Adjacent, Identical Composition, Components Patents (Class 428/636)
  • Patent number: 6803118
    Abstract: A semi-hard magnetic alloy for activation strips in magnetic anti-theft security systems is disclosed that contains 8 to 25 weight % Ni, 1.0 to 4.5 weight % Al, 0.5 to 3 weight % Ti and the balance iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH
    Inventors: Hartwin Weber, Gernot Hausch, Ottmar Roth
  • Patent number: 6777106
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a metal block suitable for machining, the metal block comprising at least two superimposed metal plates, each having a thickness of at least 12.5 mm, wherein the yield strength of the block is at least 75% of the yield strength of the initial metal plate(s). The present invention is further directed to methods for manufacturing such blocks from two or more thick metal plates by explosive welding and other methods. Blocks according to the present invention are useful, for example, for manufacturing aircraft structural components or injection molds for plastics or rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Frédéric Catteau, David Godard
  • Patent number: 6749951
    Abstract: A coated article having a high resistance to wear damage has a substrate, and a layered coating overlying the substrate. The layered coating includes a ductile metallic layer overlying and in facing contact with the substrate, and a protective layer overlying and in facing contact with the ductile metallic layer and including a mixture of a quasicrystalline metallic phase and a non-quasicrystalline ductile phase. The coated article is preferably used in applications where it is subjected to wear conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramgopal Darolia, Robert Edward Schafrik
  • Patent number: 6696175
    Abstract: The present invention provides aluminum alloys and layers formed in aluminum alloys as well as methods for their manufacture. Aluminum alloys of the present invention are provided with at least one discrete layer of uncrystallized grains formed therein. Alloys of the present invention can be formed, for example, by a process that includes a final partial anneal that permits softening of the material to essentially an O-temper condition. Processes of the present invention recrystallized substantially the entire material by leave a discrete layer of preferably less than 50 microns of the material unrecrystallized. In preferred embodiments, the aluminum material is a core material that is clad on one or both sides and the discrete unrecrystallized layer forms at the boundary between the clad and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Pechiney Rolled Products
    Inventors: Scott L. Palmer, Zayna Connor, H. Scott Goodrich
  • Patent number: 6689490
    Abstract: Display Element for Employment in a Magnetic Anti-theft Security System A semi-hard magnetic alloy for activation strips in magnetic anti-theft security systems is disclosed that contains 8 to 25 weight % Ni, 1.5 to 4.5 weight % Al, 0.5 to 3 weight % Ti and balance iron. The alloy is distinguished over known, employed alloys by excellent magnetic properties and a high resistance to corrosion. Further, the inventive alloy can be excellently cold-worked before the annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH
    Inventors: Hartwin Weber, Gernot Hausch, Ottmar Roth
  • Patent number: 6682828
    Abstract: The coating plant includes a device for running a sheet to be coated along a traveling path past a window for the evaporation or sublimation of elements A an B, sources for the evaporation or sublimation of elements A and element B placed successively in a direction parallel to the traveling path so as to emit elements A and B through the window and a screen for reducing the angle of emission from the source of element B below the limit represented by an exit edge of the window, the screen being mounted so as to move translationally perpendicular to the traveling path and to move along the traveling path between the source of element A and the source of element B so as to obtain either a —A—AB—A— or a —B—AB—B—coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Daniel Chaleix, Patrick Choquet, Alain Lamande, Colin Scott, Christophe Olier
  • Patent number: 6677054
    Abstract: A device for integrally joining a metal block (11′) that can consist of a number of plates, by hard-soldering or brazing. The hard-solder provides a connection covering a large surface and with a minimal thickness in solder gaps (17j; j=1, 2, . . . , n−1) located between adjacent segment plates (12i; i=1, 2, . . . , n). At least one capillary solder inflow path (14) is provided. Said solder inflow path starts at a solder depot containing a supply of hard solder or braze material (42), which melts as the stack (11) of plates is heated. The melted solder material flows directly to the individual, also capillary solder gaps (17j; j=1, 2, . . . , n−1) via said solder inflow path, the solder gaps being provided between surfaces of the segment plates (12i) that face towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hartmann & Laemmle GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jakob Hermann, Eckehart Schulze
  • Patent number: 6673467
    Abstract: A metallic component exposed to high temperature steam is provided with a coating comprising a thin primer layer deposited on the surface of the metallic component and a thicker overlay layer on top of the primer layer. The primer layer consists of highly ductile, oxidation resistant material such that it remains free of any defects over a long period of exposure. The overlay layer consists of an oxidation resistant, less ductile, and low-cost material. It protects the thin primer layer from mechanical damage and chemical degradation. The primer layer protects the base material of the metallic component from oxidizing steam that may penetrate through cracks of the overlay layer. Due to suitable choice of coating materials and thicknesses of the layers the coating is low-cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Richard Brendon Scarlin, Reinhard Knödler
  • Patent number: 6663981
    Abstract: A marker for use in a magnetic anti-theft security system has an amorphous ferromagnetic alloy alarm strip and at least one activation strip. The semi-hard magnetic alloy for the activation strip contains 8 to 25 weight % Ni, 1.5 to 4.5 weight % Al, 0.5 to 3 weight % Ti and balance of iron. The alloy is distinguished over known, employed alloys by excellent magnetic properties and a high resistance to corrosion. Further, the alloy can be excellently cold-worked before the annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH
    Inventors: Hartwin Weber, Gernot Hausch, Ottmar Roth
  • Patent number: 6623869
    Abstract: A metallic material of the invention which comprises, in mass %, C: not more than 0.2%, Si: 0.01-4%, Mn: 0.05-2%, P: not more than 0.04%, S: not more than 0.015%, Cr: 10-35%, Ni: 30-78%, Al: not less than 0.005% but less than 4.5%, N: 0.005-0.2%, and one or both of Cu: 0.015-3% and Co: 0.015-3%, with the balance substantially being Fe, and of which the value of 40Si+Ni+5Al+40N+10 (Cu+Co), wherein the symbols of elements represent the contents of the respective elements, is not less than 50 and has excellent corrosion resistance in an environment in which metal dusting is ready to occur and, therefore, can be utilized as or in heating furnace pipes, piping systems, heat exchanger pipes and so forth to be used in a petroleum refinery or in petrochemical plants, and can markedly improve the equipment durability and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nishiyama, Nobuo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6620527
    Abstract: A hillock-free wiring layer and method of forming the same are provided. The wiring layer includes at least two aluminum (Al) layers formed on a substrate, and each of the Al layers includes Al crystal particles. For any two Al layers of the wring layer, the one closer to the substrate is called the lower layer and the other one is called the higher layer. Besides, the Al crystal particles of the higher Al layer are larger and denser than that of the lower Al layer, and the lower Al layer has a higher resistance than that of the higher Al layer. By the invention, a wiring layer using either pure Al or an Al-based alloy is capable of preventing the occurrence of hillocks and reducing manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Cheng-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 6609830
    Abstract: A multilayer engine bearing (10) includes a steel backing (12) having a liner (14) of bearing metal of either copper-lead or aluminum alloys formed on the backing (12). A multilayer overplate (24, 124) is formed on the base lining member (16) and includes at least a first layer (28, 128) electrodeposited from a bath at a first current density to a desired thickness, and at least one additional layer (26, 126) electrodeposited from the same bath but at a different current density and to a desired thickness to yield a composite lamellar overplate structure having layers with differing deposit characteristics, such as hard and soft layers, generated from the same bath at different current densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Bank, James R. Toth
  • Patent number: 6607847
    Abstract: An article, such as an airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece comprises a first metallic element and a second metallic element, wherein the first metallic element is one of titanium, palladium, zirconium, niobium, and hafnium, and wherein the second metallic element is one of titanium, palladium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, aluminum, chromium, vanadium, platinum, gold, iron, nickel, and cobalt, the first metallic element being different from the second metallic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Patent number: 6596410
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chrome-plated sliding member free from periodical decreases in wear resistance or seizure resistance without the necessity to intentionally bend a multi-layer hard chrome plating film. This is a sliding member having a multi-layer hard chrome plating film on the sliding surface of the substrate 1. Microcracks 6 opening to the outer surface side of the individual hard chrome plating layers are distributed in hard chrome plating layers 2, 3, 4 and 5. The microcracks of the individual hard chrome plating layers comprise relatively shallow portions 6a where bottoms stop within a single layer, and relatively deep portions 6b and 6c where cracks run through two or more layers. The quantities of the microcracks expressed by the area ratios of microcracks on a cross-section of the hard chrome plating film include a quantity of the portions where cracks stop within a single layer within a range of from 1.5 to 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6586118
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece is a semi-solid braze that comprises a first component and a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6579625
    Abstract: A magnetic layer (46) of a magnetoelectronics element (40) is provided that has a first sub-element layer (48) and a second sub-element layer (50). The first sub-element layer (48) is configured to have a first area and the second sub-element layer (50) is configured to have a second area that is less than the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley N. Engel, Nicholas D. Rizzo, Jason A. Janesky, Saied Tehrani
  • Publication number: 20030108767
    Abstract: A method of welding articles formed of single-crystal superalloys, particularly single-crystal nickel-base superalloys containing 10 weight percent or more of refractory metals, and welded assemblies formed thereby. A shim is positioned between the articles, and a backing strip is preferably positioned to contact both articles and bridge the gap between the articles. The articles are then welded together using a high energy beam with a low current pulse frequency and low travel speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ganjiang Feng, Daniel Anthony Nowak
  • Patent number: 6565990
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined at a bonded region to the first piece by a diffusion bond. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The diffusion bond is formed from a first metallic element disposed on a first surface of the first piece and a second metallic element disposed on at least one of the first surface and a second surface of the second piece, the second surface contacting the first surface, wherein the first and second metal form a composition having a melting temperature less than about 1400° C. This abstract is submitted in compliance with 37 C.F.R. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Melvin Robert Jackson, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6565988
    Abstract: The invention provides a component or composite part, such as a divertor plate for the “first wall” of a fusion reactor, adapted to endure a high thermal load, which is made, at least in some sections, of tungsten or a tungsten alloy. In accordance with the invention, the sections are not constructed massively from tungsten or a tungsten alloy, but rather are made as a laminated packet, in order to improve the susceptibility to fissures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Plansee Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Laurenz Plöchl, Florian Rainer
  • Patent number: 6565989
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece comprises one of germanium and silicon, and one of chromium, titanium, gold, aluminum, palladium, platinum, and nickel. This abstract is submitted in compliance with 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Patent number: 6503642
    Abstract: In an electrodeposited hard-chromium coat, particularly for a piston ring, which is substantially formed of an electrolyte containing hexavalent chromium, wherein there are cracks in the coat and diamond particles are embedded in these cracks, the diamond particles have a size ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Federal Mogul Burscheid GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Linde
  • Patent number: 6503641
    Abstract: An electrical conductor for use in an electronic structure is disclosed which includes a conductor body that is formed of an alloy including between about 0.001 atomic % and about 2 atomic % of an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, In, Sn and Hf; and a liner abutting the conductor body which is formed of an alloy that includes Ta, W, Ti, Nb and V. The invention further discloses a liner for use in a semiconductor interconnect that is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Ti, Hf, In, Sn, Zr and alloys thereof, TiCu3, Ta1−XTix, Ta1−X, Hfx, Ta1−X, Inxy, Ta1−XSnx, Ta1−XZrx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cyril Cabral, Jr., Roy Arthur Carruthers, James McKell Edwin Harper, Chao-Kun Hu, Kim Yang Lee, Ismail Cevdet Noyan, Robert Rosenberg, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20020197504
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sliding member, of which the surface cavities do not disappear even after progress of wear of the sliding surface, which permits maintenance of a satisfactory seizure resistance, and has better seizure resistance, wear resistance and strength properties than in a sliding member having a porous chrome plating layer formed thereon in the conventional art. The sliding member of the invention has a laminated hard Cr plating layer comprising a plurality of hard Cr plating layers laminated on the sliding surface. Micro-cracks are formed on each hard Cr plating layer surface, and the micro-cracks of each hard Cr plating layer form micro-pores independent in the film-forming direction. On the cross-section of the laminated hard Cr plating layer, the porosity should be within a range of from 0.5 to 4.5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takamura, Takao Omiya, Motonobu Onoda
  • Patent number: 6485846
    Abstract: A component for a gauge comprising a bourdon tube having a first end and a second end. A socket is joined to the first end of the bourdon tube and a closure member is joined to the second end of the bourdon tube. At least one of the bourdon tube and the closure member comprises a copper nickel alloy and/or the socket comprises a nickel silver alloy. In addition, a low temperature soldering material, such as a tin-bismuth soldering material, was used to affix the socket to the bourdon tube and the closure member to the bourdon tube. Preferably, the components contain substantially no free copper. Such a component resists corrosion, especially corrosion formed when certain fluids are used with such components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ametek, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Zheleznyakov, Joseph F. Karpov
  • Patent number: 6479166
    Abstract: Multi-layer assemblies of polysilicon thin films having predetermined stress characteristics and techniques for forming such assemblies are disclosed. In particular, a multi-layer assembly of polysilicon thin films may be produced that has a stress level of zero, or substantially so. The multi-layer assemblies comprise at least one constituent thin film having a tensile stress and at least one constituent thin film having a compressive stress. The thin films forming the multi-layer assemblies may be disposed immediately adjacent to one another without the use of intermediate layers between the thin films. Multi-layer assemblies exhibiting selectively determinable overall bending moments are also disclosed. Selective production of overall bending moments in microstructures enables manufacture of such structures with a wide array of geometrical configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Arthur H. Heuer, Harold Kahn, Jie Yang, Stephen M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6475642
    Abstract: An oxidation-resistant coating is described, formed of an alloy containing: about 40 to about 50 atom % aluminum and about 0.5 atom % to about 3 atom % tantalum; with a balance of nickel; cobalt, iron, or combinations thereof. The coating may also include chromium and a precious metal, as well as other components, such as zirconium or molybdenum. A method for applying the oxidation-resistant coating to a substrate is also described. The substrate can be formed of superalloy material, e.g., a turbine engine component. Related articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6465113
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy brazing sheet having a four-layered structure, of sheet thickness 0.2 mm or less, and having a core alloy, a filler alloy of an Al—Si alloy on one surface of the core alloy, a sacrificial anode material of an Al—Zn alloy on the other surface of the core alloy, and an intermediate layer between the core alloy and sacrificial anode material, wherein the core alloy is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities, and wherein the intermediate layer is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Company, Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yamada, Takeyoshi Doko, Yoshiaki Ogiwara, Satoshi Tanaka, Sunao Fukuda, Yoshihiko Kamiya, Masaki Shimizu, Kenji Negura
  • Patent number: 6428910
    Abstract: A refractory metal intermetallic composition comprising titanium (Ti), hafnium (Hf), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), iron (Fe), and a balance of niobium (Nb) for use in composite structures having applications in turbine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Reed Roeder Corderman
  • Patent number: 6423422
    Abstract: A high strength spongy sintered metal composite sheet comprising a porous spongy sintered metal layer having continuous holes, and a high strength sintered, dense metal reinforcing layer having a porosity smaller than the porosity of the spongy sintered metal layer, laminated thereon, wherein the sintered, dense metal reinforcing layer has a thickness of 0.5-30% thickness with respect to the entire high strength spongy sintered metal composite sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Wada, Yoshitaka Mayuzumi, Koji Hoshino, Saburou Wakita
  • Patent number: 6419806
    Abstract: Method of forming a two-piece hollow cathode sputter target assembly and the assembly formed thereby. The sputter target assembly includes an outer shell having a substantially cylindrical side wall and is composed of a relatively low purity metallic material. A sputtering insert includes a substantially cylindrical side wall and is concentrically received within, and bonded to, the outer shell. The sputtering insert is composed of a relatively high purity metallic material as used for depositing a thin layer or film onto a desired substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Tosoh SMD, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin K. Holcomb, William E. Barnes, Steven L. Bardus
  • Patent number: 6395407
    Abstract: A metallic sheet with an aluminum coating, the coating having an internal layer of iron/aluminum/silicon alloys, and an external layer, thicker, of an aluminum-based phase and secondarily of phases in the form of needles or elongated lamellae. The projection of the length of all needles or lamellae in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the external layer is less than the thickness of this layer. This structure, which is obtained by a thermal treatment of the external layer at a temperature of 570-660° C., notably for less than 15 sec, considerably decreases the risks of cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Didier Mareuse, Thérèse Six, Pierre Jean Krauth
  • Patent number: 6391479
    Abstract: A coated metal component made of an alloy containing an intentional addition of nitrogen, comprising an oxidation-resistant coating layer and an intermediate layer disposed between the oxidation-resistant coating layer and the component. The intermediate layer is substantially devoid of nitrogen which if present would form a nitride with the oxidation-resistant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Herbert Wood
  • Patent number: 6372364
    Abstract: A thin film product having a nanostructured surface, a laminate product including the thin film and a temporary substrate opposite the nanostructured surface, a laminate product including the thin film and a final substrate attached to the nanostructured surface and a method of producing the thin film products. The thin film is particularly useful in the electronics industry for the production of integrated circuits, printed circuit boards and EMF shielding. The nanostructured surface includes surface features that are mostly smaller than one micron, while the dense portion of the thin film is between 10-1000 nm. The thin film is produced by coating a temporary substrate (such as aluminum foil) with a coating material (such as copper) using any process. One such method is concentrated heat deposition or a combustion, chemical vapor deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: MicroCoating Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Hunt, Henry A. Luten, III
  • Patent number: 6355363
    Abstract: A support structure is provided for holding open lumina, the support structure having a stainless steel substrate and a platinum layer forming the surface of the structure. The structure has at least one gold layer arranged between the substrate and the platinum layer. The platinum layer is preferably applied with a pulsed current with current reversal, in order to avoid or reduce brittleness occurring by absorption of hydrogen during galvanic deposition of platinum. Such a support structure (stent) substantially withstands the high mechanical stresses, particularly bending and torsional forces that occur during application, without the formation of significant tears in the platinum layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: W. C. Hereaus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Günter Herklotz, Frank Krüger, Thomas Frey, Thomas Giesel
  • Patent number: 6350533
    Abstract: A sheet metal component, obtained by press-forming a one-piece metal sheet comprised of two metal sheets into a desired shape, has an expanding portion having an external appearance varying in dependence on a weld state of a weld portion of the one-piece metal sheet at which the two metal sheets are welded at their confronting ends. In manufacturing the sheet metal component, the one-piece metal sheet is transferred between upper and lower dies of a pressing machine and is positioned such that its metal sheet section including part of the weld portion is disposed between a punch formed in the lower die and a recess formed in the upper die so as to face the punch. The metal sheet section is pressed by the punch to be subject to plastic deformation, whereby the expanding portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Goto, Toshiyuki Komizo, Masayuki Enomoto
  • Patent number: 6340536
    Abstract: An alloy of zirconium and niobium that includes erbium as a consumable neutron poison, its method of preparation and a component comprising said alloy are provided. This invention relates to an alloy of zirconium and niobium that includes erbium as a consumable neutron poison. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation and conversion of said alloy and a component comprising said alloy. Such an alloy is particularly intended for the manufacture of cladding and/or other elements or structural components of fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors using water as coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Maxy Noe, Pierre Beslu, Jean-Christophe Brachet, Philippe Parmentier, Jacques Porta
  • Patent number: 6329075
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy composite material includes a higher strength aluminum alloy core material layer and at least one cladding aluminum alloy material layer having a higher electrical conductivity than the core material. The cladding layer is positioned adjacent to the core and the composite is adapted for particular application in heat exchangers where brazing is conducted under controlled atmospheres with special flux materials. The core material has an electrical conductivity less than 50% IACS and the cladding layer has an electrical conductivity greater than 50% IACS. The cladding layer can be on one or both surfaces of the core layer. The thickness of the cladding layer can range between about 2.5 and 40% of the overall composite thickness depending on whether one or more cladding layers are employed. The cladding layer also has a corrosion potential more negative than the core layer for enhanced corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Reycan, L.P.
    Inventors: Ralph M. Nener, Scott W. Haller
  • Patent number: 6312833
    Abstract: A multilayered wiring layer having high thermal stability, high stress migration resistance and low electrical resistance. The wiring layer includes at least two layers formed on a substrate wherein each layer has substantially the same component and wherein the relationship between grain size and thickness of each of the at least two layers is 0.5<d/h<2, wherein d is the grain size of each layer and h is the thickness of each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Tsuji, Hiroshi Takatsuji, Katsuhiro Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 6296951
    Abstract: A laminated chromium plating layers providing improved wear resistance and fatigue strength for use in mechanical parts of an internal combustion engine. The lamination is formed on a base body and contains a plurality of high hardness chromium plating layer and a plurality of low hardness chromium plating layer, and each high hardness chromium plating layer is formed upon each low hardness chromium plating layer to provide the lamination of alternating high hardness chromium plating layer and low hardness chromium plating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Tateishi, Motonobu Onoda, Katsuaki Ogawa, Kazuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6268068
    Abstract: Multi-layer assemblies of polysilicon thin films having predetermined stress characteristics and techniques for forming such assemblies are disclosed. In particular, a multi-layer assembly of polysilicon thin film may be produced that has a stress level of zero, or substantially so. The multi-layer assemblies comprise at least one constituent thin film having a tensile stress and at least one constituent thin film having a compressive stress. The thin films forming the multi-layer assemblies may be disposed immediately adjacent to one another without the use of intermediate layers between the thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Arthur H. Heuer, Harold Kahn, Jie Yang
  • Patent number: 6238808
    Abstract: Provided are a substrate with a zinc oxide layer, in which at least a zinc oxide layer is provided on a support substrate, wherein the zinc oxide layer comprises a zinc oxide layer having the c axis perpendicular to the support substrate and a zinc oxide layer having the c axis slantindicular to the support substrate in the order from the side of the support substrate; and a photovoltaic device in which a semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate with the zinc oxide layer. Thus provided is the inexpensive photovoltaic device with excellent reflective performance and optical confinement effect and with high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Arao, Hideo Tamura, Noboru Toyama, Yuichi Sonoda, Yusuke Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6235409
    Abstract: A bright finish aluminum alloy on high strength aluminum or aluminum alloy lamination is disclosed including a bright finish top sheet, a high strength aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, and an adhesive bonding the bright finish metal top sheet to the high strength aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to provide a bright finish aluminum on high strength aluminum or aluminum alloy lamination product having brighter finish than a sheet product of said high strength aluminum or aluminum alloy and higher strength than a sheet product of said bright finish aluminum of the same thickness as said lamination product, wherein said lamination product withstands galvanic corrosion. In one aspect, the bright finish metal top sheet is 5657 aluminum foil. In one aspect, the high strength aluminum alloy is 5182 alloy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Serafin, Paul B. Schultz, Albert L. Askin, Donald J. Stanko
  • Patent number: 6221515
    Abstract: A bimetallic strip for a sliding bearing having a sliding strip of an aluminum alloy which is adhered to a steel supporting strip and method of manufacture. The composition of the sliding strip is from 3 to 30% of tin; from 1 to 6% of silicon and the remainder being of aluminum and impurities, and the sliding strip has at least 95% of the silicon hard particles smaller than 3.5 microns and an aluminum grain average size of about 6 microns. The sliding strip is produced by roll casting the alloy and attaching the sliding strip to the steel supporting strip to form the bimetallic strip which is heat treated between 200° and 380° C. to obtain a metallurgical bonding between the strips; subjecting the bimetallic strip to a solubilizing process of the intermetallic compounds of the aluminum alloy by heating at 380-500° C., followed by cooling; and subjecting the bimetallic strip to a precipitation treatment at a temperature from 150° to 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Metal Leve S/A Industria E Comercio
    Inventors: Joaquim de Oliveira Ramos Júnior, Denys da Cuhna Flores, Carlos Henrique Gaspar dos Santos
  • Patent number: 6218025
    Abstract: A sintered electrode of high-melting metal (for example tungsten) is produced from spherical metal powder having a well defined particle size. The mean particle size is from 5 to 70 &mgr;m. The particle size distribution covers a range from at most 20% below to at most 20% above the mean particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Patent- Truchand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluelampen mbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Fromm, Bernhard Altmann, Wolfram Graser, Peter Schade
