Apparatus and method for strengthening articles of manufacture through cryogenic thermal cycling
DCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus for strengthening an article of manufacture by a cryogenic process, a source of cryogenic material connected to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a bottom portion having a means for prohibiting thermal conduction disposed between an outer and inner shell and defining an inner cavity, the article of manufacture disposed within the inner cavity during the cryogenic process;
b) a lid mating with the bottom portion for sealing the inner cavity from ambient air;
c) means for connecting to an electrical power supply;
d) means for preventing thermal conduction between the inner and outer shells during the cryogenic process disposed between the bottom portion and the lid when the lid seals the inner cavity;
e) means for evacuating ambient air from within the inner cavity when the lid seals the inner cavity;
f) means for introducing the source of cryogenic material into the inner cavity;
g) means for introducing heat into the inner cavity;
h) means for providing airflow convection within the inner cavity; and
i) means for controlling a profile of the cryogenic process.
6 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for subjecting articles of manufacture to a cryogenic thermal cycling process includes a bottom portion and a lid. The bottom portion comprises an outer and inner tank separated by a plurality of insulation layers. The inner tank defines an inner cavity wherein the articles are subjected to the cryogenic process. A thermal break is provided between the lid and bottom portion so that the temperature of the inner cavity does not conduct to the outer tank of the apparatus bottom portion. The process conducted in the apparatus is controlled by a pre-programmed profile inputted by a key controller or PC. Liquid nitrogen is the preferred cryogenic material to be employed. The novel process subjects the article to extreme negative temperatures thereafter cycling the article between a set of negative temperatures for a number of cycles. The process is completed by heating the article to an extreme positive temperature and then allowed to cool to ambient room temperature. The novel cryogenic thermal cycling process strengthens the article by realigning its molecular structure to eliminate micro-cracking and other manufacturing deforming characteristics.
28 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for strengthening an article of manufacture by a cryogenic process, a source of cryogenic material connected to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a bottom portion having a means for prohibiting thermal conduction disposed between an outer and inner shell and defining an inner cavity, the article of manufacture disposed within the inner cavity during the cryogenic process;
b) a lid mating with the bottom portion for sealing the inner cavity from ambient air;
c) means for connecting to an electrical power supply;
d) means for preventing thermal conduction between the inner and outer shells during the cryogenic process disposed between the bottom portion and the lid when the lid seals the inner cavity;
e) means for evacuating ambient air from within the inner cavity when the lid seals the inner cavity;
f) means for introducing the source of cryogenic material into the inner cavity;
g) means for introducing heat into the inner cavity;
h) means for providing airflow convection within the inner cavity; and
i) means for controlling a profile of the cryogenic process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a) at least one hinge connecting a lower back side edge of the lid to an upper back side edge of the bottom portion;
b) at least one clamp for securing the lid to the bottom portion; and
c) a pair of bracing members disposed at opposed side walls of the apparatus to hold the lid in an open and locked position.
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3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion outer shell defines an outer tank and the bottom portion inner shell defines an inner tank, the means for prohibiting thermal conduction comprising a plurality of insulating layers disposed between the outer and inner tanks.
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4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of insulating layers comprises:
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a) at least one layer of blueboard juxtaposed a stainless steel shell of the outer tank;
b) a layer of foam juxtaposed the at least one layer of blueboard;
c) a layer of aluminum tape juxtaposed the layer of foam;
d) a layer of ceramic-fiber insulation juxtaposed the layer of aluminum tape; and
e) a stainless steel shell of the inner tank juxtaposed the layer of ceramic fiber insulation.
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5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises an outer and inner shell and a means for prohibiting thermal conduction disposed therebetween.
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6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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a) the bottom portion having opposed left and right outer side walls;
b) a controller housing mounted along the bottom portion left outer side wall, the controller housing enclosing a plurality of electrical components that comprise the means for controlling a profile of the cryogenic process, and c) the means for connecting to an electrical power supply electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical components that comprise the means for controlling a profile of the cryogenic process.
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7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing thermal conduction between the inner and outer shells comprises a pair of bead members, one each mounted on the lid and the bottom portion.
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8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for introducing the source of cryogenic material into the inner cavity is at least one sparger assembly mounted within the bottom portion inner cavity, the at least one sparger assembly coupled to the source of cryogenic material.
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9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for introducing heat into the inner cavity is at least one heater mounted within the bottom portion inner cavity.
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10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for providing airflow convection within the inner cavity is at least one fan mounted within the bottom portion inner cavity.
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11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling a profile of the cryogenic process is capable of automatically operating the means for evacuating ambient air from within the inner cavity, the means for introducing the source of cryogenic material into the inner cavity, the means for introducing heat into the inner cavity and the means for providing airflow convection within the inner cavity.
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12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bracing means mounted within an outer surface of the apparatus for prohibiting the implosion of the bottom portion inner shell.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bracing means comprises:
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a) a first bracing member supporting a short span of the inner cavity; and
b) a second bracing member supporting a long span of the inner cavity.
