Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
148565000 | Utilizing wave energy (e.g., laser, electromagnetic, etc.) plasma or electron arc or beam | 26 |
20080216926 | ULTRA-SHORT DURATION LASER METHODS FOR THE NANOSTRUCTURING OF MATERIALS - The present invention is generally directed to the materials processing regimes obtained with laser processing using ultra-short laser pulses of subpicosecond (i.e., up to hundreds of femtoseconds) duration, and to the altered materials obtained through such materials processing regimes. Thus various aspects of the present invention are directed to, for example, methods for altering materials by exposure of the materials to one or more pulses of a fs duration laser, while other aspects of the present invention are directed to, for example, materials altered by the methods of the invention. These macro-, micro-, and nanostructured materials have a variety of applications, including, for example, aesthetic applications such as jewelry or ornamentation; biomedical applications, especially medical applications involving biocompatibility bioperformance; catalysis applications; and modification of, for example, the optical and hydrophilic properties of materials. | 09-11-2008 |
20090288742 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE FATIGUE STRENGTH OF A PREDOMINANTLY STEEL MECHANICAL PART OF A WIND TURBINE AND/OR FOR REDUCING THE TENDENCY TO FORM WHAT ARE CALLED "WHITE ETCHING CRACKS" OR "BRITTLE FLAKES" IN SUCH STEEL MECHANICAL PARTS - Method for increasing the fatigue strength of a mechanical part of a wind turbine and/or for reducing the tendency to form what are called “white etching cracks” or “brittle flakes” in such a bearing, which includes making one or several of the bearing rings and/or roller elements concerned of the bearing at least partly of a hardened steel having a carbon content between 0.4 and 0.8 percent by weight. | 11-26-2009 |
20100024928 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING FLAT PRODUCTS MADE OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS - A method of producing flat products in aluminum alloys comprising:
| 02-04-2010 |
20100126641 | Method of Producing Bicycle Ratchet Bushing - A method of producing bicycle ratchet bushing is provided, wherein an alloyed fundamental material is applied to the processes of a modeling process and a detailing treatment to form a product of bicycle ratchet bushing. Wherein, when the processes of drilling and tapping a hole of the modeling process are completed, the tapped hole of the workpiece is connected to a screw rod, and the screw rod is clamped by a drawing machine, so that the workpiece can be penetrated through the mold of the drawing machine to proceed with the drawing process. When the drawing process is working, it is not necessary to apply a head-hitting process to the workpiece as the conventional drawing method does, therefore the outer teeth of the ratchet of the workpiece will not be deformed by an external force, and can penetrated into the mold for further drawing process, therefore the whole manufacturing processes can be controlled efficiently. | 05-27-2010 |
20110315280 | Method and Device for Annealing and Descaling Strips of Stainless Steel - A method of annealing and descaling hot-rolled austenitic stainless steel strip wherein. The steel strip is descaled in a connected plasma descaling installation after annealing and subsequent cooling. The plasma descaling is carried out under vacuum in a plurality of stages, and the steel strip is subjected to a controlled cooling between these stages and after the final stage by means of cooling rolls so that the steel strip has a temperature below 100° C. when exiting the plasma descaling installation. An apparatus to practice the method is also disclosed. | 12-29-2011 |
20120145288 | Induction Heating Systems and Methods for Producing an Object Having a Varying Hardness Along the Length of the Object - In one aspect, the invention relates to induction heating systems and methods for producing an object having a varying hardness along the length of the object. In some embodiments, the induction heating system comprises a radio frequency (RF) power source and a work coil electrically coupled to the RF power source, wherein the work coil is a helical conical coil. | 06-14-2012 |
