Patents by Inventor Ralph C. Dorward

Ralph C. Dorward 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: 9410229
    Abstract: High strength aluminum alloys based on the Al—Zn—Mg—Cu alloy system preferably include high levels of zinc and copper, but modest levels of magnesium, to provide increased tensile strength without sacrificing toughness. Preferred ranges of the elements include by weight, 8.5-10.5% Zn, 1.4-1.85% Mg, 2.25-3.0% Cu and at least one element from the group Zr, V, or Hf not exceeding about 0.5%, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental impurities. In addition, small amounts of scandium (0.05-0.30%) are also preferably employed to prevent recrystallization. During formation of the alloys, homogenization, solution heat treating and artificial aging processes are preferably employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum Fabricated Products, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Brooks, Ralph C. Dorward, Ray D. Parkinson, Rob A. Matuska, Mory Shaarbaf
  • Publication number: 20110150696
    Abstract: High strength aluminum alloys based on the Al—Zn—Mg—Cu alloy system preferably include high levels of zinc and copper, but modest levels of magnesium, to provide increased tensile strength without sacrificing toughness. Preferred ranges of the elements include by weight, 8.5-10.5% Zn, 1.4-1.85% Mg, 2.25-3.0% Cu and at least one element from the group Zr, V, or Hf not exceeding about 0.5%, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental impurities. In addition, small amounts of scandium (0.05-0.30%) are also preferably employed to prevent recrystallization. During formation of the alloys, homogenization, solution heat treating and artificial aging processes are preferably employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Charles E. Brooks, Ralph C. Dorward, Ray D. Parkinson, Rob A. Matuska, Mory Shaarbaf
  • Publication number: 20100180988
    Abstract: High strength aluminum alloys based on the Al—Zn—Mg—Cu alloy system preferably include high levels of zinc and copper, but modest levels of magnesium, to provide increased tensile strength without sacrificing toughness. Preferred ranges of the elements include by weight, 8.5-10.5% Zn, 1.4-1.85% Mg, 2.25-3.0% Cu and at least one element from the group Zr, V, or Hf not exceeding about 0.5%, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental impurities. In addition, small amounts of scandium (0.05-0.30%) are also preferably employed to prevent recrystallization. During formation of the alloys, homogenization, solution heat treating and artificial aging processes are preferably employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Charles E. Brooks, Ralph C. Dorward, Ray D. Parkinson, Rob A. Matuska, Mory Shaarbaf
  • Patent number: 6139653
    Abstract: Al--Mg--Sc based alloys include additional elements selected from the group comprising Hf, Mn, Zr, Cu and Zn to improve their tensile properties. The alloys are preferably comprised of aluminum and, in wt. %, 1.0-8.0% Mg, 0.05-0.6% Sc, 0.05-0.20% Hf and/or 0.05-0.20% Zr, and 0.5-2.0% Cu and/or 0.5-2.0% Zn. In addition, 0.1-0.8 wt. % Mn may be added to the alloy to improve its strength characteristics further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Micky T. Fernandes, Ralph C. Dorward
  • Patent number: 6004409
    Abstract: The present invention is a process to use aluminum alloy scrap to manufacture high quality machinable tooling plate. This is an new use for this scrap which has heretofore been used in lower quality products. The tooling plate thus made has superior properties when machined as it produces smaller chips and/or a limited of spirals from the plate. Large chips and long spirals create problems and a smaller chip greatly facilitates the machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph C. Dorward, Greg F. Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 5938867
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product comprising providing stock including an aluminum alloy comprising about 4.0 to 4.4 wt. % copper, about 1.25 to 1.5 wt. % magnesium, about 0.35 to 0.5 wt. % manganese, not more than 0.12 wt. % silicon, not more than 0.08 wt. % iron, not more than 0.06 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; hot working the stock; annealing at 725-875.degree. F.; cold rolling; solution heat treating; cooling; holding for at least 12 hours at room temperature; and cold working from about 4% to 7% thereby producing a product having increased strength and toughness properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph C. Dorward, Steven D. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5897720
    Abstract: A product comprising an aluminum base alloy including about 3.8 wt. % copper, about 1.2 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.6 wt. % manganese, not more than about 0.15 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.12 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.1 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having at least 5% improvement over 2024 alloy in fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate, corrosion resistance, and formability properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph C. Dorward
  • Patent number: 5888320
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product having high formability high fracture toughness, high strength and improved corrosion resistance, the method comprising: (a) providing stock including an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.3 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.5 wt. % copper, about 0.8 to 1.1 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.4 wt. % manganese, and about 0.5 to 0.8 wt. % zinc, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; (b) homogenizing the stock at a temperature ranging from about 950.degree. to 1050.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 2 to 20 hours; (c) hot rolling at a temperature ranging from about 750.degree. to 950.degree. F. will increase; (d) solution heat treating at a temperature ranging from about 1000.degree. to 1080.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 5 minutes to one hour; (e) cooling by quenching at a rate of about 1000.degree. F./second to a temperature of 100.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph C. Dorward