Patents by Inventor Yuk-Chiu Lau

Yuk-Chiu Lau 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).

  • Publication number: 20100226783
    Abstract: A sacrificial and erosion-resistant turbine compressor airfoil includes a turbine compressor airfoil having a modified airfoil surface. The airfoil surface has an airfoil coating that includes a sacrificial coating comprising a layer of Al, Cr, Zn, an Ni—Al alloy, an Al—Si alloy, an Al-based alloy, a Cr-based alloy or a Zn-based alloy, an Al polymer composite, or a combination thereof, or a layer of a conductive undercoat and an overcoat of an inorganic matrix binder having a plurality of ceramic particles and conductive particles embedded therein disposed on the undercoat. The airfoil coating also includes an sacrificial coating, wherein one of the sacrificial coating or the erosion-resistant coating is disposed on the airfoil surface and the other of the corrosion-resistant coating or the erosion-resistant coating is disposed on the respective one, and wherein the sacrificial coating is more anodic than the airfoil surface or the erosion-resistant coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jane Marie Lipkin, Krishnamurthy Anand, David Vincent Bucci, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Surinder Pabla, Vinod Kumar Pareek, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Guruprasad Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 7749565
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coated substrate including a substrate coating applied to at least one substantially flat surface of the substrate, the coating including at least one of an axial concavity and a circumferential curvature, the substrate being configured for disposal parametrically about a moving component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis Alan Johnson, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Joshua Lee Margolies, Herbert Chidsey Roberts, III
  • Publication number: 20100124608
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coated substrate including a substrate coating applied to at least one substantially flat surface of the substrate, the coating including at least one of an axial concavity and a circumferential curvature, the substrate being configured for disposal parametrically about a moving component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Curtis Alan Johnson, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Joshua Lee Margolies, Herbert Chidsey Roberts, III
  • Publication number: 20090162670
    Abstract: A method for applying a ceramic coating over a substantially smooth protective coating on a metal substrate is disclosed. The method includes the step of air plasma spraying (APS) particles of the ceramic coating at a pre-selected particle velocity of at least about 500 meters per second. The ceramic coating particles have an average particle size no greater than about 50 microns. An article is also described, including a metal substrate; and a substantially smooth protective coating over the substrate, having a roughness (Ra) less than about 200 micro-inches. An adherent ceramic coating is disposed on the substantially smooth protective coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yuk-Chiu Lau, Brian Thomas Hazel
  • Publication number: 20090004379
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Deng, Dennis Michael Gray, Todd Charles Curtis, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Dalong Zhong, Ming Feng Hsu, Nitin Bhate, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Margaret Louise Blohm
  • Publication number: 20080145528
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a substrate. The method further includes disposing a coating mixture on a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating mixture comprises a braze material and a texture-providing material. The method further includes heating the braze material to bond the texture-providing material to the surface of the substrate to form the article having the wetting-resistant surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Deng, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Ming Feng Hsu, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Margaret L. Blohm, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nitin Bhate, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Gregory Allen O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20080081109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a porous abradable coating including at least one abradable layer applicable to a substrate, said at least one abradable layer comprising coarsely cut powder pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis Alan Johnson, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Joshua Lee Margolies, Herbert Chidsey Roberts
  • Publication number: 20070072046
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure comprises a conductive base, that defines a plurality of holes, and a grid layer disposed on the conductive base. A porous support layer at least partially interpenetrates the grid layer to at least one of the conductive base or the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Anthony Thompson, David Wortman, Harish Acharya, Richard Nardi, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Kenneth Browall
  • Publication number: 20070072035
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell includes a porous anode, formed of finely-dispersed nickel/stabilized-zirconia powder particles. The particles have an average diameter of less than about 300 nanometers. They are also characterized by a tri-phase length of greater than about 50 ?m/?m3. A solid oxide fuel cell stack is also described, along with a method of forming an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell. The method includes the step of using a spray-agglomerated, nickel oxide/stabilized-zirconia powder to form the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Bastiaan Korevaar, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Anteneh Kebbede, Harish Acharya, Badri Ramamurthi
  • Patent number: 7004622
    Abstract: A system for measuring a condition of a turbine engine component comprises an assemblage of at least a film comprising an electrically conducting material disposed on a film of an electrically non-conducting material, the assemblage being disposed on a surface of the turbine engine component without removing material from the turbine engine component to compensate for thickness of at least one of the films. The electrically non-conducting material has a thermal expansion coefficient such that each of the films remains adhered to adjacent films through at least one cycle of extreme operating temperature. In addition, communication links can be provided to transmit the measurement representing the condition of the turbine engine to a remote user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Canan Uslu Hardwicke, John William Devitt, Melvin Robert Jackson, Yuk-Chiu Lau
  • Patent number: 7005200
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article for use in a high-temperature environment, and an article for use in such an environment, are presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; selecting a desired vertical crack density for a protective coating to be deposited on the substrate; providing a powder, wherein the powder has a size range selected to provide a coating having the desired vertical crack density; and applying a thermal-sprayed coating to the substrate, the coating having the desired vertical crack density, wherein the powder is used as a raw material for the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, David Joseph Mitchell, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Arnold Thomas Henry
  • Publication number: 20050287374
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article for use in a high-temperature environment, and an article for use in such an environment, are presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; selecting a desired vertical crack density for a protective coating to be deposited on the substrate; providing a powder, wherein the powder has a size range selected to provide a coating having the desired vertical crack density; and applying a thermal-sprayed coating to the substrate, the coating having the desired vertical crack density, wherein the powder is used as a raw material for the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, David Mitchell, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Arnold Henry
  • Publication number: 20050164027
    Abstract: Method of producing a profiled abradable coating on a substrate in which an abradable ceramic coating composition is applied to a substrate using direct-write technology, or plasma sprayed onto the substrate through a mask or by use of a narrow foot-print plasma gun. These methods of producing abradable coatings are performed in the absence of a grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yuk-Chiu Lau, Farshad Ghasripoor, Robert Fusaro, Raymond Chupp, Donald Baldwin, Canan Hardwicke
  • Patent number: 6916529
    Abstract: An abradable coating composition for use on shrouds in gas turbine engines or other hot gas path metal components exposed to high temperatures containing an initial porous coating phase created by adding an amount of inorganic microspheres, preferably alumina-ceramic microballoons, to a base metal alloy containing high Al, Cr or Ti such as ?-NiAl or, alternatively, MCrAlY that serves to increase the brittle nature of the metal matrix, thereby increasing the abradability and oxidation resistance of the coating at elevated temperatures. Coatings having a total open and closed porosity of between 20% and 55% by volume due to the presence of ceramic microballoons ranging in size from about 10 microns to about 200 microns have been found to exhibit excellent abradability for applications involving turbine shroud coatings. An abradable coating thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ml provides improved performance for turbine shrouds exposed to gas temperatures between 1380° F. and 1800° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Surinder Singh Pabla, Farshad Ghasripoor, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Liang Jiang, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, William Emerson Martinez Zegarra
  • Patent number: 6887528
    Abstract: Method of producing a profiled abradable coating on a substrate in which an abradable ceramic coating composition is applied to a substrate using direct-write technology, or plasma sprayed onto the substrate through a mask or by use of a narrow foot-print plasma gun. These methods of producing abradable coatings are performed in the absence of a grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yuk-Chiu Lau, Farshad Ghasripoor, Robert Anthony Fusaro, Jr., Raymond Edward Chupp, Donald Joseph Baldwin, Canan Uslu Hardwicke
  • Patent number: 6866897
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article for use in a high-temperature environment, and an article for use in such an environment, are presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; selecting a desired vertical crack density for a protective coating to be deposited on the substrate; providing a powder, wherein the powder has a size range selected to provide a coating having the desired vertical crack density; and applying a thermal-sprayed coating to the substrate, the coating having the desired vertical crack density, wherein the powder is used as a raw material for the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, David Joseph Mitchell, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Arnold Thomas Henry
  • Publication number: 20050003172
    Abstract: A method of applying a profiled abradable coating onto a substrate in which an abradable ceramic coating composition is applied to a metal substrate using one or more coating application techniques to produce a defined ceramic pattern without requiring a separate web or grid to be brazed onto the substrate. The invention is particularly designed to withstand the higher operating temperatures encountered with the stage 1 section of 7FA+e gas turbines to allow for increased coating life without significant deterioration in structural or functional integrity. Typically, the grid pattern coating begins approximately 0.431? after the leading edge of the shroud, and ends approximately 1.60? before the trailing edge of the shroud. In the case of diamond-shaped patterns, the grid pattern will be about 0.28? long and 0.28? wide, with an overall thickness of about 0.46.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Wheeler, Farshad Ghasripoor, Chek Beng Ng, Raymond Chupp, Donald Baldwin, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Tara McGovern
  • Patent number: 6787195
    Abstract: A process of depositing a coating system suitable for use as an environmental barrier coating on various substrate materials, particularly those containing silicon and intended for high temperature applications such as the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The process comprises depositing a first coating layer containing mullite, and preferably a second coating layer of an alkaline earth aluminosilicate, such as barium-strontium-aluminosilicate (BSAS), by thermal spraying while maintaining the substrate at a temperature of 800° C. or less, preferably 500° C. or less, by which a substantially crack-free coating system is produced with desirable mechanical integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Irene Spitsberg, Arnold T. Henry
  • Publication number: 20040151840
    Abstract: A process of depositing a coating system suitable for use as an environmental barrier coating on various substrate materials, particularly those containing silicon and intended for high temperature applications such as the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The process comprises depositing a first coating layer containing mullite, and preferably a second coating layer of an alkaline earth aluminosilicate, such as barium-strontium-aluminosilicate (BSAS), by thermal spraying while maintaining the substrate at a temperature of 800° C. or less, preferably 500° C. or less, by which a substantially crack-free coating system is produced with desirable mechanical integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Irene Spitsberg, Arnold T. Henry
  • Publication number: 20040137259
    Abstract: An abradable coating composition for use on shrouds in gas turbine engines or other hot gas path metal components exposed to high temperatures containing an initial porous coating phase created by adding an amount of inorganic microspheres, preferably alumina-ceramic microballoons, to a base metal alloy containing high Al, Cr or Ti such as &bgr;-NiAl or, alternatively, MCrAlY that serves to increase the brittle nature of the metal matrix, thereby increasing the abradability and oxidation resistance of the coating at elevated temperatures. Coatings having a total open and closed porosity of between 20% and 55% by volume due to the presence of ceramic microballoons ranging in size from about 10 microns to about 200 microns have been found to exhibit excellent abradability for applications involving turbine shroud coatings. An abradable coating thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ml provides improved performance for turbine shrouds exposed to gas temperatures between 1380° F. and 1800° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Surinder Singh Pabla, Farshad Ghasripoor, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Liang Jiang, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, William Emerson Martinez Zegarra