With Working Patents (Class 148/552)
  • Patent number: 6086690
    Abstract: A process of producing an aluminum alloy sheet article of high yield strength and ductility suitable, in particular, for use in manufacturing automotive panels. The process comprises casting a non heat-treatable aluminum alloy to form a cast slab, and subjecting said cast slab to a series of rolling steps to produce a sheet article of final gauge, preferably followed by annealing to cause recrystallization. The rolling steps involve hot and warm rolling the slab to form an intermediate sheet article of intermediate gauge, cooling the intermediate sheet article, and then warm and cold rolling the cooled intermediate sheet to final gauge at a temperature in the range of ambient temperature to 340.degree. C. to form said sheet article. The series of rolling steps is carried out continuously without intermediate coiling or full annealing of the intermediate sheet article. The invention also relates to the alloy sheet article produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Paul Wycliffe, Edward Stanley Luce
  • 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: 6004409
    Abstract: The present invention is a process to use aluminum alloy scrap to manufacture high quality machinable tooling plate. This is an new use for this scrap which has heretofore been used in lower quality products. The tooling plate thus made has superior properties when machined as it produces smaller chips and/or a limited of spirals from the plate. Large chips and long spirals create problems and a smaller chip greatly facilitates the machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph C. Dorward, Greg F. Fitzpatrick
  • 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: 5961752
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved aluminum base alloy comprising an improved aluminum base alloy comprising 0.2 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0 to 1.2 wt. % Cu, 0 to 1.1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.4 wt. % Cr, and at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.3 wt. % V, 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % Be and 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, the remainder comprising aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. Also disclosed are methods of casting and thermomechanical processing of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5916385
    Abstract: An essentially lead-free aluminum alloy is provided for extruded screw machine stock. The alloy consists essentially of from about 4.5% to about 6% copper, a maximum of about 0.4% silicon, a maximum of about 0.7% iron, not more than about 0.3% zinc, from about 0.1% to about 1% bismuth, from about 0.1% to about 0.5% tin, balance aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The screw machine stock is prepared by extruding a homogenized billet to the desired shape, then the shape is subjected to a thermomechanical treatment involving at least one heat-treatment and cold working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Leroy Coats, II, Larry Eugene Farrar, Jr.
  • 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: 5911843
    Abstract: A process for casting, thermally transforming and semi-solid forming an aluminum base alloy into an article, the process comprising the steps of: casting a molten body of aluminum base alloy comprising 2 to 7 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0.3 to 3 wt. % Cu, 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Fe, and at least one of the group consisting of 0.01 to 1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.35 wt. % Cr, max. 0.2 wt. % Ti, max. 0.3 wt. % V to provide a solidified body, the molten aluminum base alloy being solidified at a rate between liquidus and solidus temperatures of the aluminum base alloy to provide a solidified body having a dendritic microstructure. Thereafter, heat is applied to the solidified body to bring the body to a superheated temperature of 3.degree. to 50.degree. C. above the solidus temperature of the aluminum base alloy while maintaining the body in a solid shape and effecting thermal transformation of the body having the dendritic structure when the body is heated to above the solidus temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5894879
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy sheet including a continuous, in-line sequence of forming a strip of aluminum alloy and rolling the strip to reduce its thickness and to cool the strip sufficiently rapidly that precipitation of alloying elements is substantially minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Gavin F. Wyatt-Mair, Edwin James Westerman
  • Patent number: 5851320
    Abstract: An improved aluminum alloy containing specific additions of silicon and copper to improve wear resistance and improve solutionizing of the alloying constituents, and a process for forming a wear-resistant component from the alloy. The improved aluminum alloy is also characterized by good strength and sufficient ductility so as to permit forging of a wear-resistant component from the alloy. A preferred composition for the alloy, in weight percent, is about 13.0 to about 15.5 percent silicon; about 0.8 to about 2.0 percent copper; about 0.8 to about 1.3 percent magnesium, and the balance being aluminum and impurities. The aluminum alloy is particularly well suited to form pistons of the type used in compressors of automotive air conditioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro, A. S.
    Inventors: Lars Auran, Gary Hugh Rhinehart, Saumin Shantilal Mehta
  • Patent number: 5846350
    Abstract: A process for casting, thermally transforming and semi-solid forming an aluminum base alloy into an article, the process comprising the steps of: casting a molten body of aluminum base alloy comprising 2 to 5 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0.3 to 1.2 wt. % Cu, 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Fe, and at least one of the group consisting of 0.01 to 1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.35 wt. % Cr, max. 0.2 wt. % Ti, max. 0.3 wt. % V to provide a solidified body, the molten aluminum base alloy being solidified at a rate between liquidus and solidus temperatures of the aluminum base alloy to provide a solidified body having a dendritic microstructure. Thereafter, heat is applied to the solidified body to bring the body to a superheated temperature of 3.degree. to 50.degree. C. above the solidus temperature of the aluminum base alloy while maintaining the body in a solid shape and effecting thermal transformation of the body having the dendritic structure when the body is heated to above the solidus temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5837070
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy sheet heat treated by natural aging, quenching and possibly tempering so as to obtain a yield strength greater than 320 MPa, for use in mechanical, naval, aircraft, or spacecraft construction, with a composition (by weight) of:Si: 6.5 to 11%Mg: 0.5 to 1.0%Cu: <0.8%Fe: <0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Pierre Sainfort, Denis Bechet
  • Patent number: 5833775
    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: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: William Newton, Mark S. Selepack, Jackie S. Ivy
  • Patent number: 5772802
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly quenched to prevent substantial precipitation, annealed and quenched rapidly to prevent substantial precipitation of alloying elements and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: T. C. Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5772801
    Abstract: In a process for the forming of wheel rims in metal alloy, a cast blank undergoes a cold chip removal process by cutting its central area, its inner surface and its lateral surface in order to obtain a semi-finished work which is then heated and plastically deformed by flow forming along its lateral surface to obtain an inner edge, an outer edge and a middle portion with a defined machine allowance; the rim thus obtained undergoes another cold chip removal process by cutting in order to work it down to the required size; the latter process may be preceded by solution and age hardening heat treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Wheels S.p.A.
    Inventors: Valter Baldi, David J. Edwards, deceased
  • Patent number: 5772800
    Abstract: An aluminium alloy plate is provided with a thickness of more than 2 inches, e.g. 6, 7 or 8 inches, and having an average logarithmic fatigue life of more than 100,000 cycles determined in accordance with ASTM test method E 466. The density of micropores with a size larger than 80 .mu.m in all locations in the midplane (T/2) midwidth position at head and tail ends of the finished plate as measured by Optical Microscopy of samples in any plane perpendicular to the midplane is less than 0.025 micropores per cm.sup.2. The plate may be formed by degassing of a melt to give a specified porosity of the cast ingot, and by hot rolling with at least one specified high reduction ratio pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Hoogovens Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred L. Heinz, Werner A. Schelb, Alfred J. P. Haszler, Otmar M. Muller
  • Patent number: 5769972
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly annealed and quenched rapidly to prevent substantial precipitation of alloying elements and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5762729
    Abstract: A continuously cast and rolled aluminum alloy substrate for an electrolytically grainable lithographic printing plate, consisting of 0.20 to 0.80 wt. % of Fe and the balance of Al, grain-refining elements and unavoidable impurities including 0.3 wt. % or less of Si and 0.05 wt. % or less of Cu, the amount of Fe present in solid solution being not more than 250 ppm, the amount of Si present in solid solution being not more than 150 ppm, and the amount of Cu present in solid solution being not more than 120 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nishikawa, Hideki Suzuki, Hirokazu Sakaki, Yoshinori Hotta
  • Patent number: 5725695
    Abstract: A method of making an aluminum foil product from an aluminum-silicon-iron aluminum alloy comprises casting the alloy into a slab, preferably by twin roll casting, cold rolling the alloy to an intermediate gauge and reroll annealing the intermediate gauge material. The reroll annealed material is then cold rolled to a final foil gauge followed by a final recrystallizing annealing. The aluminum alloy has a controlled amount of silicon and iron such that the silicon is equal to or greater than the iron amount and the reroll anneal temperature is 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) or less. The combination of the controlled amounts of silicon and iron and the lower reroll anneal temperature results in an improved foil product in terms of finer grain size and higher elongation which is also less costly to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: Bennie R. Ward, Richard E. Hughes, James P. Martin
  • Patent number: 5725683
    Abstract: A process for making an aluminum alloy lighting sheet product having a reflective surface protected by a UV-stable polymer coating. An aluminum alloy sheet is chemically brightened in an aqueous acidic solution, conversion coated, and then coated with a UV-stable polymer. Alternatively, an aluminum alloy sheet is chemically etched in an aqueous alkaline solution, conversion coated, and then coated with a UV-stable polymer. Preferably, the UV-stable polymer contains about 0.5-10 wt. % amorphous silica particles. In another embodiment, an aluminum alloy sheet surface is cleaned, chemically conversion coated and then coated with a coating composition containing a UV-stable polymer and 0.5-10 wt. % of about 0.5-5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Daniel L. Serafin, Paul B. Schultz, Albert L. Askin, Paula Hinds, David A. Linde, Robert E. Bombalski
  • Patent number: 5718780
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making aluminum alloy sheet product with improved paintbake response during automotive paintbake cycles, resistance to natural aging and better formability includes rapidly heating the aluminum alloy sheet product between a solution heat treating/quenching operation and a sheet coiling operation. Performing the rapid heating at this stage in the sheet manufacture minimizes the adverse effect of early natural aging (dwell time) on the paintbake response of these types of aluminum sheet alloy products. According to the invention, this dwell time is minimized by the application of a rapid heating step immediately following quenching from the solution heat treatment. After the aluminum sheet product has been rapidly heated, it is immediately coiled and cools under ambient conditions in coil form, this ambient cooling providing a pre-aging treatment which contributes to the improved performance of the sheet product in paintbake response, improved formability and natural aging resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: J. Daniel Bryant, Hideo Yoshida, Hidetoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 5714019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of producing aluminum alloy can body stock and can end stock which are particularly suitable for use in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies and ends for can bodies. The method for can body stock includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 1 to 5 mm and, subsequently, batch annealing the strip, followed by cold rolling, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to desired gauge. The aluminum alloy sheets may then be employed in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies. The process produces aluminum alloy sheet having an improved combination strength and caring properties with acceptable surface characteristics. Unique aluminum alloys usable in the claimed processes are also disclosed. In another embodiment, can ends are made by roll casting, followed by cold rolling preferably without prior thermal treatment, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to the desired gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert E. Sanders, Jr., Stephen F. Baumann, W. Bryan Steverson, Scott L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5711827
    Abstract: There are disclosed a support for a planographic printing plate, which decreases dispersion in a material quality of an aluminum alloy support and improves a yield of an electrolytic graining treatment and which can produce the planographic printing plate having a small heat softening property after a burning treatment and providing a low cost, and a method for producing the same. The support for the planographic printing plate is an aluminum alloy plate comprising 0<Fe.ltoreq.0.20 weight %, 0.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.13 weight %, 99.7 weight %.ltoreq.Al and the balance of inevitable impurity elements, wherein a solid solution amount of Fe is 10 ppm to 800 ppm, and the support has a tensile strength of 14 kg/mm.sup.2 or more and an offset stress of 10 kg/mm.sup.2 or more when it is subjected to a heat treatment by holding at 300.degree. C. for 7 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi, Tsutomu Kakei
  • Patent number: 5681405
    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: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: William Newton, David A. Tomes
  • Patent number: 5655593
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy sheet including a continuous, in-line sequence of forming a strip of aluminum alloy and rolling the strip to reduce its thickness and to cool the strip sufficiently rapidly that precipitation of alloying elements is substantially minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.
    Inventors: Gavin F. Wyatt-Mair, Edwin James Westerman
  • Patent number: 5634991
    Abstract: A method for making aluminum alloy can stock from continuously cast aluminum alloy slabs includes the steps of continuous casting, hot rolling, hot line annealing, cold rolling, intermediate annealing and cold rolling to final gauge. After the material is cold rolled to final gauge, it is subjected to a heat treatment step which improves its formability. The method is suited for improved AA3000 series type alloys. Besides improved formability, the inventive method also provides increased alpha phase content and low earing percentage for improvements in can manufacture. An improved aluminum alloy product also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Rajeev G. Kamat
  • Patent number: 5618358
    Abstract: A new aluminum based alloy having properties which mimic homogenized DC cast 3003 alloy and a low-cost method for manufacturing it are described. The alloy contains 0.40% to 0.70% Fe, 0.10% to less than 0.30% Mn, more than 0.10% to 0.25% Cu, less than 0.10% Si, optionally up to 0.10% Ti and the balance Al and incidental impurities. The alloy achieves properties similar to homogenized DC cast 3003 when continuously cast followed by cold rolling and if desired annealing at final gauge. Suprisingly no other heat treatments are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventors: Thomas Davisson, Sadashiv Nadkarni, Douglas Reesor
  • Patent number: 5616189
    Abstract: An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges:(1) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, 0.3.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5;(2) 0.8.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.4, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, Cu.ltoreq.2.5; and(3) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.0, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.1.4, Cu.ltoreq.2.0; said alloyhaving been formed into a sheet having properties suitable for automotive applications. The alloy may also contain at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Fe in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Mn in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Zn in an amount of 0.3 percent by weight or less and a small amount of at least one other element, such as Cr, Ti, Zr and V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon, Michael J. Bull, Pierre H. Marois, Alok K. Gupta, David J. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 5616190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing, by casting between rolls, an aluminum alloy sheet suitable for making up constituent elements of cans for food use, the aluminum alloy containing (by weight) between 1 and 4% of Mg and between 0 and 1.6% of Mn, the process being characterized in that said sheet is obtained by casting of said alloy in the liquid state between two rolls in the form of a strip having a thickness of at most 4 mm followed by at least one heat treatment at a temperature between 400.degree. and 580.degree. C. so that the sheet is at least partially recrystallized and cold-rolling to a final thickness of less than 0.3 mm.The sheet obtained has a yield stress, a formability index and a resistance of the coating to delamination which are improved and make it suitable for application to can manufacture and, in particular, to can lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Legresy, Guy-Michel Raynaud
  • Patent number: 5605586
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet suitable for high-speed forming includes subjecting the alloy to a homogenization treatment, hot rolling and cold rolling the homogenization treated alloy, thereby obtaining a cold-rolled sheet, and annealing the cold-rolled sheet. The aluminum alloy contains 4.0 to 10.0 wt. % of Mg, 0.2 wt. % of inevitable impurities of Fe and Si, 0.05 wt. % of other impurity elements, and the balance of Al. Another embodiment includes deep drawing the aluminum alloy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Bekki, Minoru Hayashi, Ryo Syoji
  • Patent number: 5582660
    Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising about 0.8 to about 1.3 wt. % silicon, about 0.2 to about 0.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.5 to about 1.8 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.01 to about 0.2 wt. % iron, the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities: (b) working the body to produce a sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is performed at a temperature greater than 840.degree. F. and the sheet is rapidly quenched. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of excellent formability and good strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Rolf B. Erickson, Shawn J. Murtha
  • Patent number: 5582659
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for forging comprising from 2.0 to 3.3% by weight of Si, from 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Mg, from 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of Ti, from 0.0001 to 0.01% by weight of B, up to 0.15% by weight of Fe, one element or at least two elements selected from the group consisting of 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of Na, 0.001 to 0.05% by weight of Sr, 0.05 to 0.15% by weight of Sb and 0.0005 to 0.01% by weight of Ca, up to 0.001% by weight of P, the P/Ca weight ratio being up to 1.0, and the remainder Al, eutectic Si contained in the cast structure of said aluminum alloy having an average particle size of up to 20 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Hashimoto, Sanji Kitaoka, Yoji Namekawa, Kiyoshi Takagi, Hideo Yoshioka, Ken Kanasashi
  • Patent number: 5573608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a superplastic aluminum alloy capable of being used for plastic working such as extrusion, forging and rolling. An object of the present invention is to provide an ingot-made high speed superplastic aluminum alloy in which superplasticity is developed at a strain rate higher than that of conventional static recrystallization type superplastic aluminum alloys, and a process for producing the same. The superplastic aluminum alloy of the invention has structure which is obtained by adding to a basic alloy containing from at least 4.0 to 15% by weight of Mg and from 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mm, Zr, V, W, Ti, Ni, Nb, Ca, Co, Mo and Ta, and further selective elements of Sc, Cu, Li, Sn, In and Cd, which contains from 0.1 to 4.0% by volume fraction of spheroidal precipitates of intermetallic compounds having a particle size from 10 to 200 nm, and which has a mean grain size from 0.1 to 10 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Miyake, Tetsuya Suganuma
  • Patent number: 5571347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved aluminum base alloy comprising an improved aluminum base alloy comprising 0.2 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0 to 1.2 wt. % Cu, 0 to 1.1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.4 wt. % Cr, and at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.3 wt. % V, 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % Be and 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, the remainder comprising aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. Also disclosed are methods of casting and thermomechanical processing of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5571346
    Abstract: A process for casting, thermally transforming and semi-solid forming an aluminum base alloy into an article, the process comprising the steps of: casting a molten body of aluminum base alloy to provide a solidified body, the molten aluminum base alloy being solidified at a rate between liquidus and solidus temperatures of the aluminum base alloy in a range of 5.degree. to 100.degree. C./sec. to provide an entire solidified body having a denditic microstructure. Thereafter, heat is applied to the solidified body to bring the body to a superheated temperature of 3.degree. to 50.degree. C. above the solidus temperature of the aluminum base alloy while maintaining a body in a solid shape and effecting thermal transformation of the body having the dendritic structure when the entire body is uniformly heated to the superheated temperature. The body having a non-dendritic structure is formed in a semi-solid condition into the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5562784
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy substrate for an electrolytically grainable lithographic printing plate, consisting of an aluminum alloy cold-rolled sheet, produced by a continuous casting and rolling process, comprising 0.20 to 0.80 wt % of Fe with the balance consisting of aluminum, grain refining elements, and unavoidable impurities including 0.3 wt % or less of Si and 0.05 wt % or less of Cu, grains in a surface layer portion having a width of not more than 150 .mu.m in a direction parallel to the sheet surface and normal to the direction of cold rolling and a length, in a direction parallel to the direction of cold rolling, of not more than 8 times the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nishikawa, Hideki Suzuki, Hirokazu Sakaki, Yoshinori Hotta
  • Patent number: 5560789
    Abstract: AA 7000 series alloys having high mechanical strength and a process for obtaining them. The alloys contain, by weight, 7 to 13.5% Zn, 1 to 3.8% Mg, 0.6 to 2.7% Cu, 0 to 0.5% Mn, 0 to 0.4% Cr, 0 to 0.2% Zr, others up to 0.05% each and 0.15% total, and remainder Al. Either wrought or cast alloys can be obtained, and the specific energy associated with the DEA melting signal of the product is lower than 3 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Pechiney Recherche
    Inventors: Pierre Sainfort, Philippe Gomiero
  • Patent number: 5554234
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength aluminum alloy suitable for use in the manufacture of a fin, said aluminum alloy containing at most 0.1% by weight of Si, 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of Fe, 0.1 to 0.50% by weight of Mn, 0.01 to 0.15% by weight of Ti, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, intermetallic compounds having a diameter not larger than 0.1 .mu.m being distributed within the metal texture of the alloy in a number density of at least 10/.mu.m.sup.3. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a high strength aluminum alloy suitable for use in the manufacture of a fin, comprising the steps of heating to 430.degree. to 580.degree. C. an aluminum alloy ingot of the composition noted above, applying a hot rolling treatment to said aluminum alloy ingot to obtain a plate material before the temperature of the aluminum alloy ingot is lowered by at most 50.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Furukawa Aluminum Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kano
  • Patent number: 5547522
    Abstract: A support for a planographic printing plate support in which variations in the quality of the material of the aluminum support are reduced to thereby improve the yield in an electrolytic graining treatment and which is excellent in susceptibility to graining, has no stripe irregularities, and excellent appearance, and a method for producing such a planographic printing plate. An aluminum plate material is formed through a twin-roller continuous casting apparatus and subjected to cold rolling. Successively, the plate is subjected to heat treatment so as to form a surface portion of a depth of at least 15 .mu.m in the thickness direction having no recrystallization in the surface layer. If necessary, the plate may be subjected to cold rolling again as final rolling. Thereafter, the plate is subjected to correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Matsuki, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 5540791
    Abstract: An aluminum-alloy rolled sheet is cold preformed and then superplastically formed by: providing a composition which consists of from 2.0 to 8.0% of Mg, from 0.0001 to 0.01% of Be, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of from 0.3 to 2.5% of Mn, from 0.1 to 0.5% of Cr, from 0.1 to 0.5% of Zr, and from 0.1 to 0.5% of V, less than 0.2% of Fe as impurities, as well as aluminum and unavoidable impurities in balance; providing an unrecrystallized structure formed by annealing at a temperature of from 150.degree. to 240.degree. C. for 0.5 to 12 hours or at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 340.degree. C. for 0 to 5 minutes; providing draft of final cold-rolling amounting to 50% or more; and, providing 7% or more of elongation at normal temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sky Aluminum Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Matsuo, Tsutomu Tagata
  • Patent number: 5531840
    Abstract: A method of producing a support for a planographic printing plate, which comprises after continuous casting an aluminum plate having a thickness of not more than 3 mm from molten aluminum by a twin roller continuous casting method, heat-treating the aluminum plate and then reducing the thickness of the plate to 0.5 mm or less by cold rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Uesugi, Tsutomu Kakei
  • Patent number: 5525169
    Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising: about 0.8 to about 1.5 wt. % silicon, about 0.2 to about 0.65 wt. % magnesium, about 0.02 to about 0.1 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to about 0.2 wt. % iron; and the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities; (b) working the body to produce a the sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is preformed at a temperature greater than 860.degree. F. and the sheet is quenched by a water spray. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of formability, strength and corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Shawn J. Murtha
  • Patent number: 5520754
    Abstract: A composition and method for producing a low density, high stiffness aluminum alloy which is capable of being processed into structural components having a desired combination of tensile strength, fracture toughness and ductility. The method includes the steps of forming, by spray deposition, a solid Al-Li alloy workpiece consisting essentially of the formula Al.sub.bal Li.sub.a Zr.sub.b wherein "a" ranges from greater than about 2.5 to 7 wt %, and "b" ranges from greater than about 0.13 to 0.6 wt %, the balance being aluminum, said alloy having been solidified at a cooling rate of about 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.4 K/sec. The method further includes several variations of selected thermomechanical process steps for: (1) eliminating any residual porosity which may be present in the workpiece as a result of the spray deposition step; and (2) producing components for a wide range of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah L. Yaney, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5516374
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet for use in a body panel material, comprising: (a) casting a melted aluminum alloy containing Al, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr, having a Mg content of 4 to 10 weight %, and having contents of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr which are determined by a value f satisfying the following equation (I), and the balance being Al: 0.4 wt %.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.1.5 wt % (I), wherein, f=(Fe)+1.1 (Mn)+1.1 (Cr)+3 (Ti)+3 (Zr), wherein (Fe), (Mn), (Cr), (Ti), and (Zr) respectively represent the percentage content by weight of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr, to form an ingot; (b) hot rolling the ingot to obtain a hot rolled sheet; (c) cold rolling the hot rolled sheet at a cold reduction R satisfying the following equation (II): -log(f-0.2)+8.ltoreq.R.ltoreq.-60 log (f-0.2)+50 (II) to obtain a cold rolled sheet; (d) subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a final annealing treatment including raising the temperature of the rolled sheet to 450.degree. to 550.degree. C. at a rate of 100.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsushi Habu, Minoru Hayashi, Yoichiro Bekki
  • Patent number: 5516382
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy useful for drawing and/or ironing, particularly of drink cans. The alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent, Fe<0.25; Si<0.25; Mn from 1.05 to 1.6; Mg from 0.7 to 2.5; Cu from 0.20 to 0.6; Cr from 0 to 0.35; Ti from 0 to 0.1; V from 0 to 0.1; other elements: each <0.05; total<0.15; and remainder Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventor: Guy-Michel Raynaud
  • Patent number: 5514228
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum sheet stock which includes hot rolling an aluminum alloy sheet stock, annealing and solution heat treating it without substantial intermediate cooling and rapid quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Gavin F. Wyatt-Mair, Donald G. Harrington
  • Patent number: 5512112
    Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum-based alloy composition having improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness. The process includes casting an ingot consisting essentially of 2.5-5.5 percent copper, 0.10-2.30 percent magnesium, with minor amounts of grain refining elements, dispersoid additions and impurities and the balance aluminum. The amounts of copper and magnesium are controlled such that the solid solubility limit for these elements in aluminum is not exceeded. The alloy composition also includes 0.10-1.00 percent silver for improved mechanical properties. The ingot, in accordance with the inventive process, is homogenized and worked to produce a product. The product is solution heat treated to obtain a saturated solid solution and then aged to develop an improved combination of high strength and fracture toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: William A. Cassada, III