Novelis, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160115575 | ALUMINUM ALLOY PRODUCTS AND A METHOD OF PREPARATION - The present invention relates to aluminum alloy products that can be riveted and possess excellent ductility and toughness properties. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the aluminum alloy products. In particular, these products have application in the automotive industry. | 04-28-2016 |
20160101816 | AUTOMOBILE BODY PART - In a car body or component thereof with at least one first component of sheet metal of a first aluminum alloy and at least one second component of sheet metal of a second aluminum alloy, the first and second aluminum alloys are of type AlMgSi and in the sheet metal of the second aluminum alloy a substantial part of the elements Mg and Si, which are required to achieve artificial ageing in solid solution, is present in the form of separate Mg | 04-14-2016 |
20160076126 | Alloys for Highly Shaped Aluminum Products and Methods of Making the Same - Described herein are novel aluminum containing alloys. The alloys are highly formable and can be used for producing highly shaped aluminum products, including bottles and cans. | 03-17-2016 |
20160052053 | SUPPORT AND COMPRESSION ASSEMBLIES FOR CURVILINEAR MOLTEN METAL TRANSFER DEVICE - A curvilinear metal transfer device with support and compression assemblies that help maintain a constant force on the transfer device's metal outer casing and refractory as the outer casing and refractory expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations. In one embodiment, the support assemblies are configured to apply force to the refractory to keep the refractory in tension with the outer casing to suspend the refractory relative the outer casing. Also disclosed are clamp plates that help hold the refractory in place, and nested lids that cover the curvilinear metal transfer device. | 02-25-2016 |
20160040947 | ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR HEAT EXCHANGER FINS - An aluminum alloy fin stock material comprising about 0.9-1.2 wt. % Si, 0.3-0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.20-0.40 wt. % Cu, 1.0-1.5 wt. % Mn, 0-0.1% Mg and 0.0-3.0% Zn, with remainder Al and impurities at ≦0.15 wt. %. The aluminum alloy fin stock material is produced in a form of a sheet by a process comprising the steps of direct chill casting an ingot, hot rolling the ingot after the direct chill casting, cold rolling the aluminum alloy to an intermediate thickness, inter-annealing the aluminum alloy cold rolled to an intermediate thickness at a temperature between 200 and 400° C., and cold rolling the material after inter-annealing to achieve % cold work (% CW) of 20 to 40%. The aluminum alloy fin stock material possesses an improved combination of one or more of pre- and/or post-brazes strength, conductivity, sag resistance and corrosion potential. It is useful for fabrication of heat exchanger fins. | 02-11-2016 |
20160023257 | ROLLING MILL THIRD OCTAVE CHATTER CONTROL BY PROCESS DAMPING - Control of third octave vibrations in a mill stand can be achieved using a high-speed piezoelectric assist coupled to a hydraulic gap cylinder to increase the damping of the roll stack. Vertical movements of the roll stack (e.g., the top work roll) can be determined through observation (e.g., measurement) of hydraulic fluid pressure of the hydraulic cylinder or entry tension of the metal strip. After determining vertical movements of the roll stack, a desired change in hydraulic pressure can be determined to overcome, reduce, or prevent third octave vibration. This desired change in hydraulic pressure can be effectuated at high speeds (e.g., at or above approximately 90 hertz) using the piezoelectric assist. | 01-28-2016 |
20160016215 | PROCESS DAMPING OF SELF-EXCITED THIRD OCTAVE MILL VIBRATION - Control of self-excited third octave vibration in a metal rolling mill can be achieved by adjusting the tension of the metal strip as it enters a stand. Self-excited third octave vibration can be detected and/or measured by one or more sensors. A high-speed tension adjustor can rapidly adjust the entry tension of the metal strip (e.g., as the metal strip enters a mill stand) to compensate for the detected self-excited third octave vibration. High-speed tension adjustors can include any combination of hydraulic or piezoelectric actuators coupled to the center roll of a bridle roll to rapidly raise or lower the roll and thus induce rapid tension adjustments in the strip. Other high-speed tension adjustors can be used. | 01-21-2016 |
20150376739 | ALLOY FOR TABSTOCK AND CAN END - This application discloses 3XXX aluminum alloys useful in fabricating can ends and tabs used for opening cans, particularly AA3104 and AA3204 aluminum alloys. This application discloses 3XXX aluminum alloys useful in fabricating cans comprising a body, end and tab, particularly AA3104 and AA3204 aluminum alloys. | 12-31-2015 |
20150355157 | ELECTRODE CONFIGURATION FOR LIMCA - Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic noise pick up in a Liquid Metal Cleanliness Analyzer (LiMCA), used to detect and measure particles in molten metal. A first electrode inserted in the molten metal is electrically insulated from second and third electrodes, also inserted in the molten metal. Molten metal and particles pass between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes through a passage in the electrical insulation. The second and third electrodes have a configuration with respect to the first electrode sufficient to establish symmetrical current loops between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes when a current is supplied to the second and third electrodes. The current is supplied from an ultra-capacitor. Electromagnetic noise in the symmetrical current loops is detected and is added in opposition to reduce the amplitude of the electromagnetic noise. | 12-10-2015 |
20150336165 | HOMOGENIZATION AND HEAT-TREATMENT OF CAST METALS - A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working. | 11-26-2015 |
20150321235 | HYBRID OIL AND WATER COOLED ROLLING - A rolling mill with oil-cooled top and bottom work rolls at the entry side and a water spray header at the exit side of the bottom work roll. Water cooling is used below the pass line, reducing the heat in the mill substantially without the risk of generating drip-related surface defects during rolling. Water cooling can be used on the bottom work roll and a portion of the oil no longer needed to cool the bottom work roll can be diverted to the top work roll. In some cases, the coolant portion of the flatness control can be operated solely through water-cooling the bottom roll. | 11-12-2015 |
20150274445 | DE-STACKING PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF LUBRICATED ALUMINUM SHEETS - Described herein is a novel process for separating individual lubricated aluminum sheets from a stack of lubricated aluminum sheets as they enter a stamping press for fabrication. The process involves placing a lift underneath a stack of aluminum sheets and lifting the center upwards. This in turn causes the edges of the stack to bend downwards, creating a concave bending curvature facing the lift. The induced curvature is sufficient to provide the inter-sheet shear necessary to break the adhesion caused by the lubricant. | 10-01-2015 |
20150252461 | HIGH-STRENGTH ALUMINUM ALLOY FIN MATERIAL AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - An aluminum alloy fin material for heat exchanger use having a 35 to 50 μm thickness, a small springback at the time of corrugation, a suitable strength before brazing enabling easy fin formation, a high strength after brazing, and excellent erosion resistance, self corrosion resistance, and sacrificial anodic effect and a method of production of the same are provided. A fin material containing, by mass %, Si: 0.9 to 1.2%, Fe: 0.8 to 1.1%, Mn: 1.1 to 1.4%, and Zn: 0.9 to 1.1%, further limiting the impurity Mg to 0.05% or less, Cu to 0.03% or less, and ([Si]+[Fe]+2[Mn])/3 to 1.4% to 1.6%, and having a balance of unavoidable impurities and Al. A method of production prescribing hot rolling, cold rolling, intermediate annealing, and final cold rolling. | 09-10-2015 |
20150072169 | Automobile Body Part - The present invention relates to an automotive clad sheet product comprising a core layer and at least one clad layer wherein the core comprises an alloy of the following composition in weight %: Mg 0.45-0.8, Si 0.45-0.7, Cu 0.05-0.25, Mn 0.05-0.2, Fe up to 0.35, other elements (or impurities) <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, balance aluminium; and the at least one clad layer comprises an alloy of the following composition in weight %: Mg 0.3-0.7, Si 0.3-0.7, Mn up to 0.15, Fe up to 0.35, other elements (impurities) <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, balance aluminium. The clad automotive sheet product provides excellent hemmability which does not substantially change over time and yet also provides a good age-hardening response after bake hardening. | 03-12-2015 |
