IP Library Granted Patent US 8,784,998
Granted Patent B2
US 8,784,998 · App. 12/872,010 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Structure having nanophase titanium node and nanophase aluminum struts

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,784,998
App. No.
12/872,010
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A structure includes a nanophase titanium node and a plurality of nanophase aluminum struts. Each of the plurality of nanophase aluminum struts is bonded to the nanophase titanium node at a weld joint.

Claims (23)

1. A structure comprising:

a nanophase titanium node having a plurality of receivers spaced around a central portion of the nanophase titanium node;

a plurality of nanophase aluminum struts each having a nanophase aluminum tube; and

a nanophase titanium adapter bonded to an end of the nanophase aluminum tube, each nanophase titanium adapter being bonded to a respective one of the plurality of receivers of the nanophase titanium node at a respective weld butt joint, each nanophase titanium adapter having a first end and a second end, the second end being bonded to the respective one of the plurality of receivers at the respective weld butt joint, wherein the nanophase titanium node, nanophase titanium adapter, and nanophase aluminum struts have microstructural features that are less than 100 nanometers in size.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nanophase aluminum struts have a nominal composition of at least 0.2 wt.% of nitrogen, 88.7-98.7 wt. % of aluminum, and 1-11 wt. % of a metal selected from a group consisting of magnesium, lithium, silicon, titanium, zirconium and combinations thereof.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2 , wherein the nominal composition has 6-10.1 wt. % of an additional metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel and combinations thereof.

4. The structure as recited in claim 2 , wherein the nominal composition has 0.2-0.4 wt. % nitrogen.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nanophase titanium node has a nominal composition of 5.5-6.75 wt. % aluminum, 3.5-4.5 wt. % vanadium, 0.5-3.0 wt. % boron, and a balance of titanium.

6. The structure as recited in claim 5 , wherein the nominal composition has 1.6-3.0 wt. % boron.

7. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein each nanophase titanium adapter has a first cross sectional area at the first end and a second, greater cross sectional area at the second end.

8. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein each nanophase titanium adapter includes a flange that is joined to the nanophase titanium node at the respective weld butt joint.

9. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanophase aluminum struts each have a nanophase titanium adapter joined thereto at a strut weld joint, and each nanophase titanium adapter is joined to a respective one of a plurality of receivers of the nanophase titanium node at the respective weld butt joint, each the respective weld butt joint being spaced apart from the corresponding strut weld joint.

10. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the microstructural features are at least one of grain sizes, intermetallic phases and reinforcement phases.

11. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receivers extend outwardly, in respective directions, from the central portion of the node, and the direction of extension of one of the receivers is out-of-plane with respect to a plane containing the direction of extension of another one of the receivers.

12. A structure comprising:

a nanophase titanium node having a plurality of receivers spaced around a central portion of the nanophase titanium node;

a plurality of nanophase aluminum struts each having a nanophase aluminum tube; and

a nanophase titanium adapter metallurgically bonded to the nanophase aluminum tube, and each nanophase titanium adapter is metallurgically bonded to a respective one of the plurality of receivers at a respective weld butt joint, wherein the nanophase titanium node, nanophase titanium adapter, and nanophase aluminum struts have microstructural features that are less than 100 nanometers in size.

13. The structure as recited in claim 12 , wherein the nanophase aluminum struts have a nominal composition of at least 0.2wt. % of nitrogen, 88.7-98.7 wt. % of aluminum, and 1 -11 wt. % of a metal selected from a group consisting of magnesium, lithium, silicon, titanium, zirconium and combinations thereof.

14. The structure as recited in claim 12 , wherein the nanophase titanium node has a nominal composition of 5.5 -6.75 wt. % aluminum, 3.5 -4.5 wt. % vanadium, 0.5-3.0 wt. % boron, and a remainder of titanium.

15. The structure as recited in claim 12 , wherein each nanophase titanium adapter has a first cross sectional area at a first end and a second, greater cross sectional area at a second end, and the second end is bonded to the respective one of the plurality of receivers at the respective weld butt joint.

16. The structure as recited in claim 12 , wherein the microstructural features are at least one of grain sizes, intermetallic phases and reinforcement phases.

17. The structure as recited in claim 12 , wherein the plurality of receivers extend outwardly, in respective directions, from the central portion of the node, and the direction of extension of one of the receivers is out-of-plane with respect to a plane containing the direction of extension of another one of the receivers.

Assignments (7)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AS SUCCESSOR AGENT TO WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.), AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE OF DE, INC. (F/K/A PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.)
Reel/Frame 064424/0050 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2016
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE OF DE, INC. (F/K/A PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.)
Reel/Frame 039597/0890 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) Recorded Jun 20, 2016
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE RESIGNING AGENT
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 039079/0857 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2013
From: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
To: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE OF DE, INC.
Reel/Frame 030902/0313 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 21, 2013
From: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 030656/0615 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2013
From: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 030628/0408 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2010
From: CAP, DANIEL P.; BHATTACHARYA, ARUNABH
To: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
Reel/Frame 024913/0662 →