Patents by Inventor William Ferrando

William Ferrando 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: 11103926
    Abstract: An inventive method is provided for synthesizing an intermetallic compound. According to exemplary inventive practice, two metallic elements are weighed out in quantities corresponding to their molecular weights in an intermetallic compound of interest. The two metallic elements are mixed together to produce a metallic mixture in powder form. According to many inventive embodiments, a ball-mill device is implemented to thoroughly or intimately mix the two metallic elements into a fine powder. The powdered metallic mixture is exothermically reacted to produce an at least substantially pure intermetallic compound in powder form. According to many inventive embodiments, the exothermic reaction is brought about in a vacuous or inert-gaseous (e.g., helium) environment through electrification of a tungsten wire filament that is completely embedded in the powdered metallic mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, Mark M. Opeka, James A. Zaykoski
  • Patent number: 9028955
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises an ion permeable, liquid and vapor impermeable, membrane made by a solvent casting process. Two mutually insoluble polymers are cast together with the aide of mutually soluble co-solvents. The ion permeable membrane comprises a high molecular weight polyisobutylene polymer structural component. The linearized poly(acrylic acid) polymer ion conducting component comprises which is 4 wt % to 6 wt % of the membrane. The dried ion permeable membrane has a thickness of about 0.1 millimeters. The membrane is hydrated and used for transporting ions in an electrochemical cell. The cell demonstrates good reversibility, i.e. rechargability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 8164021
    Abstract: An electrically assisted friction stir welding method and arrangement in which the required downward/pressing force typically exerted on a workpiece is substantially reduced. The method and apparatus involves the creation of a localized heated zone on a workpiece undergoing a welding operation. The localized heated zone is created using a resistive heating circuit running through the friction stir welding tool and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 8141615
    Abstract: A method has been found for centrifugal casting engine cylinders. A mold is charged with molten aluminum alloy and particulate silicon monoxide having an average size of 0.01 mm to 0.04 mm. The mold is rotated at a velocity and period of time to distribute the particulate silicon monoxide on an inner cylinder surface. The mold is allowed to cool until the aluminum alloy solidifies. A casting is demolded characterized in a uniform inner cylinder surface of the particulate silicon monoxide in an amount of 25 volume % and thickness 1 to 5 millimeters. The engine cylinders are distinguished in resistance to wear. Cylinder liners show no appreciable wear for over 100,000 miles of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, Catherine R. Wong
  • Patent number: 7833627
    Abstract: According to typical inventive practice, a first metallic material is poured into a mold including a bottom inside surface having regularly arrayed rises (truncated spherical convexities). The molten first metallic material cools and solidifies to include a surface correspondingly having regularly arrayed dents (truncated spherical concavities). The resultant “inner casting” is removed from and repositioned in the mold so that the inner casting's dent-laden surface faces upward. Ceramic spheres are placed in the dents. A second metallic material (having a higher melting point than the first metallic material) is poured into the mold with the inner casting and spheres in place. The molten second metallic material cools and solidifies as an “outer casting” surrounding the inner casting and the spheres. The resultant integral armor structure includes the inner casting, the outer casting, and the spheres, each sphere embedded partially in the inner casting and partially in the outer casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 7214306
    Abstract: A method of depositing rhenium onto a substrate comprising dissolving rhenium oxide in a hydrogen peroxide solution, immersing a negative and a positive electrode into the solution, immersing a substrate to be coated with rhenium into the solution next to the negative electrode or, alternatively, using the substrate to be coated as the negative electrode, and applying a current between the two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 7090893
    Abstract: A method of forming a rhenium layer on a substrate, comprising: applying a solid rhenium-containing compound to a substrate; reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the rhenium-containing compound so that a rhenium layer is formed on the substrate; and optionally, repeating applying additional rhenium-containing compound on at least a section of the rhenium layer, and reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the additional rhenium-containing compound so that a thicker layer of rhenium is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Amarnath P. Divecha, Appajosula Srinivasa Rao, William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 7070882
    Abstract: An anode for use in a primary metal-air battery having an alkaline or neutral salt electrolyte, the anode comprising: a low molecular weight reactive metal substrate; a low molecular weight reactive metal powder; and at least a two-component electrolyte resistant polymer system; the first component is an ionic conductive linearized hydrogel, the second component is an inert structural polymer matrix, the reactive metal powder is dispersed and the first component is uniformly dispersed within the second component to form a material, and the reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, tin, mixtures of aluminum, tin and magnesium and alloys thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 7025112
    Abstract: A metal-matrix material in the form of a carbide powder together with a sodium fluoride flux is deposited as a charge within a crucible for induction heating thereof to a flux melting temperature to thereby initiate pretreatment. The molten flux is spread over and covers powder particles of the metal-matrix carbide throughout, in response to stirring by rotation of an agitator during said flux melt heating within the crucible. The charge may be covered within the crucible by an air-purging blanket of argon gas during said heating. The powder fluxed charge is then cooled within the crucible before removal therefrom and sealingly packaged within aluminum soda cans or foil wrappings for future use storage. Such packaged charges are transferred from storage and introduced into a casting mold for enhanced centrifugal cast molding of metallurgical products, such as a metallic ring having an outer carbide bronze surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 6773851