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14. An apparatus for realigning a molecular structure of an article of manufacture by a cryogenic process, a source of cryogenic material connected to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a bottom portion having a plurality of insulating layers disposed between an outer and inner tank, the inner tank defining an inner cavity, the article of manufacture disposed within the inner cavity during the cryogenic process;
b) a lid mating with the bottom portion for sealing the inner cavity from ambient air;
c) an electrical connection to a power supply;
d) a pair of bead members, one each mounted on the lid and the bottom portion, the pair of bead members preventing thermal conduction from the inner tank and inner cavity out to the ambient air through the outer tank and the lid;
e) at least one cryogenic material deployment unit mounted within the inner cavity and coupled to the source of cryogenic material;
f) at least one heater mounted within the inner cavity for ramping the temperature within the inner cavity upwards;
g) at least one fan mounted within the inner cavity for providing airflow convention thereto;
h) a controller unit electrically coupled to the apparatus for controlling a programmed cryogenic process profile; and
i) means for evacuating ambient air from within the inner cavity when the lid seals the inner cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a) a continuous hinge connecting the bottom portion to the lid;
b) a set of clamps mounted along a front side of the lid for mating with a set of reciprocal latches mounted along a front side of the bottom portion outer tank;
c) a pair of bracing members disposed at opposed sides of the apparatus for holding the lid in an open and locked position; and
d) a pair of handles mounted along the front side of the lid for pivoting the lid upon the continuous hinge.
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16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of insulating layers comprises:
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a) at least one layer of blueboard juxtaposed a stainless steel shell of the outer tank;
b) a layer of foam juxtaposed the at least one layer of blueboard;
c) a layer of aluminum tape juxtaposed the layer of foam;
d) a layer of ceramic-fiber insulation juxtaposed the layer of aluminum tape; and
e) a stainless steel shell of the inner tank juxtaposed the layer of ceramic fiber insulation.
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17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lid comprises an outer and inner shell and a plurality of insulating layers disposed therebetween.
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18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a removable insulating barrier for dividing the inner cavity into a pair of separated smaller cavities, each separated smaller cavity capable of operating an independent cryogenic process.
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19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:
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a) the inner cavity having a rectangular shape and including a pair of opposed inner side walls;
a) the at least one cryogenic material deployment unit comprising a pair of sparger assemblies, one each mounted on the inner cavity opposed inner side walls;
b) the at least one heater comprising a pair of heaters, one each mounted on the inner cavity opposed inner side walls; and
c) the at least one fan comprising a pair of fans, one each mounted on the inner cavity opposed inner side walls.
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20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a pair of shrouds, one each mounted on the inner cavity opposed inner side walls such that each shroud covers one fan and one heater, each shroud having a plurality of holes formed therein directly in front of each heater.
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21. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a pair of bracing members, a first bracing member supporting a short span of the inner cavity and a second bracing member supporting a long span of the inner cavity.
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22. A cryogenic process for strengthening a mass of an article of manufacture, the cryogenic process conducted in an apparatus having a submersion tank, a lid for sealing the submersion tank, a cryogenic material source supply means, an electrical power supply and a cryogenic process controller means, the apparatus connected to a source of cryogenic material, the cryogenic process comprising the steps of:
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a) placing the article within the apparatus submersion tank at ambient room temperature;
b) shutting the apparatus lid to seal the submersion tank;
c) introducing the cryogenic material into the submersion tank through the cryogenic material source supply means such that the submersion tank temperature ramps down to a first target temperature of at least −
80°
Fahrenheit at a first temperature ramp rate;
d) permitting the article to soak at the first target temperature for a first period of time;
e) ramping the temperature of the submersion tank up to a second target temperature not to exceed 0°
Fahrenheit at a second temperature ramp rate;
f) permitting the article to soak at the second target temperature for a second period of time;
g) cycling the submersion tank temperature between the first and second target temperatures at least one additional time at the first and second temperature ramping rates and the first and second period of soak times;
h) ramping the temperature of the submersion tank up to a third target temperature of at least ambient room temperature at a third temperature ramp rate;
i) permitting the article to soak at the third target temperature for a third period of time; and
j) permitting the article to return to ambient room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a) providing a submersion tank air evacuating means; and
b) activating the submersion tank air evacuating means thereby evacuating all ambient air from within the submersion tank.
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29. A method of strengthening a metal article of manufacture through a cryogenic process, the steps of the method comprising:
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a) subjecting the article to a cryogenic material such that the temperature of the article is ramped down from an ambient room temperature to a first target temperature of −
280°
Fahrenheit at a rate of 5°
Fahrenheit per minute;
b) soaking the article at the first target temperature for fifteen minutes;
c) ramping the temperature of the article up to a second target temperature of −
100°
Fahrenheit at a rate of 5°
Fahrenheit per minute;
d) soaking the article at the second target temperature for fifteen minutes;
e) cycling the article four more times between the first and second target temperatures at a rate of 5°
Fahrenheit per minute and permitting the article to soak for fifteen minutes each time the article reaches either the first or second target temperature;
f) ramping the temperature of the article back down to the first target temperature of −
280°
Fahrenheit at a rate of 5°
Fahrenheit per minute;
g) soaking the article at the first target temperature for fifteen minutes;
h) ramping the temperature of the article up to a third target temperature of +350°
Fahrenheit at a rate of 5°
Fahrenheit per minute;
i) soaking the article at the third target temperature for fifteen minutes; and
j) permitting the article to return to ambient room temperature.
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Specification