US4021279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming groove pattern
Assignee: STICHTING REACTOR CENTRUM NEDERLAND
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Filing: 1975-09-18
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A method is given for obtaining recesses in a surface by etching. The obtained surface with recesses can be used for example in bearings. According to the invention, an etching method is given, wherein the depth of the recesses is controlled by forcing an etching fluid along the surface to be etched by means of a flow guiding template in places defined by this template. The etching rate in the recesses to be etched is controlled by adjustment of the flow velocity of the etching liquid and the slit height in the flow-guiding template. The recesses to be etched are deeper when the flow velocity of the etching fluid and the slit height are both higher.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilles Gerardus Hirs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/06; F16C33/10; F16C33/1025; F16C33/106; F16C33/107; C; C23; C23F; C23F1/00; C23F1/02; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/045; F16C17/10; F16C17/102; F16C17/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of etching a surface groove pattern in the homogeneous material surface of a ball comprising the steps of: supporting an undeformable, incompressible and noncorrodible template at a short distance from said ball surface in the area corresponding to where a surface pattern constituting a groove pattern is desired to be formed when the template is provided with canals according to the desired pattern, flowing an etching liquid through said canals in the template along the ball surface in a laminar flow path, wherein the short distance between the template into which said canals are formed and the ball surface simultaneously minimizes the effect of said etching liquid flowing between the template and the ball surface away from said canals, by limiting the length and effective flow velocity of the etching liquid flowing away from said canals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of etching a surface groove pattern in the homogeneous material surface of a ball comprising the steps of: supporting an undeformable, incompressible and noncorrodible template at a short distance from said ball surface in the area corresponding to where a surface pattern constituting a groove pattern is desired to be formed when the template is provided with canals according to the desired pattern, flowing an etching liquid through said canals in the template along the ball surface in a laminar flow path, wherein the short distance between the template into which said canals are formed and the ball surface simultaneously minimizes the effect of said etching liquid flowing between the template and the ball surface away from said canals, by limiting the length and effective flow velocity of the etching liquid flowing away from said canals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the etching liquid is aqueous ferric chloride etching solution of a concentration between 10 and 50 weight percent at a temperature between about 15° C. and 75° C., etching liquid velocity being between about 0.5 and 10 meters per second and etching times between 10 seconds and 5 minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the groove pattern is a loxodromic pattern, said ball having a diameter between 2 and 8 millimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of etching a surface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said groove pattern is formed along the direction of the laminar flow of said etching fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of etching a surface as claimed in claim 1 wherein the etching rate is from 0.1 to 1 microns per second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of etching a surface as in claim 2 wherein the surface of the ball being etched is comprised of metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of etching a surface as in claim 6 wherein said metal is steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of etching a surface as in claim 1 wherein the short distance between the template and the ball surface ranges between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of etching a surface as in claim 1 wherein the etching liquid has a viscosity ranging between about 10 - 3 and about 5.1 - 3 N.s.m.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3043362A
Cited
US5751313A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |