US4640711A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of object consolidation employing graphite particulate
Assignee: POWMET FORGINGS LLC
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Filing: 1985-05-10
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2005-05-10
Abstract
Abstract The method of consolidating a metallic, metallic and ceramic, or ceramic body in any of initially powdered, sintered, fibrous, sponge, or other form capable of compaction, includes the steps: (a) providing a bed of flowable particles within a contained zone, said particulate primarily including flowable and resiliently compressible carbonaceous particles, (b) positioning said body in said bed, (c) and effecting pressurization of said bed to cause pressure transmission via said particles to said body, thereby to compact the body into desired shaped, increasing its density, (d) said body and bed being at elevated temperatures prior to said pressurization step.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne P. Lichti
- 👤 Alfred F. Hofstatter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:46
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/622; C04B35/64; C04B35/645; B; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/12; B22F3/14; B22F3/15; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/36; Y10S264/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of consolidating a metallic, metallic and ceramic, or ceramic body in any of initially powdered, sintered, fibrous, sponge, or other form capable of compaction, that includes the steps: (a) providing a bed of flowable particles within a contained zone, said particulate primarily consisting of flowable and resiliently compressible carbonaceous particles, in the form of beads having outwardly projecting nodules thereon, and at least some beads having surface fissures, (b) positioning said body in said bed, (c) and effecting pressurization of said bed to cause pressure transmission via said particles to said body, thereby to compact the body into desired shape, increasing its density, (d) said body and bed being at elevated temperatures prior to said pressurization step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of consolidating a metallic, metallic and ceramic, or ceramic body in any of initially powdered, sintered, fibrous, sponge, or other form capable of compaction, that includes the steps: (a) providing a bed of flowable particles within a contained zone, said particulate primarily consisting of flowable and resiliently compressible carbonaceous particles, in the form of beads having outwardly projecting nodules thereon, and at least some beads having surface fissures, (b) positioning said body in said bed, (c) and effecting pressurization of said bed to cause pressure transmission via said particles to said body, thereby to compact the body into desired shape, increasing its density, (d) said body and bed being at elevated temperatures prior to said pressurization step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particles are generally spheroidal and consist of graphite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 including preheating both the body and bed prior to said pressurization step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said body in said bed, prior to said compaction, is at a temperature between about 1000° F. and 4000° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said body is positioned in said bed to be surrounded by said particulate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
45 words
The method of any one of claims 1 and 2-5 wherein said pressurization is carried out to compress the particulate closest to the body, so that when the compacted body is removed from said bed, the particulate close to the body flows off the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bed contains sufficient of said flowable carbonaceous particles as to remain essentially free of agglomeration during said (c) step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said bed consists essentially of all graphite particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said body is on a carrier which is also positioned in said bed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said body consists of a metal layer on said carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said metal layer consists essentially of tungsten.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said carrier consists essentially of molybdenum, and said tungsten layer has annular shape on the carrier.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
22 words
The method of any one of claims 1 and 2-5 and 7-12 wherein the particle mesh size is between 50 and 325.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of on of claims 2, and 8, wherein a substantial number of said particles contain fissures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The consolidated body produced by the method of any one of claims 1, 2-5, 7-12 and 14.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of one of claims 1 and 2-5 wherein said particulate also includes ceramic particles admixed with said carbonaceous particles.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of one of claims 1 and 2-5 wherein said particulate also includes ceramic particles admixed with said carbonaceous particles, all of said particles having a mesh size between 50 and 325.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 including subsequently employing said particulate in the consolidation of another compactable body, by steps corresponding to steps (a), (b), and (c) of claim 1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 including pre-heating the body to a temperature above at least about 1000° F., prior to said (c) step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 including preheating the particles that are located closest to the body in the bed, to a temperature above at least about 1000° F., prior to said (c) step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said particles consist of coke particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 including also employing ceramic particles in the bed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said ceramic particles are mixed with said carbonaceous particles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 including sintering said object at between 1,700° F. and 3,400° F., prior to said (b) step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said (b) step is carried out by pressurizing said body downwardly into said bed, and allowing the bed particles to flow around said body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pressurization of the bed is carried out at pressures between 10 and 120 tons per square inch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said body consists essentially of powdered metal and is compacted between 60% and 95% of full theoretical density by said (c) step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The product produced by the method of any one of claims 21, 22 and 24-27.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including confining said bed and said body in a container, said (c) step including exerting pressure on the container to constrict same, thereby pressurizing said bed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 29 wherein fluid pressure is exerted on the container.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 30 including providing a chamber within which said container is located, and wherein said fluid pressure is exerted on the container.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 including heating the container and the particulate therein, within the chamber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said pressurized fluid is a pressurized gas.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the particulate heated to between 1,200° F. and 3,400° F.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the particulate is pressurized to between 5 and 25 tons per square inch.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The consolidated product produced by the method of any one of claims 29-35.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of allowing the particles to flow off and away from the consolidated body after said pressurization step.
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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) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |