General Electric Company

Paul Stephen Manicke

Earl Claude Helder

Mark Kevin McCullough

Glen Harold Kirby

Warren Rosal Ronk

Theodore Robert Grossman

Catherine Mary Graichen

Jeffrey Howard Nussbaum

Christopher Reynolds Hammond

Jeffrey Francis Wessels

Gary Edward Trewiler

Joseph Capozzi

Peter J Rock

Alan Glen Turner

David S Alvarez

James A Huffman

Leslie McLean Hellemann

Stephen Wayne Tefft

Bethany Bleil Kniffin

Bryant Edward Walker

Kenneth Allen Loehle

Robert John McElligott

Friedrich Peyerl

Charles Kammer Christopherson

Leslie M Pommer

James V Timmons

Bert C Jones, Iii

Vincent Ia Van Den Briel

Joseph Charles Zambito

Allen Anthony Klassen

Philip D Brubaker

Roswitha Sue Ann Schneider

Russel F Munk

Jack D Fudge, Jr

William J Murray

Coating systems on a surface of a CMC component, such as a CMC shroud, are provided. The coating system can include an environmental barrier coating on the surface of the CMC component and an abradable coating on the environmental barrier coating and defining an external surface opposite of the environmental barrier coating. The abradable coating includes a compound having the formula: LnABO, where Ln comprises scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, or mixtures thereof; A comprises Si, Ti, Ge, or a combination thereof; and B comprises Mo, W, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the abradable coating has a first coefficient of thermal expansion at an interface with the environmental barrier coating that changes to a second coefficient of thermal expansion at its external surface. Methods are also provided for applying an abradable coating onto a CMC component.

Abradable compositions and methods for CMC shrouds

Process for producing a ceramic composite structure includes impregnating a reinforcing material with a suitable precursor slurry composition including thermosetting resin, a suitable curing agent, a ceramic component, a carbonaceous solids component, and optionally, a suitable solvent. Exemplary thermosetting resins include polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, and polyimide resins. The carbonaceous solids component provides a suitable amount of carbon char upon pyrolization. The preform may be dried prior to curing to remove solvents and thereby provide a working material comprising up to 70 volume % solids. The preform is cured, pyrolized, and infiltrated with molten silicon to form a composite article. The thermosetting resin is selected for processibility, green strength, and relatively fast cure cycle.

Process for producing a ceramic matrix composite article and article formed thereby

A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Friction stir welding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics

A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Friction stir welding of metal matrix composites

Including a disk, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart airfoils extending radially outwardly from the disk, a plurality of shroud segments being disposed circumferentially between the plurality of airfoils and configured to attach to a corresponding airfoil of the plurality of airfoils and a plurality of wear surfaces, where at least one wear surface of the plurality of wear surfaces is configured and disposed to prevent excessive wear between the adjacent shroud segments. Each shroud segment of the plurality of shroud segments may be attached to a corresponding airfoil by weld connections to permit clearance during translation friction welding of the airfoil to the disk hub are located to avoid high stress areas.

Part span shrouded fan blisk

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

A system and method of using at least one computer to determine which requirements from a general requirements document apply to a specific situation. The invention includes providing a logic model for the general requirements document and receiving data relating to the specific situation. The collected data and the logic model are used to identify which requirements apply to the specific situation. Lastly, a listing of the identified requirements is output.

System and method for determining specific requirements from general requirements documents

A method for automatically generating an ultrasonic inspection plan for parts to be inspected includes collecting data relating to the ultrasonic inspection planning by displaying an input screen that prompts a user to input the pertinent data. The inspection parameters to be used in the ultrasonic inspections are then calculated from the collected data, and the calculated parameters are formatted into an inspection plan document. A tool for carrying out this method can be implemented on any computer-readable medium.

Automated ultrasonic inspection planning

A system and method of using at least one computer to construct a technical plan for a specific process. The invention includes providing a rule-based logic model for the specific process and inputting data relating to the specific process. The data is compared to the logic model to identify exceptions in the data to rules in the logic model. The data are formatted into a technical plan that includes the exceptions. The technical plan is then outputted for review.

Method and system for constructing technical plans

Apparatus for cutting a sheet of material along a preselected line. The apparatus includes a table having an upper surface sized and shaped for receiving the sheet of material. In addition, the apparatus includes a wire positionable adjacent the upper surface of the table and generally vertically below the preselected line on the sheet of material when the sheet of material is received by the upper surface of the table. Further, the apparatus includes an elongate guide positionable above the sheet of material when the sheet is received by the upper surface of the table for holding the sheet of material in position with respect to the wire and the upper surface of the table. The apparatus also includes a device engageable with the wire for pulling the wire upward through the sheet of material to cut the sheet of material along the preselected line.

Method and apparatus for cutting sheet material

A process is provided for producing high temperature composite components from a thermosetting polyimide resin system, and more particularly to an in-mold technique for impregnating a reinforcement fiber preform with the polyimide resin system, and thereafter imidizing the polyimide resin system in such a way that exposure to the uncured (nonimidized) polyimide resin system is minimized. The process entails an injection technique that ensures complete impregnation and wetting of the reinforcing fabric, and complete removal of the condensation byproducts formed during imidization. The imidized component is then cured by heating the component to a temperature sufficient to remelt the polyimide resin system, and then applying pressure and additional heat to cause the polyimide resin system to cross-link to produce the desired composite component. The process results in a fiber-reinforced polyimide matrix component characterized by a void content of less than about three percent.

Resin transfer imidization of polyimide matrix composites

A multipurpose, automatic, self-contained device for manufacturing or repairing a workpiece made from a composite material includes a frame having an upper frame member and a lower frame member. A mechanical apparatus for providing a compressive force is mounted to the lower frame member and a lower platen is mounted to a movable member of the apparatus. An upper platen, positioned opposite to the lower platen, is mounted to the upper frame member. At least one heater is associated with at least one of the platens to apply heat to the workpiece and at least one temperature sensor is provided for mounting to the workpiece. The lower platen is moved toward and away from the upper platen by the mechanical apparatus to apply a compressive force to the workpiece disposed between the platens as a function of the temperature sensed from the workpiece and/or according to a predetermined schedule or plan.

Composite repair press for manufacturing and repairing a workpiece made

An in-jig assembly bond fixture for manufacturing a composite component having a plurality of parts includes at least one fixture for holding each of the plurality of parts in proper alignment relative to one another during a bonding operation. A mechanical mechanism is provided integral with the at least one fixture for applying a predetermined uniform compressive force to each bond line between each of the plurality of parts during the bonding operation. A plurality of heating elements is provided for applying heat directly to each bond joint and are each selectively located within the fixture for applying heat uniformly across each bond line during the bonding operation.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

Paul Stephen Manicke