Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming radially oriented magnets comprising the steps of: compressing a fine grain powder of magnet material in an annular cavity in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring the particles of which are aligned in a radial orientation; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a sealed cannister formed of a compatible deformable at the temperature used for densification of said compacted rings; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures sufficiently high to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet having a density of at least 99% of the theoretical maximum; and cooling the cannister containing the magnet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming radially oriented magnets comprising the steps of: compressing a fine grain powder of magnet material in an annular cavity in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring the particles of which are aligned in a radial orientation; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a sealed cannister formed of a compatible deformable at the temperature used for densification of said compacted rings; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures sufficiently high to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet having a density of at least 99% of the theoretical maximum; and cooling the cannister containing the magnet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of grinding a rare earth-transition metal alloy into a powder having a particle size of between five and forty microns prior to said compressing step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compressing step includes densification of the powder to approximately 60%-70% of theoretical maximum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical magnet formed in said temperature and pressure subjecting step has a density greater than 99% of the theoretical maximum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cannister is exposed to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and to an argon gas pressure of approximately 15 kpsi in said subjecting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compressing step includes die pressing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: evacuating the cannister, with the plurality of rings contained therein, after said stacking step; baking the cannister and the plurality of rings within at approximately 400° C.; and sealing the cannister with the plurality of rings therein, before said subjecting step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the cannister from the cylindrical magnet after said cooling step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating the magnet to a temperature greater than 900° C. after said cooling step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A full-circle rare earth-transition metal magnet having a radially aligned particle orientation and an axis of predetermined length, formed in accordance with the method as defined in any one of claims 1-8 wherein said powder is a rare earth-transition metal alloy.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets comprising the steps of: grinding a rare earth-transition metal alloy into a fine grain powder having a particle size up to 40 microns; compressing the fine grain powder in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister formed of a material having thermal expansion characteristics compatible with those of the rings in a densified state; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures substantially equal to at least 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets comprising the steps of: grinding a rare earth-transition metal alloy into a fine grain powder having a particle size up to 40 microns; compressing the fine grain powder in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister formed of a material having thermal expansion characteristics compatible with those of the rings in a densified state; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures substantially equal to at least 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for forming a rare earth-transition metal alloy continuous ring magnet comprising: compressing a powder having a particles size of up to 40 microns of said alloy in the cavity of a die having a continuous ring shape and in the presence of a magnetic field radially directed through said cavity to generate and maintain a radially aligned particle orientation, said compressing step providing a unitary green compact continuous ring having a density at 60%-70% of theorectical maximum, and densifying a stacked plurality of said green compact continuous rings by hot isostatic pressing in an evacuated cannister at a temperature of at least 900° C. and at pressures of at least 15 kpsi to form a unitary continuous ring magnet of a density over 99% theoretical maximum with coercivity and energy product that are both high.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for forming a rare earth-transition metal alloy continuous ring magnet comprising: compressing a powder having a particles size of up to 40 microns of said alloy in the cavity of a die having a continuous ring shape and in the presence of a magnetic field radially directed through said cavity to generate and maintain a radially aligned particle orientation, said compressing step providing a unitary green compact continuous ring having a density at 60%-70% of theorectical maximum, and densifying a stacked plurality of said green compact continuous rings by hot isostatic pressing in an evacuated cannister at a temperature of at least 900° C. and at pressures of at least 15 kpsi to form a unitary continuous ring magnet of a density over 99% theoretical maximum with coercivity and energy product that are both high.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for forming radially oriented magnets of predetermined inner diameter comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size up to forty microns in an annular cavity in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring having a radial particle orientation and a density of approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a sealed cannister formed by a compatible material deformable at the temperature used for densification of said compacted ring, and having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures of approximately 15 thousand psi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet having a density of greater than 99% of the theoretical maximum and an inner diameter predetermined by the diameter of the central cylindrical mandrel; and cooling the cannister containing the magnet.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for forming radially oriented magnets of predetermined inner diameter comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size up to forty microns in an annular cavity in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring having a radial particle orientation and a density of approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a sealed cannister formed by a compatible material deformable at the temperature used for densification of said compacted ring, and having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures of approximately 15 thousand psi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet having a density of greater than 99% of the theoretical maximum and an inner diameter predetermined by the diameter of the central cylindrical mandrel; and cooling the cannister containing the magnet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the gas pressure is produced by argon gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said compressing step includes die pressing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: evacuating the cannister with the plurality of rings contained therein, after said stacking step; outgasing the cannister and the plurality of rings within at approximately 400° C.; and sealing the cannister with the plurality of rings therein, before said subjecting step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of removing the cannister from the cylindrical magnet after said cooling step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing a thermal optimization as treatment of the magnet at a temperature greater than 900° C. after said cooling step to enchance the magnetic properties.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets of predetermined inner diameters comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size up to 40 microns in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister of a material which has substantially the same expansion characteristics as the rings, said cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with the rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° C. to 1150° C. and gas pressures of at least approximately 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at a temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets of predetermined inner diameters comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size up to 40 microns in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister of a material which has substantially the same expansion characteristics as the rings, said cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with the rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° C. to 1150° C. and gas pressures of at least approximately 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at a temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for forming a rare earth-transition metal alloy continuous ring magnet of predetermined inner diameter comprising: compressing a powder of said alloy having a particle size up to 40 microns, in the cavity of a die having a continuous ring shape and in the presence of a magnetic field radially directed through said cavity to generate and maintain a radially aligned particle orientation, said compressing step providing a unitary green compact continuous ring having a density of 60%-70% of theoretical, and densifying a stacked plurality of said green compact continuous rings in an evacuated cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel by hot isostatic pressing at a temperature of at least 900° C. and at pressures of at least 15 kpsi to form a unitary continuous ring magnet having an inner diameter predetermined by the diameter of the central cylindrical mandrel and having a density over 99% of the theoretical maximum, thereby to achieve a coercivity and energy product that are both high; subsequently treating the material to provide thermal optimization to enhance the magnetic properties.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for forming a rare earth-transition metal alloy continuous ring magnet of predetermined inner diameter comprising: compressing a powder of said alloy having a particle size up to 40 microns, in the cavity of a die having a continuous ring shape and in the presence of a magnetic field radially directed through said cavity to generate and maintain a radially aligned particle orientation, said compressing step providing a unitary green compact continuous ring having a density of 60%-70% of theoretical, and densifying a stacked plurality of said green compact continuous rings in an evacuated cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel by hot isostatic pressing at a temperature of at least 900° C. and at pressures of at least 15 kpsi to form a unitary continuous ring magnet having an inner diameter predetermined by the diameter of the central cylindrical mandrel and having a density over 99% of the theoretical maximum, thereby to achieve a coercivity and energy product that are both high; subsequently treating the material to provide thermal optimization to enhance the magnetic properties.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets of predetermined inner diameters comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size under 40 microns in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister of a material which can yield plastically at the temperatures used in densification and which is essentially nonreactive toward the rings, said cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with the rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures of at least approximately 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at a temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for forming radially oriented rare earth-transition metal magnets of predetermined inner diameters comprising the steps of: compressing a rare earth-transition metal alloy powder having a particle size under 40 microns in the presence of a radially aligning magnetic field to form a compacted continuous ring whose particles are radially aligned and whose density is approximately 60%-70% of the theoretical maximum; stacking a plurality of rings formed by said compressing step axially in a cannister of a material which can yield plastically at the temperatures used in densification and which is essentially nonreactive toward the rings, said cannister having a central cylindrical mandrel disposed within an inner cylinder; evacuating the interior of the cannister; sealing the cannister with the rings therein; subjecting the cannister to temperatures in the range of 900° to 1150° C. and gas pressures of at least approximately 15 kpsi to compact the rings into a single cylindrical magnet; cooling the cannister containing the magnet; and aging the magnet at a temperature greater than 900° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cylindrical, rare earth-transition metal continuous ring magnet having a uniform radially oriented magnetic field, a density greater than 99% of the theoretical maximum and a coercivity greater than 35 kOe.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cylindrical, rare earth-transition metal continuous ring magnet having a uniform radially oriented magnetic field, a density greater than 99% of the theoretical maximum and a coercivity greater than 35 kOe.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The magnet of claim 22 wherein the particle size of the grains comprising the magnet are in the range of 5 to 40 microns.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The magnet of claim 22 formed of a rare earth-cobalt alloy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
8 words
The magnet of claim 24 formed of samarium-cobalt.