Patents by Inventor Richard E. Serpa

Richard E. Serpa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Components made of hardenable and non-hardenable materials
    Patent number: 5248241
    Abstract: A component is provided with a relative undersize in an area to be subjected to increased stress, for instance, through temperature. The component is made of a hardenable steel. The undersize is overlaid with a non-hardenable steel thereby to provide the full size. A second layer on top of the first layer can be provided. When the second layer is metallurgically bonded in a manner that generates heat, it does not cause a heat affected zone in the base hardenable steel. Blades for steam turbines benefit from this procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Southern California Edison Co.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Ortolano, Kenneth A. Ball, Richard E. Serpa, John P. Pepe, Patrick O. Smith
  • Prevention of cone seal failures in rock bits
    Patent number: 4496013
    Abstract: There is provided a rock bit comprising a bit body having a dome and a plurality of legs, each with a journal pin. A cutter cone is mounted on each journal pin with a cone seal between the journal pin and cutter cone. A sacrificial anode is attached to the dome of the bit body having a shape for diverting flow of drilling mud around the cutter cones. Preferred shapes of the sacrificial anode include inverted cones and tetrahedrons. The sacrificial anode prevents cone seal failures caused by corrosion of the bit body adjacent the cone seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Serpa