Continuous Feed Solid Coating Material (e.g., Wire, Rod, Or Filament, Etc.) Patents (Class 427/449)
  • Patent number: 5955518
    Abstract: A heteropolysaccharide--containing glass fiber sizing composition that provides improved application uniformity when applied to hot fibers via a roll coater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin C. Flautt
  • Patent number: 5952054
    Abstract: A spray deposit is formed by applying a spray deposit on a target object, and applying a sealer onto the spray deposit on the target object immediately after the spray deposit is applied on the target object. Thus, a thin layer of sealer components contained in the sealer is formed immediately on the spray deposit while a liquid component of the sealer volatilizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Hardfacing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sato, Atsushi Migita, Kiyohiro Tarumi
  • Patent number: 5945171
    Abstract: This invention consists of a coating that is zebra mussel resistant and biofouling resistant without dependence on copper leaching. The coating is a solid solution of copper and nickel containing at least 65 percent copper. Application of the coating to stationary screens, traveling water screens, trash racks, louvers, and other components of water withdrawal and hydroelectric systems, netting and other porous materials used in barrier nets, fish nets, aquaculture, and fish hatcheries, the bottoms of water craft including recreational craft, boats, and ships and on bouys, piers and pilings and other materials that might benefit from resistance to the attachment of zebra mussels and other aquatic or marine organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignees: Ryan A. Cook, Shannyn M. Cook
    Inventor: Leon Edmond Cook
  • Patent number: 5932293
    Abstract: A thermal spray system includes a combustion unit connected to at least one port for supplying a flow of a combustible fluid from an external source of fuel and oxidant. The combustion unit includes a permeable burner block constructed to receive said combustible fluid from and to generate a high-energy stream of gas. The thermal spray system also includes an exhaust nozzle constructed to direct the high-energy stream of gas toward a substrate, and a material delivery unit constructed to deliver a material into the high-energy stream of gas to form a highly energized stream of particles. When the thermal spray system is used for bead blasting, the provided material is an abrasive material. Alternatively, when the thermal spray system is used for coating a substrate, the provided material is a coating material. The material delivery unit may be an injector or an electric arc unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Metalspray U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir E. Belashchenko, Viacheslav E. Baranovski
  • Patent number: 5922412
    Abstract: A method of eliminating unevenness in pass-reversal thermal spraying of a substrate surface by: uniformly thermally spraying a substrate surface by moving a wire fed arc spray gun along the length of the substrate surface at constant spray parameters while using a first wire feed rate and a first current level for the gun's power supply; (b) when said spray gun approaches an end zone of the pass length requiring reversal of spray gun movement, reducing the wire feed rate and current by up to about 25% until the spray gun has completed such reversal and has exited from said end zone in the opposite direction; (c) while still continuing thermal spraying, restoring the wire feed rage and current to said first levels; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) as the spray gun approaches other or repeated end zones of the substrate length during repeated passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Baughman, David James Cook
  • Patent number: 5908670
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a part with a metallic coating comprising at least two consumable electrically conductive metallic wire electrodes converging to converging point at their ends, an electric current into said wires creating an arc and melting said wire ends forming an arc ball, an atomizing gas supply supplying gas to said converging point of said wires to convert said arc ball into a molten particle stream, and a deflecting gas valve assembly disposed outwardly of said consumable wires, said deflecting gas valve assembly deflecting gas from a direction which is rotatable relative to said two wires, said deflecting gas valve assembly containing a plurality of ports relative to and behind said molten particle stream supplying a steady flow of deflecting gas thereby deflecting said molten metal particle stream radially outward towards a surface to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Tafa, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph P. Dunkerley, Thomas A. Friedrich, Gary Irons
  • Patent number: 5863617
    Abstract: A method for applying a rough slip resistant non-skid surface to a substrate in the field at the cite of use, comprising applying at least one base coat of metal to a surface of the substrate; wetting the surface of the substrate with a surfactant; spreading grit onto the wetted surface of the substrate; applying at least one bond coat of metal over the grit and the substrate, locking the grit in place; and, applying at least one finish coat of metal over the grit and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Harsco Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene A. Piontek
  • Patent number: 5837326