  • Patent number: 6180266
    Abstract: A cutting tool having cutting edges made of a high speed tool steel exhibiting very high wear and anti-chipping resistances, and sufficient toughness is provided. The high speed tool steel consists essentially of by weight C:0.6 to 1.8%, Si:1.2% max, Mn:0.5% max, Cr:3.5 to 5.0%, Mo:10% max, W:21% max, V:2 to 4% and Co:7 to 10%, the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and the steel of the cutting edge comprise MC-type carbide grains each having a maximum equal value diameter of a circle ranging substantially 5 to 14 &mgr;m, and the MC-type carbide grains having an equal value diameter of the circle ranging substantially 5 to 14 &mgr;m have a ratio between short and long diameters ranging over substantially 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp
    Inventors: Hirokuni Amano, Yuji Shimatani, Kiyoshi Nakagawa, Syunichi Asakura
  • Patent number: 6177203
    Abstract: Diffusion bonding techniques are extended to the simultaneous bonding of an array of multilevel piece parts. The problems of uneven expansion and contraction of different levels of different piece parts in the array are obviated by positioning each level of the array within a frame. The stack of frames is pinned in one corner. The opposite corner of the array has a slot at a 45° angle with respect to the x and y axes of the array. The slot engages a pin and allows the entire array to expand and contract along the slot in a manner to maintain the registration of features between respective levels of each piece part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Opto Power Corporation
    Inventor: Juan Alfonso Garcia
  • Patent number: 6171714
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved adhesiveless flexible laminate, comprising: a polymer film having a plasma treated surface; a nickel tie coat layer comprising nickel or a nickel alloy adhered to said plasma treated surface; and a copper seed coat layer adhered to the nickel layer. In one embodiment, another layer of copper is adhered to the copper seed coat layer. This invention also relates to a process for making the foregoing adhesiveless flexible laminate, the process comprising the steps of: (A) contacting at least one side of a polymeric film with a plasma comprising ionized oxygen produced from a non-metallizing cathode to provide a plasma treated surface; (B) depositing a tie coat of nickel or nickel alloy on said plasma treated surface; and (C) depositing a seed coat layer of copper on said nickel tie coat layer. The process also includes the optional step of (D) depositing another layer of copper over the copper seed coat layer from step (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Gould Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Bergkessel, Tad Bergstresser, Shiuh-Kao Chiang, Mary K. Prokop, David B. Russell
  • Patent number: 6143428
    Abstract: Magnesium materials or components made of magnesium materials are protected against corrosion by a surface coating made of an alloy. The protective alloy coating contains a base alloy component A and at least one additive alloying component B. The base alloy component A is either titanium, or zirconium or magnesium. The alloying component B is selected from the following group: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, rare-earth metals, yttrium, metals of the groups IIb, IIIa, IVa, and Va of the fourth or higher period of the periodic table of elements, and manganese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Heike Bommer, Felix Nitschke
  • Patent number: 6127044
    Abstract: A method for producing titanium alloy turbine blades comprising the steps of (a) forming turbine blades of titanium alloy through hot forging or machining, (b) cooling leading edges on tip portions of the turbine blades including covers thereof formed through hot forging or machining faster than blade main body after final hot forging or solid solution treatment, and (c) heat treating the cooled turbine blades. With this method, it is possible to manufacture titanium turbine blades in an economical fashion and obtain titanium alloy turbine blades superior in reliability by preventing erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Boehler Schmiedetechnik Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung & Company Kommandit Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Masaru Yamamoto, Hironobu Yamamoto, Herbert Puschnik, Manfred Koren
  • Patent number: 6114052
    Abstract: An ingot plate (10) of cleaveable thermoelectric material has a layered structure having substantially parallel cleavage planes. Substantially all of the cleavage planes are disposed at a less cleavage angle with respect to the upper and lower faces (11, 12) of the plate. The ingot plate can be successfully cut into bars (20) along cutting planes generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes without causing substantial interlayer fracture. Electrodes (25) are formed on the opposite sides of the bar which are defined by the cutting planes. The bar is in use to be cut into a number of discrete chips (30) with one of the electrodes fixed on a substrate. Since the cutting is made along planes again generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes of the bar, the bar can be successfully cut into the corresponding chips without causing any substantial fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignees: Matshsuhita Electric Works, Ltd., Crystal Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuteru Maekawa, Belov Iouri Maksimovich