(19)

(11)

EP 1 037 723 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.09.2000 Bulletin 2000/39 (21) Application number: 98954659.3 (22) Date of filing: 27.11.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B22C 7/02, B22C 9/04 (86) International application number: PCT/IB9801/887 (87) International publication number: WO 9929/451 (17.06.1999 Gazette 1999/24)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 08.12.1997 US 986861 (71) Applicant: Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI 53202 (US)	(72) Inventor: TOBIN, James Robert Blue Ash, OH 45236 (US) (74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & SchwanhäusserAnwaltssozietät  Maximilianstrasse 58 80538 München 80538 München (DE)