Patents by Inventor Thomas S. Cloran

Thomas S. Cloran 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).

  • Method for the plasma-arc production of metal powder
    Patent number: 4374075
    Abstract: A method for producing atomized metal particles, particularly of titanium-base alloys and superalloys, that are free from contamination by foreign material; this is achieved by providing a rod of the metal to be atomized and contacting an end portion of the rod with a plasma arc gas jet which simultaneously melts and atomizes the metal from the rod to form the atomized particles and preventing contamination of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Crucible Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Yolton, Thomas S. Cloran, Thomas W. Sloan
  • Method for producing alloy particles
    Patent number: 4009233
    Abstract: A method for producing metal and alloy particles from an article thereof wherein the article is first diffused with a source of gas, such as hydrogen, and then subjected to localized heating to melting temperature. Upon localized melting the diffused gas within the article is liberated to produce an atomizing effect upon the melted material. This atomized material is then cooled sufficiently rapidly to form discrete particles which are then collected for further use, such as in powder metallurgy applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Crucible Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Cloran, Vernon R. Thompson, Russell C. Buehl