Continuous Casting Patents (Class 148/551)
  • Patent number: 6620265
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy fin material brazing comprises forming an ingot sheet by casting a molten liquid of an aluminum alloy by a continuous casting rolling method, and cold-rolling the ingot sheet to prepare a fin material. The aluminum alloy contains prescribed amounts of Mn, Fe, and Si, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. The continuous cast-rolling is applied under each a prescribed condition of a molten liquid temperature, a roll press load, a casting speed, and a thickness of the ingot sheet. Two or more intermediate annealings are applied midway in the cold-rolling process, with intermediate annealing including final intermediate annealing with a heating furnace in prescribed temperature range, thereby adjusting the prescribed rolling ratio in the cold-rolling, after the final intermediate annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawahara, Takeyoshi Doko
  • Publication number: 20030143102
    Abstract: A first aluminum alloy of the present invention comprises Mg: 0.3-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-10 mass %, Zn: 0.05-1 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.3 mass % and the balance being Al and impurities. A second aluminum alloy further contains one or more selective additional elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zr, Ti, Na and Ca. Furthermore, a third aluminum alloy comprises Mg: 0.1-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-12.5 mass %, Cu: 0.01 mass % or more but less than 1 mass %, Zn: 0.01-3 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.5 mass % and the balance being Al and impurities. Furthermore, a fourth aluminum alloy further includes one or more optional additional elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, B, C, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zr, V, Sc, Ni, Na, Sb, Ca, Sn, Bi and In.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hideaki Matsuoka, Masaki Yamanaka, Hiroki Yoshioka, Yasuo Okamoto, Masakatsu Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20030133825
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy foil for fins used in heat exchangers. The aluminum alloy composition consists essentially of about 0.25% to about 0.6% by weight of Si; about 0.15% to about 0.50% by weight of Fe; about 0.20% to about 0.70% by weight of Mn; less than about 0.05% Cu; and less than about 0.05% Mg, with the balance aluminum including unavoidable impurities. The alloy composition may also contain less than 0.10% Zn or 0.50-2.00% Zn. The invention also provides a method for making an aluminum alloy wherein during cold rolling interanneal is carried out at a gauge such that the cold work after internanneal is between about 30-70%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Tom Davisson, Sadashiv Nadkarni, Dave Wilbur
  • Patent number: 6592688
    Abstract: An improved aluminum alloy fin stock is described having both a high strength and a high thermal conductivity. The fin stock contains 1.2-1.8% Fe, 0.7-0.95% Si, 0.3-0.5% Mn, 0.3-1.2% Zn and the balance Al, and is produced by continuously strip casting the alloy at a cooling rate greater than 10° C./sec. but less than 200° C./sec., hot rolling the strip to a re-roll sheet without homogenization, cold rolling the re-roll sheet to an intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet and cold rolling the sheet to final gauge. This fin stock has a conductivity after brazing of greater than 49.8% IACS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Jean-Pierre Martin, Willard Mark Truman Gallerneault, Toshiya Anami, Kevin Michael Gatenby, Ichiro Okamoto, Yoshito Oki
  • Patent number: 6579387
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of continuously annealing the cold rolled strip in an intermediate anneal using an induction heater and/or continuously annealing the hot rolled strip in an induction heater. The alloy composition has mechanical properties that can be varied selectively by varying the time and temperature of a stabilizing anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Nichols Aluminum - Golden, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely, Harry L. Lawrence, Jackie S. Ivy, Charles Pridmore
  • Publication number: 20030079812
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing aluminum alloy strips with a thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m, including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: PECHINEY RHENALU
    Inventors: Philippe Tavernier, Jacques Gagniere, Herve Gehanno, Sylvain Henry, Regine Debreux, Bruno Chenal
  • Patent number: 6531006
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight iron, about 0.4 to 0.8% by weight silicon and about 0.07 to 0.20% by weight manganese, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast, e.g. on a belt caster, to form a strip having a thickness of less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge followed by interannealing at a temperature of about 280 to 350° C. The interanneal strip is cold rolled to final gauge and further annealed to form the final foil product, having high strength and excellent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Christopher Gabryel
  • Publication number: 20030029531
