Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner

Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner 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).

  • Publication number: 20100279018
    Abstract: A coating system and a method for forming the coating system, the method including coating a surface of a gas turbine engine turbine component having a metallic surface that is outside the combustion gas stream and exposed to cooling air during operation of the engine. A gel-forming solution including a ceramic metal oxide precursor is provided. The gel-forming solution is heated to a first preselected temperature for a first preselected time to form a gel. The gel is then deposited on the metallic surface. Thereafter the gel is fired at a second preselected temperature above the first preselected temperature to form a ceramic corrosion resistant coating comprising a ceramic metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia and combinations thereof. The ceramic corrosion resistant coating having a thickness of up to about 127 microns and remaining adherent at temperatures greater than about 1000° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Hazel, Jeffrey Pfaendtner, Kevin Paul McEvoy, Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj
  • Publication number: 20090239061
    Abstract: A coating system and a method for forming the coating system, the method including coating a surface of a gas turbine engine turbine component having a metallic surface that is outside the combustion gas stream and exposed to cooling air during operation of the engine. A gel-forming solution including a ceramic metal oxide precursor is provided. The gel-forming solution is heated to a first preselected temperature for a first preselected time to form a gel. The gel is then deposited on the metallic surface. Thereafter the gel is fired at a second preselected temperature above the first preselected temperature to form a ceramic corrosion resistant coating comprising a ceramic metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia and combinations thereof. The ceramic corrosion resistant coating having a thickness of up to about 127 microns and remaining adherent at temperatures greater than about 1000° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Thomas HAZEL, Jeffrey PFAENDTNER, Kevin Paul MCEVOY, Bangalore Aswatha NAGARAJ
  • Publication number: 20060222884
    Abstract: An article comprising a turbine component other than an airfoil having a metal substrate and a ceramic corrosion resistant coating overlaying the metal substrate. This coating has a thickness up to about 5 mils (127 microns) and comprises a ceramic metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia and mixtures thereof. This coating can be formed by a method comprising the following steps: (a) providing a turbine component other than an airfoil comprising the metal substrate; (b) providing a gel-forming solution comprising a ceramic metal oxide precursor; (c) heating the gel-forming solution to a first preselected temperature for a first preselected time to form a gel; (d) depositing the gel on the metal substrate; and (e) firing the gel at a second preselected temperature above the first preselected temperature to form the ceramic corrosion resistant coating comprising the ceramic metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Publication number: 20060182892
    Abstract: A beta-phase nickel aluminide (NiAl) overlay coating (24) and method for modifying the grain structure of the coating (24) to improve its oxidation resistance. The coating (24) is deposited by a method that produces a grain structure characterized by grain boundaries (44) exposed at the outer coating surface (36). The grain boundaries (44) may also contain precipitates (40) as a result of the alloyed chemistry of the coating (24). During or after deposition, the overlay coating (24) is caused to form new grain boundaries (34) that, though open to the outer surface (36) of the coating (24), are free of precipitates or contain fewer precipitates (40) than the as-deposited grain boundaries (44). New grain boundaries (34) are preferably produced by causing the overlay coating (24) to recrystallize during coating deposition or after deposition as a result of a surface treatment followed by heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Joseph Rigney, Ramgopal Darolia, Elissa Lee, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Publication number: 20050136283
    Abstract: An article and TBC coating system thereon that in combination exhibit significantly improved spallation resistance. The article comprises a substrate formed of a metal alloy containing ruthenium and one or more refractory elements (e.g., tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, hafnium, etc.). The substrate is protected by a coating system comprising an aluminum-containing bond coat on the surface of the substrate and a ceramic coating bonded to the substrate by the bond coat. The bond coat, preferably an aluminide, is deposited so as to be substantially free of ruthenium, though ruthenium is present in the bond coat as a result of diffusion from the substrate into the bond coat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Pfaendtner, Deborah Schorr, Ramgopal Darolia, Joseph Rigney, Irene Spitsberg, William Walston
  • Publication number: 20050127039
    Abstract: A process for removing particles that become adherently sintered to an aluminized surface during an aluminiding process. The method is particularly suited for the removal of adherent particles that form as a result of oxidation of a metallic powder used as an aluminum source during slurry aluminiding processes, wherein the adherent particles become attached by sintering to the aluminized surface. The process includes contacting the aluminized surface with an aqueous caustic hydroxide solution until the particles are removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Rosenzweig, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Publication number: 20050095358
    Abstract: A process capable of depositing a diffusion coating of uniform thickness on localized surface regions of a component. The process makes use of an adhesive mixture containing a binding agent that is consumed as part of the deposition process so as not to negatively affect the quality and uniformity of the resulting coating. The process entails mixing a particulate donor material containing a coating element, a dissolved activator, and a particulate filler to form an adhesive mixture having a formable, malleable consistency. The adhesive mixture is applied to a surface of the component, and the component is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize and react the activator with the coating element of the donor material, thereby forming a reactive vapor of the coating element. The reactive vapor reacts at the surface of the component to form a diffusion coating containing the coating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong-Sil Park, James Ruud, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Publication number: 20050084706
    Abstract: The present invention is process for forming diffusion aluminide coatings on an uncoated surface of a substrate, without interdiffusing a sufficient amount of aluminum into a coating layer to adversely affect the coating growth potential and mechanical properties of said coating layer. A metal substrate is provided comprising an external surface and an internal passage therein defined by an internal surface, at least a portion of the external surface of the substrate being coated with a coating layer selected from the group consisting of ?-NiAl-base, MCrAlX, a line-of-sight diffusion aluminide, a non-line-of-sight diffusion aluminide, a pack diffusion aluminide, and a slurry diffusion aluminide on said substrate. The external surface of the substrate is cleaned. The metal substrate is subjected to a aluminum vapor phase deposition process performed using a fluorine-containing activator selected from the group consisting of AlF3, CrF3, NH4F, and combinations thereof, at a rate in the range of about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nripendra Das, Joseph Rigney, Jeffrey Pfaendtner, Matthew Saylor
  • Publication number: 20050069650
    Abstract: A beta-phase NiAl overlay coating containing a dispersion of ceramic particles and a process for depositing the overlay coating. If the coating is used to adhere a thermal barrier coating (TBC), the TBC exhibits improved spallation resistance as a result of the dispersion of ceramic particles having a dispersion-strengthening effect on the overlay coating. The overlay coating contains at least one reactive element and is deposited so that the some of the reactive element deposits as the ceramic particles dispersed in the overlay coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ramgopal Darolia, Joseph Rigney, William Walston, Jeffrey Pfaendtner, Brett Boutwell, Irene Spitsberg, James Ruud
  • Publication number: 20050019491
    Abstract: A beta-phase nickel aluminide (NiAl) overlay coating (24) and method for modifying the grain structure of the coating (24) to improve its oxidation resistance. The coating (24) is deposited by a method that produces a grain structure characterized by grain boundaries (44) exposed at the outer coating surface (36). The grain boundaries (44) may also contain precipitates (40) as a result of the alloyed chemistry of the coating (24). During or after deposition, the overlay coating (24) is caused to form new grain boundaries (34) that, though open to the outer surface (36) of the coating (24), are free of precipitates or contain fewer precipitates (40) than the as-deposited grain boundaries (44). New grain boundaries (34) are preferably produced by causing the overlay coating (24) to recrystallize during coating deposition or after deposition as a result of a surface treatment followed by heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Joseph Rigney, Ramgopal Darolia, Elissa Lee, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Patent number: 6616969
    Abstract: A gas turbine airfoil has an external surface and an internal passage therethrough. The internal passage is selectively coated by providing a source of a flowable precursor coating material in contact with the internal passage of the airfoil, and providing a coating prevention structure overlying at least a portion of the external surface. The flowable precursor coating material is flowed from the source of the flowable precursor coating material and through the internal passage of the airfoil. The coating prevention structure prevents contact of the flowable precursor coating material with the external surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, Joseph D. Rigney, Nripendra N. Das, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6521294
    Abstract: A metallic substrate has a substrate surface having a substrate surface of nickel, a substrate aluminum content, and other alloying elements. A maskant is applied overlying the substrate surface to produce a masked substrate surface having an exposed region and a protected region. The maskant includes a plurality of maskant particles, each particle having a maskant particle composition comprising a maskant metal selected from the group of nickel, cobalt, titanium, chromium, iron, and combinations thereof, and a maskant aluminum content. The substrate is aluminided by contacting a source of aluminum to the masked substrate surface, whereby aluminum deposits on the exposed region and does not deposit on the protected region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Rigney, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, Michael J. Weimer, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6444053
    Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy article substrate has more nickel than any other element, a reactive element that is hafnium, zirconium, yttrium, lanthanum, or cerium, or combinations thereof, and a nominal bulk composition of carbon. A protective layer is deposited overlying the surface of the article substrate. The depositing of the protective layer includes steps of decarburizing locations where the carbon serves as a barrier to the diffusion of the reactive element from the substrate into the protective layer, and depositing an aluminum-containing protective layer overlying the substrate. The decreasing of the carbon concentration may be accomplished by decarburizing the substrate, depositing a platinum-containing layer and then decarburizing, depositing an aluminum-containing layer in a reducing atmosphere, or decarburizing the deposited protective layer. A ceramic thermal barrier coating may be deposited overlying the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Irene T. Spitsberg, Joseph D. Rigney, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner
  • Patent number: 6444057
    Abstract: An article is formed of a single crystal having a composition, in weight percent, of a modifying element in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 2.0 percent by weight hafnium, from about 0.1 to about 0.5 percent by weight zirconium, or combinations thereof, and a base alloy composition of from about 4 to about 20 percent cobalt, from about 1 to about 10 percent chromium, from about 5 to about 7 percent aluminum, from 0 to about 2 percent molybdenum, from about 3 to about 8 percent tungsten, from about 4 to about 12 percent tantalum, from 0 to about 2 percent titanium, from 0 to about 8 percent rhenium, from 0 to about 6 percent ruthenium, from 0 to about 1 percent niobium, from 0 to about 0.1 percent carbon, from 0 to about 0.01 percent boron, from 0 to about 0.1 percent yttrium, and balance nickel and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramgopal Darolia, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, William S. Walston
  • Patent number: 6383306
    Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy article substrate has more nickel than any other element and a nominal bulk composition of carbon. A protective layer is deposited overlying the surface of the article substrate. The protective layer includes aluminum and one or more of the reactive elements hafnium, zirconium, yttrium, lanthanum, and cerium. The depositing of the protective layer includes steps of decarburizing locations where the carbon may serve as a barrier to the mobility of the reactive elements within the protective layer, and depositing an aluminum-containing protective layer overlying the substrate. The decreasing of the carbon concentration may be accomplished. by decarburizing the substrate, depositing a platinum-containing layer and then decarburizing, depositing an aluminum-containing layer in a reducing atmosphere, and/or decarburizing the deposited protective layer. A ceramic thermal barrier coating may be deposited overlying the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Irene T. Spitsberg, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, Joseph D. Rigney
  • Publication number: 20010055650
    Abstract: A gas turbine airfoil has an external surface and an internal passage therethrough. The internal passage is selectively coated by providing a source of a flowable precursor coating material in contact with the internal passage of the airfoil, and providing a coating prevention structure overlying at least a portion of the external surface. The flowable precursor coating material is flowed from the source of the flowable precursor coating material and through the internal passage of the airfoil. The coating prevention structure prevents contact of the flowable precursor coating material with the external surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, Joseph D. Rigney, Nripendra N. Das, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6332926
    Abstract: A gas turbine airfoil has an external surface and an internal passage therethrough. The internal passage is selectively coated by providing a source of a flowable precursor coating material in contact with the internal passage of the airfoil, and providing a coating prevention structure overlying at least a portion of the external surface. The flowable precursor coating material is flowed from the source of the flowable precursor coating material and through the internal passage of the airfoil. The coating prevention structure prevents contact of the flowable precursor coating material with the external surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner, Joseph D. Rigney, Nripendra N. Das, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6332931
    Abstract: A process for forming a diffusion aluminide-hafnide coating on an article, such as a component for a gas turbine engine. The process is a vapor phase process that generally entails placing the article in a coating chamber containing a halide activator and at least one donor material. The donor material collectively consists essentially of at least 0.5 weight percent hafnium and at least 20 weight percent aluminum with the balance being chromium and/or cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nripendra N. Das, Thomas E. Mantkowski, Raymond W. Heidorn, Joshua L. Miller, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner
  • Publication number: 20010053413
    Abstract: A metallic substrate has a substrate surface having a substrate surface of nickel, a substrate aluminum content, and other alloying elements. A maskant is applied overlying the substrate surface to produce a masked substrate surface having an exposed region and a protected region. The maskant includes a plurality of maskant particles, each particle having a maskant particle composition comprising a maskant metal selected from the group of nickel, cobalt, titanium, chromium, iron, and combinations thereof, and a maskant aluminum content. The substrate is aluminided by contacting a source of aluminum to the masked substrate surface, whereby aluminum deposits on the exposed region and does not deposit on the protected region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: JOSEPH D. RIGNEY, JEFFREY A. PFAENDTNER, MICHAEL J. WEIMER, RAMGOPAL DAROLIA
  • Patent number: 6296447
    Abstract: A gas turbine component includes a platform having a first coating on at least a portion thereof, where the first coating is a diffusion aluminide coating. An airfoil extends from the platform and has an external surface and an internal surface defining cooling passages therethrough. The airfoil has an airfoil shape made of a substrate alloy, a second coating on the external surface of the airfoil shape, the second coating comprising an overlay coating, and a third coating on the internal surface of the airfoil shape, the third coating comprising a diffusion aluminide coating different in composition from the second coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph D. Rigney, Bangalore A. Nagaraj, Jeffrey A. Pfaendtner