| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7018489 |
Artificial aging control of aluminum alloys |
March 28, 2006 |
| A method of artificially aging an aluminum alloy product to achieve a property in the product having the steps of aging the product to achieve the property by heating the product over an aging period, the aging period including a time period where the product is in an underaged state |
| 7014881 |
Synthesis of multi-element oxides useful for inert anode applications |
March 21, 2006 |
| An inert anode 50, for use in an electrolytic cell 12 for producing metals such as aluminum, is made by providing chemical source materials 100 such as at least two of metal salts, metal particles, or metal oxides and dissolving them to form a solution or a slurry 110, followed by adding |
| 7011357 |
Window assembly for a motor vehicle |
March 14, 2006 |
| The liftgate for a motor vehicle includes a frame member, an inner panel, and an outer panel. The frame member is a U-shaped member formed by a cross member and a pair of spaced apart legs extending from the cross member. The inner panel is connected to the legs and extends part way up |
| 7011350 |
Flash welded joint structure and method for making a joint structure |
March 14, 2006 |
| An energy absorbing assembly for a vehicle including an elongated crash box having ends with circular cross sections. One end of the crash box is received in a bumper beam and is friction welded to an inside surface of the beam. The other end of the crash box is friction welded to a brac |
| 7011140 |
Gas enhanced controlled cooling ingot mold |
March 14, 2006 |
| A cooling mechanism for a casting apparatus having a mold that includes sides, a bottom, and a top defining a cavity. The cooling mechanism allows for simultaneous injection of liquid and gas onto a cast ingot therefore providing a lower minimum operation liquid flow rate, while main |
| 7001497 |
Process and apparatus for positioning replacement anodes in electrolytic cells |
February 21, 2006 |
| A spent anode is replaced with a new anode in an electrolysis cell having an anode bus bar and an anode rod contacting the bus bar. A desired distance (D4) from the bus bar to a reference point on or adjacent to an anode rod for the new anode is calculated, the spent anode is replaced |
| 7000676 |
Controlled fluid flow mold and molten metal casting method for improved surface |
February 21, 2006 |
| A DC casting mold for casting molten metal alloy comprising a cooled tubular body that has a thermally insulated insert attached to its top surface. The thermally insulated insert has a bottom portion with a beveled sidewall, which forms an angle with the horizontal melt surface laye |
| 6994363 |
Tailgate extension |
February 7, 2006 |
| A vehicle tailgate extension apparatus and method of using the same. The tailgate extension apparatus generally includes a U-frame member, a plurality of hinge elements, and a plurality of side braces. The U-frame member may be locked into a plurality of operative positions optionally |
| 6980580 |
Electrode arrangement as substitute bottom for an electrothermic slag smelting furnace |
December 27, 2005 |
| The electrode arrangement uses vertically oriented electrodes with side wall contacts for an electrothermic smelting furnace for aluminum production. The side wall contacts are radially moveable into the furnace to compensate for wear on the contacts. The side wall contacts can be ho |
| 6976414 |
Method and apparatus for trimming aluminum sheet |
December 20, 2005 |
| A method and apparatus are provided for reducing or eliminating sliver formation during aluminum sheet trimming operations. By controlling parameters such as trimming angle and cutting blade clearance, aluminum sheet can be trimmed while substantially eliminating the formation of sli |
| 6974633 |
Structural members having improved resistance to fatigue crack growth |
December 13, 2005 |
| An extruded structural member having improved damage tolerance containing a base section (6); a stiffening section having at least one pair of structural stiffeners (10), the structural stiffeners integral with the base section (6) and projecting outwardly thereof; and at least one i |
| 6972110 |
Aluminum alloy products having improved property combinations and method for artificially aging |
December 6, 2005 |
| Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg.ltoreq.(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % |
| 6971174 |
Method of manufacturing a caster roll |
December 6, 2005 |
| The caster roll (10) is used in the manufacture of metal plate, strip, sheet, or foil. The caster roll (10) includes a cylindrical roll core (12) and at least one metal overlay (14) formed on the roll core (12). The at least one metal overlay (14) defines a plurality of cooling passages |
| 6968650 |
Ultra-lightweight thin door with hardware carrier system for a vehicle |
November 29, 2005 |
| A sliding door for vehicles including a space frame formed from a U-shaped extruded aluminum tube and a crossbeam to which inner and outer aluminum door panels are attached. An elongated hardware carrier beam defines a channel configured to receive vehicle door hardware mounted on the ex |
| 6942381 |
Molten cryolitic bath probe |
September 13, 2005 |
| A method and apparatus for accurately measuring superheat, bath ratio and alumina concentration in an aluminum smelting bath. In one embodiment, a reusable probe determines the bath temperature and bath sample superheat. In other embodiments, the probe also determines bath composition in |
| 6929120 |
Curved back reclosable metal packaging unit |
August 16, 2005 |
| A packaging unit (10) for containing, for example cigarettes (44) has a body made of curved metal (12) and curved metal back (14) surfaces connected by metal sides (16), and a metal bottom (20), preferably having a central raised exterior part or bottom (42) surrounded by a ridge (40), |
| 6925711 |
Micro-textured heat transfer surfaces |
August 9, 2005 |
| A wrought aluminum sheet product having a textured surface for improved heat transfer properties. A plurality of textured features having dimensions of about 1-50 microns is roll textured onto one or both sides of the sheet. The aluminum sheet may be used as the fins or tubing of a h |
| 6918975 |
Aluminum alloy extrusions having a substantially unrecrystallized structure |
July 19, 2005 |
| A substantially unrecrystallized extrusion comprising about 3.6 to about 4.2 wt. % copper, about 1.0 to about 1.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to about 0.8 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to 0.25% zirconium, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. The extrusion |
| 6918621 |
Bumper system for a motor vehicle |
July 19, 2005 |
| The bumper system is used on a motor vehicle and generally includes a bumper beam and an energy-absorbing bracket connected to the bumper beam. The bracket includes a hollow energy-absorbing body having a first end and a second end. The bracket body may be saddle-shaped between the first |
| 6915837 |
Continuous pressure molten metal supply system and method for forming continuous metal articles |
July 12, 2005 |
| A molten metal supply system (90) includes a plurality of injectors (100) each having an injector housing (102) and a reciprocating piston (104). A molten metal supply source (132) is in fluid communication with the housing (102) of each of the injectors (100). The piston (104) is movabl |
| 6911099 |
Process to improve 6XXX alloys by reducing altered density sites |
June 28, 2005 |
| A process for improving 6XXX alloys, such as 6013, preferably includes heating, hot rolling, inter-rolling thermal treatment at a very high temperature such as 1020.degree. F. or more, again hot rolling (with or without subsequent continuous hot rolling or cold rolling or both), solu |
| 6902828 |
Bright products obtained by continuous casting |
June 7, 2005 |
| A bright composite sheet product including a roll cast core and a clad material bonded to the core. The core is an aluminum alloy of the AA series 1XXX, 3XXX, 5XXX, or 8XXX, and the clad material contains at least 99.5 wt. % aluminum. The composite sheet products is particularly suited |
| 6902696 |
Overflow transfer furnace and control system for reduced oxide production in a casting furnace |
June 7, 2005 |
| An apparatus for transferring molten metal from a melting furnace to a casting furnace is provided. A sensing and control system for the transfer of molten metal from a transfer furnace to a casting furnace is also described. The combination of the transfer apparatus with the sensing and |
| 6893065 |
Crash energy absorption assembly for a motor vehicle |
May 17, 2005 |
| The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment |
| 6892793 |
Caster roll |
May 17, 2005 |
| The caster roll (10) is used in the manufacture of metal plate, strip, sheet, or foil. The caster roll (10) includes a cylindrical roll core (12) and at least one metal overlay (14) formed on the roll core (12). The at least one metal overlay (14) defines a plurality of cooling passages |
