Patents by Inventor Robert E. Schafrik

Robert E. Schafrik 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).

  • Non-destructive evaluation of thermal barrier coatings in gas turbine engines
    Patent number: 6968730
    Abstract: A non-destructive method of detecting subsurface defects in thermal barrier coatings applied to gas turbine engine components is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a evanescent microwave microscope probe adjacent a turbine component surface coated with a thermal barrier coating, and scanning the thermal barrier coating by moving at least one of the evanescent microwave microscope probe and the component surface in relation to one another in an x-y plane while maintaining a predetermined distance between the probe and the thermal barrier coating constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Schafrik, Matthew B. Buczek, Ramgopal Darolia, Steven R. LeClair, John F. Maguire, William C. Fitzgerald
  • Non-destructive evaluation of thermal barrier coatings in gas turbine engines
    Publication number: 20040226351
    Abstract: A non-destructive method of detecting subsurface defects in thermal barrier coatings applied to gas turbine engine components is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a evanescent microwave microscope probe adjacent a turbine component surface coated with a thermal barrier coating, and scanning the thermal barrier coating by moving at least one of the evanescent microwave microscope probe and the component surface in relation to one another in an x-y plane while maintaining a predetermined distance between the probe and the thermal barrier coating constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Robert E. Schafrik, Matthew B. Buczek, Ramgopal Darolia, Steven R. LeClair, John F. Maguire, William C. Fitzgerald