20130014863 | METHOD OF MAGNETICALLY PROCESSING AN IRON-CARBON ALLOYAANM Ludtka; Gerard M.AACI Oak RidgeAAST TNAACO USAAGP Ludtka; Gerard M. Oak Ridge TN USAANM Ludtka; Gail M.AACI Oak RidgeAAST TNAACO USAAGP Ludtka; Gail M. Oak Ridge TN USAANM Wilgen; John B.AACI Oak RidgeAAST TNAACO USAAGP Wilgen; John B. Oak Ridge TN USAANM Kisner; Roger A.AACI KnoxvilleAAST TNAACO USAAGP Kisner; Roger A. Knoxville TN US - A magnetic field assisted processing method entails heating an iron-carbon alloy at an austenitizing temperature for a time duration sufficient for the alloy to achieve an austenitic microstructure; cooling the iron-carbon alloy to an intermediate temperature defined by a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram for the iron-carbon alloy at a rate sufficient to avoid phase transformation of the austenitic microstructure, the intermediate temperature being below a bainitic knee of the CCT diagram and above a martensite start temperature; and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least about 0.2 Tesla to the iron-carbon alloy after reaching the intermediate temperature. The field is applied for a time duration sufficient to transform the austenitic microstructure into a fine dispersion of one or more iron carbide phases in a ferrite matrix in order to produce a magnetically-processed alloy having improved ductility and strength. | 01-17-2013 |
20130092298 | METHODS OF FABRICATING A REFRACTORY-METAL ARTICLE, AND APPARATUSES FOR USE IN SUCH METHODS - Embodiments of methods for fabricating refractory-metal articles (e.g., implantable medical devices), and honing and blasting apparatuses for use in such methods are disclosed. Methods for fabricating refractory-metal-containing articles include laser cutting in a vacuum environment and/or at least one mechanical or chemical finishing step configured to remove at least one region affected by the fabrication process (e.g., the laser cutting process) to provide a substantially defect-free surface finish. | 04-18-2013 |
20130118653 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING TITANIUM ALLOYS - Methods of refining the grain size of a titanium alloy workpiece include beta annealing the workpiece, cooling the beta annealed workpiece to a temperature below the beta transus temperature of the titanium alloy, and high strain rate multi-axis forging the workpiece. High strain rate multi-axis forging is employed until a total strain of at least 1 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece, or until a total strain of at least 1 and up to 3.5 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece. The titanium alloy of the workpiece may comprise at least one of grain pinning alloying additions and beta stabilizing content effective to decrease alpha phase precipitation and growth kinetics. | 05-16-2013 |
20130118654 | GRAIN-ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL SHEET AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A silicon steel sheet ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130139932 | GRAIN-ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL SHEET AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - This method of manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet includes, between a cold rolling process and a winding process, a groove formation process of irradiating the surface of a silicon steel sheet with a laser beam multiple times at predetermined intervals in a sheet passing direction, over an area from one end edge to the other end edge, in a sheet width direction of the silicon steel sheet, thereby forming a groove along a locus of the laser beam. | 06-06-2013 |
20130213533 | ALUMINUM ALLOY EXTRUDED MATERIAL FOR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FORMING - A 7000-series aluminum alloy hollow extruded material formed by porthole extrusion contains Zn: 3.0 to 8.0 mass %, Mg: 0.4 to 2.0 mass %, Cu: 0.05 to 2.0 mass %, Si: 0.3 mass % or less, Fe: 0.35 mass % or less, and one or more of Mn, Cr, and Zr: 0.10 mass % or less in total, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities. The aluminum alloy hollow extruded material has a recrystallized structure throughout the cross-section. In the case of pipe expansion by electro-magnetic forming, excellent pipe expansion formability is obtained. | 08-22-2013 |
20140020797 | MAGNETIC FIELD ANNEALING FOR IMPROVED CREEP RESISTANCE - The method provides heat-resistant chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloys having improved creep resistance. A precursor is provided containing preselected constituents of a chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloy, at least one of the constituents for forming a nanoscale precipitate MaXb where M is Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, or Hf, individually and in combination, and X is C, N, O, B, individually and in combination, a=1 to 23 and b=1 to 6. The precursor is annealed at a temperature of 1000-1500° C. for 1-48 h in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 5 Tesla to enhance supersaturation of the M | 01-23-2014 |
