Patents Issued in May 1, 2001
  • Patent number: 6224687
    Abstract: The invention provides a piston ring and piston ring material with excellent properties since not only it has excellent properties as a piston ring, but also excellent in drawability and rolling workability in the manufacturing process of stock, very excellent bending workability can be attained even when relatively high hardness after heat treatment is established, and excellent in properties as a piston ring. The piston ring material essentially consists, by weight of 0.2 to 1.2% C, 5.0 to 25.0% Cr and the balance Fe and incidental impurities, M7C3 type carbide content existing in the structure being 4.0% or less in terms of area percent to attain excellent scuffing resistance and workability. Preferably, C is 0.2 to 0.7%, and Cr is not less than 5.0% but less than 12.0%. Cr (wt. %)/C (wt. %) is 12 to 45, preferably 15 to 45, more preferably 18 to 30. In addition, the piston ring material of the present invention may contain not more than 0.25% Si, not more than 0.30% Mn, at least one not more than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6224688
    Abstract: A rolling bearing having a plurality of rolling elements located between a fixed race and a rotating race, wherein at least one of bearing components comprising the fixed race, rotating race and rolling elements is made of a steel which contains from 0.05 to 0.40% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb and Al along with from 0.65 to 1.20% by weight of C, from 0.05 to 0.70% by weight of Si, from 0.2 to 1.5% by weight of Mn, from 0.15 to 2.0% by weight of Cr, not more than 01.01% by weight of N and unavoidable contaminating elements and wherein particles of at least one of Ti carbide, Ti carbonitride, Nb carbide, Nb carbonitride and Al nitride are dispersed and deposited at least in the vicinity of the surface of the at Least one of bearing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Takemura, Yasuo Murakami
  • Patent number: 6224689
    Abstract: An ultra-high strength essentially boron-free steel having a tensile strength of at least about 900 MPa (130 ksi), a toughness as measured by Charpy V-notch impact test at −40° C. (−40° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Jayoung Koo, Michael J. Luton, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Clifford W. Petersen, Hiroshi Tamehiro, Hitoshi Asahi, Takuya Hara, Yoshio Terada
  • Patent number: 6224690
    Abstract: An interconnection structure suitable for the connection of microelectronic circuit chips to packages is provided by this invention. In particular, the invention pertains to the area-array or flip-chip technology often called C4 (controlled collapse chip connection). The structure comprises an adhesion/barrier layer deposited on a passivated substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer), optionally an additional adhesion layer, a solderable layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, NiFe, NiCo, CoFe and NiCoFe on the adhesion/barrier layer, and a lead-free solder ball comprising tin as the predominate component and one or more alloying elements selected from Bi, Ag, and Sb, and further optionally including one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Zn, In, Ni, Co and Cu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Panayotis Constantinou Andricacos, Madhav Datta, Hariklia Deligianni, Wilma Jean Horkans, Sung Kwon Kang, Keith Thomas Kwietniak, Gangadhara Swami Mathad, Sampath Purushothaman, Leathen Shi, Ho-Ming Tong
  • Patent number: 6224691
    Abstract: A honeycomb body is produced in which metal sheets are stacked and/or wound in a layered configuration. The metal sheets are suitably structured so as to form passages through which a fluid can flow. At least a part of the sheet layers initially comprises a laminate material with a layer of chromium-containing steel and a layer primarily formed of aluminum. The laminate is substantially homogenized by diffusion to a stratified sheet in a subsequent heat treatment. The honeycomb body is assembled with at least a part of the sheet layers provided a structure which increases the degree of elasticity of the honeycomb body and/or the pressure in relation to surface area of the contact locations prior to and in the heat treatment. The honeycomb body is fitted into a tubular casing with such a prestressing that in the heat treatment the contact locations between the sheet layers remain in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Maus, Ludwig Wieres
  • Patent number: 6224692
    Abstract: A process for galvanizing a metal strip having a given area in a continuous galvanizing line through which the strip is run at a given speed comprising, in series, the steps of: (iii) pre-heating the metal strip; (iv) annealing the metal strip; (v) cooling the metal strip; (vi) dipping the metal strip into a bath comprising liquid zinc or a liquid zinc alloy, the steps (i)-(iv) being maintained in closed fluid contact with each other; (vii) circulating a reducing atmosphere comprising an inert gas and hydrogen to the steps (i)-(iv) in the galvanizing line and exposing the metal strip, before the step (iv) of dipping the metal strip into the bath, to the reducing atmosphere in order to remove oxides present on its surface, (viii) replenishing the reducing atmosphere in the galvanizing line by injecting the reducing atmosphere into the line and adjusting the hydrogen flow rate depending on the area of the metal strip to be treated per unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Serban Cantacuzene
  • Patent number: 6224693
    Abstract: Simplified heat-treatment in making aluminum alloys castings of the type improved by aging, especially for automotive engine cylinder heads and motor blocks. The castings, after solidification and extraction from their molds, each have an end product (workpiece) portion and a riser portion (the latter being ultimately cut off as waste). The workpiece portion of the casting is selectively quenched from solution temperatures down to about 120° C. by spraying water or other appropriate liquid preferably as a gas driven mist onto the surfaces of the workpiece while maintaining the riser portion of the casting essentially unsprayed at relatively significantly higher temperatures. After the quench, the residual reservoir of heat thus retained by said riser portion, by internal heat conduction, reheats the workpiece portion and maintains such workpiece portion for an effective time period within the temperature range for artificial aging, thus obviating any need for the aging furnace used by the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Tenedora Nemak, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Garza-Ondarza, Salvador Valtierra-Gallardo, Juan Francisco Mojica-Briseño
  • Patent number: 6224694
    Abstract: Method for heat-treating profiled rolling stock, including track and railroad rails, having a profiled surface and increased heat removal from portions of the profiled surface during cooling in the gamma range of an iron based alloy material. The method includes aligning the profiled rolling stock, at an average temperature of between 750° C. and 1100° C., straight in its longitudinal direction by plastic shaping, and moving the aligned profiled rolling stock, in its aligned state, in a transverse direction and holding same there. The method also includes evenly cooling of the aligned profiled rolling stock, in a first cooling, to a temperature below 860° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Voest Alpine Schienen GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Georg Prskawetz, Peter Pointner, Alfred Moser
  • Patent number: 6224695
    Abstract: A Ni-base directionally solidified alloy casting is produced by casting a Ni-base directionally solidified alloy having a composition of 10 to 14 wt. % Co, 2 to 3 wt. % Cr, 1.5 to 2.5 wt. % Mo, 5 to 6.5 wt. % W, 5.7 to 6.5 wt. % Al, 5.5 to 6.5 wt. % Ta, 4.5 to 5.0 wt. % Rd, 0.01 to 1.5 wt. % Hf, 0.01 to 0.30 wt. % C, 0.01 to 0.03 wt. % B, and the balance of Ni and inevitable impurities. The Ni-base directionally solidified alloy casting is subjected to a solid solution treatment process at a temperature in the range of 1250 to 1300° C. Then the Ni-base directionally solidified alloy casting is subjected to a two-stage aging process for aging the Ni-base directionally solidified alloy casting at a temperature in the range of 750 to 1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: National Research Institute for Metals, Science and Technology Agency, Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiharu Kobayashi, Yutaka Koizumi, Hiroshi Harada, Toshihiro T. Y. Yamagata, Akira Tamura, Seiya Nitta
  • Patent number: 6224696
    Abstract: A homoleptic polynitrogen ion and salts thereof are described as being highly exothermic in nature and thus give rise to compounds useful for propulsion and explosive applications, among others. Also described are processes for the macroscopic production of compounds containing homoleptic polynitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Karl O. Christe, William W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6224697
    Abstract: A method of making a gas generant formulation which contains a transition metal diammine dinitrate is provided wherein a transition metal nitrate is reacted with an ammonia source to form an aqueous slurry containing a corresponding reaction mixture. A spray dryable precursor to the gas generant formulation is formed including at least a gas generating fuel and a sufficient quantity of water to render the precursor spray dryable. The precursor is subsequently spray dried to form a gas generant powder. The method may also include a relatively mild heat treatment of the dried material, either as a part of the spray drying or subsequent to such spray drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert G. Smith, Robert D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6224698
    Abstract: A mold used for manufacturing an inorganic board and a method of manufacturing an inorganic board by employing said mold are provided in the present invention. Said mold consists of a mold part made of a fiber reinforced plastic and a metal part attached to the back of said mold part, and because of said metal part, the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between said mold and an inorganic board manufactured on said mold is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Nichiha Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Endo
  • Patent number: 6224699
    Abstract: This invention pertains to fabricating composite personal care article products on a fabrication line, and sensing assembly quality characteristics of such personal care article products so fabricated, using infrared image sensing apparatus, and signal processing apparatus for processing the infrared energy so sensed, to fabricate visual displays of the composite images sensed by the infrared sensing apparatus. By using infrared imagery, and sensing the various temperatures of elements being placed and worked on the fabrication line, elements of the personal care articles which are hidden from visual observation can be sensed by sensing the infrared radiation emitted from such articles. Elements which are available for visual observation can likewise be sensed where temperature of such elements is suitable for detection, by infrared-sensitive receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Arthur Bett, Jean Louise Krueger-Justinger, Tanakon Ungpiyakul
  • Patent number: 6224700
    Abstract: A method for waterproofing an architectural component comprises the steps of applying a waterproofing composition to the component above a grade line to form an non-swelling elastomeric membrane having a tacky exterior and pressing a flexible, non-porous polymeric sheet onto the tacky exterior of the elastomeric membrane. The polymeric sheet is preferably stronger than the elastomeric membrane so as to protect the elastomeric membrane from punctures or tears. Exemplary waterproofing compositions include solutions of thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene/butadiene block copolymer in volatile organic solvents. Exemplary polymeric sheets include two-ply cross laminated high density polyethylene sheets. Preferably, an upper edge of the polymeric sheet is secured to the architectural surface by means of mastic or fiberglass-backed adhesive tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Mar-Flex Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Oakley
  • Patent number: 6224701
    Abstract: A molded plastic panel for covering an exterior building wall includes a laterally directed lead fin, a laterally extending groove below the lead fin, and a rearwardly directed middle wall between rows of simulated shingles, all for joining laterally adjacent panels. A side flange extending outwardly of the panel may also be included. The molded plastic panel preferably also includes at least one row of simulated shingles separated by a plurality of gaps each having a randomly varying width in order to camouflage spacings between adjacent panels that change because of thermal contraction and expansion. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the panel body includes a locking tab and a folding flange. The folding flange includes a locking tip for engaging a locking tab on an adjacent panel and a flexible hinge connecting the locking lip to the panel body. The flexible hinge allows the folding flange to be disconnected from the locking tab when replacing a single panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Bryant, Daniel J. Ernst, George A. Griman
  • Patent number: 6224702
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical disc which is capable of speeding up the curing of an adhesive and capable of reducing an area or space occupied by a curing unit when manufacturing an optical disc, and a method of manufacturing an optical disc which is not susceptible to heat from a curing unit or a UV irradiation unit while an adhesive is cured. The method of manufacturing an optical disc includes a step of supplying lower and upper disc substrates, a step of spreading an adhesive between the lower and upper discs, and a step of irradiating the adhesive spread between the lower and upper discs with UV, wherein the irradiation step is performed on a turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kitano Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoko Kitano, Mikuni Amo
  • Patent number: 6224703
    Abstract: A method of making a laminate ceramic substrate with domed pads is provided. In the method, a ceramic green sheet is prepared which has a pair of first and second opposite main surfaces and a plurality of through holes extending between the first and second main surfaces. The ceramic green sheet is placed upon a flat elastic sheet in such a manner that the first main surface of the ceramic green sheet is in contact with the flat elastic sheet. Metallizing ink is filled into the through hole so that a portion of the ink protrudes beyond the first main surface to form domed protruded portions by elastic deformation of the elastic sheet. The green sheet (optionally placed upon at least one other green sheet in such a manner that the second main surface is in contact with the other green sheet) is then sintered, thereby forming the domed, protruded portions of the metallizing ink into domed pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Yamasaki, Hideshi Matsubara, Kazuo Kimura, Motohiko Itai
  • Patent number: 6224704
    Abstract: Engineered structural wood products particularly useful in critical applications such as joists, headers, and beams where longer lengths, greater widths, and higher and predictable stress ratings may be required and to a method for making the wood products. Most logs by nature are radially anisotropic, having wood of higher density and stiffness in their outer portion adjacent the bark than is found in the inner portion. The logs are machined to segregate the denser, stiffer outer wood. A first generally rectangular component is formed from the less dense inner wood. Second generally rectangular components are formed from the stiffer outer wood. Second components are adhesively bonded to at least one edge of the first component, more usually to opposite edges. The stiffer wood is thus specifically placed where it will contribute most effectively to the properties of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Kendall H. Bassett, Alkivadis G. Dimakis, Earl D. Hasenwinkle, John W. Kerns, John S. Selby, Richard E. Wagner, Ronald C. Wilderman
