Patents by Inventor Paul J. Fink

Paul J. Fink 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: 20090197112
    Abstract: An article and method for stabilization of a nickel-based superalloy coated with a diffusion aluminide coating. The region below the aluminide coating is first carburized to form refractory carbides. The article is cleaned and masked as required so that regions that will not have an aluminide coating are not carburized. After placing the article into a furnace and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburizing temperature, a carburizing gas is introduced, and the near surface region is carburized to a depth of about 100 microns. Refractory carbides are formed in this region. When a diffusion aluminide coating is formed on the article, the refractory elements, being present as refractory carbides, are not available to form detrimental TCP phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul J. FINK, Brian T. HAZEL, Christine GOVERN, Joseph M. GREENE
  • Patent number: 7524382
    Abstract: An article and method for stabilization of a nickel-based superalloy coated with a diffusion aluminide coating. The region below the aluminide coating is first carburized to form refractory carbides. The article is cleaned and masked as required so that regions that will not have an aluminide coating are not carburized. After placing the article into a furnace and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburizing temperature, a carburizing gas is introduced, and the near surface region is carburized to a depth of about 100 microns. Refractory carbides are formed in this region. When a diffusion aluminide coating is formed on the article, the refractory elements, being present as refractory carbides, are not available to form detrimental TCP phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Fink, Brian T. Hazel, Christine Govern, Joseph M. Greene
  • Publication number: 20090074972
    Abstract: An article and method for stabilization of a nickel-based superalloy coated with a diffusion aluminide coating. The region below the aluminide coating is first carburized to form refractory carbides. The article is cleaned and masked as required so that regions that will not have an aluminide coating are not carburized. After placing the article into a furnace and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburizing temperature, a carburizing gas is introduced, and the near surface region is carburized to a depth of about 100 microns. Refractory carbides are formed in this region. When a diffusion aluminide coating is formed on the article, the refractory elements, being present as refractory carbides, are not available to form detrimental TCP phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Fink, Brian T. Hazel, Christine Govern, Joseph Mark Greene
  • Patent number: 5634992
    Abstract: A gamma titanium aluminide alloy article is produced from a piece of cast gamma titanium aluminide alloy by consolidating the gamma titanium aluminide alloy piece at a temperature above the eutectoid to reduce porosity therein, preferably by hot isostatic pressing. The piece is first heat treated at a temperature above the eutectoid for a time sufficient to form a structure of gamma grains plus lamellar colonies of alpha and gamma phases, and thereafter second heat treated at a temperature below the eutectoid to grow gamma grains within the colony structure, thereby reducing the effective grain size of the colony structure. There may follow an additional heat treatment just below the alpha transus to reform any remaining colony structure to produce a structure having isolated alpha-two laths within gamma grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kelly, Michael J. Weimer, Curtiss M. Austin, Paul J. Fink, Shyh-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 5598968
    Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing and repairing components, and particularly superalloy components such as gas turbine engine components. The invention entails forming precipitates in a surface of the article that has been cold worked as a result of surface machining, cleaning, handling, etc. The precipitates serve to prevent recrystallization and formation of a secondary reaction zone in the cold worked surface of the superalloy when subsequently exposed to temperatures approaching the solution temperature of the superalloy, such that the microstructure and mechanical properties of the superalloy article are preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon C. Schaeffer, Andi K. Bartz, Paul J. Fink