20140174610 | HOLLOW MEMBER AND METHOD FOR FORMING HOLLOW MEMBER - A tubular hollow member to which torsion about a center line is applied is characterized in performing a partial heat treatment on part of a peripheral wall of the hollow member to make the hardness of an outer portion of the peripheral wall greater than the hardness before heating and greater than the hardness of an inner portion of the peripheral wall, and reduce a residual stress of the inner portion of the peripheral wall. | 06-26-2014 |
20140246129 | PRODUCT AND PROCESS BY LOCALIZED HEAT TREATMENT OF SHEET STEEL - A process for localized hardening of steel sheet components includes scanning a laser beam in a scan direction across a predetermined portion of the steel sheet component. The laser beam selectively heats material within the predetermined portion of the steel sheet component to a temperature of austenitizing transformation. During scanning of the laser beam across the predetermined portion, a source of external cooling is applied to the material within the predetermined portion and immediately behind the laser beam along the scan direction of the laser beam. The source of external cooling is selected to cool the material at a sufficiently rapid rate to form a locally hardened region that is defined substantially within the predetermined portion. Subsequent to applying the source of external cooling, the material within the predetermined portion of the steel sheet component is allowed to cool to ambient temperature. | 09-04-2014 |
20150013855 | LASER HEAT TREATMENT - A method of heat treating a surface with a laser, successive passes of the laser over the surface having a large overlap with each individual pass applying insufficient energy to obtain the desired effect on the surface but the overlapping passes applying sufficient energy. Various patterns of laser movement may be used. | 01-15-2015 |
20150020932 | METHOD OF REMANUFACTURING A ROCKER ARM - A method of remanufacturing a rocker arm is provided. The rocker arm includes a body defining a center hole for receipt of a shaft, a first arm extending radially away from the center hole, and a second arm extending radially away from the center hole in a direction opposite the first arm. The second arm is configured to be operatively engaged with a valve mechanism and includes a contact surface configured to engage with a braking member. The contact surface includes a worn upper hardened surface. The method includes machining the contact surface to a depth less than a predefined tolerance limit to remove the worn upper hardened surface and create a generally planar unhardened contact surface. The method further includes hardening the unhardened contact surface using a laser to create a repaired contact surface with a surface hardness of greater than at least Rockwell C 50. | 01-22-2015 |
20150075678 | METHOD FOR LASER HEAT TREATMENT TO IMPROVE FORMABILITY OF ADVANCED HIGH STRENGTH STEELS - A method for laser heat treatment of high tensile steel is provided to improve for improving formability. The method includes performing a heat treatment by irradiating a surface of a high tensile steel blank that includes a martensite structure and a ferrite structure with a laser to decrease a fraction of the martensite structure and increase a fraction of the ferrite structure. In addition, the method includes slowly cooling the blank to temper or anneal the heat-treated blank and subjecting the cooled blank to cold press forming. | 03-19-2015 |
20150299818 | Thermal-Assisted Roll Forming of High Strength Material - A thermal-assisted method deforms plastically a high-strength material using a high-intensive heat source. The high-strength material may be a cold-rolled sheet aluminum of strength greater than 300 megapascal (MPa) or a cold-rolled sheet steel of strength greater than 1000 MPa. The cold-rolled sheet metal is heated just before bending to a temperature near or above the critical temperature for the material and is followed by rapid quenching after bending. | 10-22-2015 |
20150344985 | INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS, CARRIERS, AND METHODS FOR HEAT TREATING PARTS - An apparatus includes rails for supporting sides of a circumferential peripheral edge of a carrier. A movable ram engages a rearward portion of the carrier. A movable restrainer restrains movement of the ram. A wheel engages a forward portion of the carrier. A controller is operable to control the movable restrainer to restrain movement of the ram with the carrier and at least one metal object disposed adjacent an induction heating device, the wheel to rotate the carrier and the metal object, the induction heating device to induction heat the rotating metal object, and the movable restrainer to disengage the ram so that the wheel pivots away to allow passage of the carrier and the heated metal object into a quench bath. A plurality of metal objects may be arranged in a circular array in the carrier about a diameter generally equal to the diameter of an induction coil. | 12-03-2015 |
