General Electric Company

Matthew Karesh

Carey Shawn Rogers

Aigbedion Akwara

Michael Robert Notarnicola

Jason Joseph Bellardi

Andrew Jean Desrosiers

Various systems and methods are provided for creating a wicking structure. In one example, a method for creating a wicking structure can include creating, using a 3D printing technique, a macro wicking element including a lattice structure formed by a grid of a first material, the lattice structure including pores formed between the grid of first material. The method can also include creating, using the 3D printing technique, a first micro wicking element including powder particles distributed within the pores of the lattice structure, and creating, using the 3D printing technique, a second micro wicking element by removing at least a portion of the lattice structure.

Tunable wicking structures and a system for a wicking structure

Various systems and methods are provided for a tunable wicking structure. In one example, the tunable wicking structure comprises a micro wicking element comprising a plurality of powder particles, each powder particle of the micro wicking element being partially joined to at least one other powder particle of the micro wicking element, and wherein a plurality of channels are formed between partially joined powder particles of the micro wicking element for drawing liquid through the micro wicking element via capillary action. The tunable wicking structure may also include a macro wicking element including a lattice structure formed by a grid of lines of material, the lattice structure including pores formed between the lines of material, in which the powder particles are disposed.

A nested segment assembly and a method of additively manufacturing the same are provided. In one example aspect, the nested segment assembly includes a first component segment and a segment component segment positioned adjacent the first component segment. The first component segment has an end face and a tongue projecting outwardly from the end face. The second component segment defines a groove. The groove is defined at an end face of the second component segment that is adjacent the end face of the first component segment. The first component segment and the second component segment are additively printed such that at least a portion of the tongue of the first component segment is nested within the groove defined by the second component segment. Segmented components having a tesla valve formed therebetween are also provided.

Additively manufactured nested segment assemblies for turbine engines

An x-ray tube casing is provided which includes a central frame having internal passages to supply a cooling fluid directly to the casing without the need for an external dedicated heat exchanger. The cooling fluid flowing through the passages in the easing can thermally contact the dielectric coolant within the casing to cool the tube coolant during operation of the x-ray tube. The casing is formed in an additive manufacturing process to allow for tight tolerances with regard to the structure for the casing and the internal passages to reduce the size and weight of the casing. The casing can additionally be formed from a metal matrix including a metal with high x-ray attenuation and a filler metal. The metal matrix eliminates the need for a separate x-ray attenuation layer within the casing, further reducing the size, number of parts and assembly complexity of the casing.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Matthew Karesh