Patents Assigned to Aeromet Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 9139903Abstract: A method of forming a metallic wetting layer on the surface of a metal component is provided, including the steps of placing the component into a chemical vapor deposition furnace, placing a metal-containing salt in the furnace, and heating the component and the metal-containing salt in the furnace to cause the metal from the metal-containing salt to deposit in a coating on the surface of the component forming a metallic wetting layer that improves the metallic bond of a subsequently applied brazing material. The process can be practiced with the addition of a cleaning reagent to both clean and coat in one operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Richard Patrick Chesnes
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Patent number: 8262870Abstract: Apparatus and methods for removing coatings from metal components, such as metal components used in aircraft and other aerospace vehicles and the oil industry, as well as aqueous bath compositions. The metal component may be DC coupled with a counter electrode and immersed in an aqueous bath that includes an active oxygen source and a ligand in a composition effective to remove the coating. The aqueous bath may include hydrogen peroxide as the active oxygen source and may be maintained in a specific pH range if the temperature of the aqueous bath is controlled. In an alternative embodiment, the composition of the aqueous bath may include a non-peroxide active oxygen source, such as sodium perborate, and be maintained in a different specific pH range. An oxygen sensor may be provided to periodically monitor the concentration of active oxygen in the aqueous bath.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Max Sorenson
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Patent number: 7846261Abstract: Methods for cleaning surface deposits, such as sulfidation deposits or dust particles, from a surface bounding an internal passage in a turbine engine component. The surface deposits are cleaned by placing a halogen-containing organic compound, such as a fluorine-containing organic compound, into the internal passage and heating the component and organic compound to chemically react the halogen-containing species in the liquefied and boiling organic compound with the deposits. The temperature is further elevated to vaporize the chemically-modified deposits, which are moved by mass transport through the internal passage and out of the turbine engine component. An optional protective coating, such as a chromium or aluminum coating, may be applied to the cleaned surface of the internal passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Patrick Chesnes, David C Fairbourn
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Simple chemical vapor deposition system and methods for depositing multiple-metal aluminide coatings
Patent number: 7390535Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for applying an aluminide coating constituted by two or more extrinsic metal components on a jet engine component. The aluminide coating is capable of forming a protective complex oxide upon subsequent heating in an oxidizing environment. At least one of the extrinsic metals in the aluminide coating is provided as a first vapor phase reactant from a receptacle coupled by a closed communication path with the reaction chamber of the CVD system and free of a carrier gas. The aluminide coating is formed by the chemical combination of the first vapor phase reactant with a second vapor phase reactant either created in situ in the reaction chamber or supplied by a carrier gas to the reaction chamber from a precursor source.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David C. Fairbourn -
Publication number: 20060057418Abstract: Aluminide coatings or layers (14) for jet engine components (10) and a process for forming aluminide layers (14) that include additions of silicon and yttrium. A superalloy substrate (12) of the component (10) is initially coated with a layer of a silicon-containing material. The substrate (12) is then aluminided, for example by a chemical vapor deposition process, and is exposed to a yttrium-containing material during the aluminiding process to form the aluminide layer (14) containing silicon and yttrium. A ceramic thermal barrier layer (24) of yttria-stabilized zirconia may be optionally applied over the aluminide layer (14). Another optional zirconia layer (26) maybe provided between the aluminide layer (14) and the ceramic thermal barrier layer (24). The present invention provides a silicon- and yttrium-containing aluminide layer (14) having improved durability, either as a standalone environmental coating or as a bond coat for a subsequently-applied ceramic thermal barrier layer (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2004Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Fairbourn
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Simple chemical vapor deposition system and methods for depositing multiple-metal aluminide coatings
Publication number: 20050000425Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for applying an aluminide coating constituted by two or more extrinsic metal components on a jet engine component. The aluminide coating is capable of forming a protective complex oxide upon subsequent heating in an oxidizing environment. At least one of the extrinsic metals in the aluminide coating is provided as a first vapor phase reactant from a receptacle coupled by a closed communication path with the reaction chamber of the CVD system and free of a carrier gas. The aluminide coating is formed by the chemical combination of the first vapor phase reactant with a second vapor phase reactant either created in situ in the reaction chamber or supplied by a carrier gas to the reaction chamber from a precursor source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2003Publication date: January 6, 2005Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Fairbourn -
Patent number: 6837985Abstract: A system and process for cleaning a hollow interior or a passageway of a metal member including an external container having counter electrode material with a higher potential than the metal member with the counter electrode material being dc coupled to the metal member, and electrolyte passing through the container to contact the counter electrode material and fluidicly coupled into the hollow interior or the passageway of the metal member to clean same.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Max E. Sorenson
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Publication number: 20040173057Abstract: A leach column (10) and method for the separation and recovery of metals from mixtures. The column (10) is adapted to be electrically charged to enhance metal recovery. Particularly, a pair of electrical connections (20), (22) are positioned in the column (10) to create an electrical charge in the presence of a leaching solution (18) and a metal-containing mixture (26) to enhance leaching of the metal from the mixture. In an exemplary embodiment, the leach column (10) is used for the recovery of platinum from platinum-containing coatings on jet engine components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David C. Fairbourn
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Patent number: 6645365Abstract: A system and process for chemical milling or stripping a surface portion and/or surface deposit from metal products, such as chemically milling a metal to remove surface defects and/or stripping non-metallic deposits from a metal surface. The metal product is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a diluted acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than the metal of the metal product is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the metal product, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the metal product, such that electric current flows from the metal to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of the metal and the counter electrode. The surface portion or deposit is thereby stripped or milled from the metal product.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Max E. Sorenson
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Patent number: 6605161Abstract: A deposition process including applying an inoculant to at least a portion of the surface of a metal component, and then forming an intermetallic layer at the inoculant surface, such as by exposing at least the coated surface portion to a deposition environment.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David C. Fairbourn
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Patent number: 6540745Abstract: Medical devices, such as scalpels (10), needles (30) and electrosurgical knife tips (50), are provided with a silane coating (20) directly against the parent metal (16, 33, 63) of the tissue-contacting (15) distal ends (14, 37, 60) thereof whereby to impart advantageous non-stick and/or conductive properties thereto.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Edward A. Loeser
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Publication number: 20020179191Abstract: A deposition process including applying an inoculant (50) to at least a portion (12a) of the surface (12) of a metal component (10), and then forming an intermetallic layer (60, 70, 100) at the inoculant surface (12), such as by exposing at least the coated surface portion (12a) to a deposition environment (26).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David C. Fairbourn
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Publication number: 20020108868Abstract: A system and process for cleaning a hollow interior or a passageway of a metal member including an external container having counter electrode material with a higher potential than the metal member with the counter electrode material being dc coupled to the metal member, and electrolyte passing through the container to contact the counter electrode material and fluidicly coupled into the hollow interior or the passageway of the metal member to clean same.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Max E. Sorenson
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Publication number: 20020008041Abstract: A system and process for chemical milling or stripping a surface portion and/or surface deposit from metal products, such as chemically milling a metal to remove surface defects and/or stripping non-metallic deposits from a metal surface. The metal product is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a diluted acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than the metal of the metal product is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the metal product, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the metal product, such that electric current flows from the metal to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of the metal and the counter electrode. The surface portion or deposit is thereby stripped or milled from the metal product.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Applicant: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David C. Fairbourn, Max E. Sorenson
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Patent number: 6294072Abstract: A system and process is provided for stripping metal oxide scale from metal products, such as stripping iron oxide scale from steel sheet and steel mill products. Steel having iron oxide scale compiling a layer of one or more iron oxide phases is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a dilute acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than steel is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the steel, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the steel, such that electric current flows from the steel to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of steel and the counter electrode. The metal oxide scale is thereby stripped from the steel.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1999Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Aeromet Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David C. Fairbourn