Patents Represented by Attorney Paul E. Rochford
  • Patent number: 5045407
    Abstract: The matrix is an alloy having an alpha-2 crystal form. The matrix is reinforced with silicon carbide filaments. To reduce the tendency of the matrix to form cracks due to the brittle nature of the interface with the SiC filaments, the surface of the filaments is coated with a beta phase stabilizer composition. Such a composition contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Cr, W, Ta, Pd, Nb, Ag, Zr, Hf, V, Re, Ir, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pt, Au, and Sn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ann M. Ritter
  • Patent number: 5042710
    Abstract: A method for forming a shaft of filament reinforced matrix metal is provided. The hollow shaft structure is made up of a number of layers of monotape which are assembled together and then HIPed to form a consolidated composite tubular shaft structure. The monotapes employed in forming the individual layers are prepared by plasma spray deposition of matrix metal onto and around an aligned set of reinforcing filaments. Following the plasma spray deposition of the matrix metal, the upper portion of the metal is removed by grinding or machining to increase the density of the monotape by removing the lens dense upper layer. The monotapes are assembled into the hollow shaft configuration by wrapping onto a shaft shaped mandrel in successive layers wound at a pitch to the axis of the mandrel. Consolidation of the multilayer wound structure is accomplished by HIPing at at least 900.degree. C. and at least 15 ksi for a period of more than 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Siemers, Stephen F. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 5041262
    Abstract: A novel titanium base alloy having a micrograph with alpha plates oriented in three directions with respect to their parent beta grains, but with alpha plates so short that no basketweave pattern is evident. The alloy contains from 0.02 to 2.0 atomic percent boron; 6 to 30 atomic percent aluminum; 0 to 4 atomic percent tin; 0 to 4 atomic percent gallium; and may contain 0 to 6 atomic percent zirconium of hafnium or a mixture of the two; 0 to 12 atomic percent of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, columbium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten, ruthenium, and the platinum group metals; and from 0 to 2 atomic percent of at least one element selected from the group consisting of yttrium, carbon and the rare earth metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael F. X. Gigliotti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5037495
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alloy having improved crack growth inhibition and having high strength at high temperatures. The composition of the alloy is essentially as follows:______________________________________ Ingredient Concentration in weight 5 ______________________________________ Ni balance Co 15 Cr 10 Mo 3 Al 5.5 Ti 2.25 Ta 2.70 Nb 1.35 Zr 0.06 V 1 C 0.05 B 0.03.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael F. Henry
  • Patent number: 5028491
    Abstract: A TiAl composition is prepared to have high strength, high oxidation resistance and to have acceptable ductility by altering the atomic ratio of the titanium and aluminum to have what has been found to be a highly desirable effective aluminum concentration by addition of chromium and tantalum according to the approximate formula Ti.sub.50-44 Al.sub.46-50 Cr.sub.2 Ta.sub.2-4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shyh-Chin Huang, Donald S. Shih
  • Patent number: 5026522
    Abstract: An alloy is provided which has good operating strength and ductility at temperatures of 2000.degree. to 2500.degree. F. and density of between 7.0 and 7.3. The alloy contains niobium titanium and hafnium in concentrations as set forth below:______________________________________ Concentration in Atom % Ingredient From To ______________________________________ Niobium balance essentially Titanium 35 45 Hafnium 10 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin R. Jackson, Shyh-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 5019334
    Abstract: An alloy is provided for use at high temperature. The alloy is a niobium-titanium base alloy and has the following approximate composition.______________________________________ Concentration in atomic percent Ingredient From About To About ______________________________________ Nb balance essentially Ti 31 48 Al 8 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5017438
    Abstract: A method for forming a composite having a matrix which is stronger and which is resistant to cracking is disclosed. The composite is reinforced by silicon carbide fibers. The silicon carbide fibers are first RF plasma-spray coated with a niobium metal and the matrix metal of titanium base alpha-2 crystal structure is next RF plasma-spray deposited over the niobium coated SiC fibers to form a layer of Ti base metal reinforced by SiC fibers. A plurality of layered structures are consolidated by heat and pressure into a composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Siemers, Ann M. Ritter
  • Patent number: 5006307
    Abstract: An alloy having high strength at high temperature is provided. The alloy has the following approximate composition in atom percent:______________________________________ niobium balance titanium 40-48% aluminum 12-22% hafnium 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5005456
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing a stack of amorphous alloy ribbons in a softened state is disclosed. The method provides a smooth burr-free edge of close dimensional tolerance while preserving the desirable magnetic properties of the alloy. Resistance self-heating is applied to heat a localized portion of the stack to a temperature above the softening temperature of the alloy. Severing occurs adjacent the electrodes in an adjacent stack portion which is heated by diffusion from the directly heated stock portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Ballard, Peter G. Frischmann, Alan I. Taub
