Patents by Inventor Francis H. Froes
Francis H. Froes 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).
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Publication number: 20030211001Abstract: The process includes (a) mixing a titanium hydride powder having a particle size of ≦150 &mgr;m with alloying metal powders (master alloys or elemental metal powders) having a particle size in the range of {fraction (1/15)}-⅖ of the maximal particle size of titanium hydride powder, (b) compacting the resulting powder mixture by molding at the pressures of 400-1000 MPa, (c) heating up to the sintering temperature of the predetermined alloy composition at variable pressures in a furnace chamber: initial heating to 400° C. in vacuum of less than 10−2 Pa, then, heating to a temperature range of 400-900° C. with the pressures up to 104 Pa, which is controlled by hydrogen being emitted by the decomposition of titanium hydride contained in the compacted powdered alloy, and finally, heating to over 900° C. to the sintering temperature at the pressure continually decreasing to the starting vacuum level, and (d) sintering.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2002Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: Advanced Materials Products, Inc.Inventors: Orest M. Ivasishin, Dmitro G. Savvakin, Victor A. Drozdenko, Anatoli M. Petrunko, Vladimir S. Moxson, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 6638336Abstract: The cost-effective titanium powder is manufactured by (a) magnesium-thermic reduction of titanium chlorides characterized by the formation of a hollow block of the reaction mass having an open cavity in the center of the block, (b) thermal-vacuum separation of the hollow block from excessive Mg and MgCl2 at 850-950° C. and residual pressure of 10−2-10−3 mm Hg, (c) cooling of obtained titanium hollow block in a H2-contained atmosphere at an excessive hydrogen pressure, (d) crushing the hydrogenated titanium block, (e) grinding the crushed titanium pieces into the powder combined with a hydro-metallurgical treatment of obtained titanium powder in a diluted aqueous solution of at least one chloride selected from magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or titanium chloride, and (f) drying and, optionally dehydrating the titanium powder ground to a predetermined particle size.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Inventors: Victor A. Drozdenko, Anatoli M. Petrunko, Anatoli E. Andreev, Oleksiy P. Yatsenko, Orest M. Ivasishin, Dmitro G. Savvakin, Vladimir S. Moxson, Francis H. Froes
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Publication number: 20020197200Abstract: Forming metal and metalloid carbides by mechanically inducing a reduction reaction between a metal chloride (or a metalloid chloride) and a metal carbide. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. Alloy carbides may also be produced by mechanically inducing the co-reduction of metal chlorides or metalloid chlorides and a metal carbide according to the equation: M1chloride+M2chloride+M3carbide→M1M2carbide, where M1 is a metal or metalloid, M2 is a metal or metalloid and M3 is a suitable carbide reducing agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Francis H. Froes, Baburaj G. Eranezhuth
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Patent number: 6451279Abstract: Forming metal and metalloid carbides by mechanically inducing a reduction reaction between a metal chloride (or a metalloid chloride) and a metal carbide. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. Alloy carbides may also be produced by mechanically inducing the co-reduction of metal chlorides or metalloid chlorides and a metal carbide according to the equation: M1chloride+M2chloride+M3carbide→M1M2carbide, where M1 is a metal or metalloid, M2 is a metal or metalloid and M3 is a suitable carbide reducing agent.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Francis H. Froes, Baburaj G. Eranezhuth
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Patent number: 6231636Abstract: A set of processes for preparing metal powders, including metal alloy powders, by ambient temperature reduction of a reducible metal compound by a reactive metal or metal hydride through mechanochemical processing. The reduction process includes milling reactants to induce and complete the reduction reaction. The preferred reducing agents include magnesium and calcium hydride powders. A process of pre-milling magnesium as a reducing agent to increase the activity of the magnesium has been established as one part of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Francis H. Froes, Baburaj G. Eranezhuth, Keith Prisbrey
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Patent number: 6152982Abstract: The low temperature reduction of a metal oxide using mechanochemical processing techniques. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. In one embodiment of the invention, titanium oxide TiO.sub.2 is milled with CaH.sub.2 to produce TiH.sub.2. Low temperature heat treating, in the range of 400.degree. C. to 700.degree. C., can be used to remove the hydrogen in the titanium hydride.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Francis H. Froes, Baburaj G. Eranezhuth, Oleg N. Senkov
