Patents by Inventor Ronald J. Keller

Ronald J. Keller 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: 6578623
    Abstract: Method of making a ceramic core for casting an industrial gas turbine engine airfoil having a large airfoil pitch by forming a precursor core (chill) of smaller dimensions than the final desired ceramic core, firing the chill, applying a thin ceramic skin to the fired chill to form a coated core of final dimensions, and then firing the coated core. Firing of the thin ceramic skin reduces airfoil pitch shrinkage resulting from the latter firing operation to reduce overall core dimensional tolerance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Julie A. Faison
  • Patent number: 6494250
    Abstract: An impregnated fired porous alumina-based ceramic core for use in an investment shell mold in the casting of molten metals and alloys wherein the core is impregnated with yttria to improve core creep resistance at elevated casting temperatures and times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory R. Frank, Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Charles F. Caccavale, Alfred P. Kaulius, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020185243
    Abstract: An impregnated fired porous alumina-based ceramic core for use in an investment shell mold in the casting of molten metals and alloys wherein the core is impregnated with yttria to improve core creep resistance at elevated casting temperatures and times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Gregory R. Frank, Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Charles F. Caccavale, Alfred P. Kaulius
  • Publication number: 20020117601
    Abstract: Method of making a ceramic core for casting an industrial gas turbine engine airfoil having a large airfoil pitch by forming a precursor core (chill) of smaller dimensions than the final desired ceramic core, firing the chill, applying a thin ceramic skin to the fired chill to form a coated core of final dimensions, and then firing the coated core. Firing of the thin ceramic skin reduces airfoil pitch shrinkage resulting from the latter firing operation to reduce overall core dimensional tolerance variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Julie A. Faison
  • Patent number: 6315941
    Abstract: Method of making a ceramic core for casting an industrial gas turbine engine airfoil having a large airfoil pitch by forming a precursor core (chill) of smaller dimensions than the final desired ceramic core, firing the chill, applying a thin ceramic skin to the fired chill to form a coated core of final dimensions, and then firing the coated core. Firing of the thin ceramic skin reduces airfoil pitch shrinkage resulting from the latter firing operation to reduce overall core dimensional tolerance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Keller, Rodney S. Haaland, Julie A. Faison
  • Patent number: 4962069
    Abstract: The preparation of highly densified ceramic bodies by the sintering of certain preceramic polysilazanes filled with silicon carbide powders, metal-containing sintering aids, and, optionally, polysilazane curing agents is described. Such highly densified ceramic bodies can be prepared by either a pressureless sintering process or a hot press sintering process. The compositions of this invention can be formed into desired shapes and then sintered to form ceramic, shaped bodies with high densities. One advantage of the present invention is that the green bodies have relative high strengths and thus can be easily handled and, if desired, machined before sintering. The preceramic polysilazanes useful in this invention must yield ceramic chars which contains free or excess carbon in addition to carbon in the form of silicon carbide upon pyrolysis to elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Gary T. Burns, Chandan K. Saha, Ronald J. Keller