Patents by Inventor John Ackerman

John Ackerman 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: 20050280497
    Abstract: A fuse includes an insulative body, and at least one fuse state indicator extending upon an outer surface of the body. The indicator includes a conductive material applied directly to the outer surface of the body, and the indicator is formed with a weak spot of reduced cross sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventor: John Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20050205428
    Abstract: A method of electrochemically reducing a metal oxide to the metal in an electrochemical cell is disclosed along with the cell. Each of the anode and cathode operate at their respective maximum reaction rates. An electrolyte and an anode at which oxygen can be evolved, and a cathode including a metal oxide to be reduced are included as is a third electrode with independent power supplies connecting the anode and the third electrode and the cathode and the third electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Dennis Dees, John Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20050188748
    Abstract: A device for the measuring membrane permeability in electrical/electrochemical/photo-electrochemical fields is provided. The device comprises a permeation cell and a tube mounted within the cell. An electrode is mounted at one end of the tube. A membrane is mounted within the cell wherein a corona is discharged from the electrode in a general direction toward the membrane thereby generating heated hydrogen atoms adjacent the membrane. A method for measuring the effects of temperature and pressure on membrane permeability and selectivity is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Pradeep Agarwal, John Ackerman, Ron Borgialli, Jerry Hamann, Suresh Muknahalliptna
  • Publication number: 20050170149
    Abstract: Non-spherical particles including a major dimension, for example flakes of material, are positioned with the major dimension oriented generally along an article surface in respect to which the particle is disposed. The particles, disposed in a fluid medium, the viscosity of which can be increased to secure the particles in position, are positioned using a force from flow of the fluid medium on the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Buczek, Andrew Skoog, Jane Murphy, Daniel Backman, Israel Jacobs, John Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20050153065
    Abstract: A method for producing a coating for applying to parts used in combustive gas atmospheres includes applying a layer of a material having a high index of radiative reflectance to a surface, and then applying a layer of a material having a low index of radiative reflectance over the high reflectance layer. After sufficient alternate layers of material have been applied to meet a predetermined spectral reflectance profile, the combined layers are exposed to a heating cycle to release the combined layers from the surface. The combined layers are then collected, pulverized and mixed with the appropriate solvent for application to the desired component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Lenkner, William Stowell, Daniel Ivkovich, Andrew Skoog, John Ackerman, John Campbell
  • Publication number: 20050144957
    Abstract: A rotor overspeed protection system for a gas turbine engine controls engine fuel flow to prevent an engine rotor from over-speeding. The engine fuel metering system includes a fuel metering valve in flow communication with a fuel shutoff valve and a fuel bypass valve. The rotor protection system includes an overboost servovalve and a soleniod valve coupled to the fuel metering system and to an independent speed sensing system. In operation, servovalve can control the metered fuel flow to engine independently of the fuel metering valve to facilitate reducing rotor overspeeds and overboosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: John Ackerman, William Wagner
  • Publication number: 20050142353
    Abstract: Non-spherical particles including a major dimension, for example flakes of material, are positioned with the major dimension oriented generally along an article surface in respect to which the particle is disposed. The particles, disposed in a fluid medium, the viscosity of which can be increased to secure the particles in position, are positioned using a force of gravity on the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Buczek, Andrew Skoog, Jane Murphy, Daniel Backman, Israel Jacobs, John Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20050129869
    Abstract: A protected article is prepared by providing the article, depositing a bond coat onto an exposed surface of the article, and producing a thermal barrier coating on an exposed surface of the bond coat. The step of producing the thermal barrier coating includes the steps of depositing a primary ceramic coating onto an exposed surface of the bond coat, and depositing a stabilization composition onto an exposed surface of the primary ceramic coating. The stabilization composition includes a first element selected from Group 2 or Group 3 of the periodic table, and a second element selected from Group 5 of the periodic table. The atomic ratio of the amount of the first element to the amount of the second element is at least 1:3, more preferably at least 1:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Venkat Venkataramani, Irene Spitsberg, Brett Boutwell, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Publication number: 20050129967
    Abstract: A method for applying a coating system that is applied to a surface of a component for preventing or at least substantially preventing interdiffusion between the component surface and a protective thermal layer applied to the component surface when the thermal layer is exposed to elevated temperatures. The method includes applying a carrier layer containing aluminum to the component surface. Next, the layer is heated to a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time in the substantial absence of oxygen to bond the aluminum with the component surface, the heat dissolving the carrier portion of the aluminum layer. The remaining portion of the aluminum layer is then heated to a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined period of time to form an oxidized aluminum layer. Finally, at least one protective thermal layer is applied over the oxidized aluminum layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Paul Arszman, Andrew Skoog
  • Publication number: 20050129849
    Abstract: A protected article is prepared by depositing a bond coat onto an exposed surface of the article; and producing a thermal barrier coating on an exposed surface of the bond coat. The thermal barrier coating is produced by depositing a primary ceramic coating onto an exposed surface of the bond coat, depositing a cerium-oxide-precursor compound onto an exposed surface of the primary ceramic coating, and heating the cerium-oxide-precursor compound in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to form cerium oxide adjacent to the exposed surface of the primary ceramic coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Venkat Venkataramani, Irene Spitsberg, Brett Boutwell, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Publication number: 20050100757
    Abstract: Coating systems suitable for protecting components exposed to high-temperature environments, such as the hot gas flow path through a gas turbine engine. A multilayer thermal barrier coating (TBC) system characterized by a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and having a heat-absorbing topcoat comprised of the thermal decomposition product of at least one metallic element and at least one ceramic precursor binder component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Stowell, Bangalore Nagaraj, Andrew Skoog, Jane Murphy, John Ackerman, Daniel Ivkovich
  • Publication number: 20050069647
    Abstract: A process for depositing pure platinum on a substrate is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the process comprises applying a solution consisting of Pt(acetylacetonate)2 and ethanol or acetone onto a substrate and wrapping at least a portion of the substrate with aluminum foil. The process further comprises heating the substrate wrapped with the aluminum foil to about 300° C. at a rate of about 10-25° C. per minute and then holding at about 300° C. for about 1 hour, wherein the Pt(acetylacetonate)2 decomposes to deposit pure platinum on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Paul Arszman
  • Publication number: 20050053467
    Abstract: A turbine engine rotor component, such as a compressor or turbine disk or seal element, is protected from corrosion by depositing an aluminum or chromium coating on the component. The deposition can be performed by a vapor deposition process, such as metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), to a coating thickness of from about 0.2 to about 50 microns, typically from about 0.5 to about 3 microns. In one embodiment, the method is conducted in a vapor coating container having a hollow interior coating chamber, and includes the steps of loading the coating chamber with the component to be coated; and flowing a tri-alkyl aluminum or chromium carbonyl coating gas into the loaded coating chamber at a specified temperature, pressure, and time to deposit an aluminum or chromium coating on the surface of the component. The coated component is then heated in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to a specified temperature to form an aluminide or chromide coating on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Michael Weimer, Joseph Heaney, Robert Zimmerman, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, Nripendra Das
  • Publication number: 20050048305
    Abstract: A high temperature gas turbine component for use in the gas flow path that comprises a specular optical reflector coating system. A thin specular optical reflector coating system is applied to the gas flow path of the component, that is, the surface of the component that forms a boundary for hot combustion gases. The component typically includes a thermal barrier coating overlying the high temperature metallic component that permits the component to operate at elevated temperatures. The thermal barrier coating must be polished in order to provide a surface that can suitably reflect the radiation into the gas flow path. The thin reflector coating system comprises a thin high temperature and corrosion resistant refractory stabilizing layer, which is applied over a thin reflective metal layer, which is applied over a thin high temperature and corrosion resistant refractory sealing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Paul Arszman, Bangalore Nagaraj, Nicole Justis
  • Publication number: 20050039435
    Abstract: A method for operating an aircraft engine facilitates preventing ice accumulation on the aircraft engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: John Ackerman, William Wagner
  • Publication number: 20050019593
    Abstract: A coating system and method for reducing the tendency for hydrocarbon fluids, such as fuels and oils, to form carbonaceous deposits that adhere to a wall of a containment article. Of particular concern are carbonaceous deposits that form at temperatures below about 650° F. (about 345° C.). The coating system combines an outermost layer of platinum with a ceramic barrier layer. The coating system significantly reduces the formation of carbonaceous deposits and the adhesion of such deposits. To further reduce wall and hydrocarbon fluid temperatures and formation of carbonaceous deposits, the coating system is preferably applied to the surface of the wall wetted by the fluid, as well as the opposite surface of the wall exposed to a surrounding environment. The outermost layers serve as radiation shields to reduce heat transfer from the surrounding environment to the wall, and from the wall to the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alfred Mancini, John Ackerman, Kevin Leamy, William Stowell
  • Publication number: 20050008780
    Abstract: A method for forming an aluminide coating on a turbine engine component having an external surface and an internal cavity defined by an internal surface that is connected to the external surface by at least one hole. The method is conducted in a vapor coating container having a hollow interior coating chamber, and includes the steps of loading the coating chamber with the component to be coated; flowing a tri-alkyl aluminum coating gas into the loaded coating chamber at a specified temperature, pressure, and time to deposit an aluminum coating on the external and internal surfaces of the component; and heating the component in a nonoxidizing atmosphere at a specified temperature and time to form an aluminide coating on the external and internal surfaces. The coated component is typically then maintained at an elevated temperature in the presence of oxygen to form an oxide coating on the external and internal surfaces of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Ackerman, Michael Weimer, Joseph Heaney, William Walston, Bangalore Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 6630202
    Abstract: Method of treating a surface of a steam line plug grip wherein the surface is subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) treatment to introduce a hard oxide material into pores and cracks in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Catherine Procik Dulka, James Burner, John Ackerman, Richard Oran Kilgo, Edwin R. Baker, Gail Dunning
  • Patent number: D329178
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: John Ackerman