Patents by Inventor Kent Hultgren

Kent Hultgren 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).

  • System and method for measuring coating thickness
    Patent number: 8315834
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and a method for measuring the thickness of a coating applied to a substrate or component. Embodiments of the invention relate to measuring the distance between a surface of a component, both before and after the surface is covered with a coating material, and an optical measuring device such as a laser displacement sensor. In addition, aspects of the invention include the measurement of the temperature of the component surface before and after the application of the coating and after the component has cooled to substantially ambient temperature. In such case, a more accurate coating thickness calculation can be made by accounting for the thermal expansion of the component due to the deposition of a heated coating on the component surface. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for thermal spray processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Gimelfarb, Kent Hultgren
  • System and method for measuring coating thickness
    Publication number: 20050137829
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and a method for measuring the thickness of a coating applied to a substrate or component. Embodiments of the invention relate to measuring the distance between a surface of a component, both before and after the surface is covered with a coating material, and an optical measuring device such as a laser displacement sensor. In addition, aspects of the invention include the measurement of the temperature of the component surface before and after the application of the coating and after the component has cooled to substantially ambient temperature. In such case, a more accurate coating thickness calculation can be made by accounting for the thermal expansion of the component due to the deposition of a heated coating on the component surface. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for thermal spray processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Vladimir Gimelfarb, Kent Hultgren