Abstract: A turbine engine having an interior housing and one or more annular abradable seals for the turbine blades. The abradable seal comprises a resin having fractured hollow inorganic non-metallic microspheres forming nooks, crannies and undercuts in the resin and a solid lubricant in the resin and in the nooks and crannies and undercuts formed by the fractured hollow non-metallic inorganic microspheres.

Abstract: A turbine engine having an interior housing and one or more annular abradable seals for the turbine blades. The abradable seal comprises a resin having fractured hollow inorganic non-metallic microspheres forming nooks, crannies and undercuts in the resin and a solid lubricant in the resin and in the nooks and crannies and undercuts formed by the fractured hollow non-metallic inorganic microspheres.

Abstract: A method of making printed circuit boards, particularly 3-Dimensional circuit boards, wherein a surface layer of micron sized hollow spheres, beads or spacers are ruptured or fractured in a pattern defining the electrical circuit. The circuit pattern is thermally sprayed with molten copper particles. The molten copper particles shape themselves to the nooks, crannies and undercuts of the fractured spheres or beads to mechanically lock the electrical circuitry to the board. The current carrying capacity can be adjusted by the thickness of the sprayed metal. The overspray does not adhere to smooth non porous surfaces adjacent the fractured spheres or beads.

Abstract: A combination thermally sprayed antifouling metal coating and seal coat on a marine surface and a method of preparing the same. The method comprises the steps of applying a resin coating on the marine surface, and thermally spraying molten metal particles on the resin coating to impinge and interlock with the resin coating and form one or more metal layers. The resin may be wet during the thermal spraying or be filled with hollow beads and spheres which are ruptured after curing to form locking sites for the metal coating. A seal overcoat is applied to the last one of the one or more metal layers. The seal overcoat when applied has low surface tension to permit wetting and penetration of the outer one of the one or more metal coatings, leveling and flattening properties to produce a smooth finish on the more metal coatings, thixotropic properties, abalative properties, and a high copper oxide content for antifouling.

Abstract: In a process for thermally spraying molten metal onto an uncured resin, to prevent some of the sprayed metal particles from being engulfed in the still wet or uncured resin layer, the resin layer is filled with micron sized beads, filler and/or spheres. The spheres or beads or other filling of the resin prevents the impacting metal particles from being engulfed but still allows the metal particles to imbed in the uncured resin surface to achieve a strong mechanical bond when the resin cures.

Abstract: A method and means of applying a continuous antifouling coating of copper or copper alloys on hulls of ships or boats by the application of sealing and adhesive layers, followed by a coating of thermally sprayed copper particles to form the antifouling layer.

Abstract: Small, preferably micronsized hollow glass or ceramic or carbon spheres (or a mix thereof) sprayed into a uncured or wet resin material which is formed into a layer and after curing of the resin layer, it is abraded, sand or grit blasted so as to rupture the outermost layer of spheres or voids to provide a plurality of anchor sites undercuts or nooks and crannies. A thermally sprayed metal, such as copper, becomes embedded into the undercuts, nooks and crannies, such that the bond or adherent strength is greatly improved. This micronsized glass, ceramic carbon spheres and/or pores greatly increases the bond strength by providing better undercuts in the surface to be sprayed by molten metal and provide the capability of depositing thicker layers without jeopardizing the bond.

Abstract: Small, preferably micronsized hollow glass or ceramic spheres or foaming agents for making such micronsized hollow spaces or voids are incorporated into a resin material which is formed into a layer and after curing of the resin layer, it is abraded, sand or grit blasted so as to rupture the outermost layer of spheres or voids to provide a plurality of undercuts or nooks and crannies. A thermally sprayed metal, such as copper, becomes embedded into the undercuts pores, nooks and crannies, such that the bond or adherent strength is greatly improved. This micronsized glass, ceramic spheres and/or pores greatly increases the bond strength by providing better undercuts in the surface to be sprayed by molten metal and provide the capability of depositing thicker layers without jeopardizing the bond.

Abstract: A wire storage and feed system for a robotic welding system in which the wire storage and feed system is mounted on the movable robot arm which has the welding gun disposed at the extending end of the robot arm. The wire storage and feed system includes a wire storage reel and wire feed drive which are movably mounted on the robot arm. A constant force spring is attached to the movable portion of the wire storage and feed system to maintain a constant tension on the welding gun, with counterweight connected to the movable portion, with the counterweight moving opposite to the movable portion of the wire storage and feed system to permit accurate positioning of the welding gun irrespective of robot arm movement and position.

Abstract: Small, preferably micronsized hollow glass or ceramic spheres or foaming agents for making such micronsized hollow spaces or voids are incorporated into a resin material which is formed into a layer and after curing of the resin layer, it is abraded, sand or grit blasted so as to rupture the outermost layer of spheres or voids to provide a plurality of undercuts or nooks and crannies. A thermally sprayed metal, such as copper, becomes embedded into the undercuts pores, nooks and crannies, such that the bond or adherent strength is greatly improved. This micronsized glass, ceramic spheres and/or pores greatly increases the bond strength by providing better undercuts in the surface to be sprayed by molten metal and provide the capability of depositing thicker layers without jeopardizing the bond.

Abstract: A method of hermetically sealing an r.f. electronic module by laser welding the perimeter of a thin, solid cover sheet over a conventional package cover. The cover sheet perimeter seats on the top surface of the package side walls and the laser weld is made between the perimeter of the weldable cover sheet and the top surface of the package side walls. This minimizes heating of the electronic package and components contained therein during sealing and possible subsequent delidding and resealing.