    Abstract: A process is described for producing an aluminum alloy sheet having excellent bendability for use in forming panels for automobiles. An aluminum alloy containing 0.50 to 0.75 by weight Mg, 0.7 to 0.85% by weight Si, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight Fe, 0.15 to 0.35% by weight Mn, and the balance Al and incidental impurities, is used and is semi-continuously cast into ingot. The cast alloy ingot is subjected to hot rolling and cold rolling, followed by solution heat treatment of the formed sheet. The heat treated sheet is quenched to a temperature of about 60-120° C. and the sheet is then coiled. This coil is then pre-aged by slowly cooling the coil from an initial temperature of about 60-120° C. to room temperature at a cooling rate of less than 10° C./hr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Jackson Bull, David James Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6517646
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy strips with a thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m, by obtaining an alloy with composition (weight %): Si:0.15-0.40; Fe: 1.10-1.70; Mg<0.02; Mn:0.30-0.50; other elements <0.05 each and total <0.15; remainder aluminum; continuously casting between rolls a strip of this alloy with a thickness between 2 and 10 mm; homogenizing this strip at a temperature between 450 and 620° C. with a duration between 8 and 40 hrs; cold-rolling of the homogenized strip; intermediate annealing of this cold-rolled strip to a temperature between 200 and 400° C., and with a duration between 8 and 15 hrs; cold-rolling of the annealed strip up to the final thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m; and final annealing of the strip at a temperature between 200 and 300° C., with a duration of at least 50 hrs. The method is notably applied to the manufacturing of strips for aseptic food packages of the brick type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Philippe Tavernier, Jacques Gagniere, Herve Gehanno, Sylvain Henry, Regine Debreux, Bruno Chenal
  • Publication number: 20030026726
    Abstract: The wear resistant aluminum alloy elongate body contains 7-13 mass % of Si, 0.001-0.3 mass % of iron, 2.0-5.0 mass % of Cu, 0.3-1.0 mass % of Mg, 0.001-0.3 mass % of Mn, 0.001-0.3 mass % of Cr, 0.003-0.03 mass % of Sr, 0.005-0.05 mass % of Ti, and the remaining part of Al and unavoidable impurity. The size of Si grains existing in the elongate body is, by the average value, at most 10 &mgr;m and by the maximum value, at most 30 &mgr;m, and the size of the Si grains in the range of down to 1.5 mm deep from the surface is, by the maximum value, at most 6 &mgr;m. Further, crystal texture of Al alloy is one selected from the group consisting of hot rolled texture, re-crystallized texture and mixed texture of hot rolled texture and re-crystallized texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sato, Takayuki Kato, Norikazu Deto, Masashi Nojiri, Toshiya Ikeda, Yoshihiro Nakai, Yoshiki Kishikawa, Kiyotaka Utsunomiya
  • Publication number: 20030015261
    Abstract: A process is described for producing an aluminum alloy sheet having excellent bendability for use in forming panels for automobiles. An aluminum alloy is used containing 0.5-0.75% by weight Mg, 0.7-0.85% by weight Si, 0.15-0.35% by weight Mn and 0.1-0.3% by weight Fe and the remainder Al and incidental impurities. The alloy is formed into ingot by semi-continuous casting and the cast alloy ingot is subjected to hot rolling and cold rolling, followed by solution heat treatment of the formed sheet. The sheet material is pre-aged by rapidly cooling from an initial pre-aging temperature of at least 80° C. to room temperature at a cooling rate of more than 5° C./hour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Jackson Bull, Alok Kumar Gupta, David James Lloyd, Pierre Henri Marois, John Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20030005983
    Abstract: A forged scroll part is made from an aluminum alloy material, in which harmful primary Si crystals are not formed and variation in wrap height between scrolls is low. The alloy material includes 8.0-12.5 mass % of) Si, 1.0-5.0 mass % of Cu and 0.2-1.3 mass % of Mg, and if necessary, 2.0 mass % or less of Ni and/or 0.5 masse or less of one or more species selected from among Sr, Ca, Na and Sb. A process for producing the forged scroll pa includes casing the aluminum alloy material through continuous casting into a round bar material having a diameter of 130 mm or less and subsequently subjecting the material to upsetting and hot forging with back pressure to produce a forged scroll part containing Si particles having a size of less than 15 &mgr;m and a mean size of 3 &mgr;m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Fumihiko Ohmi, Yuichi Ogura
  • Patent number: 6500284
    Abstract: There is provided a continuous casting and rolling process for continuously producing a deformed fine grain solid metal composition suitable for semi-solid forming. The process is characterized by high throughput, continuity, and precise control of the process parameters, such as solidification rate, rolling temperature and speed and total deformation. The solidification rate is preferred to be in a range of 10 to 150° C./s, and the total deformation is controlled to be larger than a Mises effective strain of 2.3 to obtain a deformed fine grain structure with enough distortion energy. A method combining the continuous casting and rolling process of preparing semi-solid raw material with semi-solid forming of shaped articles is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Suraltech, Inc.
    Inventors: Youdong Zhou, Jian Lu, Navtej Singh Saluja, Alfredo Riviere, V
  • Publication number: 20020189725
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strip of aluminium or an aluminium alloy for electrolytically roughened lithographic printing plate is such that the metal is continuously cast to a maximum thickness (da) of 4.5 mm, the cast strip is rolled without further heating to an intermediate thickness (dz) amounting to 30 to 80% of the total reduction in thickness (da-de), the strip which has been rolled to intermediate thickness (dz) is annealed in a temperature range of 250 to 320° C. in such a manner that at low strength recovery takes place without recrystallisation occurring, and the after the intermediate anneal, the strip is rolled to final thickness (de) without further heating. Lithographic printing plates manufactured according to the process exhibit good strength properties after a stove-lacquer process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Gunther Hollrigl
  • Patent number: 6471796
    Abstract: In a continuous casting of a molten aluminum bearing alloy, a casting space is defined between substantially parallel opposed portions of a pair of traveling endless belts and the molten aluminum bearing alloy is supplied into the casting space to be continuously cast into the shape of a plate. A cooling rate AT during solidification of the aluminum bearing alloy is controlled so that the cooling rate &Dgr;T ranges between 3 and 6° C./sec. where &Dgr;T=(T−500) /t, T is a temperature when the casting of the aluminum bearing alloy starts, and t is a cooling time in sec. between start of casting and the time when the temperature of the aluminum bearing alloy decreases to 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Kagohara, Masahito Fujita, Koichi Yamamoto, Takayuki Shibayama
  • Publication number: 20020153069
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight iron, about 0.4 to 0.8% by weight silicon and about 0.07 to 0.20% by weight manganese, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast, e.g. on a belt caster, to form a strip having a thickness of less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge followed by interannealing at a temperature of about 280 to 350° C. The interanneal strip is cold rolled to final gauge and further annealed to form the final foil product, having high strength and excellent quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Christopher Gabryel
  • Publication number: 20020153068
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight Fe and about 0.35 to 0.80% by weight Si, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast to form a strip having a thickness less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge and interannealed at a temperature of at least 400° C. The interannealed strip is cold rolled and further annealed to form the final foil product, having excellent rollability combined with high strength of the final foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Christopher Gabryel, Toshiya Anami, Takahiko Watai, Ichiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6439295
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strip of aluminium or an aluminium alloy for electrolytically roughened lithographic printing plates, in which the alloy is continuously cast as a strip and then rolled to final thickness, is such that the cast strip is rolled to final thickness with a thickness reduction of at least 90% without any further heating. The resultant microstructure in the region close to the surface of the strip leads to improved electrolytic etching behaviour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Guenther Hoellrigl, Glenn Smith
  • Patent number: 6423163
    Abstract: A free-cutting aluminum alloy without lead as an alloy element, containing: (a) as alloy elements: 0.5 to 1.0 wt. % Mn; 0.4 to 1.8 wt. % Mg; 3.3 to 4.6 wt. % Cu; 0.4 to 1.9 wt. % Sn; 0 to 0.1 wt. % Cr; 0 to 0.2 wt. % Ti; (b) as impurities: up to 0.8 wt. % Si; up to 0.7 wt. % Fe; up to 0.8 wt. % Zn; up to 0.1 wt. % Pb; up to 0.1 wt. % Bi; up to 0.3 wt. % total of other impurities; and (c) the balance being substantially aluminum. The process includes the steps of semicontinuously casting the above alloy composition followed by homogenization annealing, cooling, heating to a working temperature for extrusion, extruding at a maximum temperature of 380° C., followed by press-quenching and aging. The aging may be a natural aging or an artificial aging. A cold working step and/or a tension straightening step also may be conducted after the press-quenching step. The extruding step includes indirectly extruding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Impol Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Anton Smolej, Vuka{haeck over (s)}in Dragojevi{haeck over (c)}, Edvard Sla{haeck over (c)}ek, Toma{haeck over (z)} Smolar
  • Patent number: 6402861
    Abstract: A process for the production of a base foil of an aluminum alloy is provided which comprises a first heating step in which a cold-rolled plate derived from a continuously cast-rolled plate is maintained at a temperature between higher than 350° C. and lower than 450° C. for longer than 0.5 hour, the cast-rolled plate being comprised of a Al-Fe-Si type aluminum alloy, the aluminum alloy containing Fe in a content between more than 0.3% by weight and less than 1.2% by weight and Si in a content between more than 0.20% by weight and less than 1% by weight and having a Si/Fe ratio between above 0.4 and below 1.2, and a second heating step in which the resultant plate is maintained at a temperature between higher than 200° C. and lower than 330° C. for longer than 0.5 hour. The base foil is substantially free of macroscopic and microscopic rib patterns on its rolled and mat surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Masahiko Katano, Hidehiko Ishii, Iljoon Jin
  • Patent number: 6391127
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum sheet stock which includes hot rolling an aluminum alloy sheet stock, quenching and coiling the feedstock. Then, in a second sequence, the feedstock is uncoiled, annealed and quenched to a temperature for cold rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin F. Wyatt-Mair, Donald G. Harrington, Ian Smith, William Betts
  • Publication number: 20020043310
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing aluminum alloy strips with a thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m, including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Philippe Tavernier, Jacques Gagniere, Herve Gehanno, Sylvain Henry, Regine Debreux, Bruno Chenal
  • Publication number: 20020043311
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet and a method for producing an aluminum alloy sheet. The aluminum alloy sheet is useful for forming into drawn and ironed container bodies. The sheet preferably has an after-bake yield strength of at least about 37 ksi and an elongation of at least about 2 percent. Preferably, the sheet also has earing of less than about 2 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Nichols Aluminum-Golden, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, William Newton, Jackie S. Ivy
  • Patent number: 6350355
    Abstract: The object of this invention was to create starting copper cathodes which prevent a memory effect during copper electrolysis, achieving a high production output of electrolytic copper and which can also be manufactured from directly shaped copper sheeting material in the form of a coil. A suitable method of producing starting cathodes for processing copper sheet produced by conventional methods. The proposed starting cathodes are made of milled copper sheets with a thickness of 0.3 to 1.2 mm, is soft annealed after milling and has a strength of 210 to 240 N/mm2. The copper sheet is cut to the length and width determined by the dimensions of the electrolysis bath and has a flat, fat-free, burless surface. Ear strips of copper sheet with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.6 mm are mounted on the suspension side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Lamitref Industries N.V.