20150041027 | High Strength Aluminum Fin Stock for Heat Exchanger - The present invention provides an aluminum alloy fin stock material with higher strength, and improved sag resistance for use in heat exchangers, such as automotive heat exchangers. The aluminum alloy fin stock material is produced from an aluminum alloy comprising about 0.8-1.4 wt % Si, 0.4-0.8 wt % Fe, 0.05-0.4 wt % Cu, 1.2-1.7 wt % Mn and 1.20-2.3 wt % Zn, with the remainder as Al. The aluminum alloy fin stock material is made by a process comprising direct chill casting the aluminum alloy into an ingot, preheating the ingot, hot rolling the preheated ingot, cold rolling the ingot and inter-annealing at a temperature of 275-400° C. After inter-annealing, the aluminum alloy fin stock material is a cold rolled in a final cold rolling step to achieve % cold work (% CW) of 20-35%. | 02-12-2015 |
20140329108 | ALUMINIUM ALLOY - In a first aspect, the invention provides aluminium alloy comprising the following composition, all values in weight %: Si 0.25-1.5 Cu 0.3-1.5 Fe up to 0.5 Mn up to 0.1 all other elements including Mg being incidental and present (if at all) then in an amount less than or equal to 0.05 individually, and less than or equal to 0.15 in aggregate, the balance being aluminium. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composite aluminium sheet product comprising a core layer and at least one clad layer wherein the at least one clad layer is an aluminium alloy comprising the following composition, all values in weight %: Si 0.25-1.5 Cu 0.3-1.5 Fe up to 0.5 Mn up to 0.1 all other elements including Mg being incidental and present (if at all) then in an amount less than or equal to 0.05 individually, and less than or equal to 0.15 in aggregate, the balance being aluminium. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of making a joined structure of a steel component and an aluminium component made from the alloy and/or the sheet product of the invention. | 11-06-2014 |
20140272466 | ROLLED SURFACES HAVING A DULLED GLOSS FINISH - This application discloses cold rolled surfaces having a dulled gloss finish. The finish has a fairly uniform glossiness with a slightly matted appearance and with minimal directionality. The surfaces are prepared from work rolls having an Ra value of from 0.2 to 0.4 μm and an Rz value of less than 3.0 μm. Methods of preparing the surfaces are also described herein. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272463 | CLAD SHEET ALLOYS FOR BRAZING APPLICATIONS - This application discloses a multilayer aluminum material having an aluminum alloy core and an aluminum alloy cladding, wherein the aluminum alloy cladding contains ≦1.0 wt % Cu, ≦0.5 wt % Fe, ≦1.0 wt % Mn, ≦15 wt % Si, ≦0.15 wt % Ti, ≦7 wt % Zn and at least one of Sr or Na, remainder Al. The aluminum alloy cladding can also contain one or more of ≦0.2 wt % Mg or ≦0.05 wt % Ni. A process for producing the material is also disclosed. The material can be produced in sheet form and is suitable for brazing application. The metal forms fabricated from the multilayer aluminum material by a process comprising brazing steps are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272462 | CLAD SHEET ALLOYS FOR BRAZING APPLICATIONS - This application discloses a multilayer aluminum material comprising an aluminum alloy core and aluminum alloy cladding, wherein the aluminum alloy cladding contains 0.1-1.0 wt % Cu, 0.1-0.5 wt % Fe, 0.1-1.0 wt % Mn, 3-15 wt % Si, 0.005-0.15 wt % Ti and >3-≦7 wt % Zn, remainder Al. The aluminum alloy cladding can also optionally contain one or more of 0.001-0.3 wt % Mg, 0.001-0.01 wt % Ni or 0.001-0.05 wt % of at least one of Sr, Ca or Na. A process for producing the material is also described. The material can be produced in sheet form and is suitable for brazing application. The metal forms fabricated from the multilayer aluminum material by a process comprising brazing steps are also described. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272461 | CORROSION-RESISTANT BRAZING SHEET PACKAGE - This application discloses a corrosion-resistant brazing sheet package for use in manufacturing tubing. The brazing sheet package includes a core layer of aluminum-containing alloy comprising from 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt % of titanium. The core layer has a first side and a second side. The first side of the core layer is adjacent to a first cladding layer to form a first interface. The second side of the core layer is adjacent to a second cladding layer to form a second interface. The first cladding layer and the second cladding layer each include from 2.5 wt % to 4.0 wt % of zinc. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272460 | BRAZING SHEET CORE ALLOY FOR HEAT EXCHANGER - The present invention provides a new aluminum alloy material which may be used for a core alloy of a corrosion-resistant brazing sheet. This core alloy displays with high strength, and good corrosion resistance for use in heat exchangers. This aluminum alloy material was made by direct chill (DC) casting. The present inventions also provides corrosion-resistant brazing sheet packages including the aluminum alloy material as a core and one or more cladding layers. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266316 | METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING PARTICLE INCLUSION AND SIZE IN MOLTEN METAL - Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266150 | METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING METAL CLEANLINESS - Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262119 | INTERMITTENT MOLTEN METAL DELIVERY - Automated processes that dynamically control rate of delivery of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes can use dynamic metal level variation, control pin pulses and/or oscillation during the mold fill and transient portion of the cast. It has been found that such pulses keep metal flowing in a manner that addresses problems, particularly at the beginning of an ingot cast, associated with metal meniscus contracting and pulling away from the mold on the short faces and corners. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260483 | MANUFACTURING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED COOLING IN HOT METAL ROLLING - A rolling mill apparatus and methods of hot rolling with targeted cooling. In one aspect, a mill having multiple roller stacks includes a cooling system that directs the bulk coolant flow to a heat exchanger having first and second heat exchangers in parallel. The first heat exchanger is adapted to cool the heated coolant to a first temperature for use in a first coolant stream discharged through a first set of nozzles during rolling, while the second heat exchanger is adapted to cool heated coolant to a lower temperature for use in a second coolant stream at a second temperature lower than the first for discharge through a second set of nozzles downstream to facilitate rolling or coiling of the rolled metal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260476 | MANUFACTURING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED LUBRICATION IN HOT METAL ROLLING - Rolling mill apparatus and methods of hot rolling with targeted lubrication are provided herein. A rolling mill apparatus having multiple roll stacks may include a cooling fluid pump and a lubricant pump fluidly coupled with cooling nozzles and lubrication nozzles through a piping system. The piping system may be configured such that the lubricant pump introduces neat lubricant that mixes with the cooling fluid to form a lubricating fluid as loose lubricant emulsion for discharge to select roll stacks through one or more lubrication nozzles, while one or more cooling nozzles discharge the cooling fluid without the added lubricant. The lubrication nozzles may be aimed to target discharge of the lubricant emulsion to the bite roll. Modifications to mill headers to provide targeted lubrication in accordance with the invention are also provided. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260474 | MEASURING THERMAL EXPANSION AND THE THERMAL CROWN OF ROLLS - Systems and methods for measuring the thermal crown of rolls in-situ (e.g., at high temperature) either inside or outside the rolling mill can include sensors that measure propagation times of mechanical waves through the rolls. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are used to measure the propagation times of ultrasonic waves traveling inside the roll and normal to the roll's axis. These measurements can be taken when the roll is still hot and can be used to determine in real-time the thermal expansion at various points along the roll. | 09-18-2014 |
20140252698 | MAGNETIC PUMP INSTALLATION - A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252697 | MAGNETIC PUMP INSTALLATION - A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken. | 09-11-2014 |
20140250963 | FLATNESS OF A ROLLED STRIP - Systems and methods for improving the flatness of a rolled sheet or strip by the application of differential cooling. A cooling agent can be selectively applied along the width of the strip. More cooling can be applied to the edges of the strip, where tension is greatest, to increase tension at the edges. The strip can be allowed to lengthen at these edges, which can improve flatness. In some embodiments, a closed loop flatness control system is used to measure the flatness of a strip and automatically adjust the differential cooling based on the measurement. | 09-11-2014 |
20140117596 | MOLTEN METAL LEAKAGE CONFINEMENT AND THERMAL OPTIMIZATION IN VESSELS USED FOR CONTAINING MOLTEN METALS - A vessel used for containing molten metal, e.g. a trough section for conveying molten metal from one location to another. In some embodiments, the vessel employs refractory liner units of different thermal conductivity to maximize heat penetration into the molten metal from heaters in the gap, but to minimize heat loss at the inlet and outlet of the vessel where the end units contact the housing. | 05-01-2014 |
20140096929 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL SLAB - Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for continuously casting a metal slab. The method involves continuously introducing molten metal into an inlet of a casting cavity defined between advancing casting surfaces, cooling the metal in the cavity to form a metal slab, and discharging the slab from the cavity through an outlet. The casting surfaces have an ability to remove heat from the metal but this ability is reduced, thus reducing heat flux, for at least one of the casting surfaces in a region of the cavity spaced from both the inlet and the outlet and extending transversely to the casting direction. This reduced ability to remove heat is relative to such ability of the casting surface in immediately adjacent upstream and downstream regions of the cavity. The apparatus may be a twin belt caster or other form of continuous caster modified to perform the method. | 04-10-2014 |
20140035323 | Automobile Body Part - In a car body or component thereof with at least one first component of sheet metal of a first aluminum alloy and at least one second component of sheet metal of a second aluminum alloy, the first and second aluminum alloys are of type AlMgSi and in the sheet metal of the second aluminum alloy a substantial part of the elements Mg and Si, which are required to achieve artificial ageing in solid solution, is present in the form of separate Mg | 02-06-2014 |
20120291924 | ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An aluminum alloy sheet is manufactured by preparing a slab having a thickness of 5 to 15 mm with a continuous casting machine by a continuous casting process using molten alloy containing 0.40% to 0.65% of Mg, 0.50% to 0.75% of Si, 0.05% to 0.20% of Cr, and 0.10% to 0.40% of Fe, a remainder being Al; winding the slab into a coil; cold-rolling the slab into a sheet; subjecting the sheet to solution heat treatment in such a manner that the sheet is heated to a temperature of 530° C. to 560° C. at a heating rate of 10° C./sec or more and then maintained at the temperature for five seconds or more; quenching the sheet with water; coiling up the sheet; maintaining the sheet at a temperature of 60° C. to 110° C. for 3 to 12 hours; and then cooling the sheet to room temperature. | 11-22-2012 |
20100201155 | Automobile Body Part - In a car body or component of a car body with at least one first component of sheet metal of a first aluminium alloy (A) and at least one second component of sheet metal of a second aluminium alloy (B), the first and second aluminium alloy are of type AlMgSi and in the sheet metal of the second aluminium alloy (B) a substantial part of the elements Mg and Si, which are required to achieve artificial ageing in solid solution, is present in the form of separate Mg | 08-12-2010 |
20090081072 | ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An aluminum alloy sheet is manufactured by preparing a slab having a thickness of 5 to 15 mm with a continuous casting machine by a continuous casting process using molten alloy containing following components: 0.40% to 0.65% of Mg, 0.50% to 0.75% of Si, 0.05% to 0.20% of Cr, and 0.10% to 0.40% of Fe, remainder being Al, the components being essential elements, and optionally up to 0.15% Cu, 0.10% Ti; winding the slab into a coil; hot-rolling or directly coiling up the slab; cold-rolling the slab into a sheet; subjecting the sheet to solution heat treatment with a continuous annealing furnace; and then pre-aging the sheet. The aluminum alloy sheet has the same composition as the molten alloy, has a grain size of 10 to 25 μm, is superior in bake hardenability, bendability, and surface quality (orange peel), and can be manufactured with low cost. | 03-26-2009 |
20090007994 | Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Method for Manufacturing the Same - An aluminum alloy sheet having excellent press formability and stress corrosion cracking resistance, comprises 3.3 to 3.6 percent by weight of Mg and 0.1 to 0.2 percent by weight of Mn, furthermore, 0.05 to 0.3 percent by weight of Fe and 0.05 to 0.15 percent by weight of Si, and the remainder comprises Al and incidental impurities, wherein the sizes of intermetallic compounds is 5 μm or less, the recrystallized grain size is 15 μm or less in the region at a depth of 10 to 30 μm below the sheet surface, and the surface roughness is Ra 0.2 to 0.7 μm. | 01-08-2009 |