Patents by Inventor Donnell Eugene Crear

Donnell Eugene Crear has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10974474
    Abstract: An applicator repair system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and an AM system including the same are disclosed. The applicator repair system includes a repair device including a repair element configured to repair a damaged applicator element on an applicator of an AM system. The damaged applicator element is configured to distribute a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system. The repair device is positioned within a processing chamber of the AM system. A damaged applicator controller may be provided that is configured to cause repair of the damaged active applicator in response to the damaged applicator being identified as damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Mikhail Pavlov, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Dean Andrew Snelling
  • Patent number: 10821551
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electronic Company
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Matthias Hoebel, Michael Evans Graham, Robert John Filkins, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Donnell Eugene Crear, Prabhjot Singh
  • Patent number: 10814391
    Abstract: Various aspects include systems and methods for analyzing materials in additive manufacturing processes. In some cases, a system includes: an additive manufacturing (AM) printer for printing an AM object, the AM printer including a raw material chamber and a build chamber; a control system coupled with the AM printer configured to control the printing of the AM object; and a material analysis system coupled with the control system and the AM printer, the material analysis system configured to analyze a raw material obtained directly from at least one of the raw material chamber or the build chamber for a defect prior to, or contemporaneously with, additively manufacturing the AM component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Ray Joshua Bohon, Steven Charles Woods
  • Patent number: 10773340
    Abstract: A metal powder additive manufacturing system and method are disclosed that use increased trace amounts of oxygen to improve physical attributes of an object. The system may include: a processing chamber; a metal powder bed within the processing chamber; a melting element configured to sequentially melt layers of metal powder on the metal powder bed to generate an object; and a control system configured to control a flow of a gas mixture within the processing chamber from a source of inert gas and a source of an oxygen containing material, the gas mixture including the inert gas and oxygen from the oxygen containing material. The method may result in an object having a surface porosity of no greater than approximately 0.1%, and an effective density of greater than approximately 99.9%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10688593
    Abstract: A component includes a body, and an interface in the body defining a first and second portion of the body made by different melting beam sources of a multiple melting beam source additive manufacturing system during a single build. The component also includes a channel extending through the body. The channel includes an interface-distant area on opposing sides of the interface, each interface-distant area having a first width. The channel also includes an enlarged width area fluidly communicative with the interface-distant areas and spanning the interface, the enlarged width area having a second width larger than the first width. Any misalignment of the melting beams at the interface is addressed by the enlarged width area, eliminating the problem of reduced cooling fluid flow in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Donnell Eugene Crear, Juan Vicente Haro Gonzalez, Mikhail Pavlov, Dean Andrew Snelling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10682704
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a material extraction tool, including: a body shaped to sealingly engage an aperture in a component, the aperture defining a fluid connection between a hollow interior of the component and an exterior of the component; a first passage within the body, the first passage fluidly connecting the hollow interior of the component to an air conduit outside the body, the air conduit fluidly coupled to a compressed air supply; and a second passage within the body, the second passage fluidly connecting the hollow interior of the component to an extraction conduit outside the body, the extraction conduit fluidly coupled to a material repository positioned outside the hollow interior of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Archie Lee Swanner, Jr., Tiffany Muller Craft, Donnell Eugene Crear, Kassy Moy Hart, Tony Lee Stedge
  • Patent number: 10596802
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems (AMS) are disclosed. The AMS may include a movable build platform, and a calibration system operably connected to the build platform. The calibration system may include a reflective element operably coupled to the build platform, a first calibration model positioned above and vertically offset from the reflective element, and a first camera substantially aligned with the first calibration model. The first camera may be visually aligned with the reflective element to capture a first reflective image of the first calibration model as reflected by the reflective element. The calibration system may also include at least one computing device operably connected to the build platform and the first camera, and configured to calibrate the build platform by: adjusting an actual inclination of the build platform in response to determining the first reflective image differs from a predetermined image of the first calibration model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Pavlov, Donnell Eugene Crear, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Dean Andrew Snelling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10596803
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems (AMS) are disclosed. The AMS may include a build plate positioned directly on a movable build platform, and a recoater device positioned above the build plate. The recoater device may include a blade. Additionally, the AMS may include a calibration system operably connected to the recoater device. The calibration system may include at least one measurement device coupled or positioned adjacent to the recoater device, and at least one computing device operably connected to the measurement device(s). The computing device(s) may be configured to calibrate the recoater device by adjusting a height of the blade of the recoater device relative to a reference surface of a component of the AMS in response to determining a pre-build distance between the blade of the recoater device and the reference surface differs from a desired distance. The pre-build distance may be determined using the measurement device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Mikhail Pavlov, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Dean Andrew Snelling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10583532
    Abstract: A metal powder additive manufacturing system and method are disclosed that use increased trace amounts of oxygen to improve physical attributes of an object. The system may include: a processing chamber; a metal powder bed within the processing chamber; a melting element configured to sequentially melt layers of metal powder on the metal powder bed to generate an object; and a control system configured to control a flow of a gas mixture within the processing chamber from a source of inert gas and a source of an oxygen containing material, the gas mixture including the inert gas and oxygen from the oxygen containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10471510
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Patent number: 10406633
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Patent number: 10401267
    Abstract: A test feature is disclosed that is formed during metal powder additive manufacturing of a production part. The test feature may include a metal powder sample capsule including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing, and a removable cap closing an end of the chamber. Alternatively, a test feature may include a quality control (QC) part, and at least one additional test element including a metal powder sample capsule integrally coupled to the QC part and including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing. The QC part is identical to the production part excepting the at least one test element. The QC part and the at least one test element are formed during the same metal powder additive manufacturing as the production part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jose Troitino Lopez, Tiffany Muller Craft, Donnell Eugene Crear, Kassy Moy Hart, Kamilla Koenig-Urban, Eric Eicher McConnell, Danijel Medved
  • Patent number: 10379063
    Abstract: A damaged applicator identifier system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and AM system including the same are disclosed. The damaged applicator identifier system may include a damaged applicator identifier determining whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the layer by the active applicator. A damaged applicator controller is configured to cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the damaged, active applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Tiffany Muller Craft, Kassy Moy Hart, Mikhail Pavlov, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Dean Andrew Snelling
  • Patent number: 10377126
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems are disclosed. The systems may include a base, and a retaining plate coupled to the base. The retaining plate may include a seat formed in an exposed surface of the retaining plate, and a plurality of pads extending laterally into the seat. The additive manufacturing systems may also include a build plate positioned within the seat and contacting the plurality of pads of the retaining plate. The build plate may include a build surface in substantial planar alignment with the exposed surface of the retaining plate. Additionally, the additive manufacturing systems may include a plurality of build plate retention components positioned in the seat of the retaining plate. Each of the plurality of build plate retention components may be utilized to retain the build plate within the seat of the retaining plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz, Donnell Eugene Crear
  • Publication number: 20190232427
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Matthias Hoebel, Michael Evans Graham, Robert John Filkins, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Donnell Eugene Crear, Prabhjot Singh
  • Patent number: 10338569
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Publication number: 20190054530
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Publication number: 20190056714
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Publication number: 20190054566
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Patent number: 10189057
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for removing particulates from the surface of a 3D printed workpiece. Various particular embodiments include a material removal apparatus having: an enclosure having a first inlet and a first outlet; a rotatable platform contained within the enclosure for positioning a 3D printed workpiece having particulate on a surface thereof; a pressurized fluid applicator connected to the first inlet and configured to selectively apply a pressurized fluid to the 3D printed workpiece; a vibration source configured to apply an adjustable vibratory frequency to at least one of the rotatable platform or the 3D printed workpiece; and a material reclamation unit connected to the first outlet configured to collect a material removed from the 3D printed workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiffany Muller Craft, Donnell Eugene Crear, Kassy Moy Hart, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.