| 6887030 |
Apparatus for resisting rotation of can ends in a downstacker and method regarding same |
May 3, 2005 |
| An apparatus for resisting rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker is provided, that includes a housing having a bore, a ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing, a second ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing and a sleeve having a bore that is dis |
| 6886886 |
Front end apron assembly for a motor vehicle |
May 3, 2005 |
| The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment |
| 6881491 |
Protective fluoride coatings for aluminum alloy articles |
April 19, 2005 |
| An aluminum alloy article is cleaned to remove oxides and organic matter from a coatable surface, coated with a composition comprising an organic resin and a fluorine compound, and then heated to an elevated temperature to decompose the organic resin and at least a portion of the fluorin |
| 6878246 |
Nickel foam pin connections for inert anodes |
April 12, 2005 |
| An electrode assembly useful in manufacturing aluminum, contains a hollow inert electrode (12) containing a metal conductor (14) surrounded and held in place by at least one seal (16) and a mass of metal foam (26). |
| 6872425 |
Coated vehicle wheel and method |
March 29, 2005 |
| A method of coating a vehicle wheel to increase wear and corrosion resistance of the vehicle wheel, includes the steps of providing a vehicle wheel and applying a wear and corrosion resistant coating onto a surface of the vehicle wheel. The coating is applied to at least a tire bead |
| 6866766 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing sulfur impurities and improving current efficiencies of inert |
March 15, 2005 |
| Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing sulfur impurities in aluminum electrolytic production cells in order to significantly increase current efficiency of the cells. An impurity reduction zone may be created in the bath of an inert anode cell by submerging a purifying electrod |
| 6866454 |
Security bar for use with vehicle having a hauling bed |
March 15, 2005 |
| A security bar for use with a truck having a hauling bed includes an elongated cross bar, a pair of end plates, and a pair of fastening elements used to attach the security bar to the hauling bed. The elongated cross bar defines openings at each end. The pair of end plates cooperates, |
| 6863788 |
Interlocking wettable ceramic tiles |
March 8, 2005 |
| An electrolytic cell for the reduction of aluminum having a layer of interlocking cathode tiles positioned on a cathode block. Each tile includes a main body and a vertical restraining member to prevent movement of the tiles away from the cathode block during operation of the cell. The |
| 6860537 |
Door for a motor vehicle |
March 1, 2005 |
| The liftgate for a motor vehicle includes a frame member, an inner panel, and an outer panel. The frame member is a U-shaped member formed by a cross member and a pair of spaced apart legs extending from the cross member. The inner panel is connected to the legs and extends part way up |
| 6855234 |
Sinter-bonded direct pin connections for inert anodes |
February 15, 2005 |
| A sintered electrode assembly is made of an inert electrode (15) containing a sealed metal conductor (20) having a surface feature (30) such as a coating or wrapping which aids in bond formation with the inert electrode (15) at their interface (45), where the metal conductor (20) is dire |
| 6849101 |
Method using selected carbons to react with Al2O and Al vapors in the carbothermic production of |
February 1, 2005 |
| In a method for recovering Al from an off-gas (3,4) produced during carbothermic reduction of aluminum utilizing at least one smelter (1,2), the off-gas (3,4) is directed to an enclosed reactor (5) which is fed a supply of wood charcoal (7) having a porosity of from about 50 vol. % to |
| 6846001 |
Receiver for a trailer hitch |
January 25, 2005 |
| A vehicle trailer hitch including an aluminum tubular U-shaped strut and a cast aluminum receiver mounted thereto. Ends of the strut tube are flatted to form integral planar mounting flanges for mounting the hitch to a vehicle. |
| 6843865 |
Aluminum alloy product refinement and applications of aluminum alloy product refinement |
January 18, 2005 |
| A novel product composed of a ceramic phase particle dispersoid in metal, including uniformly distributed, finely sized carbide phase particles formed in situ in a molten metal and a novel method for producing such a ceramic phase particle dispersoid in metal are disclosed. A salt-based |
| 6843863 |
Aluminum alloys having improved cast surface quality |
January 18, 2005 |
| Aluminum alloy compositions are disclosed, which include small amounts of calcium that result in improved surface properties of the cast aluminum. The calcium, and up to 0.25% grain refiners, are added along with alkaline earth metals, transition metals and/or rare earth metals to the al |
| 6828526 |
Gas metal buried arc welding of lap-penetration joints |
December 7, 2004 |
| A method of welding continuous or intermittent lap-penetration joints using a gas metal buried arc (GMBA) welding process. A first component is GMBA welded to an underlying second metal component, by forming an arc between a consumable metal electrode and a surface of the first component |
| 6821312 |
Cermet inert anode materials and method of making same |
November 23, 2004 |
| A method of making cermet inert anodes for the electrolytic production of metals such as aluminum is disclosed. The method includes the step of spray drying a slurry comprising ceramic phase particles and metal phase particles. The resultant spray dried powder, which comprises agglomerat |
| 6818106 |
Inert anode assembly |
November 16, 2004 |
| A solid material (12') circumscribing an anode system (10) in an electrolysis apparatus is made from a mixture of cryolite and/or alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), where the solid material (12') contacts and surrounds the anodes (14, 14'). |
| 6808003 |
Coextruded products of aluminum foam and skin material |
October 26, 2004 |
| A method of operating a twin wheel conform metal extrusion device or a cladding extrusion device for producing a composite of an extruded metal shell bonded to a metal foam core. A metal feedstock is extruded through an extrusion die defining a cavity housing a hollow extrusion mandrel t |
| 6805777 |
Mechanical attachment of electrical current conductor to inert anodes |
October 19, 2004 |
| An inert anode (10) for use in an electrolysis process to make metals such as aluminum, contains a hollow interior with an open top portion (16), an interior closed bottom (18) and interior walls (19) where the top interior side walls (16) have at least one interior groove (20) which hel |
| 6805723 |
Method and reactor for production of aluminum by carbothermic reduction of alumina |
October 19, 2004 |
| A hollow partition wall is employed to feed carbon material to an underflow of a carbothermic reduction furnace used to make aluminum. The partition wall divides a low temperature reaction zone where aluminum oxide is reacted with carbon to form aluminum carbide and a high temperature |
| 6791056 |
Projection welding of an aluminum sheet |
September 14, 2004 |
| A projection coined onto a metal sheet, preferably an aluminum sheet, for projection welding the sheet to an adjacent metal sheet. The projection has a thickness greater than the thickness of the sheet on which it is formed. The wall of the projection surrounds a first recess and a secon |
| 6783836 |
Pretreated sheet product for lithographic plates |
August 31, 2004 |
| A lithographic sheet product having a substrate with a roll textured surface covered by a pretreatment layer. The pretreatment layer enhances adhesion of a printing composition to the sheet product and is composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of acrylic aci |
| 6783730 |
Al-Ni-Mn casting alloy for automotive and aerospace structural components |
August 31, 2004 |
| There is claimed an Al--Ni--Mn based alloy for die casting, squeeze casting, permanent mold casting, sand casting and/or semi-solid metal forming. The composition of this alloy includes, by weight percent: about 2-6% Ni, about 1-3% Mn, less than about 1% Fe, less than about 1% Si, the |
| 6773666 |
Al-Si-Mg-Mn casting alloy and method |
August 10, 2004 |
| An improved Al--Si--Mg--Mn casting alloy that consists essentially of: about 6.0-9.0 wt. % silicon, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % magnesium, about 0.1-1.2 wt. % manganese, less than about 0.15 wt. % iron, less than about 0.3 wt. % titanium and less than about 0.04 wt. % strontium, the balance alum |
| 6769733 |
Bulkhead assembly for a motor vehicle |
August 3, 2004 |
| The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment |
