Abstract: The present disclosure provides assemblies, systems and methods for surface modification of piston seal rings and interfacing components. More particularly, the present disclosure provides assemblies, systems and methods for surface modification of mid-turbine frame (MTF) piston seal rings and interfacing components in gas turbine engines to achieve low and/or reduced friction, and/or high and/or improved wear resistance.

Abstract: A brake pad having a surface coating operable to enhance the bedding-in process during normal operation. The surface coating may be formulated using one or more materials found in a friction lining of the brake pad. The surface coating may be formulated using only non-metal materials.

Abstract: A brake pad having a surface coating operable to enhance the bedding-in process during normal operation. The surface coating may be formulated using one or more materials found in a friction lining of the brake pad. The surface coating may be formulated using only non-metal materials.

Abstract: A brake pad apparatus having a conductivity sensor disposed thereon operable to generate conductivity data corresponding to the remaining thickness of the brake pad's friction lining. The conductivity data may be analyzed by a processor to estimate the remaining life of the brake pad for purposes of maintenance, diagnostic, or repair. The conductivity sensor may utilize a conductivity probe that comprises one or more insulation coatings to insulate conductive material from the friction lining. The brake pad apparatus may further comprise a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a processor external to the brake pad apparatus.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly having a consolidated lining comprised of an enhancement framework disposed within a tribological lining, the enhancement framework and tribological lining having substantially the same compressibility factor. The enhancement framework or tribological lining may advantageously be manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

Abstract: A brake pad apparatus having a conductivity sensor disposed thereon operable to generate conductivity data corresponding to the remaining thickness of the brake pad's friction lining. The conductivity data may be analyzed by a processor to estimate the remaining life of the brake pad for purposes of maintenance, diagnostic, or repair. The conductivity sensor may utilize a conductivity probe that comprises one or more insulation coatings to insulate conductive material from the friction lining. The brake pad apparatus may further comprise a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a processor external to the brake pad apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless brake pad monitor system comprising a number of brake pad monitors operable to measure and monitor the physical state of a number of brake pads. Each brake pad monitor is further in wireless communication with at least one other brake pad monitor of the system. One brake pad monitor of the system may be configured to act as a coordinating member of the network to organize and command the other brake pad monitors.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly having a consolidated lining comprised of an enhancement framework disposed within a tribological lining, the enhancement framework and tribological lining having substantially the same compressibility factor. The enhancement framework or tribological lining may advantageously be manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

Abstract: A coating, in particular a coating for a back side of a brake pad opposite a braking side, includes a pair of bonding layers and a composite layer. Each of the bonding layers includes an epoxy material. The composite layer is disposed between the pair of bonding layers, and includes a mixture of a rubber material and particles of a secondary material. A method for forming the coating includes coating a layer of epoxy onto the surface to be coated to form a first bonding layer, coating the mixture of the rubber material and particles of a secondary material onto the first bonding layer to form a composite layer, coating a layer of epoxy to the composite layer to form a second bonding layer, and then curing the coating via a curing process.

Abstract: A coating, in particular a coating for a back side of a brake pad opposite a braking side, includes a pair of bonding layers and a composite layer. Each of the bonding layers includes an epoxy material. The composite layer is disposed between the pair of bonding layers, and includes a mixture of a rubber material and particles of a secondary material. A method for forming the coating includes coating a layer of epoxy onto the surface to be coated to form a first bonding layer, coating the mixture of the rubber material and particles of a secondary material onto the first bonding layer to form a composite layer, coating a layer of epoxy to the composite layer to form a second bonding layer, and then curing the coating via a curing process.

Abstract: A method of making a reinforced friction material in one embodiment includes, molding a friction material composition having a predetermined pattern imparted into the molded structure. Reinforcement material is then deposited in one or more patterned areas followed by curing to produce a reinforced friction article.

Abstract: A backing plate for a brake assembly includes a first face sheet, a second face sheet generally parallel to the first face sheet, and a metal foam core at least partially encapsulated between the first and second face sheets.

Abstract: A method and chemical composition and material structure for improving fretting wear in substrates, particularly carbon-carbon composite (CCC). The invention relates to trilayer coatings, comprising a base of hard ZrO2, a middle layer of Al2O3, and a top layer of lubricious ZnO. The coatings of the present invention exhibit conformality and pore-filling down to approximately 100 microns into a carbon-carbon composite to which they are applied. The methods for preparing the coatings include a chemical vapor infiltration route, such as an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, to uniformly and conformally coat the porous and open structure of CCC with a solid lubricant trilayer of ZnO/Al2O3/ZrO2 that results in significant improvement (65%) in fretting wear.

Abstract: A method and chemical composition and material structure for improving fretting wear in substrates, particularly carbon-carbon composite (CCC). The invention relates to trilayer coatings, comprising a base of hard ZrO2, a middle layer of Al2O3, and atop layer of lubricious ZnO. The coatings of the present invention exhibit conformality and pore-filling down to approximately 100 microns into a carbon-carbon composite to which they are applied. The methods for preparing the coatings include a chemical vapor infiltration route, such as an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, to uniformly and conformally coat the porous and open structure of CCC with a solid lubricant trilayer of ZnO/Al2O3/ZrO2 that results in significant improvement (65%) in fretting wear.