Caterpillar Inc.

Gary L Biltgen

M Brad Beardsley

Gary D Keil

Kenneth W Burris

Matthew Thomas Kiser

Sheryl A Tipton

Kenneth R Watts

Timothy Michael Nenne

John B Walenta

Charles F Berndt

Phil J Shankwitz

Gregory S Holloway

David E Bowman

Jared A Black

David R Gromer

A method for treating a surface of a first component wherein at least a portion of the surface of the first component contacts a surface of a second component. The method includes forming a compound layer at at least a portion of the surface of the first component by a thermochemical diffusion treatment and isotropically finishing the at least a portion of the surface of the first component that contacts the surface of the second component.

Surface treatment for ferrous components

A carbon coated metal powder depositable by thermal spray techniques to form a metal coating is disclosed. The carbon coated metal powder has a composition comprising a metal powder and carbon adhered to the metal powder. The metal powder is coated with carbon to form a carbon coated metal powder. The carbon coated metal powder, after being thermally sprayed on to a substrate and after being formed into a metal coating on the substrate, has an oxygen content at least 20% by weight less than the oxygen content in the carbon coated metal powder prior to being thermally sprayed.

Carbon coated metal powder depositable by thermal spray techniques

A process for selectively hardening a forged track chain link has the following steps. A forged track chain link having a pad portion, a rail portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, is provided. A quench tank is provided and adapted for spraying one or more of the track chain link portions with a quenchant at a controlled amount of quenchant flow rates, quenchant pressures and quench times. One or more of the track chain link portions are sprayed with the quenchant at a controlled amount of one or more of a plurality of quenchant flow rates, a plurality of quenchant pressures and a plurality of quench times. The pad and rail portions are simultaneously hardened to predetermined respective hardnesses.

Thermal process for selectively hardening track chain links

A process for reducing oxygen content in thermally sprayed metal coatings comprises the following steps. A metal powder is provided. The metal powder has a particle size in the range of from about 10 .mu.m to about 500 .mu.m. Carbon is adhered and coated to the metal powder to form a carbon coated metal powder. The carbon is present in the range of from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight of the carbon coated metal powder. The carbon coated metal powder is thermally sprayed onto a substrate and a metal coating is deposited on the substrate. The metal coating has a lower oxygen content compared to the oxygen content of the carbon coated metal powder.

Process for reducing oxygen content in thermally sprayed metal coatings

A method for reducing oxygen content in metal coatings deposited by gas stabilized plasma spray techniques comprises the following steps. A metal powder is provided. Carbon is adhered and coated to the metal powder and a carbon coated metal powder is formed. A primary gas is provided to a plasma spray gun at a flow rate in the range of about 30-80 liter/min. A carrier gas is also provided to the plasma spray gun at a flow rate in the range of about 4-8 liter/min. The carbon coated metal powder is provided to the plasma gun at a flow rate in the range of about 30-85 gms/min. The plasma spray gun is positioned at a stand-off distance in the range of about 100-175 mm from a substrate. The plasma spray gun is energized with power in the range of about 28-42 kW. The carbon coated metal powder is sprayed onto the substrate and a metal coating having an oxygen content at least 20% by weight less than an oxygen content of the metal powder, is deposited.

A coated wear resistant steel article has a basic carburized low silicon steel article of preselected properties including carbides isotropically exposed and having an elevation greater than material adjacent said carbides of said carburized surface and a coating material having a hardness greater than about 1200 Kg/mm covering the material adjacent said carbides of said carburized surface. In another aspect, the coating material is absent and the surface is modified by ion implantation.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Gary L Biltgen