  • Patent number: 6224705
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a flat adhesive tape comprises: providing a stiff interfacial sheet having a flat and solid form; surrounding the stiff interfacial sheet with a plurality of adhesive layers so as to form a roll of the adhesive layers with the stiff interfacial sheet positioned on a symmetric plane of the roll; and compressing the roll to form the flat adhesive tape. The stiff interfacial sheet can have a length slightly longer than a half-length of an innermost circumference of the roll of the adhesive layers. A layer of high adhesion material containing uncured high cross-linking epoxy or uncured high cross-linking cyanoacrylate can be provided between the stiff interfacial sheet and the adhesive layers. After compressing the roll of the adhesive layers, the high adhesion material is cured to form the flat adhesive tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Four Pillars Enterprises Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Kang Kao, David Lin, Sung-Nien Chang
  • Patent number: 6224706
    Abstract: Structurally strong articles are formed from inherently weak materials, such as expanded polystyrene, coated with one or more layers of a thermoplastic sheet material, such as amorphous polyethylene terephthalate. The inherently weak interior members are either fluid permeable or perforated. These members are sandwiched or encapsulated by heat deformable outer layers. The articles are made by applying a fluid pressure between the stack of interior members and the thermoplastic sheet, with the thermoplastic sheet heated to conform to the interior members. The fluid pressure is maintained until the thermoplastic sheet is cooled so that tension extending in all directions is produced in the sheet. The resulting articles are useful as building elements, signs, motor vehicle panels, pallets, surf boards, and sail boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Armacel Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Frank Anthony Matich
  • Patent number: 6224707
    Abstract: The method consists in applying a thermoadhesive or HF-weldable film (2) on a temporary protection paper (1), applying an adhesive layer 2a) on said film, flocking fibers (F) on this adhesive layer, preparing a pre-printed paper with multicolor designs constituted by sublimable dyes and transferring by sublimation the multicolor-designs from the pre-printed paper onto the flock-fibers by close contact between the two elements under a predetermined pressure and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Societe d'Enduction et de Flockage
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Lion
  • Patent number: 6224708
    Abstract: A process for producing a printing form on a form cylinder, which process operates reliably even in the case of large form cylinders and high laser powers, contains the process steps of drawing a blown film tube onto the form cylinder, transferring surface elements of the tubular film, in accordance with an image, as a result of heating by a laser beam, and removing the blown film tube from the form cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Josef Göttling, Josef Schneider
  • Patent number: 6224709
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fixing a part and a part support for mounting the part by use of adhesive via an intermediate member are disclosed. The adhesive is implemented by photocuring adhesive while the intermediate member is formed of a material transparent for light. The intermediate member is free from coloring and deformation when illuminated by light for curing the adhesive. The adhesive is prevented from dropping or turning round to other portions during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takemoto, Shinobu Kanatani, Yoshihiro Morii, Shigeru Fujita
  • Patent number: 6224710
    Abstract: A curable polymeric composition which is a liquid at 20° C. and which comprises 25 to 60% by weight of a resin component which comprises an epoxy, 5 to 25% by weight of a curing agent which comprises two components, a first component which is a cycloaliphatic amine or an aromatic amine, and a second component which is a polyamide amine, and 20 to 65% by weight of an inert inorganic filler. The curable composition can be used in a method of protecting a substrate such as a pipe or a pipe joint from corrosion or mechanical damage. In the method, the curable composition is first applied to the substrate, polymeric covering layer is applied over the curable composition with an innermost layer of a heat-activatable sealant in intimate contact with the curable composition, and the curable composition is then cured. During the curing process, the heat-activatable sealant, e.g. a hot melt adhesive, remains in contact with the curable composition and interacts therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventors: James Rinde, George Pieslak, Leon C. Glover
  • Patent number: 6224711
    Abstract: A method for assembling a flip-chip package having a low stress chip comprises providing a laminate chip carrier having a chip electrically connected thereon, applying the underfill material between the chip and the laminate chip carrier, providing a cover plate and applying an adhesive to the cover plate or chip or both, placing the cover plate adjacent to the chip such that the adhesive contacts the chip and the cover plate, and curing the underfill material together with the adhesive. The resultant flip-chip package has low internal stress and experiences enhanced fatigue life during thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy F. Carden, Aleksander Zubelewicz
  • Patent number: 6224712
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus can stabilize polishing speed at the peripheral end portion of a polishing object, such as a wafer for fabricating a semiconductor device. The polishing apparatus performs polishing by arranging the polishing object in opposition to an abrasive cloth on a rotary polishing table, applying a load on a polishing block and with supplying a polishing fluid. A ring-shaped retainer is provided for embracing a given thickness of a elastic buffering plate provided between the polishing object fixing block and the polishing object for making contact pressure between the polishing object and the abrasive plate uniform and whereby for making a polishing speed of the polishing object constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Ueno
  • Patent number: 6224713
    Abstract: Methods of forming substantially defect-free silicon structures at the submicron level by enhancing microscopic etchant concentration uniformity and reducing hydrogen bubble adhesion. Etchant mixtures are subjected to the application of ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves promote cavitation that mixes the etchant mixture on a microscopic level, and also assists in promoting bubble detachment. Wetting agents are added to the etchant mixture to enhance the hydrophilicity of the silicon surfaces and thereby reduce bubble adhesion. Apparatus to carry out the method of forming silicon structures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hembree, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6224714
    Abstract: Synthetic polymers having hydrogen bonding capability and one or more polysiloxane moieties are capable of providing two distinct properties to paper products, such as tissues, which properties heretofore have been imparted through the use of at least two different molecules. The backbone of these synthetic polymers is based on modified vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polyacrylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Zyo Schroeder, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 6224715
    Abstract: Device and method for handling a material web, in which the material web is guided by at least one smooth support surface and is then guided together with a porous support belt to a deflection roll includes a suction box. The suction box has a wall opposite from the porous support belt, and creates a vacuum that draws the material web from the support surface to the porous support belt. The device also includes at least one sealing element positioned near a front end, in the web travel direction, the sealing element cooperating with the porous support belt, and a vacuum zone in which the vacuum is provided. The vacuum zone adjoins a side of the porous support belt not contacting the material web and is defined between the porous support belt, the at least one sealing element, the wall of the suction box, and at its rear end, the deflection roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Marcel Siquet
  • Patent number: 6224716
    Abstract: A system for dehydrating lubricating and hydraulic fluids includes a heating circuit and circuitry for creating a vacuum. The heating circuitry introduces a stream of heated fluid into a vacuum chamber in which a partial vacuum is drawn by the vacuum circuit. Aqueous components of the fluid stream are flashed in the vacuum chamber by virtue of the elevated temperature and reduced pressure. Dehydrated fluid is then collected and evacuated from the vacuum chamber. Vapor from the vacuum chamber, including the aqueous components of the fluid stream are collected, condensed and separately evacuated. The heating circuit limits surface temperature of a heating element in a closed-loop manner to avoid degradation of the fluid. The fluid stream is introduced into the vacuum chamber or is recirculated through the heating circuit to maintain a desired level of fluid temperature in a closed-loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Oilquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Perry D. Yoder
  • Patent number: 6224717
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocotrienol from a first tocol admixture by heating the first tocol admixture composed of a tocotrienol, at least one tocopherol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol, the tocopherol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the second tocol admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the second tocol admixture to produce a third tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol and the tocopherol, with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the third tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocotrienol and tocopherol from the third tocol admixture to produce a fourth tocol admixture composed of the removed tocotrienol, tocopherol, and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocotrienol from the fourth tocol admixture with an extraction solvent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Sumner, Jr., John D. Moncier, Jeffrey S. Kanel, Mary K. Foster
  • Patent number: 6224718
    Abstract: An ion beam sputtering target assembly has six sputter targets arranged in pairs on three paddles and disposed upon the circumference of a circular holder. The circular holder can be rotated about its axis in such a way as to bring any one of the target pairs to be exposed to the sputtering ion beam to deposit a film on substrate. The paddle is rotated to bring a desired target in the pair into position for sputtering. An alternative embodiment is provided with an enlarged region which allows one of the target paddles to be rotated about its axis while that target paddle is in an inactive, non-sputtering rotary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6224719
    Abstract: A shield and/or pole piece layer for a magnetoresistive (MR) head made of a high moment Fe—Al—N—O laminated film is disclosed. The Fe—Al—N—O laminated film is manufactured using N2O as the reactive gas, making a laminated film that has a high intrinsic anisotropic (HK) and can better withstand the processing fields employed during the various processing and annealing steps in the construction of the head. Accordingly, the magnetic domains of the first shield layer, the second shield layer and/or the pole piece layers do not change position from a desired parallel position to the ABS. By maintaining their parallel position, applied fields during the operation of the head, such as from the write head or the media, do not move the domain walls around to cause Barkhausen noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John David Westwood
  • Patent number: 6224720
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell is disclosed which comprises: (a) an electrolyte; and (b) a plurality of bipolar electrodes surrounded by the electrolyte and electrically connected in series during operation of the cell, the bipolar electrodes each comprising a cathode side, an anode side, and an electrically conductive connection between the cathode side and the anode side, wherein the cathode side and the anode side of at least one of the bipolar electrodes are movable and mechanically separable with respect to each other so that one of the two electrode sides can be removed from the cell, while the other electrode side remains in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikola Anastasijevic, Stefan Laibach, Dietrich Werner, Jean-Paul Nepper, Holger Langschied, Heinrich Cieslak
  • Patent number: 6224721
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus including an elongated, hollow conductive anode tube having first and second ends, an inner conductive surface, and an outer conductive surface from which sacrificial plating metal may be suspended. An elongated cathode conductor is disposed within the hollow conductive anode tube, the cathode conductor having first and second ends, corresponding to the first and second ends of the anode tube, and an outer conductive surface. An insulation layer is placed between the outer surface of the cathode conductor and the inner surface of the anode tube. Power and ground cables respectively connect a power supply to the first end of the anode tube and the first end of the cathode conductor, and a conductive jumper connects the second end of the cathode conductor to an elongated cathode bar, from which articles to be plated may be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Nelson Solid Temp, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn M. Nelson, Tadeusz Maslach
  • Patent number: 6224722
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell comprised of a tank for holding electrolytic solution, and a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis having a non-conductive cylindrical outer surface disposed within the tank, and a plurality of elongated, like anodes arranged about the outer surface of the drum. The anodes together form a generally continuous cylindrical surface spaced from, and generally conforming to, the outer surface of the drum. Each of the anodes has at least one end projecting through the tank. A plurality of power sources is provided together with connection means for connecting groups of one or more of the projecting ends of the anodes to each power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Gould Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ameen, Robert D. DeWitt, Peter Peckham, Ronald K. Haines, Adam G. Bay
  • Patent number: 6224723
    Abstract: An anode for use in zinc electrowinning is described. The anode is made of a lead-silver alloy which has been cast as a billet rolled and subjected to heat treatment either during or after rolling. The temperature of treatment is high enough to cause recrystallization of the alloy and to prevent precipitation of any alloying elements. The anode has a surface grain structure which facilitates rapid oxidation of the anode to condition the anode. The anode preferably contains at least 0.03 to 0.45% silver and Lip to 0.08% calcium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: RSR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: R. David Prengaman, Clifford E. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6224724
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating the process-related asymmetries produced in physical vapor processing of a surface. The apparatus and method may be used on either a substrate when sputtering material from a source or when using an ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) apparatus to either deposit a film onto or remove material from a substrate. A compensating magnet is configured and positioned to produce a compensating magnetic field. The compensating magnetic is positioned to offset the effects of chamber and process-related asymmetries, particularly those that affect the distribution of plasma processing on a substrate where the plasma has been otherwise symmetrically produced. Assymetries about an axis of the substrate, for example, are corrected, in, for example, systems such as sputter coating machines where a rotating magnet cathode or other such technique produces an initially symmetrical plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Thomas J. Licata, Steven D. Hurwitt
