Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A ternary alloy comprised of copper, aluminum and zinc having a β-brass type structure falling within the area on a ternary diagram defined by the points: ______________________________________
A. 78.3% Cu 9.7% Al 12% Zn
B. 75.1% Cu 7.5% Al 17.4% Zn
C. 67% Cu 4.2% Al 28.8% Zn
D. 72.6% Cu 7.9% Al 19.5% Zn
______________________________________ said alloy being in its martensitic state and an M s temperature of 0° C. or lower and having been deformed from an original configuration to render it heat recoverable, said alloy exhibiting stress stability of at least 1,000 hrs at 125°° C. when caused to recover by being warmed to a temperature at which the alloy exists in its austenitic state so that a degree of unresolved recovery remains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A ternary alloy comprised of copper, aluminum and zinc having a β-brass type structure falling within the area on a ternary diagram defined by the points: ______________________________________
A. 78.3% Cu 9.7% Al 12% Zn
B. 75.1% Cu 7.5% Al 17.4% Zn
C. 67% Cu 4.2% Al 28.8% Zn
D. 72.6% Cu 7.9% Al 19.5% Zn
______________________________________ said alloy being in its martensitic state and an M s temperature of 0° C. or lower and having been deformed from an original configuration to render it heat recoverable, said alloy exhibiting stress stability of at least 1,000 hrs at 125°° C. when caused to recover by being warmed to a temperature at which the alloy exists in its austenitic state so that a degree of unresolved recovery remains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
An alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alloy has an eutectoidal composition, said eutectoidal composition being a composition wherein no metal of the group consisting of copper, aluminum and zinc is present in said alloy in an amount that differs by more than 1% by weight from the amount of said metal present in a composition corresponding to a eutectoidal composition defined by the line XY of the ternary diagram of FIG. 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An alloy in accordance with claim 2 wherein said alloy has an eutectoid composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A process for making a heat recoverable article that exhibits stress stability of at least 1,000 hours at 125° C. when allowed to recover so that a degree of unresolved recovery remains comprising the steps: (a) selecting a ternary alloy capable of being rendered heat recoverable comprised of copper, aluminum and zinc having a β-brass type structure and having an M s temperature of 0° C. or lower falling within the area on a ternary diagram defined by the points: ______________________________________
A. 78.3% Cu 9.7% Al 12% Zn
B. 75.1% Cu 7.5% Al 17.4% Zn
C. 67% Cu 4.2% Al 28.8% Zn
D. 72.6% Cu 7.9% Al 19.5% Zn
______________________________________ (b) fabricating said article from the selected alloy into an original, heat-stable configuration, (c) cooling said article to a temperature at which the alloy exists in its martensitic state, and (d) deforming said article to a second, heat-unstable configuration from which recovery occurs when said article is warmed to a temperature at which the alloy reverts to austenite from said martensitic state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
A process for making a heat recoverable article that exhibits stress stability of at least 1,000 hours at 125° C. when allowed to recover so that a degree of unresolved recovery remains comprising the steps: (a) selecting a ternary alloy capable of being rendered heat recoverable comprised of copper, aluminum and zinc having a β-brass type structure and having an M s temperature of 0° C. or lower falling within the area on a ternary diagram defined by the points: ______________________________________
A. 78.3% Cu 9.7% Al 12% Zn
B. 75.1% Cu 7.5% Al 17.4% Zn
C. 67% Cu 4.2% Al 28.8% Zn
D. 72.6% Cu 7.9% Al 19.5% Zn
______________________________________ (b) fabricating said article from the selected alloy into an original, heat-stable configuration, (c) cooling said article to a temperature at which the alloy exists in its martensitic state, and (d) deforming said article to a second, heat-unstable configuration from which recovery occurs when said article is warmed to a temperature at which the alloy reverts to austenite from said martensitic state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said alloy has an eutectoidal composition, said eutectoidal composition being a composition wherein no metal of the group consisting of copper, aluminum and zinc is present in an amount that differs by more than 1% by weight from the amount of said metal in a composition corresponding to an eutectoid composition defined by the line XY of FIG. 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein said alloy has an eutectoid composition.