Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Conroy

Patrick L. Conroy 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).

  • Patent number: 6241000
    Abstract: Method for removing a ceramic core from a casting in a relatively rapid manner wherein the casting and a fluid spray nozzle are disposed in a manner to expose a region of the core to a core dissolving fluid discharge of the nozzle and a core dissolving fluid is discharged from the nozzle toward the core region to contact the core region and dissolve core material therefrom and progressively from further regions of the core within the casting as they become exposed as core material is progressively removed. The discharge of fluid from the nozzle can be interrupted periodically to allow dissolved core material and fluid to drain from inside the casting or, alternately, the casting and nozzle can be relatively moved so that the casting can drain and/or forced air can be directed at the casting to this same end at a location spaced apart form the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Conroy, Harold C. Pierson, Michael M. McRae
  • Patent number: 5915452
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing a ceramic core from a casting in a relatively rapid manner wherein the casting and a fluid spray nozzle are disposed in a manner to expose a region of the core to a core dissolving fluid discharge of the nozzle and a core dissolving fluid is discharged from the nozzle toward the core region to contact the core region and dissolve core material therefrom and progressively from further regions of the core within the casting as they become exposed as core material is progressively removed. The discharge of fluid from the nozzle can be interrupted periodically to allow dissolved core material and fluid to drain from inside the casting or, alternately, the casting and nozzle can be relatively moved so that the casting can drain and/or forced air can be directed at the casting to this same end at a location spaced apart form the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Conroy, Harold C. Pierson, Michael M. McRae
  • Patent number: 5913354
    Abstract: Method for removing ceramic shell mold material from one or more castings in a relatively rapid manner wherein the casting and hot caustic solution spray nozzles are relatively moved to direct hot caustic solution under pressure at the castings to remove post-knock-out ceramic shell material thereon prior to further processing of the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Conroy, Douglas W. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5678583
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing ceramic shell mold material from one or more castings in a relatively rapid manner wherein the casting and hot caustic solution spray nozzles are relatively moved to direct hot caustic solution under pressure at the castings to remove post-knock-out ceramic shell material thereon prior to further processing of the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Conroy, Douglas W. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5618353
    Abstract: A plurality of engine-run components are fixtured on a cleaning fluid manifold disposed in a cleaning chamber with the internal passage of each component communicated to a respective fluid spray nozzle on the cleaning fluid manifold, a heated caustic cleaning fluid is pumped to the manifold for flow through the nozzle and then the internal passage of each component for a time to remove the deposits, and the heated cleaning fluid is discharged from each component into the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Howmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Irvine, Jeffery S. Smith, Patrick L. Conroy
  • Patent number: 5507306
    Abstract: A plurality of engine-run components are fixtured on a cleaning fluid manifold disposed in a cleaning chamber with the internal passage of each component communicated to a respective fluid spray nozzle on the cleaning fluid manifold, a heated caustic cleaning fluid is pumped to the manifold for flow through the nozzle and then the internal passage of each component for a time to remove the deposits, and the heated cleaning fluid is discharged from each component into the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Howmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Irvine, Jeffery S. Smith, Patrick L. Conroy