  • Patent number: 5004153
    Abstract: A method for regulating the flow of liquid metal to an atomization zone is provided. The regulation is effected by imparting a high density flux to a stream of liquid metal as it descends toward the atomization zone. The high density flux is applied by a flux concentrator. The flux concentrator is a small sleeve-like element attached by parallel conductors to a larger sleeve-like element which acts as a secondary to primary coil extended through the larger sleeve element. By imparting high density flux to initiate a stream passing through the flux concentrator the cross sectional dimensions of the melt stream and the rate of flow of melt through the concentrator is regulated to values which are appropriate for a spray-form type of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas F. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 5000913
    Abstract: An alloy is provided having exceptional strength at very high temperatures of 1200.degree. C. and higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4990308
    Abstract: An alloy having a niobium titanium base and aluminum and chromium additives is provided. The alloy has superior strength and ductility at high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4983233
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alloy having improved crack growth inhibition and having high strength at high temperature. The composition of the alloy is essentially as follows:______________________________________ Concentration in Weight % Claimed Composition Ingredient From To ______________________________________ Ni balance Co 4 12 Cr 7 13 Mo 2 6 Al 3.0 6.0 Ti 3.5 5.0 Ta 2.0 4.0 Nb 1.0 3.0 Re 0.0 3.0 Hf 0.0 0.75 Zr 0.0 0.10 V 0.0 3.0 C 0.0 0.20 B 0.0 0.10 W 0.0 1.0 Y 0.0 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael F. Henry
  • Patent number: 4983356
    Abstract: A substantial gain in the properties of conventional FeCrAlY is achieved by adding RuAl to a melt of the conventional material. The resultant composition has a use temperature above the melting point of nickel base superalloys and has good strength and ductility properties to permit its use as a high temperature structural material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4982154
    Abstract: A scheme for rapidly connecting and rapidly disconnecting a large number of point contacts onto a pipe surface is taught. The scheme involves pressing sharply pointed pin contacts onto the pipe surface by gas pressure. Each pin is held in a conforming opening in an annular ring structure. The ring forms the inner wall of an annulus capable of holding gas pressure to urge the many needles inward against the pipe surface. Each pin is individually connected to a power supply and sensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwabe, Louis F. Coffin, Michael R. Eggleston
  • Patent number: 4981643
    Abstract: A method for improved HIPing of filament reinforced metal matrix composite samples is disclosed. The method departs from conventional HIPing practice in that it does not rely on the heating of the HIPing gas in order to increase pressure. Rather, the temperature of the article and of the HIPing gas is first to the HIPing temperature and the pressure of the gas and the pressure on the sample is then raised to the HIPing pressure. Benefits are derived in that a lower level of filament fracture results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Siemers, Stephen F. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 4981644
    Abstract: Alloy compositions for nickel-base superalloys having the qualities of weldability, castability and forge-ability together with improved high temperature strength and rupture properties are disclosed. The weldability is improved by varying the Al, Ti, Nb and Ta content so as to insure that only the favorable .gamma." precipitates are formed in the alloy. The high temperature properties of the alloy compositions are optimized by controlling the content of the major alloying elements Co and Cr. Preferably the alloy is substantially free of Fe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Keh-Minn Chang
  • Patent number: 4980244
    Abstract: Alloy compositions suitable for use in protecting refractory base alloy compositions are disclosed. The coating is formed of an alloy containing chromium, ruthenium and aluminum and which may contain iron, cobalt and nickel. The coating is found to be highly resistant to oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4978585
    Abstract: A method of altering the crystal form of an alloy is disclosed. To accomplish this change in crystal form, the concentrations of the more volatile constituents of the alloy are reduced and the concentration of the less volatile constituents is increased on a relative basis. The process may be carried out in forming a reinforced structure. For this purpose, an improved reinforced matrix and a method of forming it are taught. The reinforcement may be silicon carbide filaments or other reinforcing filaments. The matrix is a titanium 1421 alloy nominally containing 14 weight percent of aluminum and 21 weight percent of niobium. The matrix is formed by plasma-spray forming a powder of the alloy to impart to the alloy particles a superheat during the plasma-spraying as the particles traverse the plasma plume. As a result of the superheat, the alloy is changed in its composition to reduce the aluminum concentration and to increase the niobium and titanium concentrations on a relative basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ann M. Ritter, Paul A. Siemers, Donald R. Spriggs