    Inventor: Leon Raphael Lucienne G. Cloostermans-Huwaert
  • Patent number: 6350532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recyclable aluminum foil. The foil is made of an alloy containing 0.2%-0.5% Si, 0.4%-0.8% Fe, 0.1%-0.3% Cu, and 0.05%-0.3% Mn by weight. with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The foil contains at least about 2% by weight of strengthening particulates and has at least about 0.1% by weight of the copper and/or manganese retained in solid solution. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a sheet of aluminum based on an alloy which involves continuously casting an alloy of the above composition to form a sheet of alloy, coiling said sheet of alloy, cold rolling the sheet of alloy, interannealing the alloy after a first pass of the cold rolling; and further cold rolling the alloy to a final desired gauge. The foil, which is suitable for household use, has improved strength due to a larger quantity of dispersoids fortified by elements in solid solution, and can be recycled with other alloy scrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davisson, Luc Montgrain, Daniel Pulliam, Sadashiv Nadkarni
  • Publication number: 20020017344
    Abstract: A method of producing a sheet article or other elongated product of solution heat treated aluminum alloy substantially free of permanent thermal distortion. The method involves subjecting an article made of a heat-treatable aluminum alloy to a solution heat treatment, cooling the article in a gas from the solutionizing temperature to an upper critical temperature below which precipitation of second phase particles of the alloy may occur, further cooling the article in a gas/liquid from the upper temperature to a lower critical temperature below which precipitation of the components may no longer occur, and optionally additionally cooling the article to a temperature below the lower critical temperature. The cooling of the article in the gas is carried out at a rate of cooling at which the yield strength of the article remains high enough to resist permanent deformation caused by thermal stress generated within the article by the cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Alok Kumar Gupta, Helene P. Lagace, Paul W. Jeffrey, Jaroslav Urbanek, Christopher John Davenport
  • Publication number: 20020014406
    Abstract: The first Al-based target material for sputtering contains 0.01-10 atomic % of at least one intermetallic compound-forming element, and an intermetallic compound having a maximum diameter of substantially 50 &mgr;m or less. The second Al-based target material for sputtering has a microstructure comprising an alloy phase containing 20 atomic % or less of the intermetallic compound-forming element and Al and an Al matrix phase comprising substantially pure Al, the maximum diameter of the intermetallic compound in the alloy phase being substantially 50 &mgr;m or less. The content of the intermetallic compound forming element based on the whole structure is 0.01-10 atomic %. These target materials are produced by pressure-sintering a rapid solidification powder at 400-600° C. After the pressure sintering, the target material is preferably hot-rolled at 400-600° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: HIROSHI TAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 6344096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of producing an aluminum alloy sheet which, in one embodiment, includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 0.5 inch and, subsequently, preferably without intervening thermal treatments or surface cleaning, cold rolling the strip to a thickness of less than about 0.15 inch, after which the cold rolled strip is subjected to thermal treatment which is preferably either continuous annealing or solution heat treatment. The aluminum alloy, in a continuous annealing embodiment, is preferably selected from the group consisting of the 3XXX and 5XXX series. In another embodiment wherein solution heat treatment is employed, the aluminum alloy is preferably selected from the group consisting of 2XXX and 6XXX. The sheet may be converted into a motor vehicle body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Baumann, Robert E. Sanders, Jr., Scott L. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20020003012
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum-alloy-made forged scroll part in which harmful primary Si crystals are not formed and variation in wrap height between the scrolls is low. The present invention also provides a process for producing the forged scroll part. An alloy material including Si: 8.0-12.5%; Cu: 1.0-5.0%; Mg: 0.2-1.3%; and if necessary, Ni: 2.0% or less and/or one or more species selected from among Sr, Ca, Na, and Sb: total 0.5% or less, is cast through continuous casting into a round bar material having a diameter of 130 mm&phgr; or less, and subsequently, the material is subjected to upsetting and hot forging with back pressure to produce a forged scroll part containing substantially no Si particles having a size of 15 &mgr;m or more, the mean size of Si particles in the forged part being 3 &mgr;m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Fumihiko Ohmi
  • Patent number: 6328823
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum sliding bearing alloy, comprising 3 to 6 mass % zinc, 0.3 to 2.0 mass % copper, 0.2 to 1.0 mass % magnesium, 0.3 to 2.0 mass % silicon and 2 to 4.5 mass % lead. According to the invention, said alloy is obtained by means of continuous casting with a minimum dimension, i.e. a strand thickness of more than 20 mm, solidifying in a mold which is indirectly cooled only, with a withdrawal speed of 1 to 5 mm/s and with a cooling speed of less than 100 K/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: KS Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Deicke, Werner Schubert, Thomas Steffens, Thomas Pomocnik
  • Patent number: 6325872
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet and a method for producing an aluminum alloy sheet. The aluminum alloy sheet is useful for forming into drawn and ironed container bodies. The sheet preferably has an after-bake yield strength of at least about 37 ksi and an elongation of at least about 2 percent. Preferably the sheet also has earing of less than about 2 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Nichols Aluminum-Golden, Inc.
    Inventors: William Newton, Jackie S. Ivy, Mark S. Selepack
  • Patent number: 6290785
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of continuously annealing the cold rolled strip in an intermediate anneal using an induction heater and/or continuously annealing the hot rolled strip in an induction heater. The alloy composition has mechanical properties that can be varied selectively by varying the time and temperature of a stabilizing anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 6280543
    Abstract: The invention hereof is directed to a continuous casting of flat rolled sheets selected from automotive sheet, can body sheet, and endstock which exhibits properties comparable to the same products made from World Class Ingot. A preferable embodiment for the continuous caster is a vertical continuous caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Harry R. Zonker, Stephen F. Baumann, Robert E. Sanders, W. Bryan Steverson
  • Patent number: 6248193
    Abstract: A continuously cast and rolled sheet of an aluminum alloy having Mg in a content of 3 to 6% by weight is annealed, followed by strain correction, heat and hold treatment at a given temperature between 240° C. and 340° C. for one hour or more, and slowly cooling treatment, to thereby provide an aluminum alloy sheet having enhanced resistance to stress corrosion cracking and improved shape fixability. The slowly cooling treatment is carried out at a cooling rate chosen from a preset cooling zone corresponding to a present temperature zone S defined in obliquely lined surround form in the accompanying drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd., Alcan International Limited, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Pizhi Zhao, Takeshi Moriyama, Noboru Hayashi, Kunihiro Yasunaga, Paul Wycliffe, David James Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6238497
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum alloy fin stock material, comprising the steps of continuously strip casting an aluminum finstock alloy to form an as-cast strip, rolling the as-cast strip to form a sheet article of intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet article of intermediate gauge, and cold rolling the annealed sheet article of intermediate gauge to produce an aluminum finstock material of final gauge. The steps are carried out on a finstock alloy which comprises the following elements in weight percent: Fe 1.6 to 2.4; Si 0.7 to 1.1; Mn 0.3 to 0.6; Zn 0.3 to 2.0; Ti 0.005 to 0.040; incidental elements less than 0.05 each, total no more than 0.15; and the balance aluminum. The invention also relates to the finstock material so-produced which has good thermal conductivity, and is suitable for use in thin gauge (e.g. less than 100 &mgr;m, and preferably 60±10 &mgr;m).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Willard Mark Truman Gallerneault, Toshiya Anami, Yoshito Oki, Ichiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6228186
    Abstract: Improved targets for use in DC_magnetron sputtering of aluminum or like metals are disclosed for forming metallization films having low defect densities. Methods for manufacturing and using such targets are also disclosed. Conductivity anomalies such as those composed of metal oxide inclusions can induce arcing between the target surface and the plasma. The arcing can lead to production of excessive deposition material in the form of splats or blobs. Reducing the content of conductivity anomalies and strengthening the to-be-deposited material is seen to reduce production of such splats or blobs. Other splat limiting steps include smooth finishing of the target surface and low-stress ramp up of the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Pavate, Keith J. Hansen, Glen Mori, Murali Narasimhan, Seshadri Ramaswami, Jaim Nulman
  • Patent number: 6221515
    Abstract: A bimetallic strip for a sliding bearing having a sliding strip of an aluminum alloy which is adhered to a steel supporting strip and method of manufacture. The composition of the sliding strip is from 3 to 30% of tin; from 1 to 6% of silicon and the remainder being of aluminum and impurities, and the sliding strip has at least 95% of the silicon hard particles smaller than 3.5 microns and an aluminum grain average size of about 6 microns. The sliding strip is produced by roll casting the alloy and attaching the sliding strip to the steel supporting strip to form the bimetallic strip which is heat treated between 200° and 380° C. to obtain a metallurgical bonding between the strips; subjecting the bimetallic strip to a solubilizing process of the intermetallic compounds of the aluminum alloy by heating at 380-500° C., followed by cooling; and subjecting the bimetallic strip to a precipitation treatment at a temperature from 150° to 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Metal Leve S/A Industria E Comercio
    Inventors: Joaquim de Oliveira Ramos Júnior, Denys da Cuhna Flores, Carlos Henrique Gaspar dos Santos
  • Patent number: 6193818
    Abstract: Process for forming an aluminum alloy strip, including the steps of a) obtaining an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of, by weight, 0.5 to 13% Si, 0 to 2% Mg, 0 to 2% Cu, 0 to 1% Mn, 0 to 2% Fe, other elements less than 0.5% each and less than 2% total, and remainder Al; and b) continuously casting the aluminum alloy between twin cooled rolls having a force applied thereto, to obtain a cast strip of thickness between 1.5 and 5 mm, and optionally cold rolling the cast strip. The force applied to the rolls is maintained below an amount represented by a straight line between a point A and a point B on a graph of specific applied force (y-axis) vs. cast width (x-axis), where point A is (1.5 mm, 750 tons/meter at cast width) and point B is (5 mm, 500 tons/meter of cast width).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Legresy, Herve Gehanno, Martin Peter Schmidt, Pierre Yves Menet, Philippe Jarry
  • Patent number: 6165291
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy fin stock of lower (more negative) corrosion potential and higher thermal conductivity is produced by a process, which comprises continuously strip casting the alloy to form a strip, cold rolling the strip to an intermediate gauge sheet, annealing the sheet and cold rolling the sheet to final gauge. Lower corrosion potential and higher thermal conductivity are imparted by carrying out the continuous strip casting while cooling the alloy at a rate of at least 300.degree. C./second, e.g. by conducting the casting step in a twin-roll caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Toshiya Anami, Yoshito Oki
  • Patent number: 6159313
    Abstract: A continuous cast aluminum alloy strip is used in the production of thin gauge or converter foils. The alloy strip contains 0.4 to 0.8% by weigth Fe and 0.2 to 0.4% by weight Si, has an an cast thickness of less than about 30 mm and contains a substantially single intermetallic species of alpha-phase. The strip is cast using a continuous strip caster, e.g. a block or belt caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon, Masahiko Katano, Ichiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6156135
    Abstract: An aluminum substrate for lithographic printing plates which forms uniform pits on electrolytic etching without undergoing dissolution, the substrate being obtained by electrolytic etching an aluminum plate prepared by continuous casting in a twin roll mold process, rolling, and annealing, in which the annealing is carried out in such a manner that the resulting aluminum plate may have a total electric current density of not more than 1.85.times.10.sup.-2 C/dm.sup.2 when scanned at a potential from -100 mV up to 1500 mV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hotta, Hirokazu Sawada, Hirokazu Sakaki
  • Patent number: 6106641
    Abstract: A continuous-cast and cold-rolled aluminum alloy sheet for a cross fin, characterized by a chemical composition consisting of not less than 0.05 wt % and less than 0.30 wt % Fe, more than 0.03 wt % and less than 0.10 wt % Mn, an amount of a grain refining agent, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities including less than 0.15 wt % Si; a microstructure substantially composed of subgrains; and an electrical conductivity of 55% IACS or more. The aluminum alloy sheet is advantageously produced by a process including the steps of continuous-casting an aluminum alloy melt having the above-mentioned chemical composition to form a cast sheet having a sheet thickness of not more than 30 mm; cold-rolling the cast sheet at a reduction of 90% or more, followed by a temper annealing at a temperature of from 250 to 300.degree. C. for a holding time of 2 hours or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: NipponLight Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nishikawa, Takahiko Watai
  • Patent number: 6045631
    Abstract: A method of making a light metal-rare earth metal alloy includes mixing a light metal powder, such as aluminum powder, with a finely divided rare earth metal-containing compound, such as scandium oxide, creating a billet by subjecting the mixture to cold isostatic compaction. The billet formed from the mixture of aluminum powder and rare earth metal-containing compound is preferably sintered at a temperature of about 600.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. and preferably about 640.degree. C. to 680.degree. C., and subsequently feeding the billet to a molten aluminum bath. This method facilitates conversion of in excess of 95% of the rare earth metal oxide to the aluminum-rare earth metal alloy. The rare earth metal may be scandium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Gary P. Tarcy, Michael L. Slaugenhaupt
