CO.
    Inventors: Robert Dumont, Francis Caron, Patrice Côte, Jean-Francois DesMueles
  • Publication number: 20200030876
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Dumont, Francis Caron, Patrice Côte, Jean-Francois DesMueles
  • Patent number: 10471506
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle for the molten metal. A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Alcoa Canada Co.
    Inventors: Robert Dumont, Francis Caron, Patrice Côte, Jean-Francois DesMeules
  • Publication number: 20190136342
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of producing purified aluminum alloys from aluminum alloy scrap by producing a melt of the aluminum alloy scrap, adding one or more intermetallic former materials, producing iron-bearing intermetallic particles, removing the iron-bearing intermetallic particles, and solidifying the low-iron melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Xinyan Yan, Francis Caron
  • Publication number: 20170341140
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle for the molten metal. A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: ALCOA LTÉE
    Inventors: Robert Dumont, Francis Caron, Patrice Côte, Jean-Francois DesMeules
  • Publication number: 20140041560
    Abstract: A method of creating and using a high-carbon spent pot lining (SPL) as a fuel, including delining the high-carbon spent pot lining from an electrolytic cell and combusting the SPL in a furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Francis Caron, Denis Guay, Dany Drapeau