General Electric Company

Gene E Wiggs

Gary T Martini

Jeffrey LeMonds

John Robert Kelley

Lowell Wilson Bauer

Jung-Ho Cheng

Marc Thomas Edgar

Christopher Reynolds Hammond

Jeffrey Stanley Keller

Kurt L Hansen

Thomas Randolph Campbell

Michael Orlando Cimini

Ralph E Patsfall

Richard M Cogan

Bethany Bleil Kniffin

James E McConnelee

Peder Fitch

A method, system, and software for assessing the cost tradeoffs associated with performing inspection includes determining measurement variations and product characteristic variations to define an inspection plane. The inspection plane is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to respective different outcomes resulting from an inspection process. The probability of each outcome is determined based on a probability mass in each region of the inspection plane, wherein the probability mass is based on a joint probability density of the measurement and product characteristic variations. Costs are associated to various outcomes based on the inspection process, and overall costs of the inspection process are computed by using the associated costs and the determined probability of each outcome based on the regions of the inspection plane.

Method and system for assessing the quality and cost of inspection

In one aspect, the present invention is a web-based system that facilitates rapid and reliable documenting, cataloging, and distributing of proven error proofing techniques. More specifically, and in an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a plurality of clients coupled to a web-based server. Each client includes a plurality of user interface classes and at least one class that provides access to a database. The server includes a plurality of servlets, and at least some of said servlets provide at least one of a database and server access capability to each client. The system further includes a database having a plurality of tables, and at least one of said tables includes at least one error proofing example. The database is accessed by each client via the server.

Method and apparatus for error proofing

In a system and method for saving and retrieving process capability and guidance information related to supporting product design and manufacturing activities, specific capability and guidance information related to sets of standardized product attributes are collected and stored as a plurality of records in a database. A user may then access the database through a suitable computer program interface and design a product using any combination of standardized attributes. Upon each attribute selection, the system queries the database and retrieves the process capability and guidance information associated with the received set of attributes. This information is then displayed to the user to assist in product design and manufacturing activities. Users may also group information retrieved relating to various sets of attributes and generate composite checklists including ranked listings of relevant guidance information. Users are thus enabled to view and reference a previously unavailable quantity of information specifically related to the product being designed or manufactured.

Storage and retrieval of process capability and guidance information, and computer media therefor

A method is provided for making a two-piece hollow airfoil having a complex geometry. Two metal sheets are formed into initial shapes so as to have a mean camber and twist. A series of raised ribs is machined onto the external side of each of the two sheets. The two sheets are joined together and sealed to form an in-process assembly. The assembly is subjected to high temperature and pressure to diffusion bond the sheets together at selected points. The assembly then subjected to internal pressure at high temperature in order to inflate and superplastically deform the assembly to the desired shape. Excess material is machined off after the inflation step.

Method for manufacturing hollow airfoils (two-piece concept)

A method is provided for making a four-piece hollow airfoil. Four metal sheets are preformed into initial shapes. The sheets are sealed together into two pairs or sub-assemblies. Internal cavities are formed in one sheet from each pair prior to sealing. Each sub-assembly is subjected to high temperature and pressure in order to diffusion bond the sheets together at selected points. The cavities of each sub-assembly are then subjected to internal pressure in order to inflate and superplastically deform the sub-assemblies. The inflated sub-assemblies are combined to form a single assembly and the cavities are again subjected to internal pressure in order to bond the sub-assemblies together. The assembly is then exposed to hot isostatic pressing, after which, excess material is machined off.

Method for manufacturing hollow airfoils (four-piece concept)

A method for forming a hollow, internally-ribbed airfoil having a complex geometry. The process forms airfoil halves from alloy members in essentially final machined form. The airfoil halves optionally include a gasket around their periphery and optionally, a gasket around the internal sequence of ribs and cavities. Because the airfoil halves are in final form before joining, important interior airfoil dimensions such as skin thickness, cavity size, rib location and gasket location as well as exterior dimensions such as camber and twist may be verified prior to joining. The airfoil halves are then joined by welding, thereby sealing their interiors and diffusion bonding at relatively low pressures. The gaskets eliminate the use of high pressures and associated skin buckling and permit a concentration of the loads at key locations despite the low pressures. After diffusion bonding, any voids are removed by hot isostatically pressing the airfoil in the superplastic temperature range of the alloy.

Design and processing method for manufacturing hollow airfoils

A method for making a three-piece hollow airfoil includes preforming three metal sheets into initial shapes and sealing them together to form an in-process assembly. Internal cavities are formed in the assembly prior to sealing. The assembly is subjected to high temperature and pressure to diffusion bond the sheets together at selected points. The cavities are then subjected to internal pressure at high temperature in order to inflate and superplastically deform the assembly to the desired shape. Excess material may be machined off after inflation.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

Gene E Wiggs