Patents by Inventor Ronald Lee Souther
Ronald Lee Souther 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).
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Patent number: 9849533Abstract: A hybrid diffusion-brazing process and hybrid diffusion-brazed article are disclosed. The hybrid diffusion-brazing process includes providing a component having a temperature-tolerant region and a temperature-sensitive region, brazing a braze material to the temperature-tolerant region during a localized brazing cycle, then heating the component in a furnace during a diffusion cycle. The brazing and the heating diffusion-braze the braze material to the component, and the localized brazing cycle is performed independent of the diffusion cycle in the hybrid diffusion-brazing process. The hybrid diffusion-brazed article includes a component, and a braze material diffusion-brazed to the component with a filler material. The filler material has a melting temperature that is above a tolerance temperature of the component.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Liangde Xie, Ronald Lee Souther, Mark Lawrence Hunt, Steven Charles Woods
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Patent number: 9797253Abstract: A system and method for repairing a blade are provided. The system includes an induction heating coil configured for heating a platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil extends under the platform and is adjacent to the slash face to provide substantially uniform localized heating to both the platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil is configured so that the platform is visible during a repair or welding operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Robert Burlee, Ronald Lee Souther
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Patent number: 9638051Abstract: A turbomachine bucket may include an airfoil, a shank coupled to the airfoil, and an angel wing coupled to the shank, the angel wing having an axially extending tip sized to seal with a plurality of discouragers, each discourager having a different axial extent. Various methods for modifying an angel wing to accommodate different sized discouragers are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gareth William David Lewis, Andrew Daniel Grafitti, Jonathan Matthew Lomas, Felipe Roman-Morales, Ronald Lee Souther
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Patent number: 9528764Abstract: A plurality of substantially identical, thermally and/or atmospherically isolated modules can be employed to effect a treatment process. Each module can include a thermal system and/or atmospheric control system to effect a step of a treatment process, such as a heat treatment process for metal articles, particularly heat treatment and/or welding of parts made from so-called “super allows.” The module control systems can communicate and/or cooperate to carry out a process.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Charles Woods, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20160102914Abstract: A plurality of substantially identical, thermally and/or atmospherically isolated modules can be employed to effect a treatment process. Each module can include a thermal system and/or atmospheric control system to effect a step of a treatment process, such as a heat treatment process for metal articles, particularly heat treatment and/or welding of parts made from so-called “super allows.” The module control systems can communicate and/or cooperate to carry out a process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20160076375Abstract: A system and method for repairing a blade are provided. The system includes an induction heating coil configured for heating a platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil extends under the platform and is adjacent to the slash face to provide substantially uniform localized heating to both the platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil is configured so that the platform is visible during a repair or welding operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Eric Robert Burlee, Ronald Lee Souther
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Patent number: 9242313Abstract: A viewport assembly may allow viewing of a retort chamber while protecting the viewer from heat of the retort chamber through a high-temperature-resistant window in an end wall of the viewport assembly. An access port in the end wall may allow use of tools, such as a welding device. An insulated door between the viewport assembly and the retort chamber may enhance protection and heat retention. The assembly may enhance retention of inert atmosphere in the retort chamber as well as heat, facilitating work on superalloy articles.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Charles Woods, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20150307978Abstract: Turbine component internal heating systems include at least one turbine component support platform that supports a turbine component having one or more internal cavities by temporarily engaging at least a side wall of the turbine component, and, at least one heat source that extends from the at least one turbine component support platform, wherein when the at least one turbine component support platform supports the turbine component, the at least one heat source is at least partially disposed within at least one of the one or more internal cavities such that it can heat the turbine component from the inside.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lawrence Matthew Levy, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20150064008Abstract: A turbomachine bucket may include an airfoil, a shank coupled to the airfoil, and an angel wing coupled to the shank, the angel wing having an axially extending tip sized to seal with a plurality of discouragers, each discourager having a different axial extent. Various methods for modifying an angel wing to accommodate different sized discouragers are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gareth William David Lewis, Andrew Daniel Grafitti, Jonathan Matthew Lomas, Felipe Roman-Morales, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20140356056Abstract: A hybrid diffusion-brazing process and hybrid diffusion-brazed article are disclosed. The hybrid diffusion-brazing process includes providing a component having a temperature-tolerant region and a temperature-sensitive region, brazing a braze material to the temperature-tolerant region during a localized brazing cycle, then heating the component in a furnace during a diffusion cycle. The brazing and the heating diffusion-braze the braze material to the component, and the localized brazing cycle is performed independent of the diffusion cycle in the hybrid diffusion-brazing process. The hybrid diffusion-brazed article includes a component, and a braze material diffusion-brazed to the component with a filler material. The filler material has a melting temperature that is above a tolerance temperature of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Liangde XIE, Ronald Lee SOUTHER, Mark Lawrence HUNT, Steven Charles WOODS
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Patent number: 8853594Abstract: Methods and apparatus for welding a component to fill a groove therein. The method entails simultaneously projecting an electric arc and at least first and second laser beams into the groove. The electric arc melts and deposits a filler material in the groove while the first and second laser beams are projected onto opposite first and second walls, respectively, of the groove. The axis of each of the first and second laser beams is oriented at an acute angle relative to the respective wall thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dechao Lin, Jamison William Janawitz, David Vincent Bucci, Matthew James O'Connell, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20140042140Abstract: A double-sided tribrid welding technique and apparatus for root pass welding of narrow groove welds. The welding technique utilizes three welding devices. A welding apparatus on a backside of the weld joint may strike an arc on the backside of the weld joint; a welding apparatus on a narrow groove side of the weld may strike an arc within the narrow groove weld joint, while the remaining welding apparatus is a laser that can help establish a keyhole as a common pool of molten metal at the root without burning through the root. Once the arcs are struck substantially simultaneously and the laser is energized, the welding heads move simultaneously, the arc welders assisting in maintaining pre-heat temperature, while minimizing distortion and cracking. Adjusting arc weld parameters provides deformation on completion of the root pass so as to compensate for distortion due to metal shrinkage in subsequent passes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Dechao LIN, Jamison William JANAWITZ, David Vincent BUCCI, Ronald Lee SOUTHER, Matthew James O'CONNELL, Srikanth Chandrudu KOTTILINGAM
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Publication number: 20140030667Abstract: A viewport assembly may allow viewing of a retort chamber while protecting the viewer from heat of the retort chamber through a high-temperature-resistant window in an end wall of the viewport assembly. An access port in the end wall may allow use of tools, such as a welding device. An insulated door between the viewport assembly and the retort chamber may enhance protection and heat retention. The assembly may enhance retention of inert atmosphere in the retort chamber as well as heat, facilitating work on superalloy articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven Charles Woods, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20140008333Abstract: Methods and apparatus for welding a component to fill a groove therein. The method entails simultaneously projecting an electric arc and at least first and second laser beams into the groove. The electric arc melts and deposits a filler material in the groove while the first and second laser beams are projected onto opposite first and second walls, respectively, of the groove. The axis of each of the first and second laser beams is oriented at an acute angle relative to the respective wall thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Dechao Lin, Jamison William Janawitz, David Vincent Bucci, Matthew James O'Connell, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Ronald Lee Souther
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Publication number: 20130205859Abstract: A tool assembly for shaping an impingement shield for use with a turbine engine is provided. The tool assembly includes a bracket, a connecting member, and at least one support member. The connecting member is coupled to a force device and a zipper strip that is coupled to the impingement shield. The support member is positioned on the impingement shield via pads that are moveable to accommodate the contour of the impingement shield. By pulling the zipper strip, the zipper strip may be straightened and/or the impingement shield may be shaped.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventor: Ronald Lee Souther