General Electric Company

Mark Kevin Meyer

William Thomas Carter

Gregory Terrence Garay

Douglas Gerard Konitzer

Robert John Zabala

Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti

Michael Ralph Storage

Justin Mamrak

MacKenzie Ryan Redding

Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr

Mark Allen Cheverton

Laurent Cretegny

Keith Anthony Lauria

Jeffrey Jon Schoonover

Andrew David Deal

Qi Zhao

William R Catlin

Thomas G Wakeman

Thomas Graham Spears

Ivan H Peterson

Michael A Umney

James S Hoelle

Samar Jyoti Kalita

Antonio Salas Gonzalez

Smara Jyoti Kalita

Bradley J Johnston

John R Robison

Jr Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a metallic component, and corresponding methods. The apparatus may include a build plate with a build surface and an aperture. The apparatus may also include an actuator operable to translate a metallic component such that an end portion of the metallic component is positioned within the aperture of the build plate and below the build surface. The apparatus may further include a seal coupled within the aperture of the build plate and configured to engage the end portion of the metallic component. The aperture of the build plate, the seal, and the end portion of the metallic component may cooperate to form a powder bed to hold metallic powder therein. The apparatus may also include an external heat control mechanism operable to form a predetermined temperature profile of the end portion of the component to prevent cracking of the component.

Powder-bed additive manufacturing devices and methods

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials. Such methods and apparatuses eliminate several drawbacks of conventional powder-based methods, including powder handling, recoater jams, and health risks. In addition, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for compensation of in-process warping of build plates and foil-based build materials, in-process monitoring, and closed loop control.

Mobile large scale additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials

Methods of manufacturing or repairing a turbine blade or vane are described. The airfoil portions of these turbine components are typically manufactured by casting in a ceramic mold, and a surface made up of the cast airfoil and at the least the ceramic core serves as a build surface for a subsequent process of additively manufacturing the tip portions. The build surface is created by removing a top portion of the airfoil and the core, or by placing an ultra-thin shim on top of the airfoil and the core. The overhang projected by the shim is subsequently removed. These methods are not limited to turbine engine applications, but can be applied to any metallic object that can benefit from casting and additive manufacturing processes. The present disclosure also relates to finished and intermediate products prepared by these methods.

Method of manufacturing turbine airfoil and tip component thereof using ceramic core with witness feature

Method of repairing turbine component using ultra-thin plate

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials. Such methods and apparatuses eliminate several drawbacks of conventional powder-based methods, including powder handling, recoater jams, and health risks. In addition, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for compensation of in-process warping of build plates and foil-based build materials.

Fixed bed large scale additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials

Method of manufacturing turbine airfoil and tip component thereof

Method of repairing turbine component

Method of manufacturing turbine airfoil with open tip casting and tip component thereof

A method for joining a filler material to a substrate material includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

Methods and systems for joining materials

A method is provided for joining a filler material to a substrate material. The method includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

A ball joint includes a tubular outer shroud having a unique one-piece weld-free socket which receives a complementary ball of a tubular inner shroud. The ball joint is preferably formed by plastically deforming the outer shroud to integrally form the socket around the ball. The socket may be formed around a preformed ball, or both the ball and socket may be integrally plastically formed simultaneously.

Bellows sealed ball joint and method of forming

An expansion joint includes a pair of tubular fittings joined together by a bellows for accommodating differential movement therebetween. The fittings include balls at respective distal ends thereof which engage complementary sockets fixedly joined to opposite ends of the bellows. The respective ball and sockets additionally accommodate pivotal and rotary movement. The bellows allows pressure and spring forces to engage the sockets against their respective balls for continuously seating the balls in the sockets during operation and maintaining effective seals against leakage.

Multi-degree-of-freedom expansion joint

An expansion joint for connecting first and second fluid-carrying pipes comprising first and second annular couplings which are operably affixable to respective ones of the pipes. In a preferred embodiment the couplings include cylindrical bores of substantially the same diameter disposed relative to one another to form a passage for providing flow communication between the pipes. An annular bellows extends between the couplings for accommodating relative axial movement and angular misalignment between the pipes and is disposed radially outward of the passage to capture any fluid leaking between the interfacing surfaces of the couplings. A second cylindrical bore of a first one of the couplings engages an outer spherical surface of the second coupling to allow the second coupling to pivot in a manner which accommodates angular misalignment between the pipes. Means are provided for limiting the pivoting of the second coupling and for preventing the first coupling from rotating about a centerline of the joint, thereby avoiding unacceptable bending and torsional loading of the bellows. The expansion joint further includes means for limiting the axial compression and axial extension of the bellows.

Expansion joint for fluid piping with rotation prevention member

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Mark Kevin Meyer