Patents by Inventor Thomas Stong
Thomas Stong 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).
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Publication number: 20220333687Abstract: An unchamfered piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Thomas STONG, Andrea C. PAUL, Alexander S. COOPER
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Patent number: 10563764Abstract: A piston ring is formed from a steel substrate consisting of the carbon in a range of 0.80-0.95 wt. %, silicon in a range of 0.30-0.55 wt. %, manganese in a range of 0.25-0.5 wt. %, phosphorus in a range of up to 0.04 wt. %, sulfur in a range of up to 0.04 wt. %, chromium in a range of 17-18 wt. %, molybdenum in a range of 0.70-1.25 wt. %, vanadium in a range of 0.05-0.15%, the remainder iron. The ring has been through hardened and tempered so that it has a hardness of 46-54 HRC. A coating is then applied via PVD or other suitable methods onto the ring surface to create the finished piston ring.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Alexander Cooper, Robert Piccard, Thomas Smith, Thomas Stong
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Publication number: 20190368607Abstract: An unchamfered piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Thomas STONG, Andrea C. PAUL, Alexander S. Cooper
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Publication number: 20180340612Abstract: A piston ring is formed from a steel substrate consisting of the carbon in a range of 0.80-0.95 wt. %, silicon in a range of 0.30-0.55 wt. %, manganese in a range of 0.25-0.5 wt. %, phosphorus in a range of up to 0.04 wt. %, sulfur in a range of up to 0.04 wt. %, chromium in a range of 17-18 wt. %, molybdenum in a range of 0.70-1.25 wt. %, vanadium in a range of 0.05-0.15%, the remainder iron. The ring has been through hardened and tempered so that it has a hardness of 46-54 HRC. A coating is then applied via PVD or other suitable methods onto the ring surface to create the finished piston ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2017Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Alexander COOPER, Robert PICCARD, Thomas SMITH, Thomas STONG
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Patent number: 10077737Abstract: Exemplary pistons and methods are disclosed. A method may include depositing a scuff and seizure resistant material via a thermal spray method on the surface of a piston pin bore used in internal combustion engines. Exemplary pistons may have a crown and a skirt. The piston crown may define a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl, the skirt supporting the crown, the skirt including a pair of pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a pin bore configured to receive a piston pin, each pin bore defining a pin bore surface extending circumferentially about the piston pin bore, the bore surface formed of a first material. The method may further include applying a coating comprising at least a second material different from the first material to the pin bore surfaces using a thermal spray process.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Mahel International GmbHInventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas J. Smith
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Patent number: 10030773Abstract: A piston ring for a piston of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The piston ring comprises a body having an outer contact surface. A tribological coating is formed on the outer contact surface of the body. The tribological coating comprises a quaternary Cr—V—Ti—N system. In one form, the tribological coating is deposited on the outer contact surface of the body as a stack of multiple layers.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas Smith
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Publication number: 20170254418Abstract: A piston ring for a piston of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The piston ring comprises a body having an outer contact surface. A tribological coating is formed on the outer contact surface of the body. The tribological coating comprises a quaternary Cr—V—Ti—N system. In one form, the tribological coating is deposited on the outer contact surface of the body as a stack of multiple layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas Smith
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Patent number: 9611532Abstract: Various methods including applying a coating material with an additive to an article are disclosed. The coating material may be in a powder form before a thermal spraying used to apply the coating material. The coating material may comprise a chromium nitride, a chromium carbide, a chromium silicide, or a tungsten carbide. Additional materials may be added, e.g., a molybdenum alloy such as molybdenum-chromium. In one aspect, thermal spraying includes melting the coating material, propelling the molten coating material toward the article to be coated, and coating the article with the molten coating material. In another aspect, the coated article is one or more piston rings.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas Smith, Jason Bieneman
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Patent number: 9599148Abstract: A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: David Domanchuk, Michael T. Lapp, Wolfgang Rein, Christopher Hall, Thomas Stong
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Publication number: 20150211437Abstract: Exemplary pistons and methods are disclosed. A method may include depositing a scuff and seizure resistant material via a thermal spray method on the surface of a piston pin bore used in internal combustion engines. Exemplary pistons may have a crown and a skirt. The piston crown may define a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl, the skirt supporting the crown, the skirt including a pair of pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a pin bore configured to receive a piston pin, each pin bore defining a pin bore surface extending circumferentially about the piston pin bore, the bore surface formed of a first material. The method may further include applying a coating comprising at least a second material different from the first material to the pin bore surfaces using a thermal spray process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas J. Smith
