Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Woodford, William H.

Publications and source records attributed to Woodford, William H..

Removable Mandrels For Vacuum-Plasma-Spray Forming

Improved mandrels developed for use in vacuum-plasma-spray (VPS) forming of refractory metal and ceramic furnace cartridge tubes. Designed so after tubes formed on them by VPS, mandrels shrink away from tubes upon cooling back to room temperature and simply slip out of tube.

Krotz, Phillip D.↗

Rugged Preheaters For Vacuum Plasma Spraying

Electric preheater units built to ensure large workpieces to be coated with metals by vacuum plasma spraying heated uniformly to requisite high temperatures by time plasma torch arrives. Units similar to electrical-resistance ribbon heaters in toasters and in some small portable electric "space" heaters. Nichrome resistance-heating ribbons wrapped around ceramic insulating spools on rings and on plates. Round workpiece placed in middle of ring preheater. Plate preheaters stacked as needed near workpiece.

Woodford, William H.↗

Feeder For Oxygen-Sensitive Powders

Powder feeder for oxygen-sensitive powders facilitates transfer of powder while protecting it against oxidation. Sight gauge enables continuous monitoring of level to which feeder filled with powder, as well as for visual monitoring of quality powder. Coupling mates with specially designed containers, in which powders packaged under vacuum or inert gas. Eliminating need for unncessary handling of powders and attendant risk of contamination by oxygen. Internal funnel unloads unused powder from feeder in vacuum or inert-gas atmosphere. Pressure gauge monitors pressure of inert backfill gas.

Woodford, William H.↗

Alignment Fixtures For Vacuum-Plasma-Spray Gun

Fixtures for alignment of vacuum-plasma-spray guns built. Each fixture designed to fit specific gun and holds small, battery-powered laser on centerline of gun. Laser beam projects small red dot where centerline intersects surface of workpiece to be sprayed. After laser beam positioned on surface of workpiece, fixture removed from gun and spraying proceeds.

Woodford, William H.↗

Container Prevents Oxidation Of Metal Powder

Sealed high-vacuum container holds metal powder required free of contamination by oxygen from point of manufacture to point of use at vacuum-plasma-spraying machine. Container protects powder from air during filling, storage, and loading of spraying machine. Eliminates unnecessary handling and transfer of powder from one container to another. Stainless-steel container sits on powder feeder of vacuum-plasma-spraying machine.

Woodford, William H.↗

Measuring Changes In Dimensions Of Turbine Blades

Mechanical fixture and electronic gauge probe surface before and after fabrication processes. Assembly of commercially available devices measures changes in dimensions of irregularly shaped part. Turbine blade clamped on rotary table touched by probe of electronic depth gauge. Positioned by micrometers of three-axis translation stage, probe just touches blade. Assembly developed specifically to measure thickness of material added to or removed from surface of turbine blade during fabrication processes.

Woodford, William H.↗