Abstract: A piercing fastener is attachable to a panel without a hole by penetrating its surface. The fastener further includes means for attachment of a device to it so that the fastener acts as an intermediate component attaching the device to the panel. The fastener has either male or female attachment means and further includes an outside surface extending from a top end to a bottom end. Near the bottom end, a reinforcement collar includes an annular top surface for receiving a downward pressing force to install the fastener into the panel. A displacer and undercut are located immediately below the collar to effect and receive a cold flow of deformed panel material to secure the fastener to the panel. A plurality of axially extending circumferential teeth are located immediately below the undercut and comprise triangular knurls with sharp edges which penetrate the sheet as the fastener is applied. The bottom of the fastener terminates in a sharp circular cutting edge for penetrating the panel.

Abstract: A method for use with a coating process includes depositing a ceramic coating on a substrate within a coating chamber. Prior to depositing the ceramic coating, an electron beam source is used to heat a ceramic material. The ceramic material radiates heat to heat a substrate to an oxidation temperature to form an oxide layer on the substrate. A desired evaporation rate of the ceramic material is established during the heating to thereby provide an improved ceramic coating.

Abstract: A method for providing a component with protection against sand related distress comprises the steps of: providing a substrate; and forming a thermal barrier coating system by depositing at least one layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of a zirconate, a hafnate, a titanate, and mixtures thereof, which first material has been mixed with at least one oxide so that each layer contains from about 25 to 99 wt% of at least one oxide.

Abstract: A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A material is applied to a part. The part is placed in a deposition chamber and a first electric potential is applied to the part. Components are evaporated for forming the material. The evaporated components are ionized. The first electric potential is modulated so as to draw the ionized component to the part. The modulation comprises a plurality of first steps for PA-PVD. Each of the first steps comprises a series of pulses of negative potential. The modulation further comprises a plurality of second steps for PVD alternating with the first steps.

Abstract: A fastening system for a heat sink mounted on a circuit board utilizes a self-clinching stud assembly constructed by axially interfitting two flat sheet metal members. Each member has forked ends which when axially plugged together in criss-cross fashion create a unified fastener with side structures that can permanently clinch into a heat sink. After attachment to the heat sink, the stud presents two opposite attachment ends with tines which extend from the top and bottom of the heat sink. As finally assembled, a fan attaches to the top end of the studs above the heat sink while the opposite end of the stud which extends from the bottom of the heat sink passes through the circuit board to attach to a retaining leaf spring which presses against the back side of the board. Thus, all of the components are joined by a single stud.

Abstract: A method for providing a component with protection against sand related distress includes the steps of: providing a substrate; depositing a layer of a yttria-stabilized zirconia material on the substrate; and forming a molten silicate resistant outer layer over the yttria-stabilized zirconia material.

Abstract: A metallic coating for use in a high temperature application is created from a nickel base alloy containing from 5.0 to 10.5 wt % aluminum, from 4.0 to 15 wt % chromium, from 2.0 to 8.0 wt % tungsten, from 3.0 to 10 wt % tantalum, and the balance nickel. The metallic coating has particular utility in protecting single crystal superalloys used in high temperature applications such as turbine engine components.

Abstract: A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94).

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating system for use on a turbine engine component which reduces sand related distress is provided. The coating system comprises at least one first layer of a stabilized material selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, and titania and at least one second layer containing at least one of oxyapatite and garnet. Where the coating system comprises multiple first layers and multiple second layers, the layers are formed or deposited in an alternating manner.

Abstract: An article includes a metallic substrate and a tri-layer thermal barrier coating that is deposited on the metallic substrate. The tri-layer thermal barrier coating includes an inner ceramic layer, an outermost ceramic layer relative to the metallic substrate, and an intermediate ceramic layer between the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer. The inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer are composed of respective first and second ceramic materials and the intermediate ceramic layers composed of a third, different ceramic material. The inner ceramic layer has a first thickness, the outermost ceramic layer has a second thickness, and the intermediate ceramic layer has a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness and the second thickness.

Abstract: A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A turbine engine component has a substrate, a thermal barrier coating deposited onto the substrate, and a sealing layer of ceramic material on an outer surface of the thermal barrier coating for limiting molten sand penetration.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine casing concentrically disposed around the following: a low pressure compressor; a turbine; and a high pressure compressor having at least one bleed tube and at least one joint proximate to the engine casing; and at least one flame prevention device adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one gas turbine engine component.

Abstract: A turbine engine component has a substrate, a thermal barrier coating deposited onto the substrate, and a sealing layer of ceramic material on an outer surface of the thermal barrier coating for limiting molten sand penetration.

Abstract: A fastening system for a heat sink mounted on a circuit board utilizes a self-clinching stud assembly constructed by axially interfitting two flat sheet metal members. Each member has forked ends which when axially plugged together in criss-cross fashion create a unified fastener with side structures that can permanently clinch into a heat sink. After attachment to the heat sink, the stud presents two opposite attachment ends with tines which extend from the top and bottom of the heat sink. As finally assembled, a fan attaches to the top end of the studs above the heat sink while the opposite end of the stud which extends from the bottom of the heat sink passes through the circuit board to attach to a retaining leaf spring which presses against the back side of the board. Thus, all of the components are joined by a single stud.

Abstract: A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94).

Abstract: A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94).

Abstract: Portable devices for mitigating the accumulation and localized settling of airborne particulates are provided. The devices establish airflow patterns which push or carry various airborne particulates outwardly away therefrom, thereby establishing a localized zone having relatively fewer airborne particulates. Correspondingly, each the devices establishes a localized zone, defined circumferentially about the perimeter of the device, in which there is relatively less surface accumulation of particulates which were previously airborne and settled out. The devices establish such airflow patterns by proving a fan which draws a volume of air axially through a top portion of the device, then pushes the volume of air axially down through the device where it is radially emitted from the bottom portion of the device, defining a circumferentially expanding plane of airflow.

Abstract: A turbine engine component is provided which has a substrate and a thermal barrier coating applied over the substrate. The thermal barrier coating comprises alternating layers of yttria-stabilized zirconia and a molten silicate resistant material. The molten silicate resistant outer layer may be formed from at least one oxide of a material selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, indium, zirconium, hafnium, and titanium or may be formed from a gadolinia-stabilized zirconia. If desired, a metallic bond coat may be present between the substrate and the thermal barrier coating system. A method for forming the thermal barrier coating system of the present invention is described.