Patent US4235646A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4235646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Continuous strip casting of aluminum alloy from scrap aluminum for container components
Assignee: LAUENER ENGINEERING
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Filing: 1978-08-04
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Granted: 1980-11-25
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Expires: 1998-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A composition and method whereby aluminum scrap, including consumer scrap, is recycled into aluminum sheet and aluminum containers. Aluminum scrap is melted in a heated furnace to form a melt composition. The melt is adjusted to form the present composition, consisting essentially of silicon, 0.1-1.0%; iron 0.1-0.9%; manganese 0.4-1.0%; magnesium 1.3-2.5%; copper 0.05-0.4%; and titanium, 0-0.2%, the balance being essentially aluminum. Aluminum scrap comprising consumer scrap, plant scrap, and can making scrap is heated to form the melt composition, which requires a minimum amount of adjustment to arrive at the present alloy composition. The composition is then cast and fabricated into sheet having strength and formability properties making it suitable for container manufacture. Container manufacture according to the process and composition of the present invention comprises drawn-and-ironed can body manufacture and easy-opening end manufacture. Sheet fabrication according to the present invention comprises continuously casting the molten composition to produce a moving strip; hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed; coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool; and cold rolling the hot rolled strip to final gauge.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Neufeld
- 👤 Kurt Buxmann
- 👤 Heinz Bichsel
- 👤 Ivan Gyongyos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:24
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21B; B21B3/00; C; C22; C22C; C22C21/00; C22C21/06; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/04; C22F1/047; B21B2003/001; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49988; Y10T29/49991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A process for fabricating aluminum sheet suitable for manufacturing drawn-and-ironed can bodies and can ends comprising: (a) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition comprising manganese 0.4-1.0% and magnesium 1.3-2.5% said manganese and magnesium being present in a total concentration of 2.0-3.3% and in a ratio of magnesium to manganese of between 1.4:1 and 4.4:1; (b) continuously casting the melt composition to produce a moving strip; (c) hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed at a starting temperature between 300° C. and the non-equilibrium solidus temperature and a finish temperature of at least 280° C. to produce a hot rolled strip reduced by at least 70%; (d) coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool in still air at ambient temperature; (e) cold rolling the hot rolled strip to a strip of intermediate gauge in a first series of passes; (f) annealing said strip of intermediate gauge at 350° C. to 500° C. for a maximum duration of 90 seconds; and (g) cold rolling the strip of intermediate gauge to final gauge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A process for fabricating aluminum sheet suitable for manufacturing drawn-and-ironed can bodies and can ends comprising: (a) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition comprising manganese 0.4-1.0% and magnesium 1.3-2.5% said manganese and magnesium being present in a total concentration of 2.0-3.3% and in a ratio of magnesium to manganese of between 1.4:1 and 4.4:1; (b) continuously casting the melt composition to produce a moving strip; (c) hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed at a starting temperature between 300° C. and the non-equilibrium solidus temperature and a finish temperature of at least 280° C. to produce a hot rolled strip reduced by at least 70%; (d) coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool in still air at ambient temperature; (e) cold rolling the hot rolled strip to a strip of intermediate gauge in a first series of passes; (f) annealing said strip of intermediate gauge at 350° C. to 500° C. for a maximum duration of 90 seconds; and (g) cold rolling the strip of intermediate gauge to final gauge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for fabricating aluminum sheet suitable for manufacturing drawn-and-ironed can bodies and can ends comprising: (a) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition comprising manganese 0.4-1.0% and magnesium 1.3-2.5% said manganese and magnesium being present in a total concentration of 2.0-3.3% and in a ratio of magnesium to manganese of between 1.4:1 and 4.4:1; (b) continuously casting the melt composition to produce a moving strip; (c) holding the moving strip after solidification beings at a temperature between 400° C. and the liquidus temperature of the alloy for 2 to 15 minutes; (d) hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed at a starting temperature between 300° C. and the non-equilibrium solidus temperature and a finish temperature of at least 280° C. to produce a hot rolled strip reduced by at least 70%; (e) coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool in still air at ambient temperature; and (f) cold rolling the hot rolled strip to final gauge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for fabricating aluminum sheet suitable for manufacturing drawn-and-ironed can bodies and can ends comprising: (a) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition comprising manganese 0.4-1.0% and magnesium 1.3-2.5% said manganese and magnesium being present in a total concentration of 2.0-3.3% and in a ratio of magnesium to manganese of between 1.4:1 and 4.4:1; (b) continuously casting the melt composition to produce a moving strip; (c) holding the moving strip after solidification beings at a temperature between 400° C. and the liquidus temperature of the alloy for 2 to 15 minutes; (d) hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed at a starting temperature between 300° C. and the non-equilibrium solidus temperature and a finish temperature of at least 280° C. to produce a hot rolled strip reduced by at least 70%; (e) coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool in still air at ambient temperature; and (f) cold rolling the hot rolled strip to final gauge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said casting to produce a moving strip comprises casting said composition to produce a cell size between 2 and 25 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said hot rolling starting temperature is above 440° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said casting to produce a moving strip comprises casting said composition to produce a cell size between 2 and 25 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cold rolling to final gauge comprises a 40 to 60% reduction in thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cold rolling to intermediate gauge comprises at least a 50% reduction in thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said annealing comprises a heating up time of less than 30 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said annealing comprises cooling down to room temperature within 25 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of: holding the moving strip after solidification begins at a temperature between 500° C. and the liquidus temperature for 10 to 5 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said hot rolling starting temperature is above 440° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said moving strip is 10 to 25 mm thick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 comprising forming of said aluminum alloy melt composition from at least 40% scrap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4000009A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |