Patents by Inventor Jean-Louis ACHARD

Jean-Louis ACHARD 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).

  • Patent number: 11525178
    Abstract: The invention is a method for treating a solid substrate, made from a first material, of metal or ceramic type, the method comprising placing the substrate in contact with a liquid metal, while the substrate is exposed to an ultrasonic wave called a power wave. At the level of a surface of the substrate, the power density is greater than a cavitation threshold of the liquid metal. Such exposure improves the wettability of the substrate surface by the liquid metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Achard, Fabio Taina
  • Publication number: 20210220905
    Abstract: A method for casting a metal alloy in an ingot mold extending along a vertical axis, the horizontal section of the ingot mold being parallelepiped in shape. During casting, a travelling alternating magnetic field is applied to a liquid phase of the alloy, the magnetic field having a maximum amplitude propagating along an axis of propagation. Under the effect of the magnetic field, a Lorentz force is applied to the liquid phase of the alloy, such that a Lorentz force of maximum intensity propagates along the axis of propagation. The method includes modulating the maximum intensity of the Lorentz force propagating along the axis of propagation. This modulation is obtained by varying, over time, one or more parameters, referred to as force parameters, governing the Lorentz force. An ingot obtained by the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Philippe JARRY, Fabio TAINA, Jean-Louis ACHARD, Marc BERTHERAT, Pierre-Yves MENET, Mircea CABLEA
  • Publication number: 20210087666
    Abstract: The invention is a method for treating a solid substrate, made from a first material, of metal or ceramic type, the method comprising placing the substrate in contact with a liquid metal, while the substrate is exposed to an ultrasonic wave called a power wave. At the level of a surface of the substrate, the power density is greater than a cavitation threshold of the liquid metal. Such exposure improves the wettability of the substrate surface by the liquid metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Jean-Louis ACHARD, Fabio TAINA
  • Patent number: 10837081
    Abstract: The method includes the following steps: a) providing a tubular sonotrode (1) formed in a material substantially inert to liquid aluminum, such as a ceramic, for example, silicon oxynitride, the sonotrode comprising a first open end region (2) and a second optionally closed end region (3), b) submerging at least some of the open end region (2) of the tubular sonotrode (1) in the liquid aluminum alloy, and c) applying power ultrasound on the liquid aluminum alloy by means of the tubular sonotrode (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Philippe Jarry, Jean-Louis Achard
  • Patent number: 10677763
    Abstract: The method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first bath of a liquid metal (1) comprising aluminium with a content X and magnesium with a content Y, the magnesium content Y being different to zero, b) Immersing at least partially a sonotrode (3) formed from a material inert to liquid aluminium, in the first bath of liquid metal (1), and c) Applying power ultrasounds to the sonotrode (3) so as to excite the liquid metal (1) until wetting (5) of the sonotrode (3) by the liquid metal (1) is obtained. d) Cooling the first liquid metal (1) of the first bath until solidification of the first liquid metal (1) around the sonotrode (3) is obtained, generating an intimate bond (6) between the sonotrode (3) and the solidified first liquid metal (1) having a bonding strength substantially equal to that of brazing between two metals. e) Machining the solidified first metal (1) in the form of a flange (7) configured for the attachment of a mechanical amplifier and/or of a transducer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Achard, Philippe Jarry
  • Patent number: 10563285
    Abstract: The method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a sonotrode (1) formed from an essentially inert material with respect to the liquid metal, such as a ceramic, and preferably a silicon nitride or a silicon oxynitride, such as SIALON, or a metal essentially inert to said liquid metal, b) Immersing at least partially the sonotrode (1) in a bath of said metal, c) Applying to the sonotrode (1) power ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds having a power greater than 10 watts to obtain the wetting of said sonotrode by said metal, d) Applying continuously to the sonotrode (1) measurement ultrasounds, also known as testing ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds wherein the frequency is between 1 and 25 MHz, e) Applying intermittently to the sonotrode (1) power ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds having a power greater than 10 watts, to maintain said wetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Achard, Pierre Le Brun
  • Publication number: 20170335427
    Abstract: The method includes the following steps: a) providing a tubular sonotrode (1) formed in a material substantially inert to liquid aluminum, such as a ceramic, for example, silicon oxynitride, the sonotrode comprising a first open end region (2) and a second optionally closed end region (3), b) submerging at least some of the open end region (2) of the tubular sonotrode (1) in the liquid aluminum alloy, and c) applying power ultrasound on the liquid aluminum alloy by means of the tubular sonotrode (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Philippe JARRY, Jean-Louis ACHARD
  • Publication number: 20170306441
    Abstract: The method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a sonotrode (1) formed from an essentially inert material with respect to the liquid metal, such as a ceramic, and preferably a silicon nitride or a silicon oxynitride, such as SIALON, or a metal essentially inert to said liquid metal, b) Immersing at least partially the sonotrode (1) in a bath of said metal, c) Applying to the sonotrode (1) power ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds having a power greater than 10 watts to obtain the wetting of said sonotrode by said metal, d) Applying continuously to the sonotrode (1) measurement ultrasounds, also known as testing ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds wherein the frequency is between 1 and 25 MHz, e) Applying intermittently to the sonotrode (1) power ultrasounds, particularly ultrasounds having a power greater than 10 watts, to maintain said wetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Jean-Louis ACHARD, Pierre LE BRUN
  • Publication number: 20170299555
    Abstract: The method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first bath of a liquid metal (1) comprising aluminium with a content X and magnesium with a content Y, the magnesium content Y being different to zero, b) Immersing at least partially a sonotrode (3) formed from a material inert to liquid aluminium, in the first bath of liquid metal (1), and c) Applying power ultrasounds to the sonotrode (3) so as to excite the liquid metal (1) until wetting (5) of the sonotrode (3) by the liquid metal (1) is obtained. d) Cooling the first liquid metal (1) of the first bath until solidification of the first liquid metal (1) around the sonotrode (3) is obtained, generating an intimate bond (6) between the sonotrode (3) and the solidified first liquid metal (1) having a bonding strength substantially equal to that of brazing between two metals. e) Machining the solidified first metal (1) in the form of a flange (7) configured for the attachment of a mechanical amplifier and/or of a transducer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Jean-Louis ACHARD, Philippe JARRY