Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Hicks

Gerald E. Hicks 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).

  • Publication number: 20220143900
    Abstract: Methods for in-situ solution heat treating an additively manufactured metallic component in order to increase the mechanical properties thereof and systems to perform the same. The method can include depositing filler material on a substrate forming a deposition layer, measuring the temperature of a heat affected zone corresponding to the deposition layer, and solution heat treating the deposition layer subsequent to the depositing and proximate to the deposition head. The solution heat treating can include heating the deposition layer to a solution temperature so as to achieve solution heat treatment and controlling the cooling rate of the deposition layer to at or above the critical cooling rate of the filler material until a target temperature is reached. Optionally, the method can include inducing an electron flow in the deposition layer to electromagnetically stir molten filler material in the heat affected zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Sprit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Paul R. Toivonen, Gerald E. Hicks, JR., Daniel R. Klenosky
  • Patent number: 10822682
    Abstract: A method for heat-treating a titanium alloy, such as Ti-6Al-4V. The method may occur after or include a step of forging the titanium alloy such that localized, highly deformed grains are formed in the titanium alloy. Then the method may include steps of recrystallization annealing the titanium alloy by heating the titanium alloy to a temperature in a range between 30° F. to 200° F. below beta transus of the titanium alloy for 1 hour to 6 hours and then furnace cooling of the titanium alloy to 1200° F. to 1500° F. at a rate of 50° F. to 500° F. per hour. Following the recrystallization annealing, the method may include beta annealing the titanium alloy. These steps may be performed in a single heat treating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Gerald E. Hicks, Michael A. Walker, Craig M. Clasper
  • Patent number: 10266933
    Abstract: Aluminum alloys are provided that can comprise boron and vanadium and high amounts of titanium and zirconium. The aluminum alloys described herein can exhibit superior tensile properties at both room temperature and elevated temperatures and still maintain desirable ductility. The aluminum alloys can be used in applications where resistance to fatigue and breakdown at elevated temperatures is desirable, which includes applications in the aerospace and aeronautical fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, David E. Jakstis, Gerald E. Hicks, Darrell Wade
  • Publication number: 20190032184
    Abstract: A method for heat-treating a titanium alloy, such as Ti-6Al-4V. The method may occur after or include a step of forging the titanium alloy such that localized, highly deformed grains are formed in the titanium alloy. Then the method may include steps of recrystallization annealing the titanium alloy by heating the titanium alloy to a temperature in a range between 30° F. to 200° F. below beta transus of the titanium alloy for 1 hour to 6 hours and then furnace cooling of the titanium alloy to 1200° F. to 1500° F. at a rate of 50° F. to 500° F. per hour. Following the recrystallization annealing, the method may include beta annealing the titanium alloy. These steps may be performed in a single heat treating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Gerald E. Hicks, Michael A. Walker, Craig M. Clasper
  • Patent number: 10094013
    Abstract: A method for heat-treating a titanium alloy, such as Ti-6Al-4V. The method may occur after or include a step of forging the titanium alloy such that localized, highly deformed grains are formed in the titanium alloy. Then the method may include steps of recrystallization annealing the titanium alloy by heating the titanium alloy to a temperature in a range between 30° F. to 200° F. below beta transus of the titanium alloy for 1 hour to 6 hours and then furnace cooling of the titanium alloy to 1200° F. to 1500° F. at a rate of 50° F. to 500° F. per hour. Following the recrystallization annealing, the method may include beta annealing the titanium alloy. These steps may be performed in a single heat treating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Gerald E. Hicks, Michael A. Walker, Craig M. Clasper
  • Patent number: 9995247
    Abstract: An aircraft thrust reverser inner wall and method of manufacturing the same. The aircraft thrust reverser inner wall may include a face sheet, a perforated back sheet, and a core sandwiched between the face sheet and the perforated back sheet. The face sheet may have an inner face sheet surface and an outer face sheet surface, and the core may have an inner core surface, an outer core surface, and a plurality of cell walls extending therebetween. An electro-depositable material may be applied, via electrodeposition, in a substantially continuous layer over the outer core surface, the cell walls, and the outer face sheet surface, thus bonding the face sheet and core together. The perforated back sheet may be attached to the core at the outer core surface, and a conductive coating may be applied to the inner face sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Craig Clasper, Micheal A. Walker, Gerald E. Hicks, Linda Cadwell Stancin
  • Publication number: 20170175241
    Abstract: A method for heat-treating a titanium alloy, such as Ti-6Al-4V. The method may occur after or include a step of forging the titanium alloy such that localized, highly deformed grains are formed in the titanium alloy. Then the method may include steps of recrystallization annealing the titanium alloy by heating the titanium alloy to a temperature in a range between 30° F. to 200° F. below beta transus of the titanium alloy for 1 hour to 6 hours and then furnace cooling of the titanium alloy to 1200° F. to 1500° F. at a rate of 50° F. to 500° F. per hour. Following the recrystallization annealing, the method may include beta annealing the titanium alloy. These steps may be performed in a single heat treating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, Gerald E. Hicks, Michael A. Walker, Craig M. Clasper
  • Publication number: 20170096964
    Abstract: An aircraft thrust reverser inner wall and method of manufacturing the same. The aircraft thrust reverser inner wall may include a face sheet, a perforated back sheet, and a core sandwiched between the face sheet and the perforated back sheet. The face sheet may have an inner face sheet surface and an outer face sheet surface, and the core may have an inner core surface, an outer core surface, and a plurality of cell walls extending therebetween. An electro-depositable material may be applied, via electrodeposition, in a substantially continuous layer over the outer core surface, the cell walls, and the outer face sheet surface, thus bonding the face sheet and core together. The perforated back sheet may be attached to the core at the outer core surface, and a conductive coating may be applied to the inner face sheet surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: RAHBAR NASSERRAFI, CRAIG CLASPER, MICHEAL A. WALKER, GERALD E. HICKS, LINDA CADWELL STANCIN
  • Patent number: 9347558
    Abstract: Aluminum-based alloys for casting or wrought processing having improved combinations of properties, including improved high temperature strength, are provided. The alloys generally comprise copper, magnesium, silver, and titanium, along with scandium and/or cobalt. Zirconium, zinc, and/or vanadium may also optionally be present in the alloy. When cobalt is present in the alloy, nickel may also optionally be present. Cast and wrought products, as well as methods of making the same using the alloys, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, LaVerne L. Waalkes, Gerald E. Hicks, Kevin Obrachta, David E. Jakstis
  • Publication number: 20160047022
    Abstract: Aluminum alloys are provided that can comprise boron and vanadium and high amounts of titanium and zirconium. The aluminum alloys described herein can exhibit superior tensile properties at both room temperature and elevated temperatures and still maintain desirable ductility. The aluminum alloys can be used in applications where resistance to fatigue and breakdown at elevated temperatures is desirable, which includes applications in the aerospace and aeronautical fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, David E. Jakstis, Gerald E. Hicks, Darrell Wade
  • Publication number: 20120048390
    Abstract: Aluminum-based alloys for casting or wrought processing having improved combinations of properties, including improved high temperature strength, are provided. The alloys generally comprise copper, magnesium, silver, and titanium, along with scandium and/or cobalt. Zirconium, zinc, and/or vanadium may also optionally be present in the alloy. When cobalt is present in the alloy, nickel may also optionally be present. Cast and wrought products, as well as methods of making the same using the alloys, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Rahbar Nasserrafi, LaVerne L. Waalkes, Gerald E. Hicks, Kevin Obrachta, David E. Jakstis