Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Rentz

Thomas W. Rentz 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: 8642170
    Abstract: A coating system that includes a plurality of portions, each portion comprising one or more layers. The coating system includes an outer portion, which is an infrared radiation (IR) interaction portion, that dissipates incident (IR). Underlying this outer portion is a performance portion. The performance portion comprises at least one layer that includes microspheres. Between the substrate and performance portion is a compliance portion. The compliance portion comprises at least one layer of high temperature material that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate the performance layer and the substrate. The compliance portion thus reduces any high temperature thermal mismatch between the substrate and the performance portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ivkovich, William Randolph Stowell, Darrell Senile, Thomas W. Rentz, John F. Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20090169898
    Abstract: A coating system that includes a plurality of portions, each portion comprising one or more layers. The coating system includes an outer portion, which is an infrared radiation (IR) interaction portion, that dissipates incident (IR). Underlying this outer portion is a performance portion. The performance portion comprises at least one layer that includes microspheres. Between the substrate and performance portion is a compliance portion. The compliance portion comprises at least one layer of high temperature material that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate the performance layer and the substrate. The compliance portion thus reduces any high temperature thermal mismatch between the substrate and the performance portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ivkovich, William Randolph Stowell, Darrell Senile, Thomas W. Rentz, John F. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 7497764
    Abstract: A method for machining a component. The method includes providing a machining apparatus configured to induce vibrations such that a vibration direction of the machining apparatus is substantially aligned with respect to a machining direction of the component, and vibrating the machining apparatus in the vibration direction to machine the component in the machining direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Kostar, Thomas W. Rentz
  • Patent number: 6932682
    Abstract: A method for machining a component. The method includes providing a machining apparatus configured to induce vibrations such that a vibration direction of the machining apparatus is substantially aligned with respect to a machining direction of the component, and vibrating the machining apparatus in the vibration direction to machine the component in the machining direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Kostar, Thomas W. Rentz
  • Publication number: 20040077293
    Abstract: A method for machining a component. The method includes providing a machining apparatus configured to induce vibrations such that a vibration direction of the machining apparatus is substantially aligned with respect to a machining direction of the component, and vibrating the machining apparatus in the vibration direction to machine the component in the machining direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy D. Kostar, Thomas W. Rentz
  • Patent number: 6485590
    Abstract: A method of forming a multilayer ceramic coating system on a substrate that requires thermal protection from a hostile thermal environment. The method generally entails forming at least one tape that contains ceramic particles dispersed in an organic constituent, such as a binder and/or plasticizer. If a single tape is used, the tape is formed of multiple layers of different compositions and applied as a unit to the substrate, thereby forming at least an innermost layer and an outermost layer on the substrate. If multiple tapes are used, a first tape is applied to the substrate to form the innermost layer, and a second tape is applied to form the outermost layer. The tape/tapes are then sintered to form innermost and outermost ceramic layers, respectively, on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ivkovich, Jr., Andrew J. Skoog, Jane A. Murphy, Thomas W. Rentz
  • Patent number: 6165600
    Abstract: A method of forming a multilayer ceramic coating system on a substrate that requires thermal protection from a hostile thermal environment. The method generally entails forming at least one tape that contains ceramic particles dispersed in an organic constituent, such as a binder and/or plasticizer. If a single tape is used, the tape is formed of multiple layers of different compositions and applied as a unit to the substrate, thereby forming at least an innermost layer and an outermost layer on the substrate. If multiple tapes are used, a first tape is applied to the substrate to form the innermost layer, and a second tape is applied to form the outermost layer. The tape/tapes are then sintered to form innermost and outermost ceramic layers, respectively, on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ivkovich, Jr., Andrew J. Skoog, Jane A. Murphy, Thomas W. Rentz