Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7338629 | Integrated metal processing facility A system and method for forming and heat treating a metal casting are provided. ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7275582 | Methods and apparatus for heat treatment and sand removal for castings A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7258755 | Integrated metal processing facility An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of th... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7125459 | High strength aluminum alloy A process for thermally treating an article made from an alloy comprising at least aluminum and copper. The process comprises solid solution heat treating the article, quenching the article, heating the article to a first temperature of from about 275 to about 340°... | 10/24/2006 |
| 6901990 | Method and system for processing castings A method and system of processing castings is provided in which one or more castings are deposited into a mobile furnace and moved from one station to another of a multi-station casting processing system. The interior of the mobile furnace is heated so as to maintai... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6869490 | High strength aluminum alloy A process for thermally treating an article made from an alloy comprising at least aluminum and copper. The process comprises solid solution heat treating the article, quenching the article, heating the article to a first temperature of from about 275 to about 340°... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6696175 | Unrecrystallized layer and associated alloys and methods The present invention provides aluminum alloys and layers formed in aluminum alloys as well as methods for their manufacture. Aluminum alloys of the present invention are provided with at least one discrete layer of uncrystallized grains formed therein. A... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6344096 | Method of producing aluminum alloy sheet for automotive applications The present invention relates to an improved method of producing an aluminum alloy sheet which, in one embodiment, includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 0.5 inch and, subsequently, preferably without interveni... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6264771 | Process for forming a plate-like component This invention provides a method of forming a component made of an artificially and plastically formable material which can be hardened by artificial aging. The component is first shot-peen-formed in the unhardened condition and is subsequently, artificia... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6258463 | Anodized cryogenically treated aluminum The invention relates to a process for producing anodic coatings with superior corrosion resistance and other properties on aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces by cryogenically treating the aluminum prior to anodizing. The invention also relates to the a... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6221515 | Bimetallic strip for a sliding bearing and process for producing said bimetallic strip A bimetallic strip for a sliding bearing having a sliding strip of an aluminum alloy which is adhered to a steel supporting strip and method of manufacture. The composition of the sliding strip is from 3 to 30% of tin; from 1 to 6% of silicon and the rema... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6113850 | 2XXX series aluminum alloy An A-rated, aluminum alloy suitable for machining, said alloy consisting essentially of: about 4-5.75 wt. % copper, about 0.2-0.9 wt. % bismuth, about 0.12-1.0 wt. % tin, the ratio of bismuth to tin ranging from about 0.8:1 to 5:1, up to about 0.7 wt. % i... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6074498 | Heat treated Al-Cu-Li-Sc alloys A dual aging treatment of aluminum-copper-lithium-scandium alloys allows preparation of alloys exhibiting superior physical properties as compared to the same alloys subjected to only a single aging. In particular, the difference between yield strength an... | 06/13/2000 |
| 5922147 | Method and apparatus for simplified production of heat-treatable aluminum alloy castings Method and apparatus for simplified heat-treatment to harden aluminum castings made from heat-treatable aluminum alloys, especially with a copper content of up to 5%, such as the 300-T6 series, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufac... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5916385 | Aluminum-cooper alloy An essentially lead-free aluminum alloy is provided for extruded screw machine stock. The alloy consists essentially of from about 4.5% to about 6% copper, a maximum of about 0.4% silicon, a maximum of about 0.7% iron, not more than about 0.3% zinc, from ... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5858133 | Method for preparing pre-coated aluminum alloy articles and articles prepared thereby An aluminum-alloy article such as a fastener is prepared by providing an aluminum-alloy article precursor that is not in its final heat-treated state, and in one form is in its solution treated/annealed state. A curable organic coating material is also pr... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5766546 | High internal pressure forming of aluminum alloy hollow bodies An alloy suitable for manufacturing components out of a hollow body by high internal pressure forming contains, in wt. %, ______________________________________ Silicon 0.3 to 1.6 Magnesium 0.3 to 1.3 Iron ... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5766380 | Method for fabricating randomly oriented aluminum alloy sputtering targets with fine grains and fine precipitates A method of fabricating an alloy sputtering target having fine precipitates of the second phase material and small, randomly oriented and uniform grains. The new method includes solution treatment to minimize second-phase precipitate size, cryo-deformatio... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5690758 | Process for the fabrication of aluminum alloy sheet having high formability The invention relates to a fabrication process to obtain aluminum alloy sheet having high formability. In this process, an alloy obtained by alloying Al with Si, Mg, Cu, Mn and Fe, and one or more elements taken from the group of Cr, Zn, Zr and Ti, is sub... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5643372 | Process for the desensitisation to intercrystalline corrosion of 2000 and 6000 series Al alloys and corresponding products An improvement to a process for treating an aluminum alloy for the series AA 2000 or AA 6000 comprising solution heat treating, quenching and natural or artificial aging, in which conventional heat solution heat treating is defined as solution heat treati... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5616189 | Aluminum alloys and process for making aluminum alloy sheet An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges: (1) 0.4ࣘMgࣘ0.8, 0.2ࣘSiࣘ0.5, 0.3ࣘCuࣘ3.5; (2) 0.8ࣘMgࣘ1.4, 0.2ࣘSiࣘ0.5, Cuࣘ2.5; and (3) 0.4à£... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5614037 | Method for preparing pre-coated aluminum articles and articles prepared thereby An aluminum-alloy article such as a fastener is prepared by providing an aluminum-alloy article that is not in its final heat-treated state, and is preferably in its annealed state. A curable organic coating material is also provided. The method includes ... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5547633 | Aluminum-titanium alloy The specification describes a ternary alloy of aluminium. The alloy described comprises from 80 to 96% by weight of aluminium and from 4 to 20% by weight of titanium and a third element selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chromium, copper, magne... | 08/20/1996 |
| 5455003 | Al-Cu-Li alloys with improved cryogenic fracture toughness A method is disclosed for the production of aluminum-copper-lithium alloys that exhibit improved strength and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperatures. Improved cryogenic properties are achieved by controlling the composition of the alloy, along with ... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5439536 | Method of minimizing strength anisotropy in aluminum-lithium alloy wrought product by cold rolling, stretching and aging Strength anisotropy of aluminum-lithium alloy wrought products is reduced by subjecting these types of alloys to improved T8 temper practice. The wrought product, after solution heat treating and quenching, is subjected to a combination of cold rolling an... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5383986 | Method of improving transverse direction mechanical properties of aluminum-lithium alloy wrought product using multiple stretching steps Strength and ductility for a aluminum-lithium alloy wrought product in the transverse direction is improved by subjecting these types of alloys to improved T8 temper practice. The wrought product, after solution heat treating and quenching is subjected to... | 01/24/1995 |
| 5308410 | Process for producing high strength and high toughness aluminum alloy A process for producing an aluminum alloy with high strength and toughness includes the steps of: preparing an alloy blank having a primary structure which is one selected from a single-phase structure comprised of a solid-solution phase, a single-phase s... | 05/03/1994 |
| 5306359 | Method and apparatus for heat treating A method for heat treating an aluminum part is provided. The method includes heat treating the aluminum alloy part with direct radiation from a source of infrared energy until the part attains a desired state of heat treatment. The method and apparatus fu... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5273594 | Delaying final stretching for improved aluminum alloy plate properties The present invention provides a method for improving aluminum alloy plate product properties by delaying final stretching of the plate product. During processing of the product, a time interval or intentional delay is provided between the final cold roll... | 12/28/1993 |
| 5226983 | High strength, ductile, low density aluminum alloys and process for making same The present invention provides a process for making high strength, high ductility, low density rapidly solidified aluminum-base alloys, consisting essentially of the formula Albal Zra Lib Xc, wherein X is at lea... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5194102 | Method for increasing the strength of aluminum alloy products through warm working A method of improving strength in aluminum alloys. The method involves solution heat treating an aluminum alloy product, quenching the alloy product, warm working the alloy product without a pre-aging step, and aging the alloy product at 250°-400° F. ... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5178695 | Strength enhancement of rapidly solidified aluminum-lithium through double aging A component consolidated from a rapidly solidified aluminum-lithium alloy containing copper, magnesium and zirconium is subjected to a preliminary aging treatment at a temperature of about 400° C. to 500° C. for a time period of about 0.5 to 10 hours; q... | 01/12/1993 |
| 5171374 | Rapidly solidified superplastic aluminum-lithium alloys and process for making same A rapidly solidified aluminum base lithium containing alloy is subjected to at least one overaging treatment and a plurality of rolling passes. Upon completion of the process, the alloy is comprised of grains having an ultrafine grain size. A predominant ... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5120372 | Aluminum casting alloy for high strength/high temperature applications An aluminum casting alloy consisting of, by weight, of 7.0-13.0% copper, 0.4-1.2% manganese, 0.21-40% vanadium, 0.31-0.70% zirconium; impurities limited to: less than to 0.6% Si, less than 0.8% Fe, less than 0.2% zinc, less than 0.1% Mn, less than 0.2% Ni... | 06/09/1992 |
| 4929283 | Vapor phase artificial aging of metal alloys using fluorochemicals Artificial aging of metal alloys in the process of precipitation hardening is performed in the elevated temperature vapor of a perfluorochemical to reduce temperature fluctuations, preserve alloy integrity and avoid environmentally detrimental process con... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4897125 | Method of heat treatment of AL-based alloys containing Li and the product obtained by the method The invention concerns a method for final heat treatment tempering at Al alloys containing Li and at least one other major element selected from the group Cu, Mg and Zn, as well as possible minor elements such as Zr, Mn, Cr, Ni, Hf, Ti and Be, in addition... | 01/30/1990 |
| 4840682 | Low temperature underaging process for lithium bearing alloys The combination of strength and fracture toughness properties of aluminum-lithium alloys are significantly enhanced by underaging the alloys at temperatures ranging from 200° F. to below 300° F. for relatively long periods of time.... | 06/20/1989 |
| 4820488 | Aluminum alloy At least about 0.1 percent by weight of indium is added as an essential component to an alloy which precipitates a T1 phase (Al2 CuLi). This addition enhances the nucleation of the precipitate T1 phase, producing a microst... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4812178 | Method of heat treatment of Al-based alloys containing Li and the product obtained by the method The invention concerns a method for final heat treatment ageing of Al alloys optionally containing Li and at least one other major element selected from the group Cu, Mg and Zn, as well as possible minor elements such as Zr, Mn, Cr, Ni, Hf, Ti and Be, in ... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4629517 | High strength and corrosion resistant aluminum article and method A shaped aluminum article is disclosed characterized by a yield strength of over 414 MPa (60 ksi) and good corrosion resistance when aged to a T76 temper. The article is formed from an aluminum base alloy having good formability in an annealed state, and ... | 12/16/1986 |
