Patents by Inventor John R. Noonan

John R. Noonan 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).

  • High power x-ray welding of metal-matrix composites
    Patent number: 5994660
    Abstract: A method for joining metal-matrix composites (MMCs) by using high power x-rays as a volumetric heat source is provided. The method involves directing an x-ray to the weld line between two adjacent MMCs materials to create an irradiated region or melt zone. The x-rays have a power density greater than about 10.sup.4 watts/cm.sup.2 and provide the volumetric heat required to join the MMC materials. Importantly, the reinforcing material of the metal-matrix composites remains uniformly distributed in the melt zone, and the strength of the MMCs are not diminished. In an alternate embodiment, high power x-rays are used to provide the volumetric heat required to weld metal elements, including metal elements comprised of metal alloys. In an alternate embodiment, high power x-rays are used to provide the volumetric heat required to weld metal elements, including metal elements comprised of metal alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Richard A. Rosenberg, George A. Goeppner, John R. Noonan, William J. Farrell, Qing Ma