The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1999
Christopher Patrick Jordan, Middletown, CT (US);
James Bailey Sprenkle, Guilford, CT (US);
Normand J Morneau, New Haven, CT (US);
Colin Lyle Cini, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Gary E Stasiewski, Wallingford, CT (US);
Foster Philip Lamm, S. Windsor, CT (US);
Steven Michael Ruggiero, Manchester, CT (US);
Tara Michele Barr, Middletown, CT (US);
Thomas Reginald Davis, Durham, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for selectively electroplating the tip portion of an airfoil. The airfoil includes a root portion and a blade portion having a tip. At least part of the blade including the tip is coated with an insulating material. Insulating material is removed from the tip and the airfoil is mounted in a fixture so that the tip is exposed. The fixture is immersed in a sealing bath, and the fixture and at least a portion of the airfoil is encased in sealing material while leaving the tip exposed. The fixture is then immersed in an electroplating bath, the exposed tip is electroplated, and the fixture is removed from the bath. The fixture includes an elongated base member and a grip element supported on the base member. The grip element is made of a flexible material and has a plurality of slots configured for receiving the root portion of the airfoils. An electrical contact is provided in each slot so as to contact the root portion of the airfoil. A plurality of fixture may be mounted on a carousel.