Patent FR930770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4518625A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4518625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Arc spray fabrication of metal matrix composite monotape
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1983-12-09
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Granted: 1985-05-21
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Expires: 2003-12-09
Abstract
Abstract Arc metal spraying is used to spray liquid metal onto an array of high strength fibers that have been previously wound onto a large drum contained inside a controlled atmosphere chamber. This chamber is first evacuated to remove gaseous contaminants and then backfilled with a neutral gas up to atmospheric pressure. This process is used to produce a large size metal matrix composite monotape.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard J. Westfall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:34
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C47/00; C22C47/16; C23; C23C; C23C4/00; C23C4/12; C23C4/137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape comprising the steps of mounting an array of fibers on a support means in a chamber, evacuating said chamber to remove gaseous contaminants therefrom, filling said chamber with a neutral gas until the pressure within said chamber is above atmospheric, inserting a pair of wires of the matrix metal into feed-through openings in a wall of said chamber and feeding said wires into said chamber until the extreme outermost ends thereof are in close proximity to said fiber array, striking an arc between said outermost end portions thereby causing the same to melt, and passing a high velocity stream of said neutral gas at a pressure between about 60 psi and about 120 psi through said arc into said chamber thereby forcing molten matrix metal from said arc in said stream to spray onto said array in said contaminant free atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape comprising the steps of mounting an array of fibers on a support means in a chamber, evacuating said chamber to remove gaseous contaminants therefrom, filling said chamber with a neutral gas until the pressure within said chamber is above atmospheric, inserting a pair of wires of the matrix metal into feed-through openings in a wall of said chamber and feeding said wires into said chamber until the extreme outermost ends thereof are in close proximity to said fiber array, striking an arc between said outermost end portions thereby causing the same to melt, and passing a high velocity stream of said neutral gas at a pressure between about 60 psi and about 120 psi through said arc into said chamber thereby forcing molten matrix metal from said arc in said stream to spray onto said array in said contaminant free atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 1 wherein the neutral gas is argon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 1 wherein said array of fibers is moved relative to said stream of gas so that said gas strikes all of the fibers in said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 3 including the step of removing gaseous contaminants from the surfaces of said metal wires prior to melting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gaseous contaminants are removed by directing portions of said stream of said neutral gas over said surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a method of making a metal matrix composite monotape wherein at least one metal is arc sprayed onto an array of fibers, the improvement comprising the steps of mounting said fiber array in a chamber having an opening therein for passing a supply of said metal to the interior thereof during said arc spraying, sealing said opening in said chamber, evacuating said chamber to remove gaseous contaminants therefrom, filling said evacuated chamber with a neutral gas until the pressure within said chamber is above atmospheric, unsealing said opening in said chamber when the same is filled with said neutral gas, passing said supply of metal through said opening into close proximity to said fiber array, striking an arc at said metal adjacent to said fiber array thereby melting a portion of said metal, and passing a high velocity stream of said neutral gas at a pressure between about 60 psi and about 120 psi through said arc into said chamber thereby arc spraying said metal onto said fibers in said array in said neutral gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a method of making a metal matrix composite monotape wherein at least one metal is arc sprayed onto an array of fibers, the improvement comprising the steps of mounting said fiber array in a chamber having an opening therein for passing a supply of said metal to the interior thereof during said arc spraying, sealing said opening in said chamber, evacuating said chamber to remove gaseous contaminants therefrom, filling said evacuated chamber with a neutral gas until the pressure within said chamber is above atmospheric, unsealing said opening in said chamber when the same is filled with said neutral gas, passing said supply of metal through said opening into close proximity to said fiber array, striking an arc at said metal adjacent to said fiber array thereby melting a portion of said metal, and passing a high velocity stream of said neutral gas at a pressure between about 60 psi and about 120 psi through said arc into said chamber thereby arc spraying said metal onto said fibers in said array in said neutral gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 6 wherein the neutral gas is argon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 6 wherein said array of fibers is moved relative to said stream of gas so that said gas strikes all of the fibers in said array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 8 wherein gaseous contaminants are removed from the surface of said metal prior to melting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of making a metal matrix composite monotape as claimed in claim 9 wherein the gaseous contaminants are removed by directing a stream of said neutral gas over said surface as said metal passes through said opening into said chamber.
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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) | 1988-05-20 | 1988-11-19 | 1989-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-20 | 1992-11-19 | 1993-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-20 | 1996-11-19 | 1997-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |