Utilizing Continuously Advancing Surface Patents (Class 164/463)
  • Publication number: 20030136468
    Abstract: A melt of an iron-based rare earth material alloy, represented by (Fe1-mTm)100-x-y-zQxRyMz, is prepared. T is Co and/or Ni; Q is B and/or C; R is selected from Y (yttrium) and the rare earth elements; M is selected from Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au and Pb; 10≦x≦30 at %; 2%≦y<10 at %; 0≦z≦10 at % and 0≦m≦0.5. The melt is fed onto a guide to form a flow of the melt thereon and move the melt onto a melt/chill roller contact region, where the melt is rapidly cooled by the chill roller to make a rapidly solidified alloy. An oxygen concentration of the melt yet to be fed onto the guide is controlled at about 3,000 ppm or less in mass percentage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Satoshi Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 6585032
    Abstract: A strip casting plant with side limits arranged closely adjacent to a carrying belt. The side limits, and preferably the supply device for molten metal, are capable of vibrating and are connected to a device for producing vibrations. The adhesion of solidified material can thus be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Klaus Schwerdtfeger, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Paul Freier, Thomas Von Hinrichs, Wolfgang Reichelt, Ulrich Urlau, Ewald Feuerstacke, Joachim Kroos, Michael Brühl
  • Patent number: 6585033
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing vanadium alloy foil suitable as a membrane in a hydrogen-refining unit. A vanadium alloy comprising 5 to 25% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mo, Fe and Ag, 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr and Y, and the balance being V is used. A melt of the vanadium alloy is prepared by use of a crucible 1 having slit 3 in the bottom, a roll 2 comprising a cylinder whose central axis is arranged to be parallel to the slit is rotated, the melt is jetted from the slit 3 to the roll surface 5, the melt is jetted from the slit 3 is rapidly cooled, and the vanadium alloy solidified on the roll surface 5 is continuously exfolitated from the roll surface 5 to obtain the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonori Nishida, Akira Takagi, Toshiki Ohnishi, Osamu Kajita
  • Patent number: 6581674
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for making a molten film of metal, steel, in particular a steel film, more uniform, by strip casting, in which the molten material which is applied to a revolving belt is to have a thickness and properties which are as uniform as possible across the width of the strip. To make the strip more uniform over its width, forces are introduced into the metal film with a component which is perpendicular to the direction in which the strip is conveyed, which forces make the profile of the molten film of metal more uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignees: SMS Demag AG, Salzgitter AG
    Inventors: Joachim Kroos, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Ulrich Urlau
  • Publication number: 20030098094
    Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a rare earth magnet alloy ingot, which has improved magnetic properties. In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a rare earth magnet alloy ingot, wherein the rare earth magnet alloy ingot comprises an R—T—B type magnet alloy (R represents at least one element selected from among rare earth elements, including Y; and T represents a substance predominantly comprising Fe, with a portion of Fe atoms being optionally substituted by Co, Ni, Cu, Al, Ga, Cr, and Mn.) containing at least one element selected from among Nd, Pr, and Dy in a total amount of 11.8 to 16.5% by atom and B in an amount of 5.6 to 9.1% by atom; and wherein as determined in an as-cast state of the alloy ingot, R-rich phase that measures 100 &mgr;m or more is substantially absent on a cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Masahide Utsunomiya, Tadanao Ito
  • Patent number: 6554913
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing magnetic powder is disclosed. This method can provide magnetic powder from which a bonded magnet having excellent magnetic properties and reliability can be manufactured. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5. The cooling roll 5 is constructed from a roll base 51 and a circumferential surface 53 in which gas flow passages 54 for expelling gas are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas flow passages 54. The magnetic powder is obtained by milling thus formed melt spun ribbon 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20030056933
    Abstract: A magnet material having excellent magnetic properties and a bonded magnet formed of the magnet material as well as a method of manufacturing the magnet material are disclosed. The method of manufacturing the magnet material is carried out by discharging a molten metal of the magnet material from a nozzle while rotating a cooling roll having a surface layer composed of ceramics on its outer periphery to be collided with the surface layer of the cooling roll and solidified by cooling, the method of manufacturing the magnet material being characterized in that the time during which the magnet material is in contact with the surface layer of the cooling roll is not less than 0.5 ms when the molten metal of said magnet material is discharged from directly above the center of rotation of the cooling roll toward an apex part of the cooling roll to be collided with the apex part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20030037903
    Abstract: The apparatus and a method are used to produce metal fiber, which can increase production efficiency of metal fiber using a metal plate and simplify manufacturing equipments and includes a controlling device. The method for producing metal fiber includes steps of: making a frame in a vacuum condition by removing the air; vertically inserting an end of a metal plate between two induction coils arranged horizontally at an interval in the inside of the frame and heating and melting the end of the metal plate with heat generated by the induction coils; gradually moving the metal plate downwardly and bringing the end of the metal plate into contact with blades of a rotary disk, the rotary disk being horizontally mounted at a lower portion of the induction coils in the inside of the frame and rotating in a high speed; and solidifying metal fiber separated by the blades of the rotary disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Yang-Za Park
  • Patent number: 6506268
    Abstract: A process of producing a high toughness iron-based amorphous alloy strip, using a single roll liquid quenching method, the strip having a thickness of more than 55 &mgr;m up to 100 &mgr;m and a width of 20 mm or more and having a fracture strain &egr;f satisfying the relationship &egr;f>0.1 where &egr;f=t/(D-t), t=thickness of the strip, and D=bent diameter upon fracture, &egr;f being determined by bending the strip with a free cooling surface thereof facing outward, the process comprising the steps of: ejecting a molten metal alloy through a nozzle; applying the ejected molten metal alloy to a surface of a rotating roll; allowing the applied molten metal alloy to be quenched by the roll surface to form an amorphous strip of the metal alloy, the strip being quenched at a cooling rate, determined at a free surface thereof, of 103° C./sec or more in a temperature range of from 500° C. to 200° C.; and continuously coiling the quenched strip at a temperature of 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sakamoto, Toshio Yamada, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20020185256
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for casting metal strip includes a moving chill body that has a quench surface. A nozzle mechanism deposits a stream of molten metal on a quenching region of the quench surface to form the strip. The nozzle mechanism has an exit portion with a nozzle orifice. A depletion mechanism includes a plurality of independently controllable gas nozzles to supply a reducing gas to multiple zones of a depletion region located adjacent to and upstream from the quenching region. The gas flow profile can be controlled in each zone independently of controlling the gas flow in other zones. The reducing gas reacts exothermically to lower the density to provide a low density reducing atmosphere within the depletion and substantially prevent formation of gas pockets in the strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Howard H. Liebermann, Stephen D. Albert, Phillip L. Roberts, David W. Palm, Shinya Myojin
  • Publication number: 20020157806
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing vanadium alloy foil suitable as a membrane in a hydrogen-refining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonori Nishida, Akira Takagi, Toshiki Ohnishi, Osamu Kajita
  • Patent number: 6453984
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for casting metal strip includes a moving chill body that has a quench surface. A nozzle mechanism deposits a stream of molten metal on a quenching region of the quench surface to form the strip. The nozzle mechanism has an exit portion with a nozzle orifice. A depletion mechanism includes a plurality of independently controllable gas nozzles to supply a reducing gas to multiple zones of a depletion region located adjacent to and upstream from the quenching region. The gas flow profile can be controlled in each zone independently of controlling the gas flow in other zones. The reducing gas reacts exothermically to lower the density to provide a low density reducing atmosphere within the depletion and substantially prevent formation of gas pockets in the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Howard H. Liebermann, Stephen D. Albert, Phillip L. Roberts, David W. Palm, Shinya Myojin
  • Publication number: 20020129923
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for casting metal strip includes a moving chill body that has a quench surface. A nozzle mechanism deposits a stream of molten metal on a quenching region of the quench surface to form the strip. The nozzle mechanism has an exit portion with a nozzle orifice. A depletion mechanism includes a plurality of independently controllable gas nozzles to supply a reducing gas to multiple zones of a depletion region located adjacent to and upstream from the quenching region. The gas flow profile can be controlled in each zone independently of controlling the gas flow in other zones. The reducing gas reacts exothermically to lower the density to provide a low density reducing atmosphere within the depletion and substantially prevent formation of gas pockets in the strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Howard H. Liebermann, Stephen D. Albert, Phillip L. Roberts, David W. Palm, Shinya Myojin
  • Patent number: 6446702
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a metallic ribbon includes a cooling roll, a melt nozzle, and an air-cutoff unit provided to cover at least a portion of the periphery of the cooling roll and at least the melt blowout end of the melt nozzle, for preventing an inflow of air due to rotation of the cooing roll. The air-cutoff unit has a roll top air-cutoff plate provided above the cooling roll to extent from the front side to the rear side in the rotation direction of the cooling roll in such a manner that it approaches the cooling surface in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the cooling roll. The melt blowout end of the melt nozzle is arranged to pass through a nozzle mounting hole provided in the roll top air-cutoff plate and face the cooling surface of the cooling roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Murakami, Akinori Kojima, Yutaka Yamamoto, Akihiro Makino, Takashi Hatanai
  • Publication number: 20020079084
    Abstract: A strip casting plant with side limits arranged closely adjacent to a carrying belt. The side limits, and preferably the supply device for molten metal, are capable of vibrating and are connected to a device for producing vibrations. The adhesion of solidified material can thus be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Klaus Schwerdtfeger, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Paul Freier, Thomas Von Hinrichs, Wolfgang Reichelt, Ulrich Urlau, Ewald Feruerstacke, Joachim Kroos, Michael Bruhl
  • Patent number: 6405787
    Abstract: A method for winding a rapidly quenched thin metal ribbon has the steps of (1) ejecting a molten metal onto a rotating cooling roll to rapidly solidify the molten metal to form a thin metal ribbon, (2) peeling the thin metal ribbon from the cooling roll to let the thin metal ribbon to freely move from the cooling roll, and (3) bringing a rotating winding roll having an adhesive thereon into contact with the freely moving thin metal ribbon at an intermediate point thereof, so that the thin metal ribbon is wound around the winding roll with an excess portion of the thin metal ribbon forward of the intermediate point cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Bizen, Michihiro Nagao, Jun Sunakawa, Shunsuke Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6401799
    Abstract: A magnet material having excellent magnetic properties and a bonded magnet formed of the magnet material as well as a method of manufacturing the magnet material are disclosed. The method of manufacturing the magnet material is carried out by discharging a molten metal of the magnet material from a nozzle while rotating a cooling roll having a surface layer composed of ceramics on its outer periphery to be collided with the surface layer of the cooling roll and solidified by cooling, the method of manufacturing the magnet material being characterized in that the time during which the magnet material is in contact with the surface layer of the cooling roll is not less than 0.5 ms when the molten metal of said magnet material is discharged from directly above the center of rotation of the cooling roll toward an apex part of the cooling roll to be collided with the apex part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6386269
    Abstract: The present invention is presented with the object of providing a manufacturing method for thin-plate magnets that, as cast, exhibit an intrinsic coercive force iHc of 2.5 kOe or greater and a residual magnetic flux density Br of 9 kG or greater, exhibit a performance-to-cost ratio comparable to hard ferrite magnets, and exhibit a fine crystalline structure with a thickness of 70 to 500 &mgr;m wherewith magnetic circuits can be made smaller and thinner. By employing alloy melts to which specific elements have been added, in a process wherein alloy melts of specific composition are continuously cast on a rotating cooling roller or rollers in a reduced-pressure inert or inactive gas atmosphere at 30 kPa or less, and fine crystalline permanent magnets having a fine crystalline structure of 10 to 50 nm are fabricated, fine crystalline permanent magnets having a thickness of 70 to 500 &mgr;m can be obtained wherein iHc is improved to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Special Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Satoshi Hirosawa
  • Publication number: 20020050335
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the fabrication process of low or high enrichment uranium and uranium alloy foil, and the fabrication apparatus therefor. Uranium (U) and uranium alloy [U—(A)Q—(B)X—(C)Y (Q: Al, Fe, Ni, Si, Cr, Zr element, X: Al, Fe, Ni, Si, Cr, Zr element, Y: Al, Fe, Ni, Si, Cr, Zr element, Q≠X≠Y, (A)≦1 wt %, (B)≦1 wt %, (C)≦1 wt %)] foil are directly obtained from a melt, not through a vacuum induction melting & casting, ingot cutting, hot-rolling and heat-treatment process, but through melt spinning or a twin-roll casting process. Major advantages have been obtained as follows: 1) a simplified process without the hot-rolling process and heat-treatment process, 2) an improvement in productivity and process economics in foil fabrication, and 3) a high purity and a high quality of the foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Chang-Kyu Kim, Ki-Hwan Kim, Seok-Jin Oh, Se-Jung Jang, Eung-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6357637
    Abstract: A method and a casting nozzle for starting the casting of a metal strip close its final dimensions. The method includes leading a melt via a melt-feed vessel into a pouring chamber of a siphon vessel. The melt from the pouring chamber is led onto a cooled transport belt via casting nozzle and a main chamber of the siphon vessel which can be put under vacuum. The pouring chamber and the main chamber of the siphon vessel are filled with the melt up to a top of the siphon. Before the melt flows over the top of the siphon a vacuum is induced in the main chamber by actuating a vacuum device connected to the main chamber. After the melt has flowed over the top of the siphon the melt stream is led through the casting nozzle so that the nozzle cross-section closes in the manner of a plug. The vacuum is increased depending on position of the plug in the casting nozzle until there is in the melt stream a hydraulic connection between the steam inlet and the stream outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Urlau, Joachim Kroos, Reinhard Scholz, Karl-Heinz Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20020020514
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a magnetic material which can provide a bonded magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which gas expelling grooves 54 are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 6 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas expelling grooves 54.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6336495
    Abstract: Method of making wire comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al2O3 fibers within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Colin McCullough, Andreas Mortensen, Paul S. Werner, Herve E. Deve, Tracy L. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20010031373
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy fiber has a width of 10 &mgr;m or more to less than 500 &mgr;m, a thickness of 2 &mgr;m or more to less than 20 &mgr;m, and a Curie temperature of −50° C. or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Takao Sawa, Katsutoshi Nakagawa, Hisashi Takahashi, Teruo Murakami, Masao Obama
  • Patent number: 6302972
    Abstract: An inventive material alloy for a nanocomposite magnet is represented by a general formula Fe100−x−yRxBy, Fe100−x−y−zRxByCoz, Fe100−x−y−uRxByMu or Fe100−x−y−z−uRxByCozMu. R is a rare-earth element. 90 atomic percent or more of R is Pr and/or Nd, while equal to or larger than 0 atomic percent and less than 10 atomic percent of R is another lanthanoid and/or Y. M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Pb, Au and Ag. The molar fractions x, y, z and u meet the inequalities of 2≦x≦6, 16≦y≦20, 0.2≦z≦7 and 0.01≦u≦7, respectively. The alloy includes a metastable phase Z represented by at least one of a plurality of Bragg reflection peaks observable by X-ray diffraction analysis. The at least one peak corresponds to a lattice spacing of 0.179 nm±0.005 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Special Metals Co., LTD
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirosawa, Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Yasutaka Shigemoto
  • Patent number: 6299989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high stack factor amorphous metal transformer core, and to a process for constructing a high stack factor amorphous metal transformer core. The process uses high lamination factor amorphous metal ribbon (the term lamination factor is generally used to express the smoothness and uniformity of the ribbon, whereas the term stack factor is applied to cores made from ribbon); that is, amorphous metal ribbon with a highly smooth surface and a highly uniform thickness as measured across the ribbon width. High stack factor amorphous metal ribbon can be efficiently packed, by winding or stacking operations, into compact transformer core shapes. The transformer core can then be clamped, to further reduce overall dimensions, and annealed, to relieve residual mechanical stresses and to generate a desired magnetic anisotropy, without detriment to the final magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas De Cristofaro, Richard L. Bye, Jr., Dung A. Ngo, Michael L. Briggs
  • Patent number: 6287391
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a permanent magnet by fabricating rapidly cooled alloy thin strip of amorphous composition which has good tenacity, simple working properties and an average thickness of 10 &mgr;m˜200 &mgr;m, from a molten alloy of a specific composition containing 6 at % or less of rare-earth element and 15 at %˜30 at % of boron, by means of specific rapid cooling conditions, and then subjecting this rapidly cooled alloy thin strip, after cutting or punching to a prescribed shape, to crystallization heat treatment such that the average crystal grain size thereof becomes 10 nm˜50 nm, and by layering together two or more of these thin permanent magnets and bonding and uniting the layered thin strips by means of an inorganic adhesive material or a resin, it is possible readily to provide a high-performance layered permanent magnet having a desired thickness and a prescribed shape, without using a method involving crushing and bonded magnet forming processes and without needing to car
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Special Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Satoshi Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 6277212
    Abstract: An amorphous metal alloy strip is disclosed having a width greater than about one inch and a thickness less than about 0.003 inch, this alloy consists essentially of 77 to 80 atomic percent iron, 12 to 16 atomic percent boron and 5 to 10 atomic percent silicon with incidental impurities. The strip has a 60 cycle per second core loss of less than about 0.100 watts per pound at 12.6 kilogauss, saturation magnetization of at least 15 kilogauss, and a coercive force of less than about 0.04 oersteds. Such alloy is further characterized by increased castability and the strip produced therefrom exhibits at least singular ductility. A method of producing such optimum strip is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Leslie Ames, Vilakkudi G. Veeraraghavan, Stephen D. Washko
  • Publication number: 20010006100
    Abstract: A method for winding a rapidly quenched thin metal ribbon has the steps of (1) ejecting a molten metal onto a rotating cooling roll to rapidly solidify the molten metal to form a thin metal ribbon, (2) peeling the thin metal ribbon from the cooling roll to let the thin metal ribbon to freely move from the cooling roll, and (3) bringing a rotating winding roll having an adhesive thereon into contact with the freely moving thin metal ribbon at an intermediate point thereof, so that the thin metal ribbon is wound around the winding roll with an excess portion of the thin metal ribbon forward of the intermediate point cut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshio Bizen, Michihiro Nagao, Jun Sunakawa, Shunsuke Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6168673
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a thin-film magnet having a residual magnetic flux density Br of not less than 10 kG, a cost performance equal to that of a hard ferrite magnet, and a thickness of 70-300 &mgr;m contributing to the miniaturization and thinning of a magnetic circuit, and a method of manufacturing the same. When a molten alloy of a predetermined structure having a small content of a rare earth element is subjected to continuous casting using a cooling roll in an inert gas atmosphere with reduced pressures of not more than 30 kPa at a predetermined peripheral speed of the roll, it turns into a crystalline structure substantially not less than 90% of which comprises a Fe3B type compound and a compound phase having &agr; —Fe and Nd2Fe14B type crystalline structures compatible with the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Special Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Satoshi Hirosawa
  • 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: 6125912
    Abstract: A neutron absorbing material and method utilizing rare earth elements such as gadolinium, europium and samarium to form metallic glasses and/or noble base nano/microcrystalline materials, the neutron absorbing material having a combination of superior neutron capture cross sections coupled with enhanced resistance to corrosion, oxidation and leaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Branagan, Galen R. Smolik
  • Patent number: 6047763
    Abstract: A metal ribbon manufacturing apparatus which comprises a cooling roll having a cooling surface for cooling a melt, a melt nozzle confronting the cooling surface with a prescribed gap maintained between it and the cooling roll, gas flow supply means for supplying an inert gas to the periphery of the melt nozzle, roll outside periphery atmosphere shutoff means for covering at least a portion of the outside periphery of the cooling roll and preventing the atmosphere from being rolled in by the rotation of the cooling roll, and an atmosphere staying portion disposed on the front side in the rotating direction of the cooling roll of the roll outside periphery atmosphere shutoff means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Murakami, Takashi Hatanai, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6044897
    Abstract: A process for increasing the productivity of aluminum castings from a hot chamber die casting machine, as well as a process for increasing the working life of an injection chamber for use in a hot chamber aluminum die casting machine, both of which involve the use of a passivated aluminum alloy in the machine. In the preferred embodiment, the process involves the use of an aluminum alloy which is passivated through the introduction of an amount of TiBr.sub.2, provided in amounts sufficient to retard corrosion of the steel of the hot chamber casting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Raymond E. Cross
  • Patent number: 5964968
    Abstract: A rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen storage alloy having a composition represented by the formula (1)(R.sub.1-x L.sub.x)(Ni.sub.1-y M.sub.y).sub.z (1)(R: La, Ce, Pr, Nd; L: Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y, Sc, Mg, Ca; M: Co, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, Si, V, Cr, Nb, Hf, Ta, W, B, C; 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.1; 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.5; 4.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.5.0), the alloy including in an amount of not less than 10 volume % and less than 95 volume % thereof crystals each containing not less than 2 and less than 20 antiphase boundaries extending perpendicular to C-axis of a crystal grain of the alloy per 20 nm along the C-axis, not less than 60% and less than 95% of added amount of said element represented by L in the formula (1) being arranged in antiphase areas, a method for producing the same, and an anode for a nickel-hydrogen rechargeable battery. The anode for a nickel-hydrogen rechargeable battery can improve initial activity, battery capacity, and battery life all at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Santoku Metal Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Akihito Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5916376
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive magnet having a high coercivity, high squareness ratio and high maximum energy product. According to the invention, a magnet containing R, T, N, and M wherein R is at least one rare earth element with essential samarium, T is iron or iron and cobalt, and M is at least one element of Ti, V, Cr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Mo, W, Al, C, and P, with essential zirconium, in amounts of 4-8 at % of R, 10-20 at % of N, 2-10 at % of M, and having a hard magnetic phase (TbCu.sub.7 type crystalline phase) and a soft magnetic phase (which is a bcc structured T phase, has an average grain diameter of 5-60 nm, and accounts for 10 to 60% by volume of the entirety), the atomic ratio (R+M)/(R+T+M) in the hard magnetic phase being in excess of 12.5%, is prepared utilizing a single roll technique. In the single roll technique, the peripheral speed of a chill roll is at least 50 m/s, and the discharge pressure of the molten alloy is 0.3-2 kgf/cm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fukuno, Tomomi Yamamoto, Tetsuhito Yoneyama, Tetsuya Hidaka
  • Patent number: 5908068
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a wide metal thin strip, molten metal is ejected onto the surface of a rotating cooling roll. The nozzle shape permits manufacture of wide metal thin strips having a uniform thickness in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurokawa, Shun Suhara, Toshitane Matsukawa, Haruhiko Ishizuka, Toru Sato
  • Patent number: 5840166
    Abstract: A rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen storage alloy having a composition represented by the formula (1) (R.sub.1-x L.sub.x) (Ni.sub.1-y M.sub.y).sub.z . . . (1) (R: La, Ce, Pr, Nd; L: Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y, Sc, Mg, Ca; M: Co, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, Si, V, Cr, Nb, Hf, Ta, W, B, C; 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.5, 3.0.ltoreq.z<4.5), the alloy including in an amount of not less than 30 volume % and less than 95 volume % thereof crystals each containing not less than 5 and less than 25 antiphase boundaries extending perpendicular to C-axis of a crystal grain of the alloy per 20 nm along the C-axis, not less than 60% and less than 95% of added amount of the element represented by L in the formula (1) being arranged in antiphase areas, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Santoku Metal Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5833769
    Abstract: A wide amorphous alloy thin strip having a width of 70 mm or above and useful as an iron core of electric power transformers, composed of Fe--Si--B--C amorphous alloy. Dispersion of an amorphous structure in the width direction is prevented and deterioration of the strip properties is suppressed by adding Mn or by casting in an atmosphere containing a carbonic acid gas in an amount of about 40 vol % or more to thereby control strip surface roughness to a center line average surface roughness of about 0.7 .mu.m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Kogiku, Seiji Okabe, Kensuke Matsuki, Masao Yukumoto
  • Patent number: 5817222
