Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline bodies which method comprises the steps of: shaping quantities of crystals selected from the group consisting of diamond, graphite, cubic boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, and combinations thereof into temporarily held bodies of predetermined shapes and sizes in the presence of a temporary binding means; placing a quantity of said temporarily held bodies into a reaction chamber; surrounding each of said temporarily held bodies with a powdered pressure transmitting medium after the temporarily held bodies are placed in the reaction chamber; and pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline bodies of approximately the same shapes as said temporarily held bodies of crystals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline bodies which method comprises the steps of: shaping quantities of crystals selected from the group consisting of diamond, graphite, cubic boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, and combinations thereof into temporarily held bodies of predetermined shapes and sizes in the presence of a temporary binding means; placing a quantity of said temporarily held bodies into a reaction chamber; surrounding each of said temporarily held bodies with a powdered pressure transmitting medium after the temporarily held bodies are placed in the reaction chamber; and pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline bodies of approximately the same shapes as said temporarily held bodies of crystals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the pressure transmitting medium thereby freeing the discrete polycrystalline bodies.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline bodies, which method comlprises the steps of: combining quantities of crystals selected from the group consisting of diamond, cubic boron nitride and combinations thereof with a temporary binding means; forming the combination of said crystals and temporary binding agent into temporarily held bodies of predetermined size and shape; placing said temporarily held bodies of crystals into a reaction chamber; surrounding each of said temporarily held bodies with a powdered pressure transmitting medium after the temporarily he ld bodies are places in the reaction chamber; pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline bodies of approximately the same shapes as said temporarily held bodies of crystals; and removing the pressure transmitting medium thereby freeing the discrete polycrystalline bodies.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline bodies, which method comlprises the steps of: combining quantities of crystals selected from the group consisting of diamond, cubic boron nitride and combinations thereof with a temporary binding means; forming the combination of said crystals and temporary binding agent into temporarily held bodies of predetermined size and shape; placing said temporarily held bodies of crystals into a reaction chamber; surrounding each of said temporarily held bodies with a powdered pressure transmitting medium after the temporarily he ld bodies are places in the reaction chamber; pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline bodies of approximately the same shapes as said temporarily held bodies of crystals; and removing the pressure transmitting medium thereby freeing the discrete polycrystalline bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the temporary binding means is removed after the temporarily held bodies are surrounded by the pressure transmitting medium and before the reaction chamber is pressed and heated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the temporary binding means comprises a wax.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the temporary binding means is selected from the group consisting of paraffin, napthalene, zinc stearate, and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the pressure transmitting medium comprises a powder, which powder comprises grains of a material selected so as to remain substantially solid at the pressure and temperature to which the reaction chamber is subjected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the powder comprises grains of cemented metal carbide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the powder comprises grains of cemented tungsten carbide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure transmitting medium further comprises a quantity of powdered metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the powdered metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, iron, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the powder comprises grains of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, copper, cobalt, and combinations thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein, prior to surrounding the temporarily held bodies with the pressure transmitting medium, the temporarily held bodies are coated with a separating layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the separating layer comprises a sintering aid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the sintering aid is selected from the group consisting of the Group VIII metals and combinations thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the separating layer further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of diamond and graphite.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the forming step comprises a molding step which comprises: providing a mold having at least one cavity; pressing the combination of crystals and temporary binding means into said at least one cavity, thereby producing at least one temporarily held body of predetermined shape and size; and releasing the at least one temporarily held body from said mold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the molding step is followed by a cutting step wherein the temporarily held body is further shaped and sized by cutting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising a step of removing at least a portion of said temporary binding means after the temporarily held bodies have been surrounded by the pressure transmitting medium and prior to the step of pressing and heating to form the polycrystalline bodies.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the forming step comprises an extrusion step which comprises: providing a mass of said combination of crystals and temporary binding means, and pushing said mass through a die, thereby producing at least one temporarily held body of predetermined shape and size.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the extrusion step is followed by a cutting step wherein the temporarily held body is further shaped and sized by cutting.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline diamond bodies which method comprises the steps of: combining quantities of diamond crystals and a catalyst/binder material with a wax; molding the combination of diamond crystals and wax into temporarily held bodies of predetermined size and shape; coating said temporarily held bodies with a separating layer comprising cobalt and graphite powder; placing said coated temporarily held bodies in a reaction chamber; surrounding said temporarily held bodies with a pressure transmitting medium comprising grains of cemented tungsten carbide and copper powder; removing substantially all of said wax from the reaction chamber; pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline diamond bodies of approximately the same shape as said temporarily held bodies; and removing the pressure transmitting medium thereby freeing the discrete polycrystalline diamond bodies.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for producing multiple polycrystalline diamond bodies which method comprises the steps of: combining quantities of diamond crystals and a catalyst/binder material with a wax; molding the combination of diamond crystals and wax into temporarily held bodies of predetermined size and shape; coating said temporarily held bodies with a separating layer comprising cobalt and graphite powder; placing said coated temporarily held bodies in a reaction chamber; surrounding said temporarily held bodies with a pressure transmitting medium comprising grains of cemented tungsten carbide and copper powder; removing substantially all of said wax from the reaction chamber; pressing and heating said reaction chamber to a pressure and temperature sufficient to form discrete polycrystalline diamond bodies of approximately the same shape as said temporarily held bodies; and removing the pressure transmitting medium thereby freeing the discrete polycrystalline diamond bodies.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the polycrystalline bodies produced are between 170 and 7 U.S. mesh.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the polycrystalline bodies produced are between 40 and 25 U.S. mesh.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for producing bodies of polycrystalline diamond with a selected shape and size comprising the steps of: forming bodies of aggregated crystals of diamond and a temporary binder, having the desired shape and a size sufficiently large to shrink to the desired size upon sintering; providing a powdered pressure transmitting medium between adjacent bodies; isostatically pressing a plurality of such bodies at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form polycrystalline diamond; and removing the separating material for separating the bodies.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for producing bodies of polycrystalline diamond with a selected shape and size comprising the steps of: forming bodies of aggregated crystals of diamond and a temporary binder, having the desired shape and a size sufficiently large to shrink to the desired size upon sintering; providing a powdered pressure transmitting medium between adjacent bodies; isostatically pressing a plurality of such bodies at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form polycrystalline diamond; and removing the separating material for separating the bodies.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the pressure transmitting medium is coated on the bodies before pressing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the pressure transmitting medium comprises cobalt and a material selected from the group consisting of graphite and diamond.