  • Patent number: 6224725
    Abstract: An improved unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UMS) apparatus in accordance with the invention having a conventional target and arrangement of magnets wherein a central portion of the target is backed by a first magnetic pole and the peripheral portion of the target is backed by a second magnetic pole, the poles carrying unequal numbers of lines of magnetic flux. One of the poles has a greater number of flux lines entering or leaving than does the other pole. The field lines extending from the higher flux pole which do not close in the lower flux pole extend into space in a range of directions and generally toward a substrate to be sputter coated. Adjacent the target and electrically isolated therefrom and overlying the higher flux pole is an independently-controllable auxiliary electrode, preferably a cathode, formed of a non-ferromagnetic material and having a surface facing in the same general direction as the sputterable surface of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Isoflux, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Glocker
  • Patent number: 6224726
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying material by cathodic arc vapor deposition to a substrate is provided which includes a vessel, a disk-shaped cathode, a platter for supporting the substrate, apparatus for maintaining a vacuum in the vessel, and apparatus for selectively sustaining an arc of electrical energy between the cathode and an anode. The disk-shaped cathode has a first end surface, a second end surface, and an evaporative surface extending between the first and second end surfaces, and the cathode is mounted on a pedestal positioned inside the vessel. The platter has a slot for receiving the pedestal, thereby enabling the platter to be movable into and out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Russell A. Beers, Robert E. Hendricks, Richard D. Getz
  • Patent number: 6224727
    Abstract: An NOx sensor capable of accurately determining the concentration of NOx contained in a gas to be analyzed (measurement gas) using a simple circuit. The NOx sensor includes a first measurement space and a second measurement space. The first measurement space communicates with the measurement gas via a first diffusion controlling layer, and the second measurement space communicates with the first measurement space via a second diffusion controlling layer. A first pumping current IP1 is controlled such that an output from a Vs cell is used as a reference voltage VC0 to control the amount of oxygen flowing into the second measurement space at a constant level. A constant voltage is applied to the second pumping cell so as to decompose the NOx component of the measurement gas contained in the second measurement space, and to pump out the resulting oxygen from the second measurement space. Accordingly, the concentration of NOx contained in the measurement gas can be obtained from second pumping current IP2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyata, Masashi Ando, Hiroshi Inagaki, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6224728
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flows. This valve, which includes both an actuation device and a valve body provides: the ability to incorporate both the actuation device and valve into a unitary structure that can be placed onto a microchip, the ability to generate higher actuation pressures and thus control higher fluid pressures than conventional microvalves, and a device that draws only microwatts of power. An electrokinetic pump that converts electric potential to hydraulic force is used to operate, or actuate, the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Oborny, Phillip H. Paul, Kenneth R. Hencken, Gregory C. Frye-Mason, Ronald P. Manginell
  • Patent number: 6224729
    Abstract: An anode having a passive oxide film thereon and made of an iron alloy consisting essentially of at least 20 wt. % Cr, 5 to 15 wt. % Ni, 1 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.9 to 1.5 wt. % Mn and 0.1 to 0.3 wt. % C with the balance consisting of iron and unavoidable impurities is used for reproducing an image by electrocoagulation of a colloid. Such an anode can be thoroughly cleaned without undergoing abrasion and/or pitting during cleaning. The alloy composition does not adversely affect passivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Elcorsy Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Adrien Castegnier
  • Patent number: 6224730
    Abstract: A black matrix material for increasing resolution and contrast of field emission displays is disclosed. The black matrix material is preferably deposited by electrophoresis in the interstitial regions between phosphor pixels of the faceplate. By this technique, high resolution and/or small surface area field emission displays may be manufactured. The black matrix material does not brown when subjected to the conditions associated with the manufacture of field emission displays, is chemically inert and remains stable under vacuum conditions and electron bombardment. The black matrix material is selected from boron carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, vanadium carbide and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6224731