    Abstract: A rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen storage alloy having a composition represented by the formula (1)RNi.sub.x-y M.sub.y (1)(wherein R stands for La, Ce, Pr, Nd, or mixtures thereof, M stands for Co, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, Si, V, Cr, Nb, Hf, Ta, W, B, C, or mixtures thereof, x satisfies the formula of 3.5.ltoreq.x<5, and y satisfies the formula of 0<y.ltoreq.2, crystals in the alloy having a LaNi.sub.5 type single phase structure, the alloy including in an amount of not less than 5 volume % and less than 95 volume % thereof crystals each containing not less than 2 and less than 17 antiphase boundaries extending perpendicular to C-axis of a grain of the crystal in the alloy per 20 nm along the C-axis, a method of producing the same, and an anode for a nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery containing as an anode material the above rare earth metal-nickel hydrogen storage alloy and an electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Santoku Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5808233
    Abstract: A thermocouple formed of a length of a single composition having first solid phase section adjoining a second solid phase section, and a transition therebetween. One method of making such thermocouples is to raise the temperature of the first solid phase section above its transformation temperature while maintaining the temperature of a second adjoining solid phase section of the length of material below its transformation temperature. A second method includes rapidly solidifying a molten material by contacting it with a moving substrate formed of adjoining regions of differing thermal conductivity. A third method includes rapidly solidifying a molten material by alternatingly contacting it with a cooling fluid and air. A fourth method includes transforming a section of a length of material in a first solid to a second solid phase by mechanical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Mikhail V. Finkel, Jim J. S. Chen, Antonio M. Goncalves
  • Patent number: 5803996
    Abstract: An alloy material 4 received in a melting hearth 1 is melted by high-density energy supplied from a heat source 5. The molten alloy is transferred to a forced-cooled die 3 having a cavity 2 defining the profile of a product, and quenched to an amorphous state. The alloy has the composition represented by the general formula of Zr.sub.100-a-b-c A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c (wherein the mark A represents one or more elements selected from Ti, Hf, Al and Ga, the mark B represents one or more elements selected from Fe, Co, Ni and Cu, the mark C represents one or more elements selected from Pd, Pt, Au and Ag, and the marks a-c represent the atomic ratios of respective elements A-C under the conditions of a=5-20, b=15-45, c.ltoreq.10 and a+b+c=30-70. The differential temperature region .DELTA.T (=T.sub.x -T.sub.g) in the supercooled liquid phase of the Zr alloy represented by the difference between the crystallization point T.sub.x and the glass transition point T.sub.g, is preferably 100 K or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Research Development Corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Tao Zhang, Yoshiyuki Shinohara
  • Patent number: 5801630
    Abstract: A harmonic-type EAS marker includes a wire segment formed of cobalt alloy. To form the wire segment, the cobalt alloy is cast as an amorphous wire, die-drawn to a smaller diameter, and then annealed with application of longitudinal tension. The annealed wire is cut to produce wire segments which have a magnetic hysteresis loop with a large Barkhausen discontinuity at a lower threshold level than has previously been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wing K. Ho, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5765625
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an amorphous metal ribbon provides the following: jetting a molten metal from a nozzle, which has a slit-shaped opening, to a cooling roll, which rotates at a high speed, so as to form a puddle on the cooling roll; and spreading the puddle for rapid solidification. Additionally, the present invention provides at a position upstream from the puddle in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the cooling roll, cleaning the surface of the cooling roll by blowing carbon dioxide gas to which ultrasonic vibration is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Yukumoto, Kensuke Matsuki, Nobuo Shiga, Hitoshi Ogo
  • Patent number: 5758715
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a wide metal thin strip, molten metal is ejected onto the surface of a rotating cooling roll. The nozzle shape permits manufacture of wide metal thin strips having a uniform thickness in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Kawsaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurokawa, Shun Suhara, Toshitane Matsukawa, Haruhiko Ishizuka, Toru Sato
  • Patent number: 5740853
    Abstract: To solve the problem of capturing the strip leading edge for improving the success rate of coiling and to eliminate the complicated recovery of the coiled strip for improving the productivity, a process of online-coiling a quench-solidified magnetic strip produced by ejecting a liquid metal or metal alloy onto a moving cooled substrate comprises the step of rotating a coiling roll having a magnetized surface to coil the strip therearound, at a coiling roll surface speed within the range of not less than 90% and less than 100% of a moving speed of the substrate, upon starting the coiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Soshichi Tsuchihashi, Masayoshi Tatsukawa, Minoru Yamate, Hiroaki Sakamoto, Yuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 5665177
    Abstract: A permanent magnet material is prepared by cooling with a chill roll a molten alloy containing R wherein R is at least one rare earth element inclusive of Y, Fe or Fe and Co, and B. The chill roll has a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves in a circumferential surface, the distance between two adjacent ones of the grooves at least in a region with which the molten alloy comes in contact being 100 to 300 .mu.m average in an arbitrary cross section containing a roll axis. Permanent magnet material of stable performance is obtained since the variation of cooling rate caused by a change in the circumferential speed of the chill roll is small. The variation of cooling rate is small even when it is desired to change the thickness of the magnet by altering the circumferential speed. The equalized groove pitch results in a minimized variation in crystal grain diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fukuno, Hideki Nakamura, Tetsuhito Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 5647921
    Abstract: A process for producing an amorphous alloy ribbon by the single roll method is disclosed, which comprises injecting through a slot disposed at a nozzle tip a molten alloy having the composition represented by the general formula:(Fe.sub.1-a M.sub.a).sub.100-x-y-z-b Cu.sub.x Si.sub.y B.sub.z M'.sub.bwherein M is Co and/or Ni, M' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, W and Ta, and a, x, y, z and b satisfy the relationships: 0.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.1, 0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2 (atomic %), 5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.20 (atomic %), 5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.11 (atomic %), 14.ltoreq.y+z.ltoreq.25 (atomic %) and 2.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.5 (atomic %), provided that the ratio of y to z (y/z) is in the range of 0.5.ltoreq.y/z.ltoreq.3, onto a cooling wheel comprising a Cu alloy containing Be in an amount of 0.05 to 3.0% by weight. This process is advantageous in that the position of peel of the amorphous alloy ribbon formed on the cooling wheel can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Odagawa, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5642771
    Abstract: At least one metal strip of small width is manufactured from a molten material held in a metallurgical vessel at a temperature above a melting point of the molten material, by the steps of subjecting the molten material to a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure and ejecting the molten material through orifices in a lower part of a nozzle fastened to the vessel and onto a moving cooling surface located beneath the nozzle, the orifices being elongated in the direction of movement of the cooling surface. The molten material is permitted to solidify in grooves in the cooling surface, the grooves being elongated in the direction of movement and facing and being in longitudinal alignment with the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Imphy S.A.
    Inventor: Christian Forest
  • Patent number: 5634987
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a two-phase magnetic material that includes as the major phase a crystalline alloy of one or more rare earth metals, boron and iron, substantially all of the crystallites of which have a size of less than 35 nanometers, and as the minor phase .alpha.-Fe, involves the steps of (i) melt spinning an alloy consisting of up to 12 atomic percent of one or more rare earth metals, 3 to 7 atomic percent of boron and the balance iron or a mixture of iron and cobalt; (ii) quenching the melt spun alloy form step (i) under conditions such that a mixture of crystalline and amorphous material is produced, (iii) subjecting the material from step (ii) to an annealing treatment under conditions such that controlled crystal growth occurs to provide the crystalline alloy phase, substantially all of which has a particle size of less than 35 nanometers, the resulting materials having a remanence in excess of the theoretical value of 0.8 Tesla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: The University of Sheffield
    Inventors: Pengzhen Zhang, Robert A. Buckley, Hywel A. Davies, Azwar Manaf
  • Patent number: 5601139
    Abstract: A jet of liquid metal 42 is directed onto a fast-moving receiving surface 4 and reciprocal relative motion is caused between the receiving surface 4 and the jet 42 perpendicularly to the moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: SEVA
    Inventor: Alain Remy