  • Patent number: 6045632
    Abstract: End or tab stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is continuously cast to form a hot feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly quenched rapidly to prevent substantial precipitation of alloying elements, annealed, quenched, and coiled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William M. Betts
  • Patent number: 6042660
    Abstract: Master alloy with 20-80% strontium, preferably 0.01-2.0% of aluminum and/or copper, and the balance essentially zinc plus impurities, and a method for preparing same and a method for modifying the microstructure of nonferrous alloys with said master alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: KB Alloys, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Boone, Philip G. Vais, Daniel B. Franklin
  • Patent number: 5993573
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of (a) heating the cast strip before, during or after hot rolling to a temperature in excess of the output temperature of the cast strip from the chill blocks and (b) stabilization or back annealing in an induction heater of cold rolled strip produced from the cast strip. The alloy composition has a relatively low magnesium content yet possesses superior strength properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 5985058
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the step of heating the cast strip before, during or after hot rolling to a temperature in excess of the output temperature of the cast strip from the chill blocks. The alloy composition has a relatively low magnesium content yet possesses superior strength properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 5976279
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of continuously annealing the cold rolled strip in an intermediate anneal using an induction heater and/or continuously annealing the hot rolled strip in an induction heater. The alloy composition has mechanical properties that can be varied selectively by varying the time and temperature of a stabilizing anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 5913989
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing aluminum can body stock involving the following steps. A molten aluminum alloy is prepared, the alloy containing Mg in the range 1.1 to 1.5% by weight, Mn in the range 0.4 to 0.9% by weight, Cu in the range 0.2 to 0.4% by weight, Fe in the range 0.2 to 0.7% by weight, Si in the range 0.07 to 0.3% by weight, all other elements each less than 0.05% by weight to a maximum of 0.2% for all other elements. The alloy is cast in a continuous strip casting process to produce a slab having a thickness of at least 9 mm. The slab is rolled using at least 83% reduction to produce a re-roll strip. The re-roll strip is coiled to form a coil and the coil to cool is allowed to cool naturally. The re-roll strip is then annealed and cold rolled to a final gauge of between 0.26 and 0.4 mm, using a reduction of between 75 and 85%, with no interanneal. The resulting strip can be used as can body stock having a 45 degree earing of less than 3% and a yield strength after stoving of at least 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Paul Wycliffe, Ed Luce, David J. Lloyd, John Fitzsimon, Gene Burger
  • Patent number: 5900080
    Abstract: The starting material in a thixotropic forming process for the manufacture of road wheels, fitted ultimately with pneumatic tyres, is an ingot of rheocast metal alloy preheated to the semisolid state: the ingot is injected into a closed die affording a cavity in the shape of the wheel and equipped with independent thermoregulating circuits routed and controlled in such a way as to maintain the wider passages of the cavity at a temperature lower than that of the narrower passages; to ensure the die fills properly, the ingot is injected at a variable and controlled velocity, correlated both to the rate at which the alloy spreads through the cavity and to the geometry of the cavity itself, whereupon a pressure much higher than the injection force is applied to the solid-semisolid interface within the alloy, and sustained until full solidification is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Wheels International. Ltd
    Inventors: Valter Baldi, Gianni Benni, Giorgio Muneratti