Caterpillar Inc.

Robert E Hawbaker

Chuong Q Dam

Mark G Fulford

David Anthony Cusac

Paul Adam Gamble

Leonard George Wheat

Rebecca M Zick

Jason William Sanders

Poh Heng Teh

A pressure control valve having a cage with an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with an engine oil circuit is disclosed. The pressure control valve further has a spool in sliding engagement within the cage which blocks fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when the spool is in the first position and places the inlet in fluid communication with the outlet when the spool is in the second position. A thin film coating is applied to an outer surface of the spool. The pressure control valve yet further has an actuator which controls movement of the spool slides from the first position to the second position. The coating reduces wear on the outer surface of the spool due to exposure of the spool to the engine oil and sliding engagement with the cage. A component of a hydraulic system is also disclosed.

Pressure control valve having enhanced durability

A method is provided for nondestructive adhesion testing of a coating on a component surface through ultrasonic cavitation. The disclosed method includes submerging a tip end of a vibratory horn in a liquid medium and operating a converter, coupled to the vibratory horn, at a frequency and an amplitude to generate a cavitation field within the liquid medium. A first portion of a component having an adhered coating on at least a portion of the component is moved into the cavitation field. Areas of the coating that are poorly adhered to the component are located by the removing areas of the coating that are poorly adhered, while not removing areas of the coating that are properly adhered to the component.

Nondestructive adhesion testing by ultrasonic cavitation

A process for increasing the lubrication of ductile-iron lubricated contacts includes abrasive-blasting and plasma etching a ductile-iron component prior to coating. A wear resistant or low friction coating is then formed on the iron substrate and the resulting coated component has greater lubrication than a corresponding non-blasted and non-coated component.

Method for creating surface oil reservoirs on coated iron

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Robert E Hawbaker