The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 27, 1996
Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Melvin Robert Jackson, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Ann Melinda Ritter, Albany, NY (US);
Wayne Alan Demo, Hamilton, OH (US);
Stephen Joseph Ferrigno, Cincinnati, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
An extension is formed directly on an article by dipping a portion or end of the article having an attached integral mandrel into a molten bath of a compatible alloy, followed by withdrawal of the end under controlled conditions sufficient to cause an integral extension to solidify on the article. A ceramic mold is utilized over the dipped end of the article and the integral mandrel with a mold cavity that generally defines the shape of the extension to be formed. The mold may be formed in situ on the mandrel, or preformed and attached to the subject article over the mandrel. The integral mandrel is melted within the mold by dipping the mandrel into the molten alloy. The mandrel acts as a buffer between the molten material and the article while permitting melting of the article end and solidification of the integral extension. Extensions formed by the method of this invention have a microstructure that is continuous and compatible with that of the article. Such microstructures may include epitaxial growth of the extension from the microstructure of the article. The method establishes a temperature gradient within the article during solidification that may be further controlled by auxiliary heating and/or cooling of the article and/or extension during the practice of the method.