Additional Operation Between Heating Steps Patents (Class 419/55)
  • Patent number: 6203753
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making metal parts from metal powder compositions comprising an iron base metal powder and an amide lubricant. The method comprises the steps of compacting said composition, pre-sintering the compacted composition, compacting the compacted and pre-sintered composition, and sintering the recompacted composition. The metal parts have improved physical and mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Presmet Corporation
    Inventor: Ian W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 6171546
    Abstract: The present invention concerns compacted and optionally presintered bodies, which are prepared from metal powders and which have densified surfaces, obtained by shot peening or rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Högan{umlaut over (a)}s AB
    Inventors: Owe Mårs, Nils Carlbaum
  • Patent number: 6126896
    Abstract: A method of making TiC based cermets through a reaction milling process is disclosed. In the method of this invention, a particle mixture, consisting of 50-95 wt. % Ti-C particles, with Ti particles being mixed with C particles at a weight ratio of 4:1, and 5-50 wt. % Ni particles, is reaction-milled in a Spex mill, thus making TiC based particles. A preform is formed of the TiC based particles and is sintered, thus making a TiC based cermet. The Ni particles of the particle mixture may be substituted with Ni-Mo particles. In addition, the method may further comprise the steps of presintering the preform from the forming step, and intermediate-machining the presintered preform prior to finally sintering the preform, thus machining the preform more precisely. The sintering temperature preferably ranges from 1,300.degree. C. to 1,400.degree. C. In the method of this invention, the TiC particles are made through the reaction milling process, thus reducing the production cost while making the TiC based cermets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventor: Chul Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 6093232
    Abstract: The present invention includes iron-carbon compacts and a process for making them. The process includes preparing a slurry comprising iron powder, furfuryl alcohol, and a polymerization catalyst for initiating the polymerization of the furfuryl alcohol into a resin, and heating the slurry to convert the alcohol into the resin. The resulting mixture is pressed into a green body and heated to form the iron-carbon compact. The compact can be used as, or machined into, a magnetic flux concentrator for an induction heating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Haskell Sheinberg
  • Patent number: 6090343
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a triphasic composite such as a WC/Co/diamond composite with a high volume fraction of diamond in a WC/Co matrix. The method involves sintering of a WC/Co powder compact to develop a porous preform, which displays some rigidity and strength, infiltrating the porous preform with a controlled distribution of carbon, and high pressure/high temperature treatment of the carbon-containing WC/Co preform to transform the carbon to diamond. The distribution of diamond in the composite can be functionally graded to provide a WC/Co core and a diamond-enriched surface, wherein all three phases form an interconnected structure in three dimensions. Such a tricontinuous structure combines high strength and toughness with superior wear resistance, making it attractive for applications in machine tools and drill bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Rutgers University
    Inventors: Bernard H. Kear, Rajendra K. Sadangi, Larry E. McCandlish, Oleg Voronov
  • Patent number: 6033788
    Abstract: In a process for producing powder metallurgy objects containing two or more individually formed pieces, the individual formed pieces or powder compacts which are comprised of powder and a binder are joined together. A polymer compatible with the binder is sandwiched between two such powder compacts. A lamination joint is formed. The polymer is then softened, and a resultant aggregate body is thermally processed to remove the binder and polymer. The resulting object has no residual interface between the original individually formed pieces. There is no discernable boundary at the lamination joint. The final part is homogeneous and uniform with no foreign material or structural imperfections at the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: James D. Cawley, William H. Glime, Brian D. Kernan
  • Patent number: 6030577
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing thin-walled pipes, which are made of a heat-resistant and wear-resistant aluminum-based material. The method comprises the providing of a billet or a tube blank made of a hypereutectic aluminum-silicon AlSi material, possibly a subsequent averaging annealing, the extruding of the billet or of the tube blank to a thick-walled pipe, and the hot deformation of this pipe to a thin-walled pipe. Such a method is in particular suited for the production of cylinder liners of internal combustion engines, since the produced liners exhibit the required properties in regard to wear resistance, heat resistance and reduction of pollutant emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Erbsloh Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Commandeur, Rolf Schattevoy, Klaus Hummert
  • Patent number: 6019937
    Abstract: A process of forming a sintered article of powder metal comprising blending graphite, Si carbide and lubricant, with pre-alloyed iron base powder; pressing said blended mixture to a shaped article; sintering said article in a reduced atmosphere; forced cooling said sintered article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Stackpole Limited
    Inventors: Rohith Shivanath, Karol Kucharski, Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 5976459
    Abstract: A method for producing compacted, fully dense articles from atomized tool steel alloy particles by placing the particles in an evacuated, deformable container, and isostatically pressing the particles at an elevated temperature to produce a precompact having an intermediate density. The precompact is heated to a temperature above the elevated temperature used to produce the precompact. The precompact is isostatically pressed to produce the fully-dense article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Crucible Materials Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Eisen, Walter Haswell, Kenneth J. Wojslaw, Jeryl K. Wright
  • Patent number: 5940675
    Abstract: Powder metallurgy production of T222 alloy affording properties comparable to melt derived T222, but at higher yields and lower costs, is enabled by blending component powders of minus 325 mesh and sintering at 2,400.degree. C. in three sinter steps and utilizing a slow ramp up in the first sinter step and cold isostatic pressing prior to the first sinter step and isostatic press densification in conjunction with at least the first sinter step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: H. C. Starck, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Balliett, Trung Luong
  • Patent number: 5933699
    Abstract: Methods of making gas turbine structures with cooling channels, such as, for example, combustor/transition pieces for gas turbines having a double wall with a plurality of cooling channels, having axially and/or circumferential cross-flow passages positioned between the structure's inner member and the outer member to provide cooling air thereto, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ann Melinda Ritter, Melvin Robert Jackson, Nesim Abuaf, Robert Patrick Campbell, Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 5912429
    Abstract: Thermoelectric material for high temperature use made of a sintered body of a relative density of at least 75% consisting mainly of cobalt antimony compounds having an elemental ratio Sb/(Co+additives)=x of 2.7<x<3 is produced by a method of firing a shaped body of powders consisting mainly of cobalt and antimony in a non-oxidizing atmosphere under an environmental pressure, wherein the shaped body before the firing is constituted from crystal phases composed of a cubic crystal system compound CoSb.sub.3 (A phase), a monoclinic crystal system compound CoSb.sub.2 (B phase) and a hexagonal crystal system compound CoSb (C phase), and constitutional ratio of these crystal phases is (I.sub.B +I.sub.C)/(I.sub.A +I.sub.B +I.sub.C)<0.15 (wherein, I.sub.X (X is A, B or C) is a relative intensity by X-ray diffraction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Imanishi, Makoto Miyoshi, Kazuhiko Shinohara, Masakazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5903813
    Abstract: A flat section with density not less than 25% from theoretical value is sintered from the powder of low ductile reactive alloy, welded by diffusion welding with cover foils made from ductile reactive metal that seal hermetically inner and surface pores, and assembled with two heat resistant sheets in the laminated package. Cover foils are made from metal that belongs to the same metal system as said sintered powder. The package is encapsulated in a capsule made from reactive alloy that belongs also to the same metal system as said sintered powder. An anti-adhesive release agent such as Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, A1.sub.2 O.sub.3, or CaF.sub.2 is deposited on both sides of the laminated package and between cover foils and heat resistant sheets. A portion of metal powder such as Mn, Ti, Nb, Cr, or other metals, having a high affinity to oxygen, inserts into said capsule for absorbtion of oxygen during the heating and forming. After outgassing vacuum heating at 1100-1500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Materials Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir S. Moxson, Aleksandr E. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5864744
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a reactive sintering method of forming intermetallic materials such as TiNi, TiAl which includes the preparation of a mixture of elemental metallic powders in desired proportions (1) (2), the compression (3) of the mixture of these elemental powders so as to obtain a tablet of powders, then the cladding (4) of this tablet of powders in a cladding resistant to pressure and heat, the clad product then being subjected to a reactive sintering (5) to obtain the intermetallic compound and to a final hot densification operation (6) . Generally, the cladding is removed (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Yves Bigay
  • Patent number: 5864743
    Abstract: A method for making multi-channel structures suitable for use as filters, catalyst carriers or the like. A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder. The inner core comprises a powdered carbon channel-forming filler material such as graphite or amorphous carbon, and a powdered binder. The composite rod may be deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce its diameter. A bundle of composite rods is assembled and deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce the diameter of the bundle and of its component composite rods. Further bundles of the reduced diameter bundles of composite rods may be likewise deformed by extrusion to reduce further the diameter of the component composite rods of the successive bundles, thereby also increasing the number of such rods per given cross section area of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) Corporation
    Inventors: Lev J. Tuchinskiy, Robert A. Mallia
  • Patent number: 5858056
    Abstract: A metal sintered body composite material which can exhibit superior seizure resistance even when light metal is softened, and a method for producing the same. The production method uses iron base raw material powder including C and one of Cr, Mo, V, W, Mn, and Si, and comprises the steps of forming and sintering a powder compressed article so as to obtain a porous metal sintered body having a space lattice structure having pores, impregnating the pores of the porous metal sintered body with an aluminum alloy and solidifying the aluminum alloy, applying aging treatment by heating and holding the composite material at an aging treatment temperature range, whereby a metal constituting the porous metal sintered body has a micro-Vickers hardness of 200 to 800.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Fujine, Yoshiaki Kajikawa, Minoru Yamashita, Koji Saito
  • Patent number: 5855149
    Abstract: A process for producing a cutting die having a metal base which carries a sharpened ridge extending along a predetermined path thereon, in which a supply of powdered metal and a laser beam are moved along the path so as to surface melt a thin layer of the metal base with the metal powder and thus form a band of fused metal powder along the path, this step being repeated to form additional layers metallurgically bonded to the base and to each other, until a ridge of metal is formed. The ridge is then sharpened to suit it for use in cutting. The ridge may have a top surface of harder material than the inner part of the ridge. The laser and powder delivery movements may be controlled by a CNC (computer numerical control) motion system. The invention includes novel dies produced by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Mahmud-U. Islam, Glen R. Campbell, Gavin McGregor
  • Patent number: 5850591
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a porous metal sheet having pores forming a pattern, comprising the steps of supplying metal powders to a peripheral surface, of at least one pattern roller of a pair of rollers, on which a pattern including a large number of concaves is formed; dropping metal powders to the concaves and accumulating metal powders on the peripheral surface of the pattern roller except the concaves; and rolling directly the metal powders accumulated on the peripheral surface of the pattern roller by rotating a pair of the rollers. It is preferable to laminate porous metal sheets or solid metal sheets manufactured by a method other than the above-described method on the metal sheet manufactured by the above-described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Katayama Special Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Sugikawa
  • Patent number: 5846664
    Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacture of porous metal components. The process involves preparing a colloidal suspension comprising a metal-containing powder in admixture with a binder system, and a plasticizer in an organic solvent. Optionally, a particulate pore forming agent may be added to the suspension. The suspension is cast into a thin sheet and air dried to thereby form a tape. The tapes are layered and formed by compacting at predetermined pressures to laminate the tapes, thus forming a green body. Optionally, a second pore-forming agent may be introduced between, or associated with, the tape layers. The green body is heated at a controlled rate to form a brown body, and finally sintered under controlled conditions to produce the finished component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Westaim Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine E. Third, Stephen F. J. Corbin, Prasad S. Apte
  • Patent number: 5842108
    Abstract: A method for producing high density and ultrafine W/Cu bulk material by a mechano-chemical process is disclosed. In the method of this invention, metal salts as start materials are spray-dried and prepare W--Cu precursor powder having uniformly-dispersed tungsten and copper components. The W--Cu precursor powder in turn is subjected to a desalting and milling process, thus preparing W--Cu oxide composite powder. Thereafter, the W--Cu oxide composite powder may be formed into a formed green body prior to reducing and sintering under hydrogen atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Byoung-Kee Kim, Gil-Geun Lee, Gook-Hyun Ha, Dong-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 5841041
    Abstract: A porous mold material is provided that contains pores for ventilation in a metal casting, which pores range from 20 to 50 microns, and wherein the porosity value of the porous mold material ranges from 25 to 35% by volume. A method is further provided of producing a porous mold material that contains pores ranging from 20 to 50 microns for ventilation in casting, which method is characterized in that the mixing ratio of stainless steel particles to stainless steel short fibers is from 40 wt %:60 wt % to 65 wt %:35 wt %. The porous mold material of this invention does not have defects such as the inferior fluidity of a molten metal in the mold, or the shrinkage and blowholes in cast products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Asano, Tatsuhiko Kato
  • Patent number: 5828942
    Abstract: A method for subjecting a molded article formed of a powder material and having a complicated shape to isostatic pressing includes covering the molded article with a water impermeable rubber film. The surface area of the rubber film is larger than the surface area of the molded article. In the method, the rubber film follows the complicated shape, e.g., a shape having notch(es), throughhole(s), dent(s), and bend(s), or a cylindrical shape, of the molded article. As a result, the rubber film is rarely damaged during isostatic pressing and the ease of removal of the rubber film after isostatic pressing is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taketoshi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5799238
    Abstract: A method making a titanium ceramic composite involves forming a hot pressed powder body having a microstructure comprising at least one titanium metal or alloy layer and at least one ceramic particulate reinforced titanium metal or alloy layer and hot forging the hot pressed body follwed by hot rolling to substantially reduce a thickness dimension and substantially increase a lateral dimension thereof to form a composite plate or sheet that retains in the microstructure at least one titanium based layer and at least one ceramic reinforced titanium based layer in the thickness direction of the composite plate or sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: George T. Fisher, II, Jeffrey S. Hansen, Laurance L. Oden, Paul C. Turner, Thomas L. Ochs
  • Patent number: 5788142
    Abstract: A process for joining two parts of which at least one is made of an intermetallic material comprises:mixing elemental powders to form an intermetallic compound of the same type as that of the intermetallic part or parts;compacting and forming an intermediate part from the said compound at a temperature below that of the reaction sintering temperature of the compound;placing the intermediate part in position between the two parts to be joined;subjecting the assembly of parts to a first thermal cycle so as to effect a reaction sintering of the intermediate part and a consolidation of the assembly; and,subjecting the assembly to a second thermal cycle at a temperature above 0.8 of the fusion temperature of said intermetallic compound so as to effect a diffusion treatment and mechanical consolidation of the assembly.The process may also be adapted to form a coating or a repair of a part using an intermetallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignees: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "Snecma", Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Yves Bigay, Alain Lasalmonie
  • Patent number: 5774780
    Abstract: A process for the production of a shaped part which is produced from a high-melting point metal powder with crystalline sinter-activating additives. The process includes the steps of preparing, compressing and sintering the metal powder. Prior to the sintering step, the final contour of the shaped part is substantially shaped. The process is primarily directed for the production of shields for radiation protection, as melting crucibles or as electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Bayerische Metallwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Prause
  • Patent number: 5774779
    Abstract: A method for making multi-channel structures suitable for use as filters, catalyst carriers or the like.A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder such as paraffin, wax or polymer. The inner core comprises a powdered channel-forming filler material such as melamine or polymers, or soluble inorganic compounds or a metal that can differentially be removed from the structural material of the shell.The composite rod may be deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce its diameter. In any event, a bundle of composite rods is assembled and deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce the diameter of the bundle and of its component composite rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) Corporation
    Inventor: Ley J. Tuchinskiy
  • Patent number: 5749041
    Abstract: A method of fabricating articles, such as prototype parts and prototype tooling for injection molding, is disclosed. The method begins with the fabrication of the article in a "green" state by the selective laser sintering, or another additive thermal process, applied to a composite powder, preferably a powder of metal particles coated with a thermoplastic polymer. Both the green article and also an aqueous emulsion of a thermosetting material are then preheated to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer, and the green article is then infiltrated with the aqueous emulsion. The thermosetting material may be a thermosetting polymer with an appropriate cross-linking agent, or may be a cross-linking agent that will react with the thermoplastic binder polymer. After infiltration, the article is dried, and a rigid skeleton of a thermosetting material is now present within the structure of the article. Further processing may now be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: DTM Corporation
    Inventors: Udaykumar Lakshminarayan, Kevin P. McAlea, Richard B. Booth
  • Patent number: 5740516
    Abstract: A firearm bolt prepared from an alloy of tungsten, nickel and iron having a density of about from 14.1 g/cc to 18.0 g/cc. The alloy preferably also contains at least one of molybdenum, cobalt, rhenium, tantalum and gold. The alloy is preferably manufactured by standard powder metallurgical techniques followed by a liquid phase sinter and vacuum anneal. The bolt can also be manufactured using solid state sintering. The bolt can also be manufactured by mechanically working the material after sintering, after annealing, or after both sintering and annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Remington Arms Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Marlin R. Jiranek, II, Michael D. Keeney
  • Patent number: 5722033
    Abstract: A method of extruding a boron carbide-aluminum alloy metal matrix composite includes heating the ingots of the composite to temperatures of about 570.degree. C., holding the ingots at about 570.degree. C. to soften the ingots, placing the ingots in a heated extrusion chamber, and extruding the softened ingots at pressures about 15% to 20% higher than typical pressures used to extrude aluminum alloys. A method of casting a boron carbide-aluminum alloy metal matrix composite includes heating ingots of the composite to about 700.degree. C. to melt the ingots, gently stirring the melt, removing dross from the melt, vigorously stirring the melt with an impeller without creating a vortex, degassing the melt with an argon diffuser wand, and continuously removing froth formed during degassing until the rate of froth formation is reduced and the melt gently bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Alyn Corporation
    Inventor: Robin A. Carden
  • Patent number: 5701575
    Abstract: An article essentially consisting of one or more of Ti--Al intermetallic compounds is fabricated so as to have a volume ratio of voids no more than 3.5%, by preparing a mixture of materials selected from a group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Al, Al alloys, and Ti--Al compounds, having a composition suitable for forming a desired Ti--Al intermetallic compound, and heating said mixture so that said mixture may be sintered. Typically, the temperature and pressure for the heating or sintering process is appropriately selected so that the desired porosity may be obtained. The mechanical strength of an article according to the present invention is not only improved but is highly predictable, or, in other word, highly reliable. The fabrication costs can be reduced because the fabrication process involves only relatively low temperatures when pressing and heating the work at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Taguchi, Michihiko Ayada, Hideo Shingu
  • Patent number: 5701578
    Abstract: A method of making a coated member comprising the steps of: providing a sintered substrate that includes hard grains bonded together by metallic binder; removing material from the sintered substrate to form an as-ground substrate; reducing the residual stresses in the substrate; resintering the substrate to form a resintered substrate; and adherently depositing a coating on the resintered substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Yixiong Liu
  • Patent number: 5666637
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a connecting rod is disclosed, in which a formed body of a connecting rod integrated with a cap section of iron metal powder is heated, before or after being sintered, with a bearing metal ring set in the bearing section thereof. During or after sintering, the bearing metal is infiltrated in the bearing section, followed by the forging as required. Then the cap section is separated. In this way, the manufacturing steps are reduced, while at the same time preventing the bearing section from being overheated and seizured due to an improved heat conductivity between the connecting rod body and the bearing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Fujiki, Hideaki Kuratomi
  • Patent number: 5666631
    Abstract: A compacted, single phase or multiphase composite article. Particles for use in the compacted article are produced by providing a precursor compound containing at least one or at least two metals and a coordinating ligand. The compound is heated to remove the coordinating ligand therefrom and increase the surface area thereof. It may then be reacted so that at least one metal forms a metal-containing compound. The particles may be consolidated to form a compacted article, and for this purpose may be used in combination with graphite or diamonds. The metal-containing compound may be a nonmetallic compound including carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of a refractory metal, such as tungsten. The metal-containing compound may be dispersed in a metal matrix, such as iron, nickel or cobalt. The dispersed nonmetallic compound particles are no larger than about 0.1 micron in particle size and have a volume fraction greater than about 0.15 within the metal matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Polizzotti, Larry E. McCandlish, Edwin L. Kugler
  • Patent number: 5659876
    Abstract: A method for producing a washer having a boss comprises the following steps in the sequence set forth: (a) sprinkling powder of a bearing alloy onto a backing metal made of an iron-based alloy to form a composite material; (b) sintering the composite material to obtain a bimetal material so as to accomplish a primary sintering; (c) fabricating the bimetal material into a shape of the washer having the boss; and (d) simultaneously accomplishing a secondary sintering and carburizing of the washer having the boss. By virtue of simultaneously conducting the secondary sintering and the carburizing for the washer, the number of steps in producing method (particularly, during a heat treatment) is reduced thereby improving the productivity of the washer having the boss while reducing thermal energy required for the heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Jatco Corporation
    Inventor: Muneo Mizuta
  • Patent number: 5649280
    Abstract: A method of high retained strain forging is described for Ni-base superalloys, particularly those which comprise a mixture of .gamma. and .gamma.' phases, and most particularly those which contain at least about 30 percent by volume of .gamma.'. The method utilizes an extended subsolvus anneal to recrystallize essentially all of the superalloy and form a uniform, free grain size. Such alloys may also be given a supersolvus anneal to coarsen the grain size and redistribute the .gamma.'. The method permits the manufacture of forged articles having a fine grain size in the range of about ASTM 5-12 (5-60 .mu.m).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Philip Blankenship, Michael Francis Henry, Eric Scott Huron, John Michael Hyzak
  • Patent number: 5640667
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fully-dense three-dimensional metal article is disclosed. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the interior portion of the article is formed by way of selective laser sintering, in a cross-section of a layer of powder. After formation of the layer of powder, the laser is directed to form a gas-impervious skin around the interior portion of the article in that layer. The process is repeated, until the article is completed. The article surrounded by the skin is then subjected to hot isostatic pressing to densify the article; the skin, which serves as the "can" for the hot isostatic pressing, may or may not be removed from the article, as desired. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the can is formed first by way of laser generation, and is then filled with the metal powder, prior to hot isostatic pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Douglas W. Freitag, Joseph J. Beaman, David L. Bourell
  • Patent number: 5628044
    Abstract: High purity iron-zinc intermetallic calibration standards are produced using a slow diffusion technique. The alloys are pure to greater than 99.5 wt % and are homogenous to greater than 98%. The alloys can be used to calibrate instrumentation used to monitor and measure galvanneal and galvanized coatings. The alloy calibration standards for each of the iron-zinc phases allows instrumentation correction factors to be determined for iron-zinc coating analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Old Dominion University
    Inventors: Desmond C. Cook, Richard G. Grant, Patricia S. Cook
  • Patent number: 5613183
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of binder removal from a green body before sintering or the like wherein the green body is initially heated to a temperature above the melting or flow point of the binder to liquify the binder and, at the elevated temperature, a small portion of the green body is brought into intimate contact with a non-supporting porous body of lower capillarity potential for the liquid binder. The liquid is drawn from all parts of the green body to the region of contact between the porous body and the green body and enters the body of lower capillarity potential preferentially, removing liquid from the green body through the surface of the green body only at said region of contact. The draining is continued with or without further increase in temperature until the green body is opened or becomes permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Witec Cayman Patents Limited
    Inventor: Raymond E. Wiech, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5613180
    Abstract: A method for producing high density and/or high surface density ferrous powder metal parts has the steps of: compacting a iron-containing powder substantially free of graphite at room temperature and at about 40-50 tsi; sintering the green compact in an inert, non-oxidizing environment at a temperature of about 2050.degree.-2300.degree. F.; repressing the sintered compact at room temperature at about 60 tsi; carburizing the repressed compact at high temperature to form a layer of relatively high carbon concentration to a depth of at least about 0.010 inches; and immediately quenching the hot carburized compact followed by a tempering treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Keystone Investment Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Kosco
  • Patent number: 5603073
    Abstract: A high density, high strength and high compressive strain tungsten heavy alloy consists essentially of tungsten in the amount of approximately 90% by weight, and the rest Mn and Ni in an amount sufficient to cause sintering at between 1100.degree. and 1400.degree. C. The W--Ni--Mn alloy exhibits characteristics of intense shear bands (which could indicate failure by adiabatic shear during high strain-rate dynamic testing) thus making it an attractive material for kinetic energy penetrators. Moreover, the alloy provides an inexpensive high density material which can be produced in furnaces for conventional ferrous powder metal part manufacturing and other conventional non-ferrous powder metal part manufacturing by lowering the sintering temperature by 200.degree. to 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Animesh Bose
  • Patent number: 5580516
    Abstract: A powder of tantalum, niobium, or an alloy thereof, having an oxygen content less than about 300 ppm, and the production thereof without exposure to a temperature greater than about 0.7 T.sub.H. A powder metallurgy formed product of tantalum, niobium, or an alloy thereof, having an oxygen content less than about 300 ppm, and the production thereof without exposure to a temperature greater than about 0.7 T.sub.H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: Prabhat Kumar
  • Patent number: 5579533
    Abstract: A soldering tip comprising 50-95 weight percent uncoated copper particles and 5-50 weight percent iron particles is prepared by a method in which the particles are compacted, sintered and shaped into a soldering tip. The soldering tips are durable, resistant to pitting by molten solder, and thermally conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignees: Donald Fegley, Emily I. Weller
    Inventor: Carl E. Weller
  • Patent number: 5538683
    Abstract: A powder-metallurgy-produced, essentially titanium-free, nickel-containing maraging steel article such as for use in the manufacture of die casting die components and other hot work tooling components. The article preferably contains an intentional addition of niobium. The article may be produced as a hot-isostatically-compacted, solution annealed, fully dense mass of prealloyed particles, or alternately, as a hot-isostatically-compacted, plastically deformed and solution annealed, fully dense mass of prealloyed particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Crucible Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Pinnow, Carl J. Dorsch
  • Patent number: 5523049
    Abstract: A heat sink composed of thermally conductive particles dispersed in a monolithic structure having a continuous microstructure; and the method of forming a heat sink by molding the heat sink from a thermoplastic or epoxy material which has been filled with thermally conductive particles, debinding the molded heat sink and densifying the debound heat sink into a monolithic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Terpstra, Barbara K. Lograsso, Iver E. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Moore
  • Patent number: 5500182
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method for forming a self-supporting body. Specifically, the formed self-supporting body has a higher volume percent of metallic constituent relative to a body formed by similar techniques. A first porous self-supporting body is formed by reactively infiltrating a molten parent metal into a bed or mass containing a boron donor material and a carbon donor material (e.g., boron carbide) and/or a boron donor material and a nitrogen material (e.g., boron nitride) and, optionally, one or more inert fillers. Additionally, powdered parent metal may be admixed with a mass to be reactively infiltrated to form additional porosity therein. The porous self-supporting body which is formed by the reactive infiltration process according to this invention should contain at least some interconnected porosity which is capable of being filled in a subsequent step with additional metal, thus increasing the volume percent of parent metal in the body at the expense of porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Lanxide Technology Company, LP
