Patents by Inventor Thomas Uihlein

Thomas Uihlein 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: 12359573
    Abstract: A blade for a turbomachine is provided. The blade at its blade tip (4) includes blade tip armor (5), and an erosion protection layer (11) above the blade tip armor. For the blade, the erosion protection layer in the area of the blade tip has a layer thickness in the range of 5 ?m to 100 ?m, in particular 10 ?m to 50 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle
  • Publication number: 20230340884
    Abstract: blade for a turbomachine is provided. The blade at its blade tip (4) includes blade tip armor (5), and an erosion protection layer (11) above the blade tip armor. For the blade, the erosion protection layer in the area of the blade tip has a layer thickness in the range of 5 µm to 100 µm, in particular 10 µm to 50 µm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas UIHLEIN, Ralf STOLLE
  • Publication number: 20190301291
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade (1) for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is provided. Initially, a blade tip hardfacing is applied to the blade tip and, subsequently, a mask (10) is positioned in the region of the blade tip hardfacing, the mask covering the blade tip hardfacing, and, subsequently, the erosion-protection coating is deposited. The mask is removed after the erosion-protection coating is completed. A blade for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is also provided. The erosion-protection coating at least partially covers the blade tip hardfacing, and the thickness of the erosion-protection coating decreases continuously in and/or toward the region of the blade tip hardfacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle
  • Patent number: 10415400
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade (1) for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is provided. Initially, a blade tip hardfacing is applied to the blade tip and, subsequently, a mask (10) is positioned in the region of the blade tip hardfacing, the mask covering the blade tip hardfacing, and, subsequently, the erosion-protection coating is deposited. The mask is removed after the erosion-protection coating is completed. A blade for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is also provided. The erosion-protection coating at least partially covers the blade tip hardfacing, and the thickness of the erosion-protection coating decreases continuously in and/or toward the region of the blade tip hardfacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle
  • Patent number: 10400613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a blade or blade arrangement of a turbomachine, which features the following steps: producing a blade (4) from at least one blade material, machining the blade in at least one region of the blade by a surface machining process, cleaning the surface of the blade depositing an erosion protection coating (10) of at least two layers of different hardness by physical vapor deposition in the at least one region, machining the erosion protection coating (10) by a coating smoothing process in order to establish a defined surface roughness. Furthermore, the invention relates to correspondingly produced blades or blade arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Joerg Windprechtinger, Ralf Stolle, Philipp Utz, Thomas Uihlein, Markus Gether
  • Patent number: 9951411
    Abstract: The invention relates to an erosion protection coating (11), in particular, for gas turbine components, having a horizontally segmented and/or multi-layered construction. i.e., having at least one relatively hard layer (12) and having at least one relatively soft layer (13), wherein the relatively hard layer or each relatively hard layer as well as the relatively soft layer or each relatively soft layer are disposed on top of one another in an alternating manner, in such a way that an outer-lying layer, which forms an outer surface of the erosion protection coating, is formed as a relatively hard layer (12). According to the invention, the relatively hard layer or each relatively hard layer (12) as well as the relatively soft layer or each relatively soft layer (13) are formed as a ceramic layer in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES GmbH
    Inventors: Falko Heutling, Thomas Uihlein, Wolfgang Eichmann
  • Patent number: 9920411
    Abstract: A method and device for partially masking a component or assembly during a coating process, the device including at least one masking plate for separating a region to be coated from a region to be masked, the masking plate having at least a portion of at least one opening which conforms closely to the contour of the component and is adapted to allow passage of the component therethrough is provided. In masked region, a gap is present along opening, at least one sealing element being disposed at the gap on the side of the masked region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle, Andreas Kaehny, Josef Lachner, Heinrich Walter, Michael Strasser, Werner Moosrainer, Michael Schober
  • Publication number: 20170335697
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a blade or blade arrangement of a turbomachine, which features the following steps: producing a blade (4) from at least one blade material, machining the blade in at least one region of the blade by a surface machining process, cleaning the surface of the blade depositing an erosion protection coating (10) of at least two layers of different hardness by physical vapor deposition in the at least one region, machining the erosion protection coating (10) by a coating smoothing process in order to establish a defined surface roughness. Furthermore, the invention relates to correspondingly produced blades or blade arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Joerg WINDPRECHTINGER, Ralf STOLLE, Philipp UTZ, Thomas UIHLEIN, Markus GETHER
  • Publication number: 20160333706
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade (1) for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is provided. Initially, a blade tip hardfacing is applied to the blade tip and, subsequently, a mask (10) is positioned in the region of the blade tip hardfacing, the mask covering the blade tip hardfacing, and, subsequently, the erosion-protection coating is deposited. The mask is removed after the erosion-protection coating is completed. A blade for a turbomachine, the blade having a hardfacing on its tip (4) and an erosion-protection coating (13) at least on its airfoil (3) is also provided. The erosion-protection coating at least partially covers the blade tip hardfacing, and the thickness of the erosion-protection coating decreases continuously in and/or toward the region of the blade tip hardfacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle
  • Publication number: 20160333705
    Abstract: A method for producing a blade for a turbomachine, the blade having a blade tip cladding on its blade tip and an erosion-resistant layer at least on its blade airfoil, wherein firstly a blade tip cladding is applied on the blade tip, subsequently a poorly adhering sublayer is deposited on the blade tip cladding, and then the erosion-resistant layer is produced on the poorly adhering sublayer and the blade airfoil, the poorly adhering sublayer being removed again together with the erosion-resistant layer following completion of the erosion-resistant layer. The invention also relates to a blade for a turbomachine, the blade having a blade tip cladding on its blade tip and an erosion-resistant layer at least on its blade airfoil. The blade tip cladding comprises a metal matrix with incorporated hard material particles and an oxide layer arranged on the metal matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas UIHLEIN, Josef LINSKA, Ralf STOLLE
  • Patent number: 9492906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning a turbo-machine stage (100) consisting of at least one of the following steps: a cleaning nozzle (1) is introduced into an opening of a turbo-machine, in particular into an inspection opening (220); and the blade (100) of the stage is acted upon by solid particles, said particles subliming at the blade temperature, in particular into dry ice particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Rösing, Frank Seidel, Lutz Winkler, Bernd Kriegl, Thomas Uihlein, Martin Dürr, Fabian Moritz
  • Publication number: 20160258046
    Abstract: A method and device for partially masking a component or assembly during a coating process, the device including at least one masking plate for separating a region to be coated from a region to be masked, the masking plate having at least a portion of at least one opening which conforms closely to the contour of the component and is adapted to allow passage of the component therethrough is provided. In masked region, a gap is present along opening, at least one sealing element being disposed at the gap on the side of the masked region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Ralf Stolle, Andreas Kaehny, Josef Lachner, Heinrich Walter, Michael Strasser, Werner Moosrainer, Michael Schober
  • Patent number: 9427937
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-wear coating, specifically for components which are subject to erosion under mechanical loading, in particular for gas turbine components, said coating comprising at least two different individual layers which preferably alternate with one another multiply and are applied to a surface of a component which is to be coated. The individual layers comprise a ceramic main layer (45, 46, 47, 48) and a quasi-ductile, non-metallic intermediate layer (41, 42, 43, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Wolfgang Eichmann, Falko Heutling, Annegret Brendel
  • Patent number: 9212555
    Abstract: A method for removing the coating from a gas turbine component, namely for the complete or partial removal of a multilayer wear protection coating from the surface of the gas turbine component, the wear protection coating having at least one relatively hard ceramic layer and at least one relatively soft metallic layer, wherein, in order to remove the multilayer wear protection coating, the gas turbine component is alternately positioned in two different chemical baths, a first bath being used exclusively for the removal of each relatively hard ceramic layer, and a second bath being used exclusively for the removal of each relatively soft metallic layer of the wear protection coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: MTU Aero Engines GmbH, AB Solut Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Manier, Thomas Uihlein, Carl-Stefan Thöne
  • Patent number: 9114480
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for joining a rotationally asymmetrical part, preferably a turbine blade, which is made of a monocrystalline material, to a part, preferably a rotor core, which is made of polycrystalline material, having the method steps of: —joining the rotationally asymmetrical part to an adapter piece made of polycrystalline material by means of rotational friction welding, and —joining the adapter piece to the part made of polycrystalline material. The present invention also relates to a turbine blisk having a rotor core made of polycrystalline material and turbine blades made of monocrystalline material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Knott, Erwin Bayer, Thomas Uihlein
  • Patent number: 8936442
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor (10), in particular for a gas turbine, including the following method steps: preparing a rotor base member (12) having at least one first weld surface (16) and one blade (14) having a second weld surface (18); positioning the rotor base member (12) and the blade (14) in such a way that a join zone (20) is formed between the first and second weld surface (16, 18); and filling the join zone (20) with metal powder (24) and the laser welding or electron beam welding of the metal powder (24). An integrally bladed rotor (10) has a join zone (20) between the rotor base member (12) and blades (14), the join zone (20) being filled with welded metal powder (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Erich Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 8920881
    Abstract: For producing a component, especially a gas turbine component, coated with a wear-protection, corrosion-protection or erosion-protection coating, a method includes the following steps: providing a component (10) to be coated on a component surface (13); at least partially coating the component (11) on its component surface with an at least two-layered protective coating (14), which includes at least one relatively soft layer (15) and at least one relatively hard layer (16); and then surface densifying the at least partially coated component on its coated component surface by ball blasting or shot peening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eichmann, Karl-Heinz Manier, Markus Uecker, Thomas Uihlein
  • Patent number: 8663814
    Abstract: An anti-wear coating, in particular an anti-erosion coating, which is applied to a surface of a component that is stressed under fluid technology and is to be protected, in particular a gas turbine part, is disclosed. The anti-wear coating includes one or more multilayer systems applied in a repeating order to the surface to be coated, and the/each multilayer system includes at least one relatively soft metallic layer and at least one relatively hard ceramic layer. All the layers of the/each multilayer system are based on chromium, and a diffusion barrier layer is applied between the surface to be protected and the multilayer system(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eichmann, Falko Heutling, Thomas Uihlein
  • Publication number: 20130280480
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-wear coating, specifically for components which are subject to erosion under mechanical loading, in particular for gas turbine components, said coating comprising at least two different individual layers which preferably alternate with one another multiply and are applied to a surface of a component which is to be coated. The individual layers comprise a ceramic main layer (45, 46, 47, 48) and a quasi-ductile, non-metallic intermediate layer (41, 42, 43, 44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Uihlein, Wolfgang Eichmann, Falko Heutling, Annegret Brendel
  • Publication number: 20130174869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning a turbo-machine stage (100) consisting of at least one of the following steps: a cleaning nozzle (1) is introduced into an opening of a turbo-machine, in particular into an inspection opening (220); and the blade (100) of the stage is acted upon by solid particles, said particles subliming at the blade temperature, in particular into dry ice particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Rösing, Frank Seidel, Lutz Winkler, Bernd Kriegl, Thomas Uihlein, Martin Dürr, Fabian Moritz