    Abstract: Li2Mn4O8+z, with z greater than zero and less than one, is prepared from LiMnO4 and an appropriate complimentary compound, such as MnOOH, MnO2 or MnCO3 precursors. The Li2Mn4O8+z is useful in highly oxidized lithium manganospinels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, William P. Kilroy, Steven Dallek
  • Patent number: 6129135
    Abstract: A predetermined quantity of a metal-matrix composite material is injected to a heating crucible along an angular infeed direction toward a location therein at which a vortex is formed by the blade of an agitator through which the material is stirred while being superheated above the melting temperature to a pouring temperature under which the melted material is transferred to a casting mold after surface skimming thereof to form a product having improved wear resistance properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Amarnath P. Divecha, Subhash D. Karmarkar, William A. May, James M. Kerr, William A. Ferrando, Scott M. Hoover
  • Patent number: 6116328
    Abstract: Alumina tiles within aluminum framing jigs are fixedly positioned by lock ns within an internally coated mold for centrifugal casting within a block of an aluminum alloy material. Such jigs and the tiles framed therein are coated with silver before casting to prevent aluminum oxidation by heating of the aluminum material to a molten state for deposit into the mold. Bonding of the tiles and framing of the jigs with the aluminum material being cast is also enhanced by such silver coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Subhash D. Karmarkar, Amarnath P. Divecha, William J. Bruchey, Gerald Bulmash, James M. Kerr, William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 5965199
    Abstract: A ceramic, metal, or metal alloy surface is covered with lithium permangae which is then thermally decomposed to produce a corrosion resistant coating on the surface. This coating serves as a primer coating which is preferably covered with an overcoat of a sealing paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 5858460
    Abstract: Silver metal-coated boron carbide (B.sub.4 C) particle reinforce aluminumthium alloy or magnesium-lithium matrix composites which are prepared by coating the B.sub.4 C particles with molten AgNO.sub.3, decomposing the molten AgNO.sub.3 to form a coating of silver metal on the B.sub.4 C particles, mixing the silver coated B.sub.4 C particles into a molten aluminum-lithium alloy or magnesium-lithium alloy matrix, allowing the mixture to cool and solidify the solid composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, Amarnath P. Divecha, James Kerr, Subhash D. Karmarkar
  • Patent number: 5509459
    Abstract: A process for forming pressure cast alumina tile reinforced aluminum alloy rmor in which a silver coated aluminum disc is first inserted into a mold assembly, the mold assembly includes a base plate, a hollow steel die with a removable steel liner located on the base plate, a plug disposed on the base plate within the die cavity, and a punch movably disposed within the die cavity, the aluminum disc being inserted within the die cavity over the plug. Next, an alumina tile preform is prepared by cutting a plurality of alumina tiles and weaving the tiles together with a stiff steel wire. The alumina tile preform is inserted over the silver coated aluminum disc in the cavity of mold assembly. The steel die, the plug and the disc are heated. The punch is also heated separately. A melt of molten aluminum is prepared and poured into the die cavity, completely covering the alumina tile preform. The heated punch is immediately driven into the cavity to apply pressure to the molten aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Amarnath P. Divecha, Subhash D. Karmarkar, Scott M. Hoover, James M. Kerr, William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 5468570
    Abstract: A light weight zinc electrode made of(1) a mat of nickel metal coated graphite fibers; and(2) a composite material of zinc active material and a hydrogel dispersed a solid, impervious, inert polymer matrix,wherein the composite material surrounds the individual nickel metal coated graphite fibers of the sintered mat which support the composite material and provide paths of electrical conductivity throughout the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 5380554
    Abstract: A diamond, ceramic, metal, or metal alloy surface is coated with molten Csub.3. The coated surface is then heated in air at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. until the molten CrO.sub.3 coating is converted into a black, powdery adherent coating of CrO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 5362580
    Abstract: A process for producing a lightweight electrode grid by exposing a compred, heated mat of dense graphite fibers to Ni(CO).sub.4 gas wherein the Ni(CO).sub.4 decomposes upon contact with the graphite fibers depositing a nickel metal coating on the graphite fibers which strongly bonds the fibers together to form a compressed mat or grid of nickel metal coated fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, Amarnath P. Divecha
  • Patent number: H1358
    Abstract: A process for preparing a diamond particle/silver metal matrix composite ucture by coating diamond particles with molten silver nitrate, decomposing the silver nitrate to form a silver metal coating on the surfaces of the diamond particles, consolidating the silver metal coated diamond particles into a composite structure having continuous pores between the silver metal coated diamond particles, infiltrating the continuous pores of the composite with molten silver nitrate and decomposing the silver nitrate to form silver metal which fills the continuous pores of the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, James B. Clark
  • Patent number: H1718
    Abstract: A process for producing a superconductor wire by:A. coating the inner surface of a steel tube with a thin layer of silver metal;B. packing the tube with high temperature superconductor ceramic (HTSC) powder;C. sealing the tube;D. cold working the tube to reduce its diameter;E. etching or dissolving away the steel tube to leave a superconductor wire comprising the silver metal coating that was on the inner surface of the steel tube as a thin silver metal sheath which encapsulates the HTSC powder.The superconductor wire can be further treated by sintering or oxygenating the HTSC powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Ferrando, Amarnath P. Divecha, James M. Kerr