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:
May. 15, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1999
Oludele Olusegun Popoola, Novi, MI (US);
Larry Van Reatherford, Clarkston, MI (US);
Robert Corbly McCune, Southfield, MI (US);
Ronald Paul Cooper, Eastpointe, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
Transmission torque converter reactor thrust washer segments (,) comprising a surface hardenable aluminum alloy are subjected to electrical discharge machining (EDM) using an electrode (,) and under conditions effective to impart a hydrodynamic bearing surface profile to the segment surfaces (,), reduce segment surface roughness, and increase segment surface hardness. Torque converter reactors (,) having integrated thrust washer segments machined in this manner exhibit improved wear resistance and hydrodynamic lift when compared to as cast thrust washer segments.