    Abstract: Abrasion-wear resistant thermal sprayed stainless steel based coatings are disclosed, particularly arc sprayed stainless steel coatings containing titanium diboride crystals which impart hardness to the soft stainless steel matrix and enhance their resistance to hard abrasive media. There is also disclosed a process for making core wires composed of stainless steel sheaths and cores composed of a mixture of titanium diboride, stainless steel and certain additives. During the thermal spraying operation, the stainless steel sheath and the core material melt to form a composite coating containing fine hard titanium boride crystals dispersed within stainless steel. The arc sprayed stainless steel based coatings are more resistant to abrasion wear than solid pieces of type 304 stainless steel and other arc-sprayed stainless steel-based coatings available on the market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Serge Dallaire, Henri L. Levert
  • Patent number: 5820939
    Abstract: A method of thermally spraying at least one adherent metallic coating onto an unroughened cleansed aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to produce a coated substrate, comprising: wire-arc thermally spraying of melted metallic bonding droplets and fluxing particles onto the substrate using air propulsion to concurrently adherently deposit flux particles and bonding droplets, the spraying using air propulsion and a wire feedstock having a core and a sheath, the wire core being constituted of both metal powder readily metallurgically bondable to the substrate and a fluxing powder that readily deoxidizes the substrate, the wire sheath being constituted of pliable metal that is metallurgically compatible with the core metal powder, the fluxing powder having a halide salt chemistry effective to deoxidize the substrate upon contact of the melted fluxing powder therewith, said fluxing powder and bonding metal having a particle size that more uniformly promotes distribution throughout said spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Oludele Olusegun Popoola, Matthew John Zaluzec, Armando Mateo Joaquin, Deborah Rose Pank, David James Cook
  • Patent number: 5820938
    Abstract: A method of fluxing a cast light-weight metal substrate for thermally adhering sprayed metallic coatings thereto, comprising: (a) preparing the substrate to be clean of grease and oil and to have a uniform and homogeneous surface energy; (b) electrostatically depositing a dry flux powder coating onto such prepared surface; and (c) thermally depositing melted metal onto and across the flux coated surface to further thermally activate the flux if not already activated, for stripping away any substrate oxides and to thermally metallurgically bond the deposited molten metal to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, INc.
    Inventors: Deborah Rose Pank, Matthew John Zaluzec, Oludele Olusegun Popoola, Robert Edward DeJack, James R. Baughman, David James Cook
  • Patent number: 5808270
    Abstract: A plasma transferred wire arc thermal spray apparatus and method producing an extended-arc and supersonic plasma jet stream for applying a dense metallic coating on a substrate, such as a concave internal surface of a bore. The apparatus includes a plasma generating torch assembling having a cathode and an anode nozzle surrounding the cathode and a wire feeder which continuously feeds the tip of a wire feedstock opposite a constricted nozzle orifice and wherein the wire feedstock is maintained at the same positive electrical potential as the nozzle. Plasma gas is directed into the nozzle, preferably generating a vortex flow around the cathode and exiting the restricted nozzle orifice. The improved apparatus includes a pilot power supply and a high voltage or high frequency power supply which initiates the electric arc and the constricted plasma arc and a separate main power supply which extends the constricted plasma arc to the wire tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Marantz, Keith A. Kowalsky, James R. Baughman, David J. Cook
  • Patent number: 5783259
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Metallamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5763015
    Abstract: A method for sealing a zinc-aluminum pseudo alloy spray coating, which comprises forming a zinc-aluminum pseudo alloy spray coating on a substrate to be spray-coated, and then sealing the surface of the coating with a chromium-free sealing material containing phosphoric acid in an amount of from 0.1 to 7 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hasui, Toshiaki Arakawa, Kazuyoshi Tsuneta
  • Patent number: 5753313
    Abstract: A method for coating metal cookware having a cooking surface includes the steps of: (1) roughening and cleaning the cooking surface of the metal cookware; (2) applying a metallic scratch-resistant layer onto the roughened and cleaned cooking surface by electric-arc spraying; and (3) applying an anti-stick layer onto the scratch-resistant layer. The step (2) includes electric-arc spraying a stainless steel and an aluminum alloy onto the cooking surface of the metal cookware in order to improve corrosion resistance of the scratch-resistant layer. The stainless steel consists of less than 0.2% by weight of carbon, 17-20% by weight of chromium, 7-10% by weight of nickel and the remainder being iron. The aluminum alloy consists of 0.25% by weight of silicon, 0.4% by weight of iron, 0.10% by weight of copper, 0.05-0.20% by weight of manganese, 4.5-5.5% by weight of magnesium, 0.05-0.20% by weight of chromium, 0.10% by weight of zinc, 0.06-0.20% by weight of titanium, 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sheh Jone Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Hung Tsai
