Patents by Inventor Andrew Philip Woodfield
Andrew Philip Woodfield 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: 8051565Abstract: A method of reducing crack propagation in an airfoil includes: providing an airfoil having a root spaced apart from a tip, spaced-apart leading and trailing edges, a suction side extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and an opposed pressure side extending from the leading edge and the trailing edge, supporting the airfoil against bending loads; and burnishing the airfoil using a burnishing element, so as to create at least one burnished section of residual compressive stress, the at least one burnished section being located adjacent the leading edge and spaced from the leading edge by an offset distance selected so as to avoid deformation of the leading edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2006Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alberto Luna, Joshua Leigh Miller, William Terence Dingwell, Michael Jay Brunck, William Lee Imhoff, Paul Moncelle, Dale Robert Lombardo, Andrew Philip Woodfield
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Patent number: 7897103Abstract: An elongated rod assembly is made by preparing a plurality of rods. Each rod is prepared by the steps of furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, thereafter chemically reducing the precursor compounds to produce the metallic material, and thereafter consolidating the metallic material to form the rod, wherein the rod has a rod length equal to the assembly length. The rods are bundled together to form a bundled rod assembly. The rod assembly may be used as a consumable feedstock in a melting-and-casting operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Peter Wayte, Mike Eugene Mechley
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Patent number: 7842231Abstract: An article made of constituent elements is prepared by furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively contain the constituent elements. The constituent elements include a titanium-base metallic composition, boron present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit, and, optionally, a stable-oxide-forming additive element present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce a material comprising a titanium-base metallic composition having titanium boride particles therein, without melting the titanium-base metallic composition. The titanium-base metallic composition having the titanium boride particles therein is consolidated without melting.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Michael Francis Gigliotti, David Alan Utah, Alan Glen Turner
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Publication number: 20100288075Abstract: A metallic article is prepared by first furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively containing the constituent elements of the metallic article in their respective constituent-element proportions. The constituent elements together form a titanium-base alloy having a stable-oxide-forming additive element therein, such as magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium, and mixtures thereof. The stable-oxide-forming additive element forms a stable oxide in a titanium-based alloy. At least one additive element is present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit in the titanium-base alloy. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce an alloy material, without melting the alloy material. The alloy material may be consolidated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Philip WOODFIELD, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Eric Allen Ott, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti
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Patent number: 7833472Abstract: An article is prepared by furnishing a plurality of powder particle substrates made of a substrate metal, providing a nonmetallic precursor of a metallic coating material, wherein the metallic coating material comprises an alloying element that is thermophysically melt incompatible with the substrate metal, contacting the powder particle substrates with the nonmetallic precursor, chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor to form coated powder particles comprising the powder particle substrates having a surface-enriched layer of the metallic coating material thereon without melting the powder particle substrates, and processing the coated powder particles to form the article, without melting the powder particle substrates.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield, David Paul Mourer, John Frederick Ackerman, Jon Raymond Groh, Robert Edward Schafrik, Kenneth Rees Bain, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Matthew Bernard Buczek
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Publication number: 20100258260Abstract: A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic constituent element(s), and chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor compound(s) to produce an initial metallic particle, preferably having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch, without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. By this approach, the incidence of chemical defects in the metal article is minimized. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Eric Allen Ott
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Patent number: 7766992Abstract: A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic constituent element(s), and chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor compound(s) to produce an initial metallic particle, preferably having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch, without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. By this approach, the incidence of chemical defects in the metal article is minimized. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Eric Allen Ott
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Patent number: 7727462Abstract: An article made of a metallic material having its constituent elements is made by furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively include the constituent elements of the metallic material in their respective constituent-element proportions. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce particles comprising the metallic material, without melting the precursor compounds and without melting the metallic material. The particles may be consolidated into a rod, which may be used as a welding rod in a welding operation. Alternatively, the nonmetallic precursor compounds may be consolidated prior to the chemical reduction.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Clifford Earl Shamblen
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Patent number: 7655182Abstract: A metallic article made of metallic constituent elements is fabricated from a mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds of the metallic constituent elements. The mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds is chemically reduced to produce an initial metallic material, without melting the initial metallic material. The initial metallic material is consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the initial metallic material and without melting the consolidated metallic article.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Clifford Earl Shamblen
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Patent number: 7604680Abstract: A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic base nickel, cobalt, iron, iron-nickel, or iron-nickel-cobalt, and at least one alloying element. The nonmetallic precursor compound(s) are chemically reduced to produce an initial metallic particle without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Earl Shamblen, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti
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Patent number: 7553383Abstract: A martensitic steel metallic article (20) made of metallic constituent elements is fabricated from a mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds of the metallic constituent elements. The mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds is chemically reduced to produce a metallic martensitic steel, without melting the metallic martensitic steel. The metallic martensitic steel is consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article (20), without melting the metallic martensitic steel and without melting the consolidated metallic article (20).Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2003Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Earl Shamblen, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti
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Publication number: 20090159162Abstract: Methods for improving mechanical properties of beta processed, alpha-beta titanium alloy articles involving forging the alloy article above the beta transus to produce a post final forged article, subjecting the post final forged article to a post-forged cooling process to produce a post-forged cooled article, solution heat treating the post-forged cooled article to a temperature below the beta transus to produce a solution heat treated article, subjecting the solution heat-treated article to a controlled post-solution cooling process to produce a post-solution cooled article, and alpha phase precipitation treating the post-solution cooled article to obtain a final article having an average elongation value of at least about 3%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Arturo Acosta, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Michael James Weimer
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Patent number: 7531021Abstract: An article includes a microscale composite material having a matrix with more titanium than any other element, and a dispersion of titanium boride particles in the matrix. At least about 50 volume percent of the titanium boride particles have a maximum dimension of less than about 2 micrometers.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Clifford Earl Shamblen
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Patent number: 7510680Abstract: A metallic alloy having at least two metallic constituents is produced by first furnishing at least two non-oxide compounds, wherein the non-oxide compounds collectively comprise each of the metallic constituents, and wherein each of the non-oxide compounds is soluble in a mutual solvent. The method further includes dissolving the non-oxide compounds in the mutual solvent to produce a solution containing the metallic constituents, thereafter heating the solution to remove the mutual solvent and oxidize the metallic constituents to produce a mixed metallic oxide, thereafter cooling the mixed metallic oxide to form a substantially homogeneous mixed metallic oxide solid mass, and thereafter chemically reducing the mixed metallic oxide solid mass to produce a metallic alloy. The metallic alloy may be consolidated or otherwise processed.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Dale Steibel, Andrew Philip Woodfield
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Publication number: 20090032152Abstract: A titanium-alloy article is produced by providing a workpiece of an alpha-beta titanium alloy having a beta-transus temperature, and thereafter mechanically working the workpