Sintering Or Heat Fusing Particles Patents (Class 264/125)
  • Patent number: 6296794
    Abstract: A preform for a z-flow honeycomb filter is formed by a pressing process wherein a batch charge is shaped in a press into a preform of finished plug-and-channel configuration, the shaped preform comprising opposing overlapping arrays of closed-end inlet and outlet channels wherein the end closures consist of bridging segments of batch material connected in continuous (seamless) or uninterrupted fashion with the adjoining channel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Paul Day, David L. Hickman, Lawrence S. Rajnik
  • Publication number: 20010025003
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aqueous slurry of rare earth hydroxide particles which is particularly suitable for use as a sintering aid of a ceramic powder such as silicon nitride. The aqueous slurry, which is characterized by the very small average diameter of the primary particles and a low electric conductivity as well as outstandingly high stability against settling of the particles, can be prepared by a process comprising the steps of: (a) precipitating rare earth hydroxide particles by mixing aqueous solutions of a rare earth compound, e.g., nitrate, and a basic compound, e.g., ammonia, preferably, in the presence of a surface active agent; (b) collecting the precipitates to give a cake; (c) washing the cake with deionized water until the electric conductivity of the washing has decreased to 3 mS/cm or lower; and (d) redispersing the thus washed cake in deionized water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Shigeru Sakai, Yuji Kimura
  • Publication number: 20010024000
    Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Martin Kin-Fei Lee, George Gerald Gunn, James Michael Placko
  • Patent number: 6284176
    Abstract: An industrial precursor suitable for making resilient construction materials for use in interior and exterior applications is produced by homogenizing a glassy material together with a plasticizer and suitable solvent. The homogenized material is extruded, dried, and ground into pellets. The industrial precursor may be stored indefinitely, and is processed into construction materials by packing the industrial precursor into a heat-resistant mold, and thermally treating the industrial precursor to sinter it into a construction material having a substantially defect-free surface and strong tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Futuristic Tile, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frantiśek Oujiri
  • Patent number: 6269536
    Abstract: Production of low oxygen forms of tantalum and other refractory metals providing hydrided powder of the metal, forming a tube (10), pouring the metal into the tube, dehydriding the powder in the tube and sealing the tube and extruding to form a rod encased in the tube and further fabricating the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: H.C. Starck, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Balliett
  • Patent number: 6245281
    Abstract: A process for producing shaped articles are prepared by a process comprising selectively laser sintering a nylon-12 pulverulent material having the following characteristics: Melting point 185-189° C. Enthalpy of fusion 112 ± 17 J/g Solidification point 138-143° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Huels Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Scholten, Wolfgang Christoph
  • Patent number: 6217700
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing thermoset webs of thermoplastic polymer material which is comminuted into particles, such as flakes, granulated material or the like or is ground into powder. The thermoplastic polymer material particles are distributed uniformly on the lower conveyor belt; the distance between the lower and upper conveyor belt is maintained equal to the thickness of the web to be manufactured; the initial layer poured onto the surface area of the lower conveyor belt is applied with such a thickness of the layer that the thermoplastic polymer material particles are subjected during the entire transport between the upper and lower conveyor belts in the heating and cooling sections only to a minimum pressure of at most 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Schilling-Knobel GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knobel
  • Patent number: 6210625
    Abstract: The invention is a method of making a novel spherical form of granulated products that can be effectively used in various product forms in drug, fertilizer, foodstuff, feed, agricultural chemical, catalyst, ceramics, powder metallurgy, detergent, plastic, and bio-material fields, for instance, as catalysts, lightweight materials, sound-insulating materials, microcapsules, and lightweight aggregates. To obtain a granulated product which is a spherical solid shell having a spherical space therein, a polymer having high water absorption properties is swollen by the absorption of water therein, and then brought in contact with a powder to form a powder layer all over the surface of the swollen polymer particle. This spherical particle is then dried and fired if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Matsushita, Shinpei Inamura
  • Patent number: 6207038
    Abstract: A process for preparing a solid composite electrolyte comprising at least one compound of the BIMEVOX family is provided. The process comprises at least one step of preparing a mixture of one or more compounds of the BIMEVOX family with one or more chemically inert compounds, at least one step of compacting the mixture obtained, and at least one sintering step during which the temperature reached, over a nonzero time interval, has a value greater than the optimum sintering temperature for the compound of the BIMEVOX family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitaion des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: César Marlu Steil, Jacques Fouletier, Michel Kleitz, Gilles Lagrange, Pascal Del Gallo, Gaëtan Mairesse, Jean-Claude Boivin
  • Patent number: 6187255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing high-strength construction and decoration materials which resemble natural stone, are in the form of panels and are used for cladding facades, walls and floors, both indoors and outdoors, from mixtures of broken glass, mineral components and finely divided additives, with a specified composition. A sintering aid, in the form of a solution of metal oxychlorides or metal alkoxides or tetrachlorides, preferably titanium tetrachloride, is added to the mixture, which is then introduced into a heat-resistant mould. In this mould, the mixture is subjected to a conventional sintering operation. The sintering aid which has been added makes it possible in particular to reduce the maximum sintering temperature and to improve the quality of the surface considerably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Indupart Glaskeramic Stahl - Und Metallbau GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Greulich
  • Patent number: 6156243
    Abstract: (1) Alignment mark transfer portion(s) is/are formed on the transfer molding surface of a mold that is used for press-molding a optical element fixing member and having alignment marks; (2) alignment mark(s) is/are formed on the mold material by dry-etching, and the mold material is worked using the alignment mark(s) as a reference to form the transfer molding surface constituted by a plurality of transfer patterns, in order to obtain a mold for press-molding; and (3) the transfer patterns are formed by dry-etching, or a transfer molding bare surface for transfer patterns is formed by dry-etching and a mold release film is formed thereon to reflect the shape of the transfer molding base surface, in order to obtain a mold for press-molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kosuga, Yoshiatsu Yokoo
  • Patent number: 6136948
    Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping or slightly overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: DTM Corporation
    Inventors: Elmer Douglas Dickens, Jr., Biing Lin Lee, Glenn Alfred Taylor, Angelo Joseph Magistro, Hendra Ng, Kevin P. McAlea, Paul F. Forderhase
  • Patent number: 6129865
    Abstract: A method of ferrules used in an optical connector for connection and short-circuit of making multichannel optical signals. Heretofore, many fiber receiving holes have been arranged along a line at regular intervals with tolerance amounting to less than 1 micron. 10 and connect two ferrules, a precisely processed cylindrical metal guide pin under 1 micron, precise pitches formed in ferrules and a metal pin guide hole are used, Consequently, it has been necessary to maintain a high degree of precision. The present invention maintains a high degree of precision by reverse direction connection dependent merely on a predetermined height a reference plane. The reference plane is formed by relatively easy plane processing as the method of maintaining precise height and directivity of flow is added to the inside of a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Telecom
    Inventors: Myung Yung Jeong, Oh Gone Chun, Seung Ho Ahn, Tae Goo Choy, Hong Joon Chun
  • Patent number: 6113821
    Abstract: In order to save energy and reduce the exhaust air volume in the production of wood fibers from wood chips, it is proposed to add unsaturated hot steam to the saturated steam used to plasticize the timber binders and soften the wood fibers in a closed-cycle process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Schenkmann & Piel Verfahrenstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus E. Radzimanowski
  • Patent number: 6105395
    Abstract: In a method for molding glass products having a fine structure as of an optical fiber holder with a high size precision, a mold used for the molding has the fine structure in a size such that a size difference occurring when the glass product is cooled down to a room temperature where at the end of molding with a pressure a size of the fine structure of the mold for glass product and a size of a fine structure of the glass product formed by transfer of the fine structure of the mold are the same as one another is so adjusted that a size of the fine structure of the completed glass product falls within a permissive size precision range. The mold may has a size satisfying, as a size of a fine structure at a room temperature, a formula [1+(.alpha.g-.alpha.m).times..DELTA.T+.alpha.g'.times..DELTA.T'].times.Sg, wherein Sg denotes a size of a fine structure of thc glass product at the room temperature; .alpha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshida, Teruo Yamashita, Lihong Zhang, Yoshiatsu Yokoo
  • Patent number: 6096229
    Abstract: A method for making an optical connector support member. The method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: One or more features are partially etched in a monocrystalline substrate to form a template. The features are etched in the substrate to a depth necessary to form the functional portions of the features. An inverse replica is created and then separated from the template. Additional material is bonded to the inverse replica in the regions that correspond to the features that were partially etched in the monocrystalline substrate. The inverse replica with the additional material bonded thereto is then used as a pattern for making a support member. A multi-fiber support member made using the inverse replica described in the foregoing will have one or more features formed therein that correspond to the features etched in the monocrystalline substrate, but are deeper because of the additional material that was bonded to the inverse replica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Muhammed A. Shahid
  • Patent number: 6090320
    Abstract: A method of producing a sintered body (1) having different cross-sections along a main axis (5), in particular a toothed-belt or chain wheel, by compression moulding a sintering powder in the direction of the main axis (5) and subsequent sintering. At least two partial bodies (6, 7), which can be form-fitted into each other in the direction of the main axis (5), are pressed from sintering powder, which partial bodies each form an axial portion of the sintered body (1) with different cross-sections, and that the separately pressed and possibly presintered partial bodies (6, 7) are jointly sintered after joining them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Miba Sintermetall Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alois Grundner, Karl Derflinger
  • Patent number: 6074577
    Abstract: An end-face-side core 5 from which an optical fiber hole forming pin 1 is projected is fastened by a mold to a fiber-side core 10 from which an optical fiber hole forming pin 6 and a cavity forming member (for example, a tape fiber hole forming rectangular body 8) are projected, while the end-face-side core and the fiber-side core are opposed to each other, the cavity forming member being behind the optical fiber hole forming pin 6 and larger than the optical fiber hole forming pin. A resin is injected into a cavity formed in the mold. The mold is opened, the end-face-side core 5 and the fiber-side core 10 are slid in directions in which the end-face-side core and the fiber-side core are separated from each other, and a resin molded product is then taken out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Katsura, Makoto Honjo, Toshiaki Kakii, Wataru Sakurai, Masahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 6074511
    Abstract: A splicing method for plastic optical fibers, wherein solvent splicing is carried out by means of an organic solvent 4 capable of dissolving or swelling the plastic material of plastic optical fibers 1 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Takano, Norihide Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6071442
    Abstract: A guide block assembly and associated method are provided for retaining a plurality of fiber bore forming pins and at least one guide bore forming pin in precise relation to each other during molding of a multi-fiber ferrule used in a multi-fiber connector. The assembly comprises an array of fiber bore blocks each with a fiber bore therethrough to retain a respective one of the fiber bore forming pins. At least one guide block that defines a guide bore for retaining a guide bore forming pin is assembled with the array of fiber bore blocks. Adjoining surfaces are defined between adjacent fiber bore blocks and between the guide bore blocks and the array of fiber bore blocks. The use of bores more precisely retains the pins during the molding process, and the use of blocks with adjoining surfaces allows for the machining of such surfaces to precisely establish the relationships between successive fiber bore blocks and between the array of fiber bore blocks and the guide bore blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Dean, Alan J. Malanowski, Michael D. Domaille
  • Patent number: 6052505
    Abstract: A fixture for use in a fiber curl measurement assembly has a fiber guide plate upon which are disposed a pair of fiber locating and centering rods which form a V-groove for containing the fiber, which is free to rotate within the groove. A reference plate having a transverse reference edge in space from the downstream end of the V-groove a distance sufficient for fiber curvature to be measured during rotation. A rotating stage under control of a motor has a rotatable plate upon which rests, and is held, a fiber clip for containing the fiber to be measured. The rotating stage is oriented at a vertical angle to the plane of the rods and V-groove, and the fiber is threaded through a bearing block into the V-groove. The bend thus created in the fiber is such that a downward force is created on the fiber to hold it within the V-groove. Thus, where the rotating stage is rotated by the motor, the fiber within the groove is rotated so that curl measurements may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Chester L. Bice, Norvel R. Branham, Andrew Lewis Ingles
  • Patent number: 6050110
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a glass product not having a rotatively symmetric body like an optical fiber fixing member but having a fine structure as of optical fiber engagement portions, to transfer the fine structure with a high precision without creating molding burrs, includes the steps of placing a glass material in a cavity defined by a lower mold, an upper mold, and a side mold, molding the glass material in the cavity with pressure into the glass product in so controlling that the glass material has a viscosity range of 10.sup.6.5 to 10.sup.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshida, Lihong Zhang, Teruo Yamashita, Yoshiatsu Yokoo, Ken Uno
  • Patent number: 6027671
    Abstract: A method for producing a microstructured body, in which a casting mold including a casting frame and a bottom plate is formed and is filled with a reaction molding compound. After curing, the casting frame is part of the component, while the bottom plate can be reused. Since both the base plate and the frame have been produced by microstructuring technology methods, this method yields a component that has high precision but can nevertheless be produced inexpensively in large numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Harting Elktro-Optische Bauteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Kragl
  • Patent number: 6004500
    Abstract: A process for making ceramic composites includes the steps of: a) forming a polymer composition into a three-dimensional mold; b) filling said three-dimensional mold with one or more ceramic containing compositions; c) heating said filled mold to dry and sinter the ceramic; d) removing at least a portion of said three-dimensional mold thereby forming voids; and e) filling the voids with a second composition which has a piezoelectric coefficient which is substantially different from the piezoelectric coefficient of said ceramic structure. Steps a through e yield a controlled, non-random piezoelectric ceramic composite having 2-3, 3-2 or 3--3 connectivity with respect to the sintered ceramic and the second composition throughout the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Ahmad Safari, Victor F. Janas, Amit Bandyopadhyay, Rajesh K. Panda, Mukesh Agarwala, Stephen C. Danforth
  • Patent number: 5990268
    Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: DTM Corporation
    Inventors: Elmer Douglas Dickens, Jr., Biing Lin Lee, Glenn Alfred Taylor, Angelo Joseph Magistro, Hendra Ng
  • Patent number: 5989420
    Abstract: A ceramic filter containing at least one functional material and method of manufacturing, a ceramic filter whose surface through which a liquid to be purified flows into is densest and the average particle size of the filter continuously increases toward the interior thereof, a method of manufacturing the ceramic filter including ultrasonic vibration, an extrusion molding die used to manufacture the ceramic filter and an extrusion molding apparatus using the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignees: Yuugengaisya Mikazuki Bunkakaikan, Yuugengaisya Mama Green Golf
    Inventor: Akitoshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5987202
    Abstract: Proposed is a method for producing an arrangement for converting optical signals into electrical signals, the arrangement comprising a substrate having structures for guiding an optical fiber and for deflecting light transmitted by way of the optical fiber. The structures (11, 12, 13) on the substrate (10) are created through the production of a mold of the contour of a molding tool. A ceramic base material is advisably used as the starting material for the substrate (10). The molding is effected through pressing, injection pressing, slip casting, injection molding or reaction casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Gruenwald, Gerhard Benz, Klaus-Michael Mayer, Annette Seibold
  • Patent number: 5985185
    Abstract: In encapsulating an optocomponent with a plastics material, an MT-connector compatible interface is obtained having bores for guide pins in the wall of the capsule and optical connection surfaces. These bores are obtained from mold cavity guide pins that are used for aligning the optocomponent in a mold cavity in a mold in the molding operation of the encapsulating material on top of the component. In order to achieve a good accuracy in the positioning of the component during the molding operation, the mold guide pins are as short as possible and end directly behind the component where they are supported by projections extending from each mold half. Thus, cavities are created extending straight through the capsule behind the component. The cavities allow that the guide pin bores are cleansed and that material residues are removed after the molding operation. Further, the cavities can be used for spring clamps for retaining the optocomponent capsule at an optical connector having a similar interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Odd Steijer, Hans-Christer Moll, Paul Eriksen, Jan-.ANG.ke Engstrand
  • Patent number: 5982968
    Abstract: In an optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a common plane in generally side-by-side relationship and surrounded by a layer of matrix material, at least one stress concentration is formed in the matrix material surrounding the optical fiber ribbon. The stress concentration extends along at least a portion of the ribbon parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ribbon and concentrates stress applied to the ribbon such that the matrix material easily separates at the stress concentration. Each stress concentration may be formed directly in the matrix material during its application on the optical fibers, or an abrasive surface may be applied to the fiber to form the stress concentration. Stress concentrations may formed on at least one extreme edge of the optical fiber ribbon such that the entire matrix material may be easily removed from a section of optical fiber ribbon at a desired ribbon access location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel NA Cable System, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Stulpin
  • Patent number: 5976432
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the continuous extrusion of porous activated carbon block filter elements. The invention includes feeding material into the barrel of a screw extruder and heating the material therein such that the material becomes an agglomerated mass. The agglomerated mass is agitated and compacted into a die where it is cooled to a semi-solidified state. In the semi-solidified state, the material is passed through a cooling tunnel where the material solidifies and the carbon block filter element is formed. A back pressure control device is also included to control pressure in the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Plymouth Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Vue X. Yang, Mark A. Wessel, Anthony C. Kortenhorn
  • Patent number: 5968428
    Abstract: Disclosed is a molding method for powder particles, which is excellent in molding performance, and which makes it possible to obtain a preliminary molded product excellent in strength by enhancing mutual bonding between particles in the preliminary molded product. A molding apparatus for powder particles includes an outer frame die having a mold space with a lower punch and an upper punch to be slidably fitted thereto. Slight clearances exist between the outer frame die and the lower and upper punches. A mixture is prepared by mixing a powdery raw material with a liquid additive to cause an exothermic reaction therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 5955010
    Abstract: An optical transmission line is formed and thereafter solidified using an optical transmission line forming material in the fluid condition. The optical transmission line formed between optical transmission terminals assures higher reliability and never generates disconnection or internal stress therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Okada, Masaki Hirota, Masahiro Taguchi, Kenji Kawano, Masao Funada, Takashi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5951730
    Abstract: Fused silica boules (19) having improved off-axis homogeneity are produced by controlling the air flow around the boule (19) during its formation. The boule is formed in a containment vessel (13) which collects soot from a plurality of burners (14). The containment vessel (13) rotates and oscillates relative to the burners (14) as the boule (19) is formed. Surrounding the containment vessel (13) is an air flow wall (130) which oscillates with the containment vessel (13). The air flow wall (130) is spaced from the containment vessel (13) by a gap (175) through which air flows during boule formation. The dimensions of this gap (175) remain constant as the boule is formed. Surrounding the air flow wall (130) is a stationary wall (160). The stationary wall (160) is spaced from the air flow wall (130) by a gap (165) whose dimensions change as the boule is formed. A motion accommodating seal (155) blocks air flow in this gap (165).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul M. Schermerhorn
  • Patent number: 5945051
    Abstract: A process for producing a porous body of tourmaline includes the step of sintering a mixture of fine powder of tourmaline and fine powder of polyethylene or fine powder of polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Tako Chemi-Tech Inc.
    Inventor: Takaaki Asahara
  • Patent number: 5935722
    Abstract: A laminated composite structure of alternating metal powder layers, and layers formed of an inorganic bonding media powder, and a method for manufacturing same are discosed. The method includes the steps of assembling in a cavity alternating layers of a metal powder and an inorganic bonding media of a ceramic, glass, and glass-ceramic. Heat, with or without pressure, is applied to the alternating layers until the particles of the metal powder are sintered together and bonded into the laminated composite structure by the layers of sintered inorganic bonding media to form a strong composite structure. The method finds particular application in the manufacture of high performance magnets wherein the metal powder is a magnetic alloy powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Moorhead, Hyoun-Ee Kim
  • Patent number: 5932059
    Abstract: In a method for producing a three-dimensional object wherein the object is generated by successive solidification of individual layers of the object from a liquid or powdery material by action of electromagnetic radiation, the problem arises that the object is either distorted due to shrinkage of the material or that the quality of the surface of the object is poor when using a corresponding shrinkage reducing construction. For the solution of this problem, each layer is separated in an inner core region (2) and an outer shell region (3) and the action of the radiation is controlled in the core region and in the shell region for generating different properties of both regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: EOS GmbH Optical Systems
    Inventors: Hans Langer, Johannes Reichle
  • Patent number: 5922261
    Abstract: Iron-rich material waste products, such as electric arc furnace dust, are formed with an organic binder into discrete shapes, such as briquettes and/or other solid shapes. The shapes can then be used in iron and steel making processes and the iron and heavy metal values in the waste product recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Covol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George W Ford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5912200
    Abstract: A composite powder having a specific surface area of 7 m.sup.2 /g or more is produced by mixing a silicon powder with a carbonaceous powder and a sintering aid powder, and heat-treating the resultant mixed powder in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of 1,450.degree. C. or lower thereby nitriding and carbonizing silicon in the mixed powder. The temperature elevation speed in the heat treatment for nitriding and carbonizing is less than 2.degree. C./minute at least in a range from a temperature at which the nitriding and carbonizing of silicon starts to take place to a temperature at which the composite powder is kept for nitriding and carbonizing of silicon. The composite sintered body is produced by sintering such a composite powder at a temperature of 1,600.degree. C. to 2,200.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Miyake, Kagehisa Hamazaki, Hitoshi Toyoda, Yoshikatsu Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5906037
    Abstract: A hexagonal mold is formed by a unitary base and a unitary cover. Each of the base and the cover form three of the six surfaces of a hexagonal mold cavity when the cover is placed on top of the base. The hexagonal mold may be used to form field emission display spacers and field emission display microchannels by placing etchable single fibers in the hexagonal mold to form hexagonal multiple fiber preforms. The preforms are then drawn to form multiple fibers that are placed in a rectangular mold to form a rectangular fiber block. The rectangular fiber block is then sliced into sheets which are then placed between a field emission display baseplate and a field emission display faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason B. Elledge, James Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5900202
    Abstract: A method of making glass-silicate tiles includes pouring an input raw material containing glass granulate into a heat-proof mold, wetting the input raw material and making an initial blank thereby, heat treating of the blank by gradual heating and by gradual cooling by stages with holding period between the stages wherein a first heating stage is performed predominantly by heating a bottom side of the blank with higher speed of heating of a lowering layer than of an upper layer of the blank to accelerate gases to release the blank through the upper layer up to reach of the temperature of beginning of glass granulate sintering (T.sub.f) in the lower layer, and the temperature not exceeding a glass granulate transformation temperature (T.sub.g) in the upper layer, a first holding period at these condition to expel generated gases, and heating the upper layer with higher speed than the lower layer until a Littleton temperature is reached in the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: Youri Lingart, Marina Lingart, Stanislav Lingart
  • Patent number: 5858291
    Abstract: An improved elastomeric electrically conductive strain gauge for use in virtual reality systems is disclosed which involves the flash heating of a doped ethylene vinyl acetate elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Larry C.H. Li, Frederic S. Dawn, Todd A. Pesek
  • Patent number: 5858299
    Abstract: A bed of particulate solids including some hydrated materials can be converted by controlled irradiation with subinfrared electromagnetic radiation into a unitary porous solid that is mechanically strong enough for easy handling. When the particulate solids include typical acid to alkaline cleaner materials, a block or tablet especially suitable for automatic cleaning machinery, with a very fast dissolution rate in water, can readily be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Sandra Witt, Hans-Peter Koehler, Wolfgang Preibsch, Horst Pruehs, Karl-Heinz Rogmann
  • Patent number: 5859943
    Abstract: In an optical module such as an optical branching and multiplexing device used in an optical communication system, optical waveguides are formed on a surface of an optical waveguide substrate and optical fibers are held by arranging guide grooves on an optical fiber arranging substrate. The optical waveguide substrate has positioning guide grooves which can engage with the arranging guide grooves. The pitch of the optical waveguides on end faces of the optical waveguide substrate coincide with the pitch of the arranging guide grooves, so that the optical fibers and the optical waveguides are coupled accurately without any adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Asakura, Masanori Iida, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5853626
    Abstract: An optical module includes an optical connector element formed of first and second substrates for carrying optical fibers therebetween, and a device substrate carrying photodiodes on an upper major surface thereof in correspondence to the optical fibers, wherein the optical connector element is mounted upon the device substrate such that end surfaces of the first and second substrates face the principal surface of the device substrate and such that polygonal projections provided on the principal surface of the device substrate for positioning engage with corresponding spaces formed between the first and second substrates at the foregoing end surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 5833910
    Abstract: A method for forming a grommet element including two successive steps which are performed on an assembly of conduits, such as cables or wires. The first step consists of sealing the conduit assembly under pressure, while the second step involves molding PVC or another thermoplastic elastomer over the sealed structure to form the grommet. A mold is also provided for carrying out the method. The mold includes a stationary portion and an axially movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Mecanismos Auxiliares Industiales S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Jorda Teixido
  • Patent number: 5830517
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extruding a plastic rod having helical slots in its external surface includes the use of a die including a relieved exit end face, resulting in a more uniform drag on the plastic melt. Plastic rods so formed are used in slotted core type optical fiber telecommunication cables. The die includes internal channels which form peripheral ribs on the plastic rod. The channels may follow either a helical or a straight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Ann Clarke, Christopher K. Eoll
  • Patent number: 5830516
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a grooved plastic spacer for a slotted core type telecommunications cable includes a helically shaped calibration member inserted into each groove after extrusion of the spacer to maintain the shape of the groove until it is sufficiently cooled. A telecommunications cable made according to the method includes a spacer made of plastic having a melt flow index equal to or greater than 0.65 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: Warren W. McAlpine, MaryAnn Clarke
  • Patent number: 5814272
    Abstract: A method for forming dendritic metal powders, comprising the steps of: (1) heating a powder comprising non-dendritic particles, under conditions suitable for initial stage sintering, to form a lightly sintered material; and (2) breaking the lightly sintered material to form a powder comprising dendritic particles. In one embodiment, the lightly sintered material is broken by brushing the material through a screen. Another aspect of the present invention comprises the dendritic particles that are produced by the method described above. These particles can comprise any suitable metal, such as transition metals, rare earth metals, main group metals or metalloids or an alloy of two or more such metals. The particles can also comprise a ceramic material, such as a metal oxide. These particles are characterized by a dendritic, highly anisotropic, morphology arising from the fusion of substantially non-dendritic particles, and by a low apparent density relative to the substantially non-dendritic starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Zeller, Christopher J. Vroman
  • Patent number: 5815621
    Abstract: An optical connector ferrule of this invention includes a holding portion arranged at a position along an inserting direction of optical fibers to constitute a front surface of the ferrule and having a plurality of first through holes for inserting the optical fibers therethrough and two second through holes for inserting guide pins, the holding portion holding portions of the optical fibers near distal ends thereof, the second through holes and the first through holes having central axes that are substantially parallel to each other, and the first through holes being arrayed in two rows in a direction connecting centers of the second through holes; and an optical fiber tape accommodating portion having an insertion opening for inserting therethrough optical fiber tapes having the optical fibers held by the holding portion, an internal space for partially accommodating the optical fiber tapes, and an injection opening for injecting therethrough an adhesive for adhering and fixing the inserted optical fiber ta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sakai, Hidetoshi Ishida, Toshiaki Kakii
  • Patent number: 5799117
    Abstract: An integrated optical component is proposed, which has an optical component coupled to a waveguide. A buffer layer is provided for improving the coupling. The integrated optical component is produced with the aid of molding techniques. In the process an optical component is placed on a molding die and is adjustedly arranged on a waveguide by means of adjusting tabs. Following molding and removal of the molding die, the optical component is disposed, adjusted in respect to a waveguide, in a substrate plate. The waveguide is filled with a polymer and covered with a cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Kragl, Engelbert Strake