High modulus, low-cost, weldable, castable titanium alloy and articles thereof

Patent 6001495 Issued on December 14, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 4, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

2575962

2798806

2893864

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Inventors

Assignee

Oregon Metallurgical Corporation

Application

No. 935802 filed on 08/04/1997

US Classes:

428/660, Refractory (Group IVB, VB, or VIB) metal-base component75/612, Titanium(Ti), Zirconium(Zr), or Hafnium(Hf), singly or in combination420/418, Aluminum containing473/349Particular material composition or mass distribution

Examiners

Primary: Zimmerman, John J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP

Foreign Patent References

1142445 DE 01/12/1963
4-358036 JP 12/12/1992
248229 SU 07/12/1969
443090 SU 09/12/1974

International Classes

C22C 014/00
A63B 053/04

Abstract

An improved high-modulus, low-cost, castable, weldable titanium alloy and a process for making such an alloy is provided. In general, titanium is alloyed with about 0.75 weight percent iron and about 8 weight percent aluminum to result in an alloy with a modulus of over 21×106 psi. This modulus is above the modulus for conventional castable titanium alloys, such as the commercially-available castable titanium alloy containing 6 weight percent aluminum and 4 weight percent vanadium.Applications for this alloy include golf club heads, which can be fabricated by casting a golf club head body from the above alloy and welding a sole plate onto the cast golf club head body. This provides a golf club head with superior energy transfer characteristics for hitting a golf ball.