Patents Assigned to Howmet Research Corporation
  • Publication number: 20040037958
    Abstract: CVD aluminide coatings including a small concentration of a reactive, gettering element for surface active impurities dispersed therein are formed for improved oxidation resistance. The aluminide coatings are formed by CVD codeposition of Al and the gettering element on the substrate using coating gases for the gettering element generated either outside or inside the coating retort depending on the chlorination temperature needed for the particular gettering element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce M. Warnes, David C. Punola, Jeffery S. Smith, Daniel L. Near
  • Publication number: 20040038069
    Abstract: CVD aluminide coatings including a small concentration of a reactive, gettering element for surface active impurities dispersed therein are formed for improved oxidation resistance. The aluminide coatings are formed by CVD codeposition of Al and the gettering element on the substrate using coating gases for the gettering element generated either outside or inside the coating retort depending on the chlorination temperature needed for the particular gettering element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce M. Warnes, David C. Punola, Jeffery S. Smith, Daniel L. Near
  • Patent number: 6689422
    Abstract: CVD aluminide coatings including a small concentration of a reactive, gettering element for surface active impurities dispersed therein are formed for improved oxidation resistance. The aluminide coatings are formed by CVD codeposition of Al and the gettering element on the substrate using coating gases for the gettering element generated either outside or inside the coating retort depending on the chlorination temperature needed for the particular gettering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce M. Warnes, David C. Punola, Jeffery S. Smith, Daniel L. Near
  • Patent number: 6689487
    Abstract: A ceramic thermal barrier coating on a substrate wherein the coating comprises primary columnar grains that extend transversely of a surface of the substrate and that include integral secondary columnar grains extending laterally therefrom relative to a respective column axis. The secondary columnar grains typically extend from the primary columnar grains at an acute angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the column axis of the primary columnar grains. The coating structure exhibits reduced thermal conductivity as compared to a conventional thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040011439
    Abstract: Directionally solidified columnar grain nickel base alloy casting consisting essentially of, in weight %, of about 11.6% to 12.70% Cr, about 8.50 to 9.5% Co, about 1.65% to 2.15% Mo, about 3.5% to 4.10% W, about 4.80% to 5.20% Ta, about 3.40 to 3.80% Al, about 3.9% to 4.25% Ti, about 0.05% to 0.11% C, about 0.003% to 0.015% B, balance essentially Ni and having substantial transverse stress rupture strength and ductility as compared to a similar casting without boron present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicants: Howmet Research Corporation, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: John Corrigan, Russell G. Vogt, John R. Mihalisin, John K. Bennett, Uwe Paul, Christoph Mayr, Winfried Esser
  • Publication number: 20040007296
    Abstract: A single crystal casting is cast from a nickel base superalloy including Cr, Co, Mo, W, Ta, Al, Ti, Re and Hf as alloying elements with C increased effective to substantially reduce formation of a solidification-driven, as-cast eutectic/secondary phase scale metallurgically bonded to the casting when the alloy is cast as a single crystal and to reduce recrystallized grains when the casting is solution heat treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Mihalisin, John Corrigan, Gilbert M. Gratti, Russell G. Vogt
  • Publication number: 20030213576
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic shell mold comprises repeatedly coating a fugitive pattern of an article to be cast with a ceramic slurry layer and applying on the ceramic slurry layer a refractory stucco to form a plurality of ceramic slurry layers and stucco layers on the pattern wherein at least one of the stucco layers is formed by applying discontinuous stucco fibers followed by applying a granular stucco particles on the discontinuous stucco fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Xi Yang
  • Patent number: 6648060
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic shell mold comprises repeatedly coating a fugitive pattern of an article to be cast with a ceramic slurry layer and applying on the ceramic slurry layer a refractory stucco to form a plurality of ceramic slurry layers and stucco layers on the pattern wherein at least one of the stucco layers is formed by applying discontinuous stucco fibers followed by applying a granular stucco particles on the discontinuous stucco fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Xi Yang
  • Patent number: 6640877
    Abstract: Molten metallic material is cast into a mold that is made with a barrier to reduce gas permeability through a mold wall that forms on its innermost side a mold surface for contacting the molten metallic material. The molten metallic material is gravity cast into the mold residing in a furnace in a casting chamber under a first pressure, such as subambient pressure. Then, a gaseous pressure is provided in the casting chamber higher than the first pressure rapidly enough to reduce or eliminate the presence of localized voids in the casting solidified in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Soderstrom, Bart M. Kilinski, John R. Brinegar, Brad J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6626230
    Abstract: Method making a multi-wall ceramic core for use in casting airfoils, such as turbine blades and vanes, wherein a fugitive pattern is formed having multiple thin wall pattern elements providing internal wall-forming spaces of a final core, the pattern is placed in a core molding die cavity having a desired core configuration, a fluid ceramic material is introduced into the die cavity about the pattern and between the pattern elements to form a ceramic core, and the core is removed from the die cavity. The fugitive pattern is selectively removed from the core to provide a multi-wall green core. The green core then is fired to develop core strength for casting and used to form an investment casting mold for casting an airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Harry A. Woodrum, William E. Sikkenga
  • Publication number: 20030141030
    Abstract: An investment casting method using a pattern material with substantially spherical filler particulates is used to produce investment cast components with iproved surface quality, reduced finishing costs, and reduced core breakage. The pattern material comprises substantially spherical particles within the particle size range of about 10 microns to about 70 microns particle diameter, the use of which reduces the number of random, localized surface depressions and pits to improve pattern surface texture and uniformity. Patterns so formed inpart the same improvements to the surface of subsequent investment cast components. The resulting castings exbibit improved as-cast surface finish and reduced random, localized surface pitting, thereby reducing or eliminating expensive post casting surface finishing operations. Moreover, the spherical morphology of the filler particulates reduces injection pressures to fill a pattern die cavity as compared to non-spherical filler particulates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vihtelic, Alan J. Graham, Robert L. McCormick, Laura A. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6589668
    Abstract: Method for forming on a superalloy or other metallic substrate a platinum graded, outward single phase diffusion aluminide coating on a surface of the substrate by depositing a layer comprising Pt on the substrate and then gas phase aluminizing the substrate in a coating chamber having a solid source of aluminum (e.g. aluminum alloy particulates) disposed therein close enough to the surface of the substrate to form at an elevated substrate coating temperature a diffusion aluminide coating having an inner diffusion zone and outer additive single (Ni,Pt)Al phase layer having a concentration of platinum that is relatively higher at an outermost coating region than at an innermost coating region adjacent the diffusion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Braithwaite, Vincent J. Russo, Lloyd W. Cannon, Thomas P. Slavin
  • Patent number: 6588484
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic core is provided wherein the ceramic core is grit blasted using abrasive grit media particulates directed at the core through a preformed apertured mask or pattern to impart a controlled pattern of surface concavities to the core surface by impingement of the abrasive grit media thereon. Another method of making a ceramic casting core is provided wherein the ceramic core is formed in a molding die having a fugitive textured mask or a permanent textured insert positioned on the die surface to impart a controlled surface texture or roughness to the core surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Ervin Fosaaen, Rodney S. Haaland
  • Publication number: 20030111203
    Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Mertins
  • Patent number: 6578623
    Abstract: Method of making a ceramic core for casting an industrial gas turbine engine airfoil having a large airfoil pitch by forming a precursor core (chill) of smaller dimensions than the final desired ceramic core, firing the chill, applying a thin ceramic skin to the fired chill to form a coated core of final dimensions, and then firing the coated core. Firing of the thin ceramic skin reduces airfoil pitch shrinkage resulting from the latter firing operation to reduce overall core dimensional tolerance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Julie A. Faison
  • Patent number: 6568458
    Abstract: A ceramic investment shell mold is reinforced with a carbon based fibrous reinforcement having an extremely high tensile strength that increases as the mold temperature is increased especially within the range of casting temperatures employed for casting large directionally solidified industrial gas turbine components. The carbon based fibrous reinforcement is wrapped or otherwise positioned around the repeating ceramic slurry/stucco layers forming the intermediate thickness of the shell mold wall. The reinforced shell mold can be used to cast large directionally solidified industrial gas turbine components with accurate dimensional control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Rajeev V. Naik, John Corrigan
  • Publication number: 20030075296
    Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Mertins
  • Publication number: 20030075298
    Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Mertins
  • Publication number: 20030072872
    Abstract: Stucco tower and method for applying ceramic particulates to a ceramic slurry coated pattern involves positioning the ceramic slurry coated pattern in a chamber, discharging ceramic particulates downwardly onto the ceramic slurry coated pattern, and circulating air through air circulation plenums from a lower region of the chamber to an upper region thereof as the ceramic particulates are discharged. An air curtain is provided at an access opening to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Adair, Allen W. Ely, Qizhong Diao
  • Publication number: 20030066619
    Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Mertins