Abstract: Provided herein are continuously cast aluminum alloy products exhibiting uniform surface characteristics. The aluminum alloy products have a first surface comprising a width, wherein the first surface comprises an average of 50 exudates or less per square centimeter across the width of the first surface. Also provided herein are methods of making aluminum alloy products having improved surface characteristics. Further provided are methods and systems for manufacturing aluminum alloy products, such as sheets, having reduced surface defects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides aluminum alloy products having selectively recrystallized microstructure at one or more surfaces of the product. The disclosure also provides articles of manufacture made from such products, and methods of making such products, such as through casting and rolling. The disclosure also provides various end uses of such products, such as in automotive, transportation, electronics, and industrial applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are welds formed from improved resistance spot welding, as well as methods of improved resistance spot welding. Resistance spot welding includes positioning a magnet carrier having a plurality of electromagnets on at least one electrode of two electrodes. The method includes positioning a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet between the two electrodes where at least one of the first metal sheet or the second metal sheet includes an aluminum alloy. The method includes positioning the forming a weld nugget by applying a magnetic field from the plurality of electromagnets through the weld while applying a current through the electrodes to stir a portion of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet forming a weld nugget and adjusting the magnetic field to control at least one characteristic of the weld nugget. Forming the weld nugget joins the first metal sheet with the second metal sheet.

Abstract: A liquid metal jet supplying molten metal during a direct chill casting operation can be optimized to erode the slurry region of the molten sump, but not the solidified metal, at a rate equal to the casting speed. A model of the erosion of solidifying grains in the slurry region of the molten sump can be non-dimensionalized to be used to generate casting parameters (e.g., optimally sized nozzle openings and optimal molten metal flow rates) that would provide the optimized liquid metal jet during the casting process. An ingot cast using such an optimized liquid metal jet would have improved macrosegregation properties (e.g., reduced macrosegregation or more evenly distributed macrosegregation), such as having ingot solute concentrations varying from the molten metal supply concentration approximately 10% or less or 5% or less across the width or height of the ingot.

Abstract: A method of producing a clad sheet article having superplastic properties, and the resulting clad sheet article. The method involves producing a cladding layer onto at least one rolling face of a core ingot made of a metal having superplastic properties, preferably by co-casting, to form a clad ingot and then rolling said clad ingot to produce a sheet article. The core ingot includes an element that diffuses from an interior of the ingot to a surface at superplastic forming temperatures thereby deteriorating surface properties of the ingot. The cladding layer is provided with an element (dopant) that reacts with the element of the core to reduce the ability of the element to diffuse through the cladding layer.

Abstract: A method is described for improving resistance to chemical attack by aluminum or magnesium in refractory components. In one method, a slurry is formed comprising calcium silicate-containing refractory material and a barium-containing compound. This slurry is placed in a mould, then dewatered to form a component which is hydrothermally processed to form a final component. In a second procedure, a silica-containing porous refractory component is impregnated with an aqueous solution of an oxide or hydroxide of barium or strontium and thereafter dried in air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting metals in a DC mold to form an ingot or product having at least two layers formed by sequential solidification. The apparatus has at least one cooled divider wall at the entry end portion of the mold to divide the entry end portion into at least two feed chambers. Metal is fed to the chambers to form an inner layer and at least one outer layer. The divider wall has a metal-contacting surface for contacting the metal for the at least one outer layer, the surface being arranged at an angle to the vertical sloping away from the metal for the outer layer in a downward direction. The angle increases at positions on the divider wall spaced from a central section of the wall approaching each longitudinal end thereof. The apparatus is suitable for casting a metal having a high coefficient of contraction as an inner layer or core ingot, e.g. a high-Mg or high-Zn aluminum alloy, or metal combinations having a large difference in their coefficients of contraction.

Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the casting of a composite metal ingot comprising at least two separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould has a feed end and an exit end and divider wall for dividing the feed end into at least two separate feed chambers, where each feed chamber is adjacent at least one other feed chamber. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers.

Abstract: Devices for cleaning the human tongue and methods for making such devices are disclosed. The tongue cleaner may include a tongue brush and a tongue scraper. The tongue cleaner may be of unitary injection molded construction. The tongue cleaner bristles may be tapered to a point for cleaning crevices of a human tongue, and the bristles may be angled or curved. The tongue scraper contains at least one blade for removal of undesirable material from the tongue by a scraping action. The tongue brush and tongue scraper may be combined into one unit or may be made and used separately.

Abstract: A method is described for improving resistance to chemical attack by aluminum or magnesium in refractory components. In one method, a slurry is formed comprising-calcium silicate-containing refractory material and a barium-containing compound. This slurry is placed in a mould, then dewatered to form a component which is hydrothermally processed to form a final component. In a second procedure, a silica-containing porous refractory component is impregnated with an aqueous solution of an oxide or hydroxide of barium or strontium and thereafter dried in air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the casting of a composite metal ingot comprising at least two separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould has a feed end and an exit end and divider wall for dividing the feed end into at least two separate feed chambers, where each feed chamber is adjacent at least one other feed chamber. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers.

Abstract: The device consists of a tapered spline coupler for a drive shaft of a pull-type forage harvester. The first drive shaft and second drive shaft each have a set of tapered splines that are inserted into a tapered, internally splined coupler. A pair of retaining rings affixed to the drive shafts draws the shafts into the coupler. A retaining bolt may be tightened to force the shafts into the coupler. A method for manufacturing the spline coupling consists of a cutting a groove in the drive shafts for a retaining ring. Tapered splines are cut onto the drive shafts. A tapered bore in the coupler is cut on a lathe by a boring bar. Splines in the coupler are created by use of a broaching tool. After the retaining rings are placed on the drive shafts, a retaining bolt tightens the assembly.

Abstract: The device consists of a tapered spline coupler for a drive shaft of a pull-type forage harvester. The first drive shaft and second drive shaft each have a set of tapered splines that are inserted into a tapered, internally splined coupler. A pair of retaining rings affixed to the drive shafts draws the shafts into the coupler. A retaining bolt may be tightened to force the shafts into the coupler.

Abstract: A main frame of a row crop attachment adapted to be attached to a field traversing forage harvester having a crop inlet. An auger, mounted on the main frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the forage harvester, comprises a tube and flighting mounted on the tube for engaging the upper portion of standing row crops as the forage harvester traverses the field. A transverse cutting assembly, mounted below the auger, has a cutting mechanism for cutting the lower portion of standing row crops. Also mounted below the auger are elements for engaging the lower portion of the stalks in cooperation with the auger flighting under conditions where the auger is rotated in a direction that urges the crop material downwardly and inwardly. After the crop is cut it is urged rearwardly by the auger toward a crop outlet in the attachment adjacent the inlet in the harvester on which the attachment is mounted.

Abstract: A pull type forage harvester including a header, a cylindrical cutter head having rotating knives operatively associated with a shearbar, feed rolls for receiving crop material from the header and conveying it to the cutterhead, and a blower remotely located on the forage harvester relative to the cutterhead. The blower includes a spout for expelling cut crop material to a collecting receptacle. A transverse conveyor consisting of an auger mounted in a trough receives chopped crop material from the cutterhead and conveys it to the blower. Mounted adjacent the cutterhead is a crop processor for crushing chopped crop material received from the cutterhead. The processor comprises a pair of crushing rolls aligned with the cutterhead axis and above the transverse conveyor.

Abstract: A rotatable forage harvester cutterhead having a shaft with a drum assembly coaxially secured to the shaft. A plurality of uniquely configured knives extend from the outer cylindrical surface of the drum, each with a cutting edge length less than half the axial length of the cylindrical surface. The knives are supported by assemblies having a solid mounting block secured to the outer cylindrical surface, which mounting blocks have a mounting surface extending at an acute angle to a radial plane extending from the shaft. Fasteners secure the knives to the mounting surfaces with the cutting edges of the knives extending in the direction of rotation of the cutterhead and generating a cylinder as the cutterhead rotates. The knife designs enhance efficiencies by providing a rake angle, formed by the bottom surface of the knife and the radial plane, that is greater than the acute angle.

Abstract: A forage harvester row crop attachment including a main frame adapted to be attached to a field traversing forage harvester having a crop inlet. An auger, mounted on the main frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the forage harvester, comprises a tube and flighting mounted on the tube for engaging the upper portion of standing row crops as the forage harvester traverses the field. A transverse cutting assembly, mounted below the auger, has cutting device for cutting the lower portion of standing row crops. Also mounted below the auger are elements for engaging the lower portion of the stalks in cooperation with the auger flighting under conditions where the auger is rotated in a direction that urges the crop material downwardly and inwardly. After the crop is cut it is urged rearwardly by the auger toward a crop outlet in the floor of the attachment adjacent the inlet in the harvester on which the attachment is mounted.

Abstract: A rotatable forage harvester cutterhead having a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of axially spaced disc shaped plate members having substantially the same diameters and affixed in parallel planes transversely along the shaft for rotation therewith. A plurality of mounting members are detachably secured to the plate members for mounting a drum having an inner surface having a diameter at least as great as the diameters of the disc shaped plate members. Attachment means are employed for detachably securing the drum to the mounting members. Each of a plurality of substantially flat knives with a cutting edge extending in a transverse direction less than half the axial length of the drum are mounted on knife support assemblies comprising support blocks. The attachment means for securing the drum to the discs also secures the knife support blocks to the outer surface of the drum.

Abstract: A round baler having a pickup, a chamber for forming a cylindrical package of crop material and a generally transverse opening for feeding crop that has been picked up into the chamber. The baler includes a twine handling assembly having at least one twine arm with a twine dispensing end from which twine is dispensed in the vicinity of the transverse opening for applying a plurality of helical wraps on the cylindrical package of crop material formed in the chamber. Twine cutting apparatus is provided for cutting the twine, and a twine guide assembly is mounted to cooperate with the twine cutting apparatus to guide the twine to a cutting mechanism that is transferred to its operative position from a remote position after a predetermined amount of twine has been dispensed.