Patents by Inventor Ronald G. Tolbert

Ronald G. Tolbert 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: 5527402
    Abstract: A process for differentially heat treating a turbine disk of a gas turbine engine so as to produce a dual property disk. The process is applicable to superalloy disks, and achieves substantially uniform yet different temperatures in the rim and hub of the disk during heat treatment, so as to attain specific and different properties for the rim and hub. The process includes the steps of heat treating the entire disk to achieve a uniform structure having a fine grain size and fine precipitates. A device for heating the rim of the disk is then disposed at the disk's periphery, such that the rim is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy so as to dissolve gamma prime precipitates present in the rim and cause grain growth in the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Swami Ganesh, Ronald G. Tolbert
  • Patent number: 5527020
    Abstract: Apparatus for differentially heat treating a turbine disk of a gas turbine engine so as to produce a dual property superalloy disk. The apparatus enables a process to achieve substantially uniform yet different temperatures in the rim and hub of the disk during heat treatment, so as to attain specific and different properties for the rim and hub. The process includes the steps of heat treating the entire disk to achieve a uniform structure having a fine grain size and fine precipitates. A device for heating the rim of the disk is then disposed at the disk's periphery, such that the rim is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy so as to dissolve gamma prime precipitates present in the rim and cause grain growth in the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Swami Ganesh, Ronald G. Tolbert