    Abstract: An apparatus and process produces salts by an electrodialysis operation. The basic electrodialysis apparatus is a cell having a number of compartments separated by membranes. A DC source is connected to drive a current through a feed stream passing through the cell which splits the salt stream into an acid and a base. The incoming feed may be nanofiltered to remove divalent metal. The base loop may be in communication with an ion exchange column packed with a material that removes multivalent cations. Depending upon the material being processed and the desired end result either or both the nanofiltration and the ion exchanged column may be used in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
    Inventor: K. N. Mani
  • Patent number: 6224732
    Abstract: A dispersing medium containing plural types of particles is let to flow in a flow path formed in a flow cell. The flow cell is irradiated with interfering light to form interference fringes of a pattern of stripes. In another arrangement, light is two-dimensionally scanned at high speed so as to cross a flow in the flow path. The moving particles receive a braking force by the light gradient force whenever they pass through each irradiation light stripe. In that case, greater braking forces act on particles having larger sizes (or larger refractive indices) than on particles having smaller sizes (or smaller refractive indices). Accordingly, the particles receiving smaller braking forces pass through the irradiated position more rapidly, so that particles can be separated to flow in the order from the particles receiving smaller braking forces to the particles receiving greater braking forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Totaro Imasaka, Kazuo Isaka, Toshikazu Ohnishi, Takeshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6224733
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus includes a plurality of capillaries through which samples labeled with a plurality of fluorophores migrate, a pair of electrodes which generate an electric field which causes the samples labeled with the fluorophores to migrate through the capillaries, a light source which emits laser light which irradiates the samples labeled with the fluorophores at irradiation positions respectively corresponding to the capillaries in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the samples migrate and which is parallel to a plane formed by the capillaries, thereby exciting the fluorophores to emit fluorescence at the irradiation positions, a photodetector which detects the fluorescence emitted by the fluorophores, and a holder which holds the capillaries at intervals of 1 mm or less near the irradiation positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takahashi, Hideki Kambara
  • Patent number: 6224734
    Abstract: The invention provides novel mepiquat plant growth regulator compositions which have improved hygroscopicity and corrosion characteristics. The novel mepiquat plant growth regulator compositions of the invention can be readily prepared from technical mepiquat chlorid inter alia by electrochemical ion exchange processes or by quaternization of N-methylpiperidine with dimethylcarbonate as starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: BASF Aktiengesellschaft, BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Kober, David G. Hobbs, Scott W. Gibson, Kenneth Eugene Fersch, Wilhelm Rademacher, Jörg Botzem, Markus Frede, Matthias Dernbach, Reimer Göttsche, Reinhard Dötzer
  • Patent number: 6224735
    Abstract: A transparent support having formed thereon a transparent conductive film and an organic or inorganic semiconductor thin film that generates an electromotive force by irradiation of light formed on the transparent conductive film, and an aqueous electrolytic solution containing a solvent, a coloring material and a polymer electrodeposition material, whose solubility in the solvent changes depending on the change of pH are prepared; the substrate and a counter electrode connected to the substrate are arranged in such a manner that an surface of the substrate, on which the semiconductor thin film is formed, and the counter electrode are immersed in the aqueous electrolytic solution; the transparent support is selectively irradiated with light; an electrodeposition film having the coloring material and the polymer electrodeposition material is deposited on a part of the support, on which an electromotive force is generated; and the deposited electrodeposition film is brought into contact with an aqueous liquid h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Akutsu, Shigemi Ohtsu, Lyong sun Pu
  • Patent number: 6224736
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus or a method for forming a thin zinc oxide film on a conductive base member by immersing the conductive base member and a counter electrode in an aqueous solution and supplying a current between the conductive base member and the counter electrode, in which (a) a distance between the counter electrode and the base member is 50 mm or more at an end portion of the counter electrode and is 3 mm to 40 mm at a central portion of the counter electrode, and (b) an end portion of the counter electrode is folded by an angle of −1° to −90° with respect to the conductive base member. Thus the thin zinc oxide film of satisfactory film quality can be formed on the conductive base member for a long time with a satisfactory yield, and inexpensive and stable production of the thin zinc oxide film can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Miyamoto