Patents by Inventor Mark Steven McCormick

Mark Steven McCormick 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, method, and apparatus for leaching cast components
    Patent number: 8828214
    Abstract: A method includes removing a casting shell and core from a cast component, which may be a gas turbine blade. The method further includes utilizing a focused removal technique, such as a water jet or laser drill, to remove a portion of a virtual pattern cast (VPC) shell from the cast component. The cast component is then exposed to a leaching solution and high pressure water wash to remove an internal core material and a portion of the VPC shell remainder from the cast component. The method further includes exposing the cast component to a high agitation leaching solution and to the high pressure water wash for a minimal time. An electroless nickel-boron coating is then applied to the cast component, and an electrolytic palladium coating is further applied to the cast component. The cast component is further exposed to a high agitation leaching solution for an extended period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Shawn Smallwood, Tab Michael Heffernan, Mark Steven McCormick, Randolph Clifford Helmink, Matthew Kush
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR LEACHING CAST COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20120222961
    Abstract: A method includes removing a casting shell and core from a cast component, which may be a gas turbine blade. The method further includes utilizing a focused removal technique, such as a water jet or laser drill, to remove a portion of a virtual pattern cast (VPC) shell from the cast component. The cast component is then exposed to a leaching solution and high pressure water wash to remove an internal core material and a portion of the VPC shell remainder from the cast component. The method further includes exposing the cast component to a high agitation leaching solution and to the high pressure water wash for a minimal time. An electroless nickel-boron coating is then applied to the cast component, and an electrolytic palladium coating is further applied to the cast component. The cast component is further exposed to a high agitation leaching solution for an extended period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Michel Shawn Smallwood, Tab Michael Heffernan, Mark Steven McCormick, Randolph Clifford Helmink, Matthew Kush