Patents Examined by Bryant Young
  • Patent number: 6214479
    Abstract: This invention provides a covered member which possesses a high bond strength of a base material and a covering film, and has a smooth surface. The covered member comprises a base material and a covering film and the surface of the base material to be covered with the covering film is characterized by an uneven surface having projections with an average height in the range from 10 to 100 nm and an average width of not more than 300 nm. The uneven surface can be formed by ion impacting. A surface of a covering film formed on that is smooth since the unevenness of the surface is extremely fine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Hideo Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 6214473
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant coating for a substrate is described. The corrosion-resistant coating comprises a first distinct layer of a first composition disposed over the substrate, wherein the first distinct layer has a thickness that is not greater than about 10 microns, and a second distinct layer of a second composition disposed over the first distinct layer, wherein the second distinct layer has a thickness that is not greater than about 10 microns and either the first distinct layer or the second distinct layer is corrosion-resistant. Preferably, the thickness of each distinct layer is less than about 1 or 2 microns, more preferably, less than about 0.4 microns. The coating may comprise additional layers. Corrosion-resistant articles, methods of protecting an articles, and methods of depositing corrosion-resistant coatings are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventors: Andrew Tye Hunt, Tzyy Jiuan Hwang, Michelle R. Hendrick, Hong Shao, Joseph R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6214475
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a thermo-mechanically stable thermal insulating layer, in which a ceramic thermal insulating layer is applied to a metallic component by thermal spraying and the thermal insulating layer is shot peened during and/or after its application in order to reduce sintering effects. The ceramic thermal insulating layer has a porous structure which is opened up by the formation of microscopic fissures formed near the surface of the layer by the shot peening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberg, Peter Adam
  • Patent number: 6214474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a parent substance consisting of a high-melting point metal and an oxidation protective coating made of silicides or aluminides. In accordance with the invention, a reaction barrier layer is placed between the parent substance and the oxidation protective coating, and the oxidation protective coating is alloyed with one or more metals selected from group consisting of molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, and hafnium in a total proportion of 2 to 35 at. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Plansee Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Barbist, Wolfram Knabl, Hans-Peter Martinz, Peter Rodhammer
  • Patent number: 6210812
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate and an adhesion layer overlying the substrate. The adhesion layer includes a first phase including particles, and a second phase including braze alloy that bonds the particles to the substrate. The article further includes a ceramic layer overlying the adhesion layer. In one embodiment, the ceramic layer is a thermal barrier coating (TBC), formed of stabilized zirconia (ZrO2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wayne Charles Hasz, Jeffrey Allen Conner
  • Patent number: 6207299
    Abstract: A coating layer for sheet metal is provided that is comprised of an aluminum-silicon alloy having low emissivity. The coated sheet metal may be used as heat shield material, particularly for heat sources having temperatures greater than 500° C., which sources may be, e.g., the hotter parts of the conduits of automotive exhaust systems. The sheet metal may be sheet steel coated on at least one of its principal surfaces with a layer of a coating comprised of an alloy of silicon in the amount of 7-11 wt. % and aluminum in the amount of 87-93 wt. %. The coated surface of the sheet has a monochromatic emissivity less than 0.15 for all wavelengths in the range of 1.5-15 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Pierre Jean Krauth, Jean Philippe
  • Patent number: 6207297
    Abstract: A turbine component contains a substrate (22) such as a superalloy, a basecoat (24) of the type MCrAlY, and a continuous barrier layer (28) between the substrate and basecoat, where the barrier layer (28) is made of an alloy of (Re, Ta, Ru, Os)X, where X can be Ni, Co or their mixture, where the barrier layer is at least 2 micrometers thick and substantially prevents materials from both the basecoat and substrate from migrating through it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sabol, John G. Goedjen, Steven J. Vance
  • Patent number: 6207295
    Abstract: A coated article comprises a substrate, an inner environmental resistant coating portion including Al on the substrate, and an outer heat energy reflecting and oxygen diffusion inhibiting coating portion outward of the inner portion. The outer coating portion is multi-layer, comprising 6-48 discrete stacked layers and a total outer coating portion thickness in the range of about 2.5-25 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William R. Stowell, Ching-Pang Lee, John F. Ackerman, George A. Durgin, Robert W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6207305
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant member against a chlorine-based gas, which member is to be exposed to a chlorine-based gas atmosphere at temperatures of not less than 600° C. and includes a sintered body made of aluminum nitride and a film of silicon carbide covering a surface of the sintered body and formed by chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Nishioka, Naotaka Kato
  • Patent number: 6203895
    Abstract: The invention relates to wear resistant parts for process valves. The use of said parts can be particularly advantageous in the chemical and petrochemical industry, in the mining industry and in other processing industries. According to the invention, the wear resistant parts for process valves are characterized by a 50 to 500 &mgr;m thick coating applied by thermal spraying on the valve surfaces subjected to wear, particularly on the bearing and sealing faces. The coating is characterized by the fact that one or more cubic hard material phases containing Ti and/or Ti and a second metal and a metal binder phase can be demonstrated therein, and by the fact that when the coatings are rubbed against each other within a temperature range of from room temperature to 600° C., the friction coefficient is <0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Neles Controls Oy
    Inventors: Lutz-Michael Berger, Kai Laitinen, Petri Vuoristo, Tapio Mäntylä
  • Patent number: 6203927
    Abstract: A device (10) having a ceramic thermal barrier coating layer (16) characterized by a microstructure having gaps (18) with a sintering inhibiting material (22) disposed on the columns (20) within the gaps (18). The sintering resistant material (22) is stable over the range of operating temperatures of the device (10) and is not soluble with the underlying ceramic layer (16). For a YSZ ceramic layer (16) the sintering resistant layer (22) may preferably be aluminum oxide or yttrium aluminum oxide, deposited as a continuous layer or as nodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh Subramanian, Stephen M. Sabol
  • Patent number: 6200691
    Abstract: A coating system (10) formed on a molybdenum substrate (12) includes an oxidation resistance layer (14), a CTE matching layer (16) disposed between the oxidation resistance layer (14) and the substrate (12), and a novel barrier layer (18) disposed between the CTE matching layer (16) and the substrate (12). The CTE matching layer reduces stresses due to differential expansion/contraction as between the substrate (12) and the oxidation resistance layer (14), especially for high temperature applications. The barrier layer (18), which remains amorphous at temperatures up to at least 1000° C., inhibits diffusion of carbon and silicon into substrate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: John J. Moore, Shrinivas Govindarajan
  • Patent number: 6197424
    Abstract: A ceramic composition for insulating components, made of ceramic matrix composites, of gas turbines is provided. The composition comprises a plurality of hollow oxide-based spheres of various dimensions, a phosphate binder, and at least one oxide filler powder, whereby the phosphate binder partially fills gaps between the spheres and the filler powders. The spheres are situated in the phosphate binder and the filler powders such that each sphere is in contact with at least one other sphere and the arrangement of spheres is such that the composition is dimensionally stable and chemically stable at a temperature of approximately 1600° C. A stationary vane of a gas turbine comprising the composition of the present invention bonded to the outer surface of the vane is provided. A combustor comprising the composition bonded to the inner surface of the combustor is provided. A transition duct comprising the insulating coating bonded to the inner surface of the transition is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Alan Morrison, Gary Brian Merrill, Evan McNeil Ludeman, Jay Edgar Lane
  • Patent number: 6197434
    Abstract: A glazing covered ferrite core electrode terminal has a ferrite core, a glazing covered layer coated on a surface of the ferrite core, a silver paste layer disposed on the glazing covered layer, a nickel plated layer disposed on the silver paste layer, a solder plated layer disposed on the nickel plated layer, and a solder paste layer disposed on the solder plated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph M. E. Hsu
  • Patent number: 6194083
    Abstract: A ceramic composite material comprises a ceramic material constituting a matrix, and dispersion particles disposed in the matrix in a dispersing manner. A specific shape of a ceramic composite material is, for instance, a sinter or a thermally sprayed layer. The dispersion particles are consisting of a composite oxide including at least one kind of a first metallic element selected from alkaline earth metals such as Mg and Ca, and at least one kind of a second metallic element selected from W, Ti, Ta, Mo, Nb, V, B, Te, Ge and Si, for instance, are composite oxide particles precipitated by reacting a compound containing a first metallic element and a compound including a second metallic element through heat treatment. The precipitated particles consisting of such a composite oxide can be dispersed as planar particles or acicular particles in the ceramic layer to which, for instance, thermal spraying is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yasuda, Seiichi Suenaga, Kunihiko Wada, Hiroki Inagaki, Yasuhiro Goto
  • Patent number: 6194084
    Abstract: A powder of dicalcium silicate is made by spray drying calcia and silica with incorporation of sodium and phosphorus or stabilized zirconia. The spray dried powder is sintered to form a thermal spray powder. Sprayed coatings have a web of interconnected, randomly oriented microcracks substantially perpendicular to the coating surface. The coatings are stable in thermal cycling and a hot corrosive environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaohan Wei, Mitchell R. Dorfman, Luis F. Correa, Franz Jansen, John Peters
  • Patent number: 6194086
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing an abrasive coating on a substrate surface by applying a bond coat by low pressure plasma spraying and anchoring to the bond coat abrasive particles by electroplating and embedding the particles into an oxidation resistant matrix by entrapment plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Krassimir P. Nenov, Richard Fenton, Joseph A. Fuggini, Peter Howard
  • Patent number: 6190752
    Abstract: A thin film of material having a rock-salt-like structure is deposited on a smooth amorphous substrate surface by ion beam assisted deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Khiem B. Do, Pin-Chin Connie Wang, Robert H. Hammond, Theodore H. Geballe
  • Patent number: 6187453
    Abstract: An article having an improved thermal barrier coating is disclosed. The article includes a superalloy substrate, and an adherent alumina layer generated on the substrate surface. The article also includes a layer of ceramic material forming a columnar grain, thermal barrier coating on the alumina layer. The coating is composed of a generally homogeneous mixture of two materials, such as yttria and ceria and preferably at least about 5 w/o yttria, balance, ceria. The article may also include an intermediate ceramic bond coat, such as a layer of yttria strengthened zirconia, to enhance the adherence of the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Maloney
  • Patent number: 6187394
    Abstract: The present invention of a Bubbling Liquid Display includes a variable-pressure air source which injects air into a liquid within a panel at variable flow rates into an number of individual chambers to create a unique bubbling pattern for each chamber which includes large bubbles which move upwards within the fluid in the display, and smaller bubbles which move downwards within the fluid in the display. The display may be drained a single chamber at a time, eliminating the need to completely drain the display for maintenance, and also is substantially leak-proof, despite being tipped or knocked over. The display incorporates a fluid which resists evaporation, corrosion, and algae formation, despite being constantly bubbled or exposed to sunlight or other sources of heat, and which may be effectively recirculated through the display. The display is also adaptable to retrofit vending machines, as well as a variety of other useful items, such as point-of-purchase displays and wall-hangings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventors: John C. Johnson, George S. Johnson