Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Van Steenkiste
Thomas H. Van Steenkiste 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: 7900812Abstract: A process for physically bonding two parts to each other is disclosed. In addition, a process for forming electrical connections have a low resistance is disclosed. The process is generally applicable to the joining of two parts each formed from a metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof. The process finds special use in the formation of multi-celled batteries. The process involves placing two parts or electrical conductors in contact with each other and then bonding them to each other using a kinetic spray process and powder particles. In formation of a multi-celled battery the particles are preferably electrically conductive. The process enables for rapid and cost effective formation of a physical connection. In addition, the connection can have an electrical resistance of less than about 0.5 milli Ohms and strength equal or greater than ultrasonic welding.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: EnerDel, Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Teets, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Duane D. Kruger, Robert C. Beer
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Publication number: 20080173102Abstract: A torque sensor based on the Villari effect. The sensor uses high frequency alternating magnetic fields and the Villari effect to determine the state of stress/strain inside a magnetostrictive shaft for the purpose of measuring torque. The invention teaches design elements for the sensor and shaft; namely, the desirable magnetic, electric and structural properties for various elements of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Thomas W. Nehl, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith
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Patent number: 7081376Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Donald T. Morelli, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Brian K. Fuller, Bryan A. Gillispie, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
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Patent number: 6808817Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Donald T. Morelli, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Brian K. Fuller, Bryan A. Gillispie, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
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Patent number: 6743468Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for applying both a kinetic spray applied coating layer and a thermal spray applied layer onto a substrate using a single application nozzle. The system includes a higher heat capacity gas heater to permit oscillation between a kinetic spray mode wherein the particles being applied are not thermally softened and a thermal spray mode wherein the particles being applied are thermally softened prior to application. The system increases the versatility of the spray nozzle and addresses several problems inherent in kinetic spray applied coatings.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian K. Fuller, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste
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Publication number: 20040058064Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for applying both a kinetic spray applied coating layer and a thermal spray applied layer onto a substrate using a single application nozzle. The system includes a higher heat capacity gas heater to permit oscillation between a kinetic spray mode wherein the particles being applied are not thermally softened and a thermal spray mode wherein the particles being applied are thermally softened prior to application. The system increases the versatility of the spray nozzle and addresses several problems inherent in kinetic spray applied coatings.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Brian K. Fuller, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste
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Publication number: 20030175559Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: Donald T. Morelli, Alaa A. Elmoursi, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Brian K. Fuller, Bryan A. Gillispie, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
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Patent number: 6283386Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for kinetic spray coating of substrate surfaces by impingement of air or gas entrained powders of small particles in a range up to at least 106 microns accelerated to supersonic velocity in a spray nozzle. Preferably powders of metals, alloys, polymers and mixtures thereof or with semiconductors or ceramics are entrained in unheated air and passed through an injection tube into a larger flow of heated air for mixing and acceleration through a supersonic nozzle for coating of an article by impingement of the yieldable particles. A preferred apparatus includes a high pressure air supply carrying entrained particles exceeding 50 microns through an injection tube into heated air in a mixing chamber for mixing and acceleration in the nozzle. The mixing chamber is supplied with high pressure heated air through a main air passage having an area ratio relative to the injection tube of at least 80/1.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing SciencesInventors: Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith, Richard E. Teets, Jerome J. Moleski, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
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Patent number: 6139913Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for kinetic spray coating of substrate surfaces by impingement of air or gas entrained powders of small particles in a range up to at least 106 microns accelerated to supersonic velocity in a spray nozzle. Preferably powders of metals, alloys, polymers and mixtures thereof or with semiconductors or ceramics are entrained in unheated air and passed through an injection tube into a larger flow of heated air for mixing and acceleration through a supersonic nozzle for coating of an article by impingement of the yieldable particles. A preferred apparatus includes a high pressure air supply carrying entrained particles exceeding 50 microns through an injection tube into heated air in a mixing chamber for mixing and acceleration in the nozzle. The mixing chamber is supplied with high pressure heated air through a main air passage having an area ratio relative to the injection tube of at least 80/1.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing SciencesInventors: Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith, Richard E. Teets, Jerome J. Moleski, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
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Patent number: 5434784Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for sensing a vehicle steering wheel position. A permanent magnet target wheel having a global axial magnetic field normal to a first surface is attached to a steering shaft which is rotated by the steering wheel. Multiple regions equally spaced along a common radius on the first surface are magnetically altered and sensed by magnetically responsive sensors positioned adjacent the first radius. A single region positioned within a finite radius along a second radius on the first surface is magnetically altered and sensed by a magnetically responsive sensor positioned adjacent the second radius. The magnetic sensors are responsive to passage of the multiple regions and single region as the target wheel is rotated. Detection of each of the multiple regions corresponds to rotation of the target wheel by an incremental number of degrees.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1994Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: John R. Bradley, Thomas A. Perry, Richard E. Teets, Martin S. Meyer, Jeffrey A. Sell, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Frank J. Bohac, Jr., Jerry S. Roach, Manfred W. Reissmueller, Everett K. Shelton, Dozier: James R., Hiro Yamasaki
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Patent number: 5225104Abstract: A film of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material having improved light scattering and solar attenuation properties, which utilizes a significantly reduced amount of the liquid crystal component as compared to conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal films, is provided. These improved properties are obtained by the addition of preferably up to about three volume percent of an organic photoaccelerator chosen from the group of amines or aminobenzoates, to the liquid crystal-polymer precursor mixture prior to curing of the mixture.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1991Date of Patent: July 6, 1993Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, Nuno A. Vaz, George P. Montgomery, Jr., George W. Smith
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Patent number: 5211876Abstract: Liquid crystal films are potentially useful for automotive displays and for automotive windows and sunroofs with variable optical transmission. The present invention provides a liquid crystal material having an extended wavelength response and a method for making the same. The size of the liquid crystal microdroplets within the material are controlled such that a polydisperse liquid crystal film is formed. Controlling the curing parameters during the cure of a supersaturated mixture of liquid crystal in polymer precursor allows for the fabrication of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material containing a multimodal distribution of microdroplet sizes which provides a film acting as both as a visible light shutter and a strong scattered of infrared radiation.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1990Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Nuno A. Vaz, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, George W. Smith, George P. Montgomery, Jr.
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Patent number: 4781754Abstract: A method is provided for rapidly solidifying rare earth-transition metal containing alloy. It entails introducing the alloy into the flame of a plasma torch and directing the torch flame onto the inside surface of a rotating quench cylinder. A non-oxidizing gas is also directed onto the quench surface so that the alloy solidifies at a rate such that a powder having a substantially amorphous to finely crystalline microstructure is obtained and such that the solidified alloy does not adhere to the quench surface and can be easily collected.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1987Date of Patent: November 1, 1988Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Vito W. Soranno, Frank G. Pirrallo, Thomas H. Van Steenkiste