Patents by Inventor Brian J. Shurman

Brian J. Shurman 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).

  • Apertured article preconditioned for recoating
    Patent number: 6171711
    Abstract: A method for preparing a protectively coated, apertured article to be recoated reduces the likelihood that the apertures will become constricted as a consequence of subsequent recoating. The invention, described in the context of a gas turbine engine blade (12) having transpiration cooling passages (34), includes the step of diffusing an auxiliary coating (52) into an existing coating (28) and into the exposed substrate material (26) at the periphery of the passages to form a diffusion zone (54). The blade is then subjected to a stripping agent so that the diffusion zone (54) any undiffused existing coating, and any undiffused auxiliary coating are removed. The method causes a compensatory enlargement of the mouth (44) of each passage so that excess coating that accumulates in the passage mouths during subsequent recoating does not restrict the flow capacity of the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Draghi, Brian J. Shurman, Dale A. Simard, Peter Wrabel
  • Method for preparing an apertured article to be recoated
    Patent number: 6042879
    Abstract: A method for preparing a protectively coated, apertured article to be recoated reduces the likelihood that the apertures will become constricted as a consequence of subsequent recoating. The invention, described in the context of a gas turbine engine blade (12) having transpiration cooling passages (34), includes the step of diffusing an auxiliary coating (52) into an existing coating (28) and into the exposed substrate material (26) at the periphery of the passages to form a diffusion zone (54). The blade is then subjected to a stripping agent so that the diffusion zone (54) any undiffused existing coating, and any undiffused auxiliary coating are removed. The method causes a compensatory enlargement of the mouth (44) of each passage so that excess coating that accumulates in the passage mouths during subsequent recoating does not restrict the flow capacity of the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Draghi, Brian J. Shurman, Dale A. Simard, Peter Wrabel
  • Process for precisely closing off cooling holes of an airfoil
    Patent number: 5726348
    Abstract: A process for closing cooling holes of an airfoil includes the steps of providing an airfoil having a plurality of cooling holes, closing desired holes of said plurality of cooling holes by applying an ultraviolet curable material over the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Draghi, Brian J. Shurman, Michael V. Borruso
  • Method of cleaning internal cavities of an airfoil
    Patent number: 5707453
    Abstract: A cleaning method for gas turbine engine airfoils includes a step of immersing an ultrasonic agitator, such as a welding horn, into a tank with a cleaning solution and a step of directing the ultrasonic agitator onto the portion of the airfoil having the crust layer. A subsequent step of high pressure water jet spray removes the crust debris. The cleaning method of the present invention significantly increases the power density of the ultrasonic cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Shurman, Peter J. Draghi