Patents by Inventor Zhaolin Hu

Zhaolin Hu 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).

  • Localized Induction Heating For Residual Stress Optimization
    Publication number: 20120107644
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heat-treating of a heat-hardenable steel cruciform article having a weld seam includes a heating element to heat the weld seam to a point that an austenitic transformation occurs, and a quenching chamber to cool the weld seam, causing the formation of Martensite and an associated expansion. The quenching is rapid since slow quenching may allow a crystalline phase other than martensite to form. The apparatus may comprise rollers operable to convey the welded cruciform article through the apparatus at a speed such that the weld seam is subjected to heating for a predetermined heat time sufficient to cause a formation of martensite there within, and such that the heated portion reaches the quenching chamber and is quenched to create a substantial amount of martensite, e.g., an amount sufficient to cause expansion of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Pingshun Zhao, Howard W. Ludewig, Tao Hong, Fernando Martinez Diez, Michael Lynn Johnson, Kandrap Siddharthbai Patel, Zhaolin Hu, Steven R. Thompson
  • Localized induction heating for residual stress optimization
    Patent number: 8075714
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heat-treating of a heat-hardenable steel cruciform article having a weld seam includes a heating element to heat the weld seam to a point that an austenitic transformation occurs, and a quenching chamber to cool the weld seam, causing the formation of Martensite and an associated expansion. The quenching is rapid since slow quenching may allow a crystalline phase other than martensite to form. The apparatus may comprise rollers operable to convey the welded cruciform article through the apparatus at a speed such that the weld seam is subjected to heating for a predetermined heat time sufficient to cause a formation of martensite there within, and such that the heated portion reaches the quenching chamber and is quenched to create a substantial amount of martensite, e.g., an amount sufficient to cause expansion of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Pingshun Zhao, Howard W. Ludewig, Tao Hong, Fernando Martinez Diez, Michael Lynn Johnson, Kandarp Siddharthbai Patel, Zhaolin Hu, Steven R. Thompson
  • LOCALIZED INDUCTION HEATING FOR RESIDUAL STRESS OPTIMIZATION
    Publication number: 20090183804
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heat-treating of a heat-hardenable steel cruciform article having a weld seam includes a heating element to heat the weld seam to a point that an austenitic transformation occurs, and a quenching chamber to cool the weld seam, causing the formation of Martensite and an associated expansion. The quenching is rapid since slow quenching may allow a crystalline phase other than martensite to form. The apparatus may comprise rollers operable to convey the welded cruciform article through the apparatus at a speed such that the weld seam is subjected to heating for a predetermined heat time sufficient to cause a formation of martensite there within, and such that the heated portion reaches the quenching chamber and is quenched to create a substantial amount of martensite, e.g., an amount sufficient to cause expansion of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Pingshun Zhao, Howard W. Ludewig, Tao Hong, Fernando Martinez Diez, Michael Lynn Johnson, Kandrap Siddharthbai Patel, Zhaolin Hu, Steven R. Thompson