Other

Chesapeake Composites Corporation

Alexander M Brown

Eric M Klier

Norman M Earl

Metal-matrix composites and methods for producing these composites are provided. The manufacturing methods include providing a ceramic preform having a uniform distribution of ceramic particles sintered to one another. The particles include an average particle size of no greater than about 3 microns, and at least one half of the volume of the preform is occupied by porosity. The preform is then disposed into a mold and contacted by molten metal. The molten metal is then forced into the pores of the preform and permitted to solidify to form a solid metal-matrix composite. This composite is machinable with a high-speed steel (HSS) bit for greater than about 1 minute without excessive wear occurring to the bit. This invention preferably employs metal-matrixes including Al, Li, Be, Pb, He, Au, Sn, Mg, Ti, Cu, and Zn. Preferred ceramics include oxides, borides, nitrides, carbides, carbon, or a mixture thereof. Inert gas pressures of less than about 3,000 psi can be used to easily infiltrate the preforms.

Machinable metal-matrix composite

Machinable metal-matrix composite and liquid metal infiltration process

A pressure sealing zipper comprising a gasket assembled to an interdigitating zipper chain which uses a slider without a diamond to penetrate between the interlocking portions of the elements. On one side of the zipper chain, a single plate slider tracks in slots adjacent the zipper tape and maintains the elements in coplanar relationship by contacting the elements both directly and indirectly through the zipper tape. The sealing gasket is carried by the elements on the side opposite the slider. This construction permits the slider to terminate above the gasket opening in a closed end sealing zipper.

Sealing zipper

A wild bird feeder with separate compartments and adjustable dispensing means for seeds of various sizes so that a greater variety of the preferred smaller birds can feed. Novel means are also provided for protecting the seed from rain and from destructive animals and for providing adjustable perches to attract the preferred smaller birds and to permit either hanging or post mounting of the feeder.

Bird feeders

A method of forming an interdigitating fastener having an extruded slit core strip embedded in an extruded slit carrier strip. The core strip is slit in a serpentine manner to define interdigitating exposed portions and includes mechanical interlocking means for retaining each half of the slit core strip in the corresponding carrier strip portion to define a pair of separable assemblies adapted to be connected together and separated selectively by means of an associated slider. In one form the slider is provided with a wedging diamond which extends sufficiently to engage the carrier above and below the core strip and in a second form the slider includes a diamond which engages only the carrier strip outwardly of one face of the core strip. The fastener is economically manufactured by extruding the core strip, slitting the extruded core strip to define the serpentine interdigitating portions, extruding a carrier strip about the slit core strip and slitting the carrier strip to define a pair of core and carrier strip assemblies.

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Daytona Beach, FL, United States of America

Alexander M Brown