  • Patent number: 5731030
    Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling thermal spraying methods for coating the surface of substrates. During the spraying process, a substrate surface temperature is measured as a characteristic variable for the transferred layer mass or layer thickness, and, in the event of deviations from the nominal value, at least one method parameter that is significant for the transferred layer mass or layer thickness is changed. The method permits the creation of layers having a predetermined transferred layer mass or layer thickness and a narrow layer thickness distribution over the coated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Hermann Friese, Peter Jansing, Harry Braun, Walter Bauer, Marc Weller, Thomas Kanz
  • Patent number: 5725911
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal spray coating, which comprises coating on a substrate to be metal-sprayed, one pack type cold self-crosslinking resin aqueous dispersion containing insoluble solid particles having an average particle size of from 5 to 200 .mu.m, to form a primer layer having a rough surface, and then spraying a metal on the primer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tsuneta, Kenji Hasui, Toru Taki
  • Patent number: 5714205
    Abstract: A method of thermal spray coating a surface with a metal coating material includes the provision of a nozzle about a thermal spray coating apparatus, such as a two wire electric-arc apparatus. The nozzle includes a plurality of ports facing generally radially inwardly towards a coating material particle stream, such as an atomized molten metal stream of a two-wire arc thermal spray apparatus. The ports sequentially receive a deflecting gas flow, such that the direction moves circumferentially about the axis of the particle stream. The deflecting gas entrains the coating material and carries it radially to the surface of the part to be coated or the nozzle assembly. By utilizing a plurality of valve ports, one simplifies the assembly over prior art systems which have rotated the part to be coated. In one embodiment of this invention, a valve disk selectively communicates a compressed gas to the ports sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Marantz, Keith A. Kowalsky
  • Patent number: 5711773
    Abstract: An abrasive material is proposed which is useful for the precision treatment of surfaces. This material may be in the form of an abrasive layer adhered by chemical and/or physical bonds to a carrier, the latter preferably made of a flexible material such as plastic. Alternatively, the abrasive material may be in the form of a free abrasive without a carrier. The abrasive material may be in the form of a vacuum condensate consisting of at last 80 atomic percent of an ultradispersed composite superhard diamond-like substance, preferably containing carbon, and including not more than 0.1 atomic percent hydrogen and oxygen, combined. The abrasive material is preferably obtained from the pulse-flows of an accelerated electroerosive plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignees: Plasmoteg Engineering Center, TEGO Scientific and Engineering Center of Physics and Technology of Thin Films
    Inventors: Oleg Vladimirovich Selifanov, Eduard Ivanovich Tochitsky, Valerii Vladmiriovich Akulich
  • Patent number: 5707693
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for coating the interior surface of a cylinder wherein a consumable electrode is fed to an arc formed between a rotating non-consumable electrode and directing an atomizing gas through the arc formed to carry the molten metal of the consumable electrode to the cylinder wall to coat the wall and wherein the consumable electrode is introduced into the cylinder from an end opposite the rotating non-consumable electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Walter C. Vliet, Edwin E. Rice
  • Patent number: 5698259
    Abstract: A metal detector and distance sensor for a motor vehicle. A departure of the motor vehicle from a correct path indicated by one or two metal lines covered with paint in the road is signaled. The metals lines are formed by projecting a jet of metal in the gaseous state at high speed onto the road surface. A covering of paint is then formed over the metal line on the road surface. A turbine supplied by an air compressor projects the jet of metal in the gaseous state from a vehicle or a trailer having a metal supply device and a painting device thereon. A display indicates the direction of departure from the correct path and the distance separating the motor vehicle from a preceding vehicle. Alarm signals can be emitted upon the departure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Fiat Auto S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Collinucci
  • Patent number: 5695825
    Abstract: A hard-facing material source is an article whose net composition is, in weight percent, from about 20 to about 35 percent chromium, from about 2 to about 5 percent boron, from about 1 to about 2.5 percent silicon, from 0 to about 0.5 percent carbon, from about 0.5 to about 2 percent manganese, and from about 0.2 to about 1.0 percent titanium, balance iron and incidental impurities. The article may be a powder or a hollow tube with a powder packed therein. The hard-facing material source is thermally applied to a substrate by spraying or welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Amorphous Technologies International
    Inventor: David M. Scruggs
  • Patent number: 5670216
