Patents by Inventor Joseph Langlais
Joseph Langlais 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: 20200002792Abstract: The present disclosure provides additives capable of undergoing a peritectic reaction with boron in aluminum-boron carbide composite materials. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of vanadium, zirconium, niobium, strontium, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, scandium, tantalum, tungsten and combination thereof, is used to maintain the fluidity of the molten composite material, prior to casting, to facilitate castability.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Neivi Andrade, Jean-Alain Laurin
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Patent number: 10465987Abstract: The dual-function impeller can be rotated in molten metal in a direction of rotation, as part of a rotary injector. The impeller can have a body having an axis, a plurality of blades circumferentially interspaced around an axis, and an aperture coinciding with the axis. The blades having both a radially extending portion facing the direction of rotation and collectively generating a radial flow component upon said rotation, and a slanted portion also facing the direction of rotation, inclined relative to a radial plane, and collectively generating an axial flow component directed away from the rotary injector upon said rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International LimitedInventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger, Martin Beaulieu
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Patent number: 9840754Abstract: A rotary injector comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an impeller at the distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft and the impeller being collectively rotatable during operation around an axis of the shaft, the rotary injector being hollow and having an internal supply conduit extending along the shaft and across the impeller, the supply conduit having an inlet at the proximal end of the shaft, a main portion extending from the inlet to a discharge portion, the discharge portion extending to an axial outlet, the discharge portion having a narrow end connecting the main portion of the supply conduit and a broader end at the axial outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International LimitedInventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger
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Patent number: 9592551Abstract: A trough for cooling and delivering molten metal to a casting station. The trough comprises a refractory portion for holding the molten metal and heat transfer means associated to external walls of the refractory portion for extracting heat from the molten metal. The heat transfer means may comprise a fluidized bed compartment for holding and fluidizing a fluidization material. Also, the heat transfer means may comprise a cooling jacket, an inner wall of the cooling jacket and the external walls of the refractory portion defining the fluidized bed compartment.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International LimitedInventors: André Larouche, Éric Hébert, Danny Jean, Joseph Langlais, Serge Lavoie
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Publication number: 20160238319Abstract: The dual-function impeller can be rotated in molten metal in a direction of rotation, as part of a rotary injector. The impeller can have a body having an axis, a plurality of blades circumferentially interspaced around an axis, and an aperture coinciding with the axis. The blades having both a radially extending portion facing the direction of rotation and collectively generating a radial flow component upon said rotation, and a slanted portion also facing the direction of rotation, inclined relative to a radial plane, and collectively generating an axial flow component directed away from the rotary injector upon said rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger, Martin Beaulieu
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Publication number: 20160108496Abstract: A rotary injector comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an impeller at the distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft and the impeller being collectively rotatable during operation around an axis of the shaft, the rotary injector being hollow and having an internal supply conduit extending along the shaft and across the impeller, the supply conduit having an inlet at the proximal end of the shaft, a main portion extending from the inlet to a discharge portion, the discharge portion extending to an axial outlet, the discharge portion having a narrow end connecting the main portion of the supply conduit and a broader end at the axial outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger
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Publication number: 20150275338Abstract: The present disclosure provides additives capable of undergoing a peritectic reaction with boron in aluminum-boron carbide composite materials. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of vanadium, zirconium, niobium, strontium, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, scandium, tantalum, tungsten and combination thereof, is used to maintain the fluidity of the molten composite material, prior to casting, to facilitate castability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Neivi Andrade, Jean-Alain Laurin
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Publication number: 20150158084Abstract: A trough for cooling and delivering molten metal to a casting station. The trough comprises a refractory portion for holding the molten metal and heat transfer means associated to external walls of the refractory portion for extracting heat from the molten metal. The heat transfer means may comprise a fluidized bed compartment for holding and fluidizing a fluidization material. Also, the heat transfer means may comprise a cooling jacket, an inner wall of the cooling jacket and the external walls of the refractory portion defining the fluidized bed compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Éric Hébert, Danny Jean, Joseph Langlais, André Larouche, Serge Lavoie
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Publication number: 20080299001Abstract: The present invention relates to modified alloy compositions for reduced hot tear susceptibility, the aluminum alloy comprising from 0.01 to 0.025% by weight of Sr; and TiB2, measured by its boron content, from 0.001 to 0.005% by weight of B. The invention also relates to a method of preventing or eliminating hot tears in an aluminum alloy comprising the step of combining with aluminum: from 0.01 to 0.025% by weight of Sr; and TiB2, measured by its boron content, from 0.001 to 0.005% by weight of B.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Joseph Langlais, Alain Lemieux, Neivi Andrade
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Publication number: 20020174971Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a cast and cooled metal ingot. The process comprises: casting a molten metal by a direct chill casting operation to form a metal ingot emerging from a mould, and directing one or more streams of liquid coolant onto an outer surface of the metal ingot adjacent to the mould at positions spaced around the periphery of the ingot to achieve a rate of heat extraction from the ingot. The one or more streams of liquid coolant are orientated at an angle relative to the outer surface of the ingot, and the angle is varied during the casting operation to change the rate of heat extraction from the ingot to minimize cooling-related defects in the cast and cooled ingot.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Joseph Langlais, Luc Belley
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Patent number: 6257004Abstract: A method of measuring the quenchability of a liquid coolant used to cool objects such as ingots produced by direct-chill casting. The method involves providing a sample of the liquid coolant; providing a probe for immersion in the sample, the probe having a temperature-sensing electrical device contained therein which generates an electrical response corresponding to temperature sensed; heating the probe in a gas, preferably by means of electrical resistance heating by a circuit which is electrically connected to the temperature-sensing electrical device, to a predetermined temperature measured by the electrical response of the temperature sensing device, immersing the probe into the sample and measuring the electrical response for a predetermined measurement period, and comparing the measured electrical response to a response of a reference liquid measured under equivalent conditions, to thereby determine the quenchability property of the liquid coolant.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Andre Gendron, Thierry Bourgeois, Yves Caron, Joseph Langlais
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Patent number: 6251158Abstract: A process of producing granules of a reactive metal. The process comprises providing a source of molten reactive metal (41), forming discrete droplets (53) of the molten metal, contacting the droplets while still substantially molten with a fluidized bed of particles (12) maintained at a temperature substantially below the solidus temperature of the metal and freezing the droplets as discrete granules of the reactive metal in the fluidized bed. The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the method and product produces by the method, including a magnesium-containing additive for aluminum alloying. The use of a fluidized bed for cooling and freezing the droplets avoids problems encountered in prior methods and also makes it possible to provide coatings of various kinds on the surfaces of the granules, if desired.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Joseph Langlais, Serge Lavoie, Stephane Rompre, Sylvain Trottier, Gilles Turcotte
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Patent number: 5951738Abstract: An apparatus for producing coated metal granules is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of molten metal, a device for forming droplets of the molten metal, a bed of particles for receiving the droplets and a means for introducing a gas to fluidize the bed, cooling equipment to maintain the bed below the solidus temperature of the metal, and a separator for separating solidified granules of the metal from particles of the bed. This apparatus can produce an alloying additive which comprises magnesium granules 1-10 mm in size, at least partially coated with particles of a chloride salt which are attached to the granules by being physically embedded into a surface of the granules. The salt particles remain unmelted or only partially melted during formation of the additive.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Joseph Langlais, Serge Lavoie, Stephane Rompre, Sylvain Trottier, Gilles Turcotte
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Patent number: 5549732Abstract: A process of producing granules of a reactive metal. The process comprises providing a source of molten reactive metal, forming discrete droplets of the molten metal, contacting the droplets while still substantially molten with a fluidized bed of particles maintained at a temperature substantially below the solidus temperature of the metal and freezing the droplets as discrete granules of the reactive metal in the fluidized bed. The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the method and product produced by the method, including a magnesium-containing additive for aluminum alloying. The use of a fluidized bed for cooling and freezing the droplets avoids problems encountered in prior methods and also makes it possible to provide coatings of various kinds on the surfaces of the granules, if desired.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1994Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Joseph Langlais, Serge Lavoie, Stephane Rompre, Sylvain Trottier, Gilles Turcotte
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Patent number: D713861Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International LimitedInventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger, Martin Beaulieu
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Patent number: D742427Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Joseph Langlais, Peter Donald Waite, Francis Breton, Serge Munger, Martin Beaulieu