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US 5,330,587 AGranted
Shaft of laser nitride-hardened surface on titanium
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company
InventorsWilliam J. Gavigan, Craig L. Snyder, Frank J. Tufano, Ronald S. Miller
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Abstract
A process for producing a crack-free, laser nitride-hardened layer on a titanium substrate, the process including preheating the substrate, melting a small area of substrate with a laser, and shrouding the melted area with a gas mixture having a maximum critical amount of nitrogen not greater than 85%. A crack-free pump shaft so hardened to Rockwell 52 C is produced.
Claims6
A shaft for rotation in a fluid handling device comprising:
- (a) a substrate consisting essentially of commercially pure titanium;
- and
- (b) a laser nitride-hardened surface layer thereon, said surface layer comprising a matrix of titanium, with TiN particles dispersed therein, said surface layer having a hardness of at least 52 Rockwell C, and being free from cooling cracks.
A shaft for rotation in a fluid handling device comprising:
- (a) a substrate consisting essentially of commercially pure titanium;
- (b) a laser nitride-hardened surface layer thereon, said surface layer forming a bearing wear area;
- (c) said hardened surface layer having a hardness of at least 52 Rockwell C, and being free from cracks;
- and
- (d) said hardened surface layer comprising a multiphase layer consisting essentially of a dendritic structure of dispersed TiN particles in a titanium matrix.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.