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for preparing a surface for application of a non-stick coating, the method wherein the surface to be prepared for non-stick coating is prepared by thermally spraying a stainless steel alloy containing at most 6.0% aluminum, and is substantially free of Nickel. The present invention further includes a cooking utensil having a substrate to which an intermediate layer, for receiving the non-stick coating, is prepared by thermally spraying the stainless steel alloy containing at most 6.0% aluminum, and is substantially free of Nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Regal Ware, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Charley Oak, Leonard C. Brumbaugh, Daryl E. Crawmer
  • Patent number: 5622599
    Abstract: A method of applying a film of coating material to a web of pulp product on a machine and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The coating material is directed in a fluid against the surface of a web of pulp product in the form of a high volume low velocity atomized spray mist from high volume low pressure spray nozzles with an exiting air pressure from the spray nozzle of 1 to 10 psig, preferably 3 to 6 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventors: Barry Sproule, Marian Corak, Nick Saltarelli
  • Patent number: 5614022
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating piston rings by producing droplets of molybdenum and stainless steel from these materials in wire form which are sprayed, preferably in equal amounts to coat the outer surfaces of the rings. A plurality of rings are mounted on a body which are moved in a helical path during the spraying. A nozzle is used having a central passage through which the wire is fed and two sets of passages, one set for an oxy-acetylene mixture and the other for compressed air, with the outlet orifices of the two sets of passages arranged in concentric rings around the central passage outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: COFAP-Companhia Fabricadora de Pecas
    Inventors: Jan Vatavuk, Jose R. Z. Neto, Marcos R. Piccili
  • Patent number: 5609922
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5592927
    Abstract: Method of depositing an Fe.sub.x O comprising coating onto a light metal substrate by use of wire-arc thermal spraying that propels atomized droplets by use of atomizing gases, comprising: preparing at least one surface of the light metal substrate to present an exposed essentially non-oxidized substrate surface; and thermally spraying melted droplets of a steel feedstock wire onto the prepared surface by use of propellant gases to deposit a composite coating, the gases being controlled as to content to regulate the exposure of the droplets to oxygen so that Fe.sub.x O is substantially the only iron oxide formed during spraying, x being 0.5-1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Zaluzec, Robert C. McCune, Jr., Oludele O. Popoola, James R. Baughman, John E. Brevick
  • Patent number: 5571332
    Abstract: A gas jet film deposition system includes a source of thermionically emitted electrons which are accelerated through carrier gas and generate He ions by impact ionization. The resultant electron avalanching and multiplication generates an extremely dense plasma, and produces large electron currents. The electron current is collected at a free, high electric field end of a crucible. The present system can generate vaporized evaporant which is entrained in the gas jet and thereby provide a high density source of ions. The ions may be presented to a substrate together with or without the evaporant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Jet Process Corporation
    Inventor: Bret Halpern
  • Patent number: 5514422
    Abstract: A composite metallizing wire useful in thermal flame spraying, having a conductive metallic solid core wire strand and a coating consisting of solid lubricant particles (i.e., graphite, BN, Teflon) and wear-resistant particles (i.e., SiC, TiC, Cr.sub.3 C.sub.2) homogeneously suspended in a conductive metal (i.e., Ni, Fe, Cr, Mo, Ti) complementary to said solid core wire strand. The wire is used to produce a metal matrix composite coating, comprising providing a thermalizing through-flow chamber with an exit nozzle, the chamber having a gas flow-through of at least 100 ms.sup.-1, establishing a flame in said chamber, and feeding a composite coated wire into said flame to be melted and projected by the gas flow to a target, the wire being constructed as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Robert C. McCune
  • Patent number: 5482734
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for arc spraying a pair of wires is disclosed. The invention includes feeding the wires to an arc at a controllable rate, where the rate is controlled in response to the current magnitude, or some other parameter of the arc. The arc is also monitored and the condition of the arc--whether there is a wire shortage or arc outage--is indicated to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: The Miller Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Warren E. Herwig, John Vollrath
  • Patent number: 5472745
    Abstract: A process for producing plastic layers on gap sealing surfaces which are unaffected by temperature changes is provided. Plasma or acetylene oxygen flame is generated by a plasma or flame spraying burner, which melts a plastic mass under a cooling gas flow of from 40 to 150 SLpM and sprays it onto a gap sealing surface. Coatings produced by this process have dense to porous layer structures and, when polyphenylene sulfides are used as the plastic material, may be used up at to temperatures of 250.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: MTU Motoren- und Turbinen Union Muenchen GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Schroeder, Joachim Soehngen, Christian Heinzelmaier
