Utilizing A Liquid Shaping Surface Patents (Class 164/81)
  • Patent number: 8820393
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for forming a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheets have different surface finish including a “fire” polish surface like that of a float glass. In one embodiment, a first molten metal alloy is poured on a second molten metal of higher density in a float chamber to form a sheet of the first molten that floats on the second molten metal and cooled to form a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheet. In another embodiment, a molten metal is poured on a conveyor conveying the sheet of the first molten metal on a conveyor and cooled to form a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheet. The cooling rate such that a time-temperature profile during the cooling does not traverse through a region bounding a crystalline region of the metal alloy in a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D Prest, Joseph C. Poole, Joseph Stevick, Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Quoc Tran Pham
  • Patent number: 8485245
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for forming a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheets have different surface finish including a “fire” polish surface like that of a float glass. In one embodiment, a first molten metal alloy is poured on a second molten metal of higher density in a float chamber to form a sheet of the first molten that floats on the second molten metal and cooled to form a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheet. In another embodiment, a molten metal is poured on a conveyor conveying the sheet of the first molten metal on a conveyor and cooled to form a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy sheet. The cooling rate such that a time-temperature profile during the cooling does not traverse through a region bounding a crystalline region of the metal alloy in a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Joseph C. Poole, Joseph Stevick, Theodore Andrew Waniuk, Quoc Tran Pham
  • Publication number: 20110272115
    Abstract: Embodiments related to sheet production are disclosed. A melt of a material is cooled to form a sheet of the material on the melt. The sheet is formed in a first region at a first sheet height. The sheet is translated to a second region such that it has a second sheet height higher than the first sheet height. The sheet is then separated from the melt. A seed wafer may be used to form the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter L. Kellerman, Dawei Sun, Brian Helenbrook, David S. Harvey
  • Publication number: 20100038826
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sheet are disclosed. A melt is cooled and a sheet is formed on the melt. This sheet has a first thickness. The sheet is then thinned from the first thickness to a second thickness using, for example, a heater or the melt. The cooling may be configured to allow solutes to be trapped in a region of the sheet and this particular sheet may be thinned and the solutes removed. The melt may be, for example, silicon, silicon and germanium, gallium, or gallium nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES INC.
    Inventors: Peter L. Kellerman, Frederick Carlson, Frank Sinclair
  • Patent number: 5392843
    Abstract: An improvement in systems for continuous casting steel to near net shape sheet or plate directly from molten metal. This is accomplished by floating the liquid steel on a liquid substrate of silver, allowing it to solidify and withdrawing a continuous section of thin, wide steel. Liquid to liquid casting, by eliminating the mechanical problems of thin sheet casting with wheels or belts, allows for increased tonnage rates. For example, aiming at a thickness of 3 mm. by a width of 1500 mm., a liquid steel to liquid silver caster in continuous production at 200 feet per minute will produce 750,000 tons per annum. Increased cast speeds and/or multiple lines due to simple construction seem practicable for greater tonnage. Only liquid silver, as a float medium, makes high quality float casting of molten steel possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: James J. Dolan
  • Patent number: 5344597
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming sheets of a first material, such as a metal, plastic, rubber, or the like, having a primary tank for heating a second molten material and containing the second molten material to form a surface upon which the first material is floated in a molten state. The temperature of the second molten material is maintained below the melting temperature of the first molten material, and the second molten material has a higher specific gravity than the first molten material. Thus, the first molten material floats upon the surface of the second molten material while it solidifies into a sheet of material, which is then withdrawn from the surface of the second molten material. A hood is disposed over the primary tank to remove fumes and vapors which, when removed, are discharged into water where they condense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Harry J. Robertson
  • Patent number: 4955430
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for horizontal continuous casting of thin steel slabs by floating liquid steel on the surface of a pool of molten lead and allowing the steel to solidify by cooling to form a continuous flat ribbon. The virtually complete immiscibility between iron and lead is the key to the invention and also the fact that iron floats on lead, both are good heat conductors and molten lead is non-wetting towards solid iron and a good lubricant for it. The method is conducted in an elongated tray containing a molten lead pool and incorporating lateral edge dams defining the cast slab width. Liquid steel from a prior process is continually introduced from a tundish or ladle and distributed uniformly across the entry end while avoiding turbulence and mechanical mixing between lead and steel. Heat is extracted by external cooling as the steel progresses along the tray, causing it to freeze and form an outer shell solidification front extending transversely between the edge dams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: William L. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 4369023
    Abstract: The present invention is a shot making apparatus which allows rapid and reliable production of shot and which is relatively compact in size. The shot making apparatus comprises a receptacle for lead, at least one nozzle for discharging molten lead in droplet form from the receptacle, a heating means being disposed such as to heat the chute, a chute being disposed at a spacing from and at a downwardly inclined angle to the nozzle(s), and a container(s) for liquid coolant and lead droplets discharged from said nozzle(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Inventor: David S. Baker
  • Patent number: 4127158
    Abstract: A method of preparing hollow metallic bodies by contacting flat droplets of a molten metal with a liquid capable of readily gasifying at a temperature lower than the melting point of said metal. Upon contact the liquid gasifies under the flat droplets and the gas pushes up the center of the flat droplets. The edges of the droplets fall because the vapor near the edges goes around the edges. As the middle of the droplets rises the surface tension of the droplets brings the edges together thereby forming the hollow metallic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1978
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Matsuno