Patents by Inventor Ross McDowall Smith

Ross McDowall Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20240076769
    Abstract: Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Ross McDowall SMITH, Qiyang LIU, Bryan Andrew SHEDDEN, Aaron Kiffer NEUFELD, Joe WILLIAMS, David James NOLAN, Wayne RENSHAW
  • Patent number: 11807941
    Abstract: Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Bryan Andrew Shedden, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Joe Williams, David James Nolan, Wayne Renshaw
  • Publication number: 20230349034
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of a metal alloy on a steel strip to form a metal alloy coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes a hot dip coating step of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten metal alloy and forming a metal alloy coating on exposed surfaces of the steel strip. A native oxide layer as defined herein forming on the metal alloy coating of the metal alloy coated strip emerging from the metal coating bath. The method includes controlling the method downstream of the hot dip coating step and/or selecting the metal coating composition to maintain the native oxide layer at least substantially intact on the metal alloy coating during the downstream steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Geoff Tapsell
  • Publication number: 20230304122
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip to form an Al—Zn—Mg—Si coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes the steps of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy and forming a coating of the alloy on exposed surfaces of the steel strip and cooling the coated strip with cooling water. The cooling step includes controlling the pH of cooling water to be in a range of pH 5-9. Particular embodiments focus on Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloys that contain the following elements in % by weight: Zn: 2 to 19, Si: 0.01 to 2, Mg: 1 to 10, and Balance Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Wayne Andrew Renshaw, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Geoff Tapsell
  • Publication number: 20230279534
    Abstract: A steel strip that has a coating of an Al—Zn—Si alloy that contains 0.3-10 wt. % Mg and 0.005-0.2 wt. % V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Scott Robin Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20230098046
    Abstract: Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Bryan Andrew Shedden, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Joe Williams, David James Nolan, Wayne Renshaw
  • Patent number: 11613792
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip to form an Al—Zn—Mg—Si coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes the steps of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy and forming a coating of the alloy on exposed surfaces of the steel strip and cooling the coated strip with cooling water. The cooling step includes controlling the p H of cooling water to be in a range of pH 5-9. Particular embodiments focus on Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloys that contain the following elements in % by weight: Zn: 2 to 19, Si: 0.01 to 2, Mg: 1 to 10, and Balance Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Wayne Andrew Renshaw, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Geoff Tapsell
  • Patent number: 11512377
    Abstract: Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Bryan Andrew Shedden, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Joe Williams, David James Nolan, Wayne Renshaw
  • Publication number: 20220025501
    Abstract: A steel strip that has a coating of an Al—Zn—Si alloy that contains 0.3-10 wt. % Mg and 0.005-0.2 wt. % V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Scott Robin Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20210140026
    Abstract: Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in “acid rain” or “polluted” environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Bryan Andrew Shedden, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Joe Williams, David James Nolan, Wayne Renshaw
  • Patent number: 10731241
    Abstract: An Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip that has Mg2Si phase particles that are ?2 ?m and have a globular shape. A method of forming an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip comprises (a) heat treating a solidified coating to facilitate globularisation of Mg2Si phase particles in the coating and/or (b) changing the coating bath chemistry to form intermetallic compound phases that act as nucleation sites for Mg2Si phase particles with the result that small Mg2Si particles form on solidification of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams
  • Publication number: 20200024717
    Abstract: A steel strip that has a coating of an Al—Zn—Si alloy that contains 0.3-10 wt. % Mg and 0.005-0.2 wt. % V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Scott Robin Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20190106766
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip to form an Al—Zn—Mg—Si coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes the steps of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy and forming a coating of the alloy on exposed surfaces of the steel strip and cooling the coated strip with cooling water. The cooling step includes controlling the p H of cooling water to be in a range of pH 5-9. Particular embodiments focus on Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloys that contain the following elements in % by weight: Zn: 2 to 19, Si: 0.01 to 2, Mg: 1 to 10, and Balance Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Wayne Andrew Renshaw, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Geoff Tapsell
  • Publication number: 20190085438
    Abstract: A coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip that is applied by a hot dip process and is subsequently heat treated to improve the ductility of the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Ian Scott, Joe Williams, Ross McDowall Smith
  • Patent number: 10233518
    Abstract: A steel strip having a coating of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy on at least one surface of the strip is disclosed. The strip is characterised in that the aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy contains less than 1.2 wt. % silicon and also contains magnesium. A method of forming a coating of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy on a steel strip is also disclosed. The method includes moving steel strip upwardly through a coating pot containing a bath of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy and having an opening in a bottom wall of the pot and forming a coating of the alloy on the strip. The method is characterized by minimizing residence time of steel strip in contact with the aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy bath in the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams, Ross McDowall Smith
  • Publication number: 20190003030
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of a metal alloy on a steel strip to form a metal alloy coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes a hot dip coating step of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten metal alloy and forming a metal alloy coating on exposed surfaces of the steel strip. A native oxide layer as defined herein forming on the metal alloy coating of the metal alloy coated strip emerging from the metal coating bath. The method includes controlling the method downstream of the hot dip coating step and/or selecting the metal coating composition to maintain the native oxide layer at least substantially intact on the metal alloy coating during the downstream steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Geoff Tapsell
  • Publication number: 20160168658
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip to form an Al—Zn—Mg—Si coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes the steps of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy and forming a coating of the alloy on exposed surfaces of the steel strip and cooling the coated strip with cooling water. The cooling step includes controlling the pH of cooling water to be in a range of pH 5-9. Particular embodiments focus on Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloys that contain the following elements in % by weight: Zn: 2 to 19, Si: 0.01 to 2, Mg: 1 to 10, and Balance Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Wayne Andrew Renshaw, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Ross McDowall Smith, Geoff Tapsell
  • Patent number: 8475609
    Abstract: A method of treating an Al/Zn-based alloy coated product that includes an Al/Zn-based alloy coating on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes the steps of rapid intense heating of the alloy coating for a very short duration, and rapid cooling of the alloy coating, and forming a modified crystalline microstructure of the alloy coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventors: Qiyang Liu, Ross McDowall Smith, Bryan Andrew Shedden
  • Publication number: 20130011693
    Abstract: A steel strip that has a coating of an Al—Zn—Si alloy that contains 0.3-10 wt. % Mg and 0.005-0.2 wt. % V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams, Aaron Kiffer Neufeld, Scott Robin Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20120135261
    Abstract: An Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip that has Mg2Si phase particles that are?2 ?m and have a globular shape. A method of forming an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip comprises (a) heat treating a solidified coating to facilitate globularisation of Mg2Si phase particles in the coating and/or (b) changing the coating bath chemistry to form intermetallic compound phases that act as nucleation sites for Mg2Si phase particles with the result that small Mg2Si particles form on solidification of the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED
    Inventors: Ross McDowall Smith, Qiyang Liu, Joe Williams