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Patent number: 6136706Abstract: A process for producing titanium that includes forming gaseous titanium and then transforming the gaseous titanium into solid titanium through condensation. The titanium gas is formed by vaporizing titania with an electron beam in the presence of carbon. The gas-containing vapor is cooled to form a titanium liquid or solid.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Idaho Research FoundationInventors: Vadim J. Jabotinski, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 5922460Abstract: A metal matrix composite material made of a fiber reinforcement having a coating of gadolinium and gadolinium boride, preferably as discrete layers, each having a thickness of 1 to 6 microns. This composite is made by coating reinforcing fibers with gadolinium using a deposition technique, further coating the fibers with gadolinium boride by a deposition technique and then consolidating the coated fibers into a metal matrix to form the metal matrix composite.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland of Defence Evaluation and Research AgencyInventors: Charles M. Ward-Close, Francis H. Froes, Deepak Upadhyaya, Panos Tsakiropoulos
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Patent number: 5098484Abstract: A method of producing titanium alloy articles having a desired microstructure which comprises the steps of:(a) providing a prealloyed titanium alloy powder;(b) filling a suitable die or mold with the powder;(c) hot isostatic press (HIP) consolidating the powder in the filled mold at a pressure of 30 Ksi or greater and at a temperature of about 60 to 80 percent of the beta transus temperature of the alloy, in degrees C.In another embodiment of the invention, the prealloyed titanium aluminide alloy powder is hydrogenated to about 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % prior to die filling and consolidation. The compacted article is vacuum annealed to remove hydrogen from the article after removal of the die material.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1991Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes, Leslie S. Apgar
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Patent number: 5067988Abstract: A method for refining the microstructure and enhancing the processability of titanium aluminum alloys containing about 45 to 55 atomic percent aluminum which comprises the steps of:(a) rapidly solidifying a titanium aluminum alloy containing about 45 to 55 atomic percent aluminum to provide a rapidly solidified material having at least one dimension not greater than about 100 micrometers;(b) diffusing hydrogen into the resulting rapidly solidified material at a temperature in the approximate range of 400.degree. to 780.degree. C., and;(c) diffusing hydrogen out of the hydrogenated solid material.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1990Date of Patent: November 26, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Francis H. Froes, D. Simon Shong, Young-Won Kim, Frederick C. Yolton
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Patent number: 5039356Abstract: An improved process for producing near-alpha and alpha+beta titanium alloy axisymmetric components with high fatigue resistance which comprises the steps of:(a) providing a beta processed near-alpha or alpha+beta titanium alloy component;(b) torque deforming the component; and(c) alpha+beta recrystallization annealing the resulting torque-deformed component.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1990Date of Patent: August 13, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Isaac Weiss, Daniel Eylon, Gerhard E. Wesch, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 5032189Abstract: Near-alpha and alpha+beta titanium alloy components are produced by a process which comprises the steps of forging an alloy billet to a desired shape at a temperature at or above the beta-transus temperature of the alloy to provide a forged component, heat treating the forged component at a temperature approximately equal to the beta-transus temperature of the alloy, cooling the component at a rate in excess of air cooling to room temperature, annealing the component at a temperature in the approximate range of 10 to 20% below said beta-transus temperature for about 4 to 36 hours, and air cooling the component to room temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1990Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 5024369Abstract: Processes for producing titanium alloy SPF/DB components, particularly structural panels, are provided.In one embodiment, the process comprises providing rapidly solidified titanium alloy sheetstock, providing a plurality of rapidly solidified titanium alloy ribbons or strips, forming the ribbons into waveform structures, assembling a plurality of these waveform structures to produce a honeycomb core, positioning this core between face sheets, and bonding the core to the face sheets.In another embodiment the process comprises providing rapidly solidified titanium alloy sheetstock, superplastically forming at least one piece of sheetstock into a shaped piece having spaced apart, parallel bonding regions, positioning this shaped piece between two face sheets, and bonding the shaped piece to each face sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1989Date of Patent: June 18, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Francis H. Froes, Daniel Eylon
