Caterpillar Inc.

Leonid Chuzhoy

Kenneth W Burris

M Brad Beardsley

Robert E Sharp

Christopher Anthony Kinney

Thomas E Clements

Michael D Bridges

Stephen Eric Post

Jose F Leon Torres

This invention relates generally to a method for repairing a casting, and more specifically to a method of repairing a casting by pouring melted filler material into a damaged portion of the original casting. Damaged cast metal components, such as a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine are repaired by preheating the component to a first preheat temperature. The damaged area of the casting is then heated to a higher temperature using a torch and melted filler material is poured into the casting. The torch is used to maintain the temperature of the melted material for thirty seconds to two minutes. The temperature of the filler material is then cooled using compressed air.

Method for repairing a casting

A method and apparatus for characterizing a quench for producing desired hardness characteristics on a steel part. The characterization preferably includes a series of heat transfer coefficients versus temperature for the quench determined from information representative of known quenches and distinguishing part characteristics such as geometry, size and composition. The quench characterization determined using the present method and apparatus can be utilized in hardness prediction software programs, and for determining a suitable quench for producing the desired hardness characteristics on the part.

Method and apparatus for characterizing a quench

A component subjected to one or more of rolling, sliding, abrasion and bending contacts is disclosed. The component has a surface and functionally graded material (FGM) thermally sprayed on the surface to form an FGM coating. The FGM coating has a thickness and a plurality of material compositions. The FGM coating also has a plurality of elastic modulus profiles. Each elastic modulus profile consists of a plurality of elastic modulii at a plurality of corresponding points within that thickness. The elastic modulii are in the range from about 28 Mpsi to about 60 Mpsi. Optionally, there is also a plurality of carbon content profiles.

Component having a functionally graded material coating for improved

A method for applying a functionally gradient coating on a component, having a surface and subjected to one or more of rolling, sliding, abrasion and bending contacts, including the step of thermally spraying a functionally gradient material (FGM) on said surface that forms an FGM coating, said FGM coating having a thickness, a plurality of material compositions and a plurality of elastic modulus profiles. Each elastic modulus profile consists of a plurality of elastic modulii at a plurality of corresponding points within that thickness. The elastic modulii are in the range from about 28 Mpsi to about 60 Mpsi. Optionally, there is also a plurality of carbon content profiles.

Growing community of inventors

Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Leonid Chuzhoy