# US 2014/0193266 A1 · Coupling apparatuses and methods of forming the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193266 A1 - Document ID: US20140193266A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,648 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Krish Krishnamurthy; Robert Keiser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193266A1 ## CPC - B05D 7/14: to metal, e.g. car bodies (involving a chemical reaction between the metal and the coating C23) - F01D 5/025: {Fixing blade carrying members on shafts (attachment of a member on a shaft in general F16D1/06; for non-positive displacement pumps F04D29/00)} - F01D 5/026: {Shaft to shaft connections} - F01D 5/048: {Form or construction} - F01D 5/066: {Connecting means for joining rotor-discs or rotor-elements together, e.g. by a central bolt, by clamps} - F02C 3/05: the compressor and the turbine being of the radial flow type - F16D 1/076: by clamping together two faces perpendicular to the axis of rotation, e.g. with bolted flanges - F05D 2230/64: using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centring, e.g. pins - F05D 2230/90: Coating; Surface treatment - F05D 2250/13: trapezoidal - F05D 2250/182: crenellated, notched - F05D 2250/183: zigzag - F05D 2250/184: sinusoidal - F05D 2260/36: by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking - F05D 2260/403: through the shape of the drive components - F05D 2300/133: Titanium - F05D 2300/174: Titanium alloys, e.g. TiAl - F05D 2300/509: Self lubricating materials; Solid lubricants - F16D 2200/0004: metallic - F16D 2250/0046: Coating - F16D 2300/10: Surface characteristics; Details related to material surfaces - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Coupling apparatuses and methods of forming coupling apparatuses are provided herein. In an embodiment, a coupling apparatus includes a first component that includes a first metal substrate and a second component that includes a second metal substrate. The first metal substrate includes a titanium-based material. The second component is adapted to contact the first component in shear engagement. A protective coating is disposed on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate. The protective coating consists of a first contact layer and, optionally, a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first contact layer and the corresponding metal substrate. The first contact layer has a thickness of less than or equal to about 5 microns and includes material that is inert to titanium. The first contact layer has a contact surface that is adapted to directly contact an opposing surface in shear engagement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coupling apparatus comprising: a first component comprising a first metal substrate, wherein the first metal substrate comprises a titanium-based material; a second component comprising a second metal substrate, wherein the second component is adapted to contact the first component in shear engagement; and a protective coating disposed on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate, wherein the protective coating consists of: a first contact layer having a thickness of less than or equal to about 5 microns and comprising material that is inert to titanium, wherein the first contact layer has a contact surface that is adapted to directly contact an opposing surface in shear engagement; and optionally, a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first contact layer and the corresponding metal substrate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective coating is disposed directly on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first contact layer comprises material chosen from gold, platinum, cobalt, or alloys thereof; cobalt oxide, boron oxide, or boron nitride; or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second metal substrate comprises metal chosen from nickel, iron, titanium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The coupling apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second metal substrate comprises titanium and has substantially the same chemical composition as the first metal substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first contact layer is further defined as a physical vapor-deposited contact layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The coupling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first contact layer is further defined as an ion-plated contact layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The coupling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first contact layer is further defined as a sputtered contact layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier layer has a thickness of less than about 1 micron. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective coating is disposed on the first metal substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The coupling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises tungsten. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are adapted to contact in shear engagement through a curvic coupling configuration, with the contact surface of the first contact layer in shear engagement with the opposing surface in the curvic coupling configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the protective coating is disposed directly on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate; wherein the first contact layer is further defined as a physical vapor-deposited contact layer and comprises material chosen from gold, platinum, cobalt, or alloys thereof; cobalt oxide, boron oxide, or boron nitride; or mixtures thereof; wherein the second metal substrate comprises metal chosen from nickel, iron, titanium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof; and wherein the first component and the second component are adapted to contact in shear engagement through a curvic coupling configuration, with the contact surface of the first contact layer in shear engagement with the opposing surface in the curvic coupling configuration. ### Claim 14 A method of forming a coupling apparatus including a first component and a second component adapted to contact the first component in shear engagement, the method comprising: providing a first metal substrate of the first component, wherein the first metal substrate comprises a titanium-based material; providing a second metal substrate of the second component; forming a protective coating on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate, wherein the protective coating consists of: a first contact layer having a thickness of less than or equal to about 5 microns and comprising material that is inert to titanium, wherein the first contact layer has a contact surface that is adapted to directly contact an opposing surface in shear engagement; and optionally, a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first contact layer and the corresponding metal substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein forming the protective coating comprises forming the first contact layer through physical vapor deposition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein forming the first contact layer through physical vapor deposition is further defined as forming the first contact layer through ion plating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein forming the protective coating comprises forming the protective coating directly on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a curvic coupling configuration in the first metal substrate and the second metal substrate, wherein the contact surface of the first contact layer is adapted to directly contact the opposing surface in shear engagement in the curvic coupling configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: providing the second metal substrate comprises providing the second metal substrate comprising metal chosen from nickel, iron, titanium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof; forming the protective coating comprises forming the protective coating directly on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate; and forming the protective coating comprises forming the first contact layer comprising material chosen from gold, platinum, cobalt, or alloys thereof; cobalt oxide, boron oxide, or boron nitride; or mixtures thereof through physical vapor-deposited contact layer. ### Claim 20 A turbine engine shaft comprising: a compressor rotor comprising a first metal substrate, wherein the first metal substrate comprises a titanium-based material; a turbine rotor comprising a second metal substrate, wherein the turbine rotor is adapted to contact the compressor rotor in shear engagement and wherein the second metal substrate comprises metal chosen from nickel, iron, titanium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof; a protective coating disposed directly on at least one of the first metal substrate or the second metal substrate, wherein the protective coating consists of: a physical vapor-deposited contact layer having a thickness of less than or equal to about 5 microns and comprising material that is inert to titanium, wherein the physical vapor-deposited contact layer has a contact surface that is adapted to directly contact an opposing surface in shear engagement and wherein the physical vapor-deposited contact layer comprises material chosen from gold, platinum, cobalt, or alloys thereof; cobalt oxide, boron oxide, or boron nitride; or mixtures thereof; and optionally, a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the physical vapor-deposited contact layer and the corresponding metal substrate; wherein the compressor rotor and the turbine rotor are adapted to contact in shear engagement through a curvic coupling configuration, with the contact surface of the physical vapor-deposited contact layer in shear engagement with the opposing surface in the curvic coupling configuration.