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Patent number: 5015305Abstract: A method for refining the microstructure and enhancing the processability of titanium aluminum alloys containing about 45 to 55 atomic percent aluminum which comprises the steps of:(a) rapidly solidifying a titanium aluminum alloy containing about 45 to 55 atomic percent aluminum in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere to provide a hydrogenated, rapidly solidified material having at least one dimension not greater than about 100 micrometers, and;(b) diffusing hydrogen out of the hydrogenated solid material.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1990Date of Patent: May 14, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Francis H. Froes, Simon D. Shong
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Patent number: 4931253Abstract: A method for producing a titanium alloy powder metallurgy article having high resistance to loading and creep at high temperature is described and comprises the steps of simultaneously pressing a preselected quantity of titanium alloy powder at from 15 to 60 ksi and heating the powder to a temperature just below the beta transus temperature of the alloy to promote beta to alpha phase transformation in the alloy, and then slowly cooling the compacted powder under pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1989Date of Patent: June 5, 1990Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes, Gerhard Welsch
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Patent number: 4919886Abstract: A titanium alloy comprising about 20 to 30 atomic percent (a/o) aluminum, about 3 to 5 a/o niobium, about 3 to 5 a/o vanadium, and about 3 to 5 a/o molybdenum, balance titanium. The alloy can be dispersion strengthened by the addition of small amounts, i.e. up to about 1 a/o of sulfur or rare earth dispersoids, such as Ce, Er or Y.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1989Date of Patent: April 24, 1990Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Ganapathy Venkataraman, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 4917858Abstract: A method for producing foil of titanium aluminide is described which comprises providing a preselected quantity of blended powder of chloride free commercially pure elemental titanium, aluminum and other alloying metal(s) in preselected proportions, rolling the blended powder into a green foil, sintering the green foil, and thereafter pressing the sintered foil to full density.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1989Date of Patent: April 17, 1990Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 4893743Abstract: Processes for producing titanium aluminide SPF/DB components, particularly structural panels, are provided. In one embodiment, the process comprises providing rapidly solidified titanium aluminide alloy sheetstock, providing a plurality of rapidly solidified titanium aluminide alloy ribbons or strips, forming the ribbons into waveform structures, assembling a plurality of these waveform structures to produce a honeycomb core, positioning this core between face sheets, and bonding the core to the face sheets. In another embodiment, the process comprises providing rapidly solidified titanium aluminide alloy sheetstock, superplastically forming at least one piece of sheetstock into a shaped piece having spaced apart, parallel bonding regions, positioning this shaped piece between two face sheets, and bonding the shaped piece to each face sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1989Date of Patent: January 16, 1990Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes
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Patent number: 4872927Abstract: A method for improving the microstructure of wrought titanium alloy material which comprises the steps of hydrogenating the material at a temperature near or above the titanium-hydrogen eutectoid of 815.degree. C. (about 780.degree. to 1020.degree. C.) to a hydrogen level of about 0.50 to 1.50 weight percent, cooling the thus-hydrogenated material to room temperature, heating the thus-cooled, hydrogenated material to a temperature of about 650.degree. to 750.degree. C., applying a vacuum to dehydrogenate the material and cooling the dehydrogenated material to room temperature at a controlled rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1987Date of Patent: October 10, 1989Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Daniel Eylon, Francis H. Froes, Charles F. Yolton
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Patent number: H887Abstract: A titanium alloy comprising about 15 to 25 atomic percent (a/o) aluminum, about 0.05 to 12 a/o of at least one beta eutectoid stabilizing element and about 4 to 12 a/o of at least one beta isomorphous stabilizing element, balance titanium. The beta eutectoid element is at least one of Cu, Ni, Cr, Er, Y, Ce, Si, B or C. The beta isomorphous stabilizing element is Nb or a mixture of Nb with Ta, Mo or V, wherein the Nb can be replaced by Ta, Mo or V up to about half of the stated quantity.The presently preferred amounts of the beta eutectoid stabilizing elements are as follows: Cu, Ni or Cr, about 4.50 to 12.0 a/o; Si, B or C, about 0.70 to 5.0 a/o; Er, Y or Ce, about 0.05 to 0.25 a/o.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1990Date of Patent: February 5, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Ganapathy Venkataraman, Francis H. Froes