20150376728 | INFRARED HEATING METHOD, INFRARED HEATING AND FORMING METHOD OF STEEL SHEET AND AUTOMOBILE COMPONENT OBTAINED THEREBY, AND INFRARED HEATING FURNACE - An infrared heating method comprises: wholly infrared heating a steel sheet uniformly up to a temperature which is A3 point or above; and temperature distribution controlling, wherein, after the wholly infrared heating, partial lowering of a light intensity of infrared rays irradiated toward the steel sheet is performed to provide a first region having a temperature of A3 point or above and a second region having a temperature less than A1 point in the steel sheet. | 12-31-2015 |
20150377555 | INFRARED FURNACE AND METHOD FOR INFRARED HEATING - The infrared furnace includes a plurality of infrared lamps arrayed on one surface side of a work and a reflective surface provided on its opposite surface side. Outputs of the infrared lamps are locally adjusted, or intensity of the infrared rays incident on one work surface is locally adjusted by a member disposed between the infrared lamps and the one surface of the work. In this manner, variations in strength may be imparted to one and the same car part. | 12-31-2015 |
20150377556 | INFRARED FURNACE, INFRARED HEATING METHOD AND STEEL PLATE MANUFACTURED BY USING THE SAME - An infrared furnace is able to heat a first region and a second region of a work in different temperature regions, provided with a plurality of infrared lamps opposing the work, and a member positioned between the work and the plurality of infrared lamps apart from the work and the infrared lamps, to be arranged above a boundary region between the first and second regions. | 12-31-2015 |
20160076115 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LASER QUENCHING - Provided are a method and an apparatus for laser quenching. The method takes the advantage of a high jumping speed of a scanning galvanometer, and adopts the method of heating on multiple or even high frequency repeated scans instead of on a single scan in prior art for laser quenching, wherein the laser energy is fed into the surface of a workpiece by way of short time and multiple superimposed heating, cumulatively, the laser energy absorbed by the metal base is increased and the depth of thermal conduction is improved also. The apparatus includes a laser, a control system, a light guiding system, a mechanical motion device and a scanning galvanometer. Therefore, even though the used laser power is relative high, the surface temperature of a metal object can be always restricted below its melting point and the heat can be conducted from the surface to the internal of a workpiece by thermal conduction constantly and effectively as a result of high scanning speed and the introduce of time interval at scanning, so that melting in the metal surface can be avoided, and the depth of the austenitizing region in the surface of the workpiece and the productivity of laser quenching can be significantly improved. | 03-17-2016 |
20160108504 | Desensitization of Aluminum Alloys Using Pulsed Electron Beams - A method for desensitizing an aluminum alloy is presented. A desired location on the surface of an aluminum alloy sample is exposed to a controlled pulsed electron beam. The pulsed electron beam heats a shallow layer of the metal alloy having a desired depth at the desired location on the surface of the sample to a temperature between a solvus temperature and an annealing temperature of the metal alloy to controllably reduce a degree of sensitization of the metal alloy sample at the desired location, an extent of a reduction in the degree of sensitization being controllable by varying at least one of a voltage, a current density, a pulse duration, a pulse frequency and a number of pulses of the electron beam. | 04-21-2016 |
20160158885 | Laser-Based Marking Method and Apparatus - A method for marking a thin workpiece is designed to prevent deformation of the workpiece. A plurality of lasers are opposed to respective opposite sides of the workpiece so as to both sides are heat treated. The lasers can operate synchronously with the respective emitted beams aligned with one another. As a result, the workpiece does not exhibit signs of deformation upon the completion of the marking. The workpiece is made either from plastic or metals and has a thickness not exceeding 2 millimeters. The lasers each are configured as either a fiber laser or a gas laser. The marking can be performed by lasers which are configured uniformly or non-uniformly and includes annealing, engraving and ablating. The marking can be performed synchronously or sequentially. The multi-surface marking could also be used to cause “distortion of the surface in a more controlled or desired fashion. | 06-09-2016 |