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Publication number: 20150074999Abstract: A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: David Domanchuk, Michael T. Lapp, Wolfgang Rein, Christopher Hall, Thomas Stong
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Publication number: 20150010776Abstract: Various methods including applying a coating material with an additive to an article are disclosed. The coating material may be in a powder form before a thermal spraying used to apply the coating material. The coating material may comprise a chromium nitride, a chromium carbide, a chromium silicide, or a tungsten carbide. Additional materials may be added, e.g., a molybdenum alloy such as molybdenum-chromium. In one aspect, thermal spraying includes melting the coating material, propelling the molten coating material toward the article to be coated, and coating the article with the molten coating material. In another aspect, the coated article is one or more piston rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Thomas Stong, Thomas Smith, Jason Bieneman
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Patent number: 8893580Abstract: A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: David Domanchuk, Michael T. Lapp, Wolfgang Rein, Christopher Hall, Thomas Stong, Thomas J. Smith
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Publication number: 20140234549Abstract: Some embodiments comprise systems, methods, compositions, and apparatus including, but not limited to, thermally sprayed titanium-nitride ceramic particles encapsulated in one of several pure metals or metallic alloys; for producing a high wear-resistant coating on the contacting friction surfaces of machined component parts, including among them, piston rings, piston connecting rods and cylinder liners.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: THOMAS J. SMITH, Thomas Stong
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Publication number: 20130091980Abstract: A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Inventors: David Domanchuk, Michael T. Lapp, Wolfgang Rein, Christopher Hall, Thomas Stong, Thomas J. Smith
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Publication number: 20130064490Abstract: A sliding bearing surface may have at least one thermal spray coating applied to the bearing surface to form a sliding bearing lining layer. A method of forming the sliding bearing lining, the method comprising applying the thermal spray coating to the bearing surface uses a thermal spray technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: Ronald G. Brock, II, Daniel M. Lonowski, David Domanchuk, Thomas Stong
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Publication number: 20130025561Abstract: A piston including a piston crown, the piston crown having a combustion surface that further defines a combustion bowl rim area and a bowl root area. A thermal spray coating is applied to the bowl rim and/or the bowl root area of the piston to increase the resistance of the piston to thermal mechanical fatigue. The thermal spray coating may be metal or alloy based and may be applied using any suitable process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Dieter Gabriel, Wolfgang Rein, Thomas Stong, David Domanchuk, Thomas J. Smith
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Publication number: 20120180747Abstract: Thermal spray coatings are described herein. The coatings include at least one base material having a thickness. Within at least a portion of the thickness is a dispersion of solid lubricant particles. The thermal spray coatings may be applied to at least a portion of a component that has a mating surface with another component. The mating surface may cause the thermal spray coating to wear down and become thinner. As the coating becomes thinner, particles of solid lubricant entrapped deeper within in the base material become exposed and impart friction reducing properties to the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: David Domanchuk, Thomas Stong, Thomas J. Smith
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Publication number: 20090174150Abstract: A piston ring is disclosed that includes a radially extending upper surface, a radially extending lower surface, a radially innermost surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a radially outermost surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. The lower surface includes a thermally sprayed coating, and both the radially outermost surface and the upper surface lack the coating. Accordingly, the thermally sprayed coating may generally be applied solely to the lower radially extending surface of the ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: THOMAS SMITH, THOMAS STONG, PETER J. EINBERGER, DAVID DOMANCHUK
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Publication number: 20050260436Abstract: A wear resistant coating for protecting surfaces undergoing sliding contact is disclosed. The wear resistant coating is applied by high velocity plasma process deposition of a powdered blend of the coating constituents. The powdered blend includes a nickel-chromium alloy, chromium carbide, and molybdenum. The molybdenum powder has a particle size of less than about 45 microns. The disclosed coating should find use as a bearing surface on piston rings, cylinder liners, and other components of a power cylinder assembly of an internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: Peter Einberger, Thomas Smith, Thomas Stong