    Inventor: Philip J. Roach
  • Patent number: 5490968
    Abstract: A compacted, single phase or multiphase composite article. Particles for use in the compacted article are produced by providing a precursor compound containing at least one or at least two metals and a coordinating ligand. The compound is heated to remove the coordinating ligand therefrom and increase the surface area thereof. It may then be reacted so that at least one metal forms a metal-containing compound. The particles may be consolidated to form a compacted article, and for this purpose may be used in combination with graphite or diamonds. The metal-containing compound may be a nonmetallic compound including carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of a refractory metal, such as tungsten. The metal-containing compound may be dispersed in a metal matrix, such as iron, nickel or cobalt. The dispersed nonmetallic compound particles are no larger than about 0.1 micron in particle size and have a volume fraction greater than about 0.15 within the metal matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Polizzotti, Larry E. McCandlish, Edwin L. Kugler
  • Patent number: 5447800
    Abstract: A martensitic hot work tool steel die block for use in the manufacture of die casting die components and other hot work tooling components and a method for manufacturing the same. The article has a hardness within the range of 35 to 50 HRC and a minimum transverse Charpy V-notch impact toughness of 5 foot pounds when heat treated to a hardness of 44 to 46 HRC and when tested at both 72.degree. F. and 600.degree. F. The article is a hot worked, heat treated and fully dense consolidated mass of prealloyed particles of the composition, in weight percent, 0.32 to 0.45 carbon, 0.20 to 2.00 manganese, 0.05 to 0.30 sulfur, up to 0.03 phosphorous, 0.80 to 1.20 silicon, 4.75 to 5.70 chromium, 1.10 to 1.75 molybdenum, 0.80 to 1.20 vanadium, and balance iron. The alloy may be any conventional wrought AISI hot work tool steel or wrought maraging or precipitation-hardening steel having 0.05 to 0.30 percent sulfur, and having sulfide particles which exhibit a maximum size of 50 microns in their longest dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Crucible Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Carl J. Dorsch, Kenneth E. Pinnow, William Stasko
  • Patent number: 5445787
    Abstract: The process of forming an extruded product of tantalum or niobium requires a cold isostatic pressing of a charge of the powder to a density sufficient to form a green compact which is then placed in a capsule. The capsule is then sealed and heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to anneal the green compact. Thereafter, the capsule and encapsulated compact are subjected to a cold isostatic pressing to achieve a density of from 70% to 85%. This is followed by subsequent heating and extrusion of the heated capsule and encapsulated compact to form the extruded product. The outer layer on the capsule which has been formed by the capsule material can be removed, as by pickling, in the case of the capsule being a carbon steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventors: Ira Friedman, Christer Aslund
  • Patent number: 5424138
    Abstract: A copper-alloy slide bearing for a low-rigidity housing having a three-layer structure of a steel back-metal, a copper-alloy layer and an overlay, the back metal containing 0.03 to 0.26% by weight of carbon. During the production of the slide bearing, a bimetal is prepared in such a manner that a back-metal portion is rolled at a total rolling reduction of 10 to 35%, and the resultant bimetal is heat-treated at a relatively low temperature, so that the slide bearing includes a back metal having a 0.01% elastic limit of not less than 300 N/mm.sup.2. When the copper-alloy slide bearing is used in a low-rigidity housing of an internal combustion engine, the slide bearing is capable of more excellently following the deformation of the housing, as well as capable of providing more excellent intimate contact and more excellent fretting resistance, than a conventional multi-layer slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Daido Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanaka, Masaaki Sakamoto, Koichi Yamamoto, Tsukimitsu Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5424027
    Abstract: A method for producing hot worked gamma titanium aluminide alloy articles which comprises the steps of:(a) providing a prealloyed gamma titanium aluminide alloy powder;(b) filling a suitable die or mold with the powder;(c) hot isostatic press (HIP) consolidating the powder in the filled mold at a pressure of 30 Ksi or greater and at a temperature below the alpha-two+gamma eutectoid temperature of the alloy to produce a preform;(d) hot working the preform at a temperature at or below the alpha-two+gamma eutectoid temperature of the alloy; and(e) optionally, heat treating the hot worked article.By hot working the preform at or below the alpha-two+gamma eutectoid temperature, the fine, uniform, isotropic microstructure of the preform is maintained, allowing a large metal flow and good shape definition with no edge cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Daniel Eylon