Patent FR1406217A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3933474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Leech alloying
Assignee: Saint Gobain Abrasives Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-27
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1994-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Alloys are produced from an elongated metal bar comprising a substantially pure majority metal by attaching a length series of surface patches thereto made of compacted powder mixtures of minority alloying elements and the majority metal, then progressively melting the bar along its length to produce a compositionally uniform alloy melt and solidifying the melt to produce an alloy ingot. The process results in ingots of uniform composition consistent with use of relatively volatile minority alloying elements.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Ham
- 👤 John G. Gorsuch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:04
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K35/00; B23K35/22; B23K35/24; B23K35/32; C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Alloy production method for introducing minority alloying ingredients of higher volatility and lower melting point into a majority metallic component comprising, mixing powders of the alloying ingredients with powders of the majority metal and forming coherent compacts of such mixtures as patches, melting and resolidifying the majority metal to form an elongated bar of the majority metal as a first melt ingot, applying said patches as an axial array along the surface of said bar, and re-melting the patched bar progressively along its length and resolidifying the melt as a final ingot to controllably and continuously introduce the alloying ingredients and majority metal into the melt with the majority metal content of the patches acting as a wick during melting, and to homogenize the dispersion of alloying ingredients throughout the majority metal in the final ingot and predictably maintain desired proportions of alloy ingredients.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Alloy production method for introducing minority alloying ingredients of higher volatility and lower melting point into a majority metallic component comprising, mixing powders of the alloying ingredients with powders of the majority metal and forming coherent compacts of such mixtures as patches, melting and resolidifying the majority metal to form an elongated bar of the majority metal as a first melt ingot, applying said patches as an axial array along the surface of said bar, and re-melting the patched bar progressively along its length and resolidifying the melt as a final ingot to controllably and continuously introduce the alloying ingredients and majority metal into the melt with the majority metal content of the patches acting as a wick during melting, and to homogenize the dispersion of alloying ingredients throughout the majority metal in the final ingot and predictably maintain desired proportions of alloy ingredients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the patched bar is used as the consumable electrode of a consumable electrode melting process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ingot form of the bar is modified prior to patching and re-melting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the bar is formed by arc melting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the bar is formed by electron beam melting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said majority metal is selected from the class consisting of the elements: tantalum columbium, molybdenum, hafnium, zirconium, tungsten, and alloys containing one or more of such elements as more than 80 weight percent thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said majority metal comprises tantalum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said patches are isostatically pressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said patches are pressed in a die.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said patches are presintered.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said presintering step is combined with welding said patches on the bar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
Alloy production method for introducing minority alloying ingredients into a starting metal comprising, forming an elongated bar with a length series of alloy patches along the bar with said alloy patches comprising a high melting majority component and minority components of alloying elements of lower melting point, melting the patched bar progressively along its length so that the bar end and adjacent patch ends simultaneously melt to produce a continuing simultaneous feeding of molten starting metal with molten minority alloying ingredients, stirring said molten materials together, and resolidifying said molten materials to produce an alloy of said starting materials with the minority ingredients.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
Alloy production method for introducing minority alloying ingredients into a starting metal comprising, forming an elongated bar with a length series of alloy patches along the bar with said alloy patches comprising a high melting majority component and minority components of alloying elements of lower melting point, melting the patched bar progressively along its length so that the bar end and adjacent patch ends simultaneously melt to produce a continuing simultaneous feeding of molten starting metal with molten minority alloying ingredients, stirring said molten materials together, and resolidifying said molten materials to produce an alloy of said starting materials with the minority ingredients.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said starting metal essentially comprises elemental tantalum and said majority metal essentially comprises elemental tantalum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the minority alloying ingredients comprise oxygen, carbon, silicon, iron, nickel, niobium and yttrium, each provided in the patches in amounts sufficient to allow for boil-off in the course of melting to retain predetermined amounts thereof in the resolidified alloy product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Alloy production method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the melting, stirring and resolidification is carried out by consutrode melting using said patched elongated bar as the consumable electrode thereof to produce said resolidified alloy product as a final ingot product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |