General Electric Company

Dennis Joseph Dalpe

Bernard Patrick Bewlay

James Scott Vartuli

James Anthony Brewer

Bruce Alan Knudsen

Don Mark Lipkin

Mohamed Rahmane

Carl Edward Erikson

Craig Stringer

Melvin Robert Jackson

Charles Dominic Iacovangelo

Stephen Joseph Ferrigno

Peter G Frischmann

Svetlana Selezneva

Wayne Alan Demo

Elena Rozier Gearing

Bernard Patrick Bewley

An article is presented. The article includes a seal ring configured for use in an energy storage device, the seal ring comprising a first portion and a second portion that each include an alumina-based cermet, that comprises a sufficient amount of metal or metal alloy to be weldable, and the cermet comprises a ceramic material selected from a group consisting of silica, yttria, and ytterbia, and the seal ring further comprises a third region intervening between the first portion and the second portion that is sufficiently electrically insulative and of sufficient thickness to electrically isolate the first portion from the second portion.

Seal ring and associated method

An article includes a seal ring for an energy storage device. The seal ring has a weldable first portion and a weldable second portion. The first and second portions are electrically isolatable from each other by an electrically insulating third portion.

A lamp is provided with an axially and radially graded structure to reduce the possibility of thermal stresses, cracks, and other defects in the lamp. In one embodiment, a system includes a ceramic lamp having a ceramic arc envelope and an end structure coupled to the ceramic arc envelope, wherein the end structure is graded both axially and radially into a plurality of regions. In another embodiment, a system includes a lamp having a layered end structure with a plurality of layers disposed one over another and that extend in both axial and radial directions relative to an axis of the lamp, wherein the plurality of layers include different materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof.

Lamp having axially and radially graded structure

An apparatus for incorporating an elemental component in gaseous form into a molten metal is described. The apparatus comprises a container for holding the molten metal; means for cooling the container; heating means for maintaining the metal in the molten state; and a canopy which covers the top of the container. The apparatus also includes at least one aperture through which a desired gaseous material can be fed from a gas source. A related method for incorporating an elemental component in gaseous form into a molten metal is also described. The method includes the step of providing the metal in a container apparatus as described above, and feeding the gaseous elemental component from a gas source into the container, while maintaining the metal in the molten state. Articles prepared by such a method are also disclosed, as well as niobium base composites which comprise niobium, silicon, and nitrogen.

Apparatus for incorporating a gaseous elemental component into a molten metal, and related articles, processes, and compositions

An electrically conducting cermet comprises at least one transition metal element dispersed in a matrix of at least one refractory oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, alumina, garnet, magnesium aluminum oxide, and combinations; wherein an amount of the at least one transition metal element is less than 15 volume percent of the total volume of the cermet. A device comprises the aforementioned electrically conducting cermet.

Electrically conductive cermet and method of making

Electrically conductive cermet and devices made thereof

A filament comprises a generally thin metal component, such as a sheet, ribbon, or foil. The filament comprises at least one emitter, at least one current-condensing structure and a tab on each end of the at least one emitter. Each tab is connectable to a support system, comprising for example a lead and attachment post. When a current is passed through the filament, the current-condensing structure establishes current flow through the filament resulting in a desired temperature distribution across the emitter, for example a substantially uniform temperature distribution. A predictive tool for determining a geometry of a filament to provide a desired temperature distribution is set forth. The filament may be curved, and methods and systems for providing a curved filament are also provided. Attachment systems are further disclosed for attaching an emitter to a support structure.

Filament design, method, and support structure

An x-ray cathode filament comprises a recrystallized coiled wire that comprises rhenium in a range from about 3 to about 7 weight percent with the balance being tungsten that is doped with potassium at a concentration in a range from about 30 to about 110 PPM. The filament comprises interlocked grains of an average size greater than about 20 microns.

Cathode wire filament for x-ray tube applications

A method and apparatus are provided for adjusting a filament set height in a cathode of an x-ray tube. The method for adjusting a filament set height of a cathode comprises providing a cathode cup of an x-ray tube, the cathode cup comprising at least one bore extending therethrough; inserting a filament post through at least one bore such that the filament set height is below a desired filament set height; measuring an actual filament set height that results from the step of inserting; determining a filament set height adjustment distance in which the filament set height adjustment is generally equal to a difference between the actual filament set height and the desired filament set height; contacting an end of the filament lead with an adjustment tool; and moving the adjustment tool a distance substantially equal to the filament set height adjustment distance. Therefore, the filament is positioned at the predetermined filament set height.

Method and apparatus for filament set height adjustment of a cathode cup assembly

Emissive filament and support structure

A method and apparatus for locally and successively melting a material by induction heating using a horizontal floating-zone crucible to refine and/or analyze the material. An electromagnetic field is generated to create a localized molten zone within the material that is at least partially levitated within the crucible. The crucible has an upper peripheral opening so that an upper portion of the molten zone is generally at a higher temperature than the lower portion of the molten zone adjacent the crucible wall. As a result, insoluble inclusions within the material separate and float to the upper portion of the molten zone. The molten zone may be translated longitudinally through the material to drive the inclusions toward one end of the material. The process can be carried out to refine or characterize the material, or to determine the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the material.

Refining and analysis of material using horizontal cold-crucible induction levitation melting

A furnace component having a tungsten-based substrate whose surface is protected by a rhenium-based layer in order to render the component less reactive to quartz, glass and other forms of silica. The layer preferably consists essentially of rhenium or rhenium with alloying additions of tungsten. The substrate may be formed of concentric layers of different tungsten-based alloys in order to tailor the physical and mechanical properties of the component. A preferred method of forming the rhenium layer is to wrap the substrate with a rhenium-based wire, and then heat the wire and substrate to sinter and bond the wire to the substrate. Alternatively, the substrate and rhenium layer can be formed by isostatic pressing. Both methods are performed so that the substrate and layer have densities of at least about 96% of their respective theoretical densities.

Rhenium-coated tungsten-based alloy and composite articles and method therefor

Rhenium-coated tungsten-based alloy and composite articles and method

A method for directional solidification (DS) of a molten material, and an apparatus therefor. The method generally entails the use of a container having a base and peripheral wall that define an interior of the container, an induction coil for heating the contents of the container and generating an electromagnetic field, and means for controllably separating the container from the heating means and the electromagnetic field, such as by withdrawing the container from the heating means and electromagnetic field. Using such an apparatus, a material is heated within the container to yield a melt that is substantially prevented from contacting the wall of the container as a result of being at least partially levitated by the electromagnetic field. The container is then separated, e.g., withdrawn from the heating means and the electromagnetic field so as to cause directional solidification of the melt while the majority of the melt remains spaced apart from the wall of the container, yielding a directionally solidified article whose composition has not been significantly affected by reactions with the container. The invention is particularly directed to the production of DS ingots of high temperature materials containing one or more reactive elements.

Method for directional solidification of a molten material and apparatus

An extension is formed directly on the end of an article by dipping the end into a molten bath of an alloy, followed by withdrawal of the end at a rate sufficient to form the extension. Extensions formed have a microstructure that is continuous and compatible with that of the article. Such microstructures may include epitaxial growth of the extension onto the microstructure of the article. The method establishes a temperature gradient within the article that may be controlled by heating and/or cooling the article during the practice of the method.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Dennis Joseph Dalpe