  • Patent number: 5468522
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing composite magnetic component comprising: a magnetic member or a magnetic base member made of a magnetic material; and a non-magnetic region as a modified magnetic property section being provided in a portion of said magnetic member or magnetic base member in the entire thickness thereof and having a magnetic property modified though composition modified by means of irradiation of an energy beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Aichi Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Honkura, Hiroyuki Toki, Toyokatsu Usami
  • Patent number: 5466906
    Abstract: A method for coating the internal cylinder bores of a cast aluminum engine block comprising the steps of casting an engine block of aluminum alloy, thermally spraying a wear-resistant coating onto cylinder walls in the engine block by melting the tip of a rotating iron-based alloy rod with a plasma torch within cylinders in the engine block, and honing the cylinder walls to a chosen size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert C. McCune, Jr., Michael R. Kim, Ronald W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5424101
    Abstract: A metallized epoxy die formed by depositing boron nitride and iron oxide particle layers on the pattern used to form the die and spraying molten metal onto the particle layers followed by casting the epoxy against the exposed surface of the sprayed metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Atkins, Hong-Hsiang Kuo, Chen-Shih Wang
  • Patent number: 5384164
    Abstract: A plasma jet or a supersonic flame jet emanating from an internal burner combusting compressed air and fuel is applied to a solid rod coaxially within the flame or plasma jet to heat, atomize and project a spray of initially liquid droplets of the rod material separating from the tip of the rod in the direction of a workpiece for impact against a workpiece surface for solidification to form a coating thereon. The process involves the control of the transit of the initially liquid droplets from the tip of the rod over the path of travel to the surface of the workpiece to ensure that at the moment of impact against the surface of the workpiece the rod material particles are least partially solid. The stand-off distance may be set to ensure that the initially liquid droplets pass through an upstream liquid region and a contiguous downstream transit region to effect the partial solidification of the molten liquid droplets prior to impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: James A. Browning
  • Patent number: 5372857
    Abstract: A flame spray device of the internal burner type has a fuel and oxidizer mixture combusted within a combustion chamber feeding products of combustion to a discharge nozzle passage of reduced inner diameter. An axially aligned metal piece injector has a centrally disposed injection bore hole positioned upstream of the combustion chamber and is provided with particles which are fed through the centrally disposed injection bore hole with the injection bore hole opening near the entrance of the nozzle passage. The metal piece terminates in a cone-shaped section with a reduced diameter end proximate to the entrance to the nozzle passage. A knife-edge terminal face is thereby produced intersecting the injector bore hole to minimize turbulence and rotation of the stream of carrier gas containing the powder exiting the injector metal piece injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: James A. Browning
  • Patent number: 5364663
    Abstract: A method of thermally spraying a solid lubricant (i.e. graphite or BN) impregnated metal matrix onto a metal target, using the steps of: (a) creating a flame or arc into which a consummable strand is fed, the strand being constituted as a hollow sheath of metal and a core therein comprising essentially solid lubricant powder particles, the flame or arc melting the metal of such strand; (b) applying a pressurized jet of atomizing gas to the melt and included graphite particles to project a spray of molten heavy metal and graphite particles generally homogeneously distributed throughout such spray, said graphite being protected against ablation during transit from the flame or arc to the target; and (c) surface heat treating essentially only the deposit to precipitate additional graphite while densifying the metal and controlling microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert C. McCune, Jr., Larry V. Reatherford, Matthew J. Zaluzec
  • Patent number: 5356674
    Abstract: Process for applying a coating of ceramic material on a substrate by plasma spraying. The material to be sprayed, which is incorporated in the plasma jet, includes a chemical compound one constituent of which is a non-metallic element from the group N, C, B or from main groups VI or VII of the periodic classification, which decomposes, at least partially, in an inert environment before reaching the melting point and which is present in the solid phase in the applied state. To improve the process so that the chemical compound contained in the material can be applied to the substrate stoichiometrically, i.e., undecomposed, and form an impermeable, adherent, stable coating, the non-metallic element is incorporated in the plasma jet, in addition to the material to be sprayed, in a free form, not bound to a foreign element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignees: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft-Raumfahrt e.V., W. C. Heraeus GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Henne, Winfried Weber, Guenter Schiller, Werner Schnurnberger, Michael Kabs
  • Patent number: 5314726
    Abstract: A process for forming a diamond gas phase synthesized coating film which is easily controlled and affords a high quality, good adhesion strength diamond film includes a step of forming a mixed layer of a plasma spraying material and diamond by simultaneously conducting plasma injection by a plasma spraying, a first torch and plasma CVD by a CVD plasma, second torch to thereby form a mixed layer on the substrate. The first and second torches are structurally distinct and have respective, separately and selectively controlled plasma generation operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kurihara, Motonobu Kawarada, Ken-ichi Sasaki, Akitomo Teshima
  • Patent number: 5294462
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the electric arc spraying of powder-filled cored wires to apply hard, wear-resistant coatings to various substrates. Inert gas, preferably nitrogen, is supplied to the arc spray gun such that the mass ratio of the wire feed rate to the gas feed rate is preferably between about 0.07 and about 0.11. Operation in this range yields an optimum combination of coating hardness properties and arc spray gun operating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Kaiser, Zbigniew Zurecki, Kerry R. Berger, Robert B. Swan, Edward A. Hayduk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5262206
    Abstract: A method for forming an abradable composite material and the material so formed. A filler is fed axially into a stream of high-temperature combustion gases such that the filler is entrained in the gaseous stream. The gaseous stream containing the filler is then used to atomize the molten tip of a metal wire which is continuously fed into the gaseous stream. The resultant gaseous stream which contains both the filler and the atomized molten metal is directed to the surface of a target. The filler and the molten metal impact the target and combine to form a substantially continuous metal matrix in which the interstices are filled by the filler. The composite material abrades readily upon frictional contact with a moving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Plasma Technik AG
    Inventors: Subramaniam Rangaswamy, Daniel R. Marantz, Robert A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5213848
    Abstract: Surfaces subject to wear and corrosion can have their service life increased by being coated with a composite coating applied by the electric arc thermal spray process using at least one titanium feed wire, optionally pre-nitrided, a second wire of a different metal, metal alloy ceramic or intermetalic compound and nitrogen in the arc spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigneiw Zurecki, Edward A. Hayduk, Jr., John G. North, Robert B. Swan, Kerry R. Berger
  • Patent number: 5206059
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite material by flame spraying. A composite thermal spray coating is formed by heating and accelerating a particulate material with a thermal spray gun and atomizing a molten metal to produce a combined, high-velocity stream containing both the heated particulate material and the atomized molten metal. The spray stream is directed to a substrate on which the composite coating is formed by a deposition of the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Plasma-Technik AG
    Inventor: Daniel R. Marantz
  • Patent number: 5194304
    Abstract: A method of the thermally spraying a solid lubricant (i.e. graphite or BN) impregnated metal matrix onto a metal target, using the steps of: (a) creating a flame or arc into which a consummable strand is fed, the strand being constituted as a hollow sheath of metal and a core therein comprising essentially solid lubricant powder particles, the flame or arc melting the metal of such strand; (b) applying a pressurized jet of atomizing gas to the melt and included graphite particles to project a spray of molten heavy metal and graphite particles generally homogeneously distributed throughout such spray, said graphite being protected against ablation during transit from the flame or arc to the target; and (c) surface heat treating essentially only the deposit to precipitate additional graphite while densifying the metal and controlling microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert C. McCune, Jr., Larry V. Reatherford, Matthew J. Zaluzec
  • Patent number: 5191186
    Abstract: A narrow beam arc spray head device includes a convergent-divergent nozzle; a number of wires the paths of which intersect at a point in the nozzle; controller for supplying an electrical current to the wires so that an arc is formed between the wires causing a portion of at least one of the wires to melt; a primary axial gas stream impinging upon the wire path intersection to cause the molten metal to be carried axially away from the area of the intersection; and a secondary gas stream forming a generally conical sheath around the axial gas stream in the divergent portion of the nozzle; whereby the primary gas stream and the secondary gas stream emerge from the nozzle as substantially coaxial gas streams thus tending to concentrate the flow of the molten metal carried by the coaxial streams. The spray head device may also include a regulator for regulating the secondary gas stream relative to the primary axial gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Tafa, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold B. Crapo, III, Brian J. Blades, William R. Kratochvil