Patents by Inventor Robert C. Bill
Robert C. Bill 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).
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Patent number: 4611787Abstract: This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio.The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove.The cable wraps around three-fourths of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position.A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1985Date of Patent: September 16, 1986Assignee: Power Climber, IncorporatedInventors: Marvin M. May, Robert C. Billings, Harry A. Kendall, Jeffrey T. Bayorgeon
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Patent number: 4555091Abstract: This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio.The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove.The cable wraps around three-quarters of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position.A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1983Date of Patent: November 26, 1985Assignee: Power Climber, Inc.Inventors: Marvin M. May, Robert C. Billings, Harry A. Kendall, Jeffrey T. Bayorgeon
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Patent number: 4430360Abstract: This invention is directed to improving the thermal shock resistance of a ceramic layer. The invention is particularly directed to an improved abradable lining (16) that is deposited on a shroud (14) forming a gas-path seal in turbomachinery.Improved thermal shock resistance of a shroud is effected through the deliberate introduction of "benign" cracks. These are microcracks which will not propagate appreciably upon exposure to the thermal shock environment in which a turbine seal must function.Laser surface fusion treatment is used to introduce these microcracks. The ceramic surface is laser scanned to form a continuous dense layer as shown in FIG. 2. As this layer cools and solidifies, shrinkage results in the formation of a very fine crack network.The presence of this deliberately introduced fine crack network precludes the formation of a catastrophic crack during thermal shock exposure.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1982Date of Patent: February 7, 1984Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, Donald W. Wisander
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Patent number: 4377371Abstract: This invention is directed to improving the thermal shock resistance of a ceramic layer. The invention is particularly directed to an improved abradable lining (16) that is deposited on a shroud (14) forming a gas-path seal in turbomachinery.Improved thermal shock resistance of a shroud is effected through the deliberate introduction of "benign" cracks. These are microcracks which will not propagate appreciably upon exposure to the thermal shock environment in which a turbine seal must function.Laser surface fusion treatment is used to introduce these microcracks. The ceramic surface is laser scanned to form a continuous dense layer as shown in FIG. 2. As this layer cools and solidifies, shrinkage results in the formation of a very fine crack network.The presence of this deliberately introduced fine crack network precludes the formation of a catastrophic crack during thermal shock exposure.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1981Date of Patent: March 22, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Donald W. Wisander, Robert C. Bill
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Patent number: 4336276Abstract: This invention is concerned with a seal having a high temperature abradable lining material encircling the tips of turbine blades in turbomachinery. The invention is particularly directed to maintaining the minimum operating clearances between the blade tips and the lining of a high pressure turbine.A low temperature easily decomposable material, such as a polymer, in powder form is blended with a high temperature oxidation resistant metal powder. The two materials are simultaneously deposited on a substrate formed by the turbine casing. Alternately, the polymerpowder may be added to the metal powder during plasma spraying.A ceramic layer is then deposited directly onto the metal-polymer composite. The polymer additive mixed with the metal is then completely volatilized to provide a porous layer between the ceramic layer and the substrate.Thermal stresses are reduced by virtue of the resulting porous structure which affords a cushion effect.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1980Date of Patent: June 22, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, Donald W. Wisander
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Patent number: 4335190Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved thermal barrier system by improving the adherence between a ceramic thermal barrier coating and a metal bond coating. First a primer film is deposited on the bond coat by ion sputtering a ceramic film thereon. A ceramic thermal barrier coating is then plasma-sprayed onto this primer film. This improves the integrity and strength of the interface between the plasma-sprayed ceramic layer and metallic bond coat which insures stronger adherence between the metal and the ceramic.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1981Date of Patent: June 15, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, James S. Sovey
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Patent number: 4295786Abstract: A gas path seal suitable for use with a turbine engine or compressor is provided. A shroud wearable or abradable by the abrasion of the rotor blades of the turbine or compressor shrouds the rotor blades. A compliant backing surrounds the shroud. The backing is a yieldingly deformable porous material covered with a thin ductile layer. A mounting fixture surrounds the backing.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1979Date of Patent: October 20, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, Lawrence P. Ludwig
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Patent number: 4207024Abstract: A gas path seal suitable for use with a turbine engine or compressor is provided. A shroud wearable or abradable by the abrasion of the rotor blades of the turbine or compressor shrouds the rotor blades. A compliant backing surrounds the shroud. The backing is a compliant material covered with a thin ductile layer. A mounting fixture surrounds the backing.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1978Date of Patent: June 10, 1980Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, Lawrence P. Ludwig
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Patent number: 4135851Abstract: A gas path seal suitable for use with a turbine engine or compressor is provided. A shroud wearable or abradable by the abrasion of the rotor blades of the turbine or compressor shrouds the rotor blades. A compliant backing surrounds the shroud. The backing may be made of corrugated sheets or the like with adjacent layers having off-set corrugations, with axes of the folds parallel to the rotor axis. The sheets may be bonded together at points of contact by brazing, welding or the like. In another embodiment a compliant material is covered with a thin ductile layer. A mounting fixture surrounds the backing.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1977Date of Patent: January 23, 1979Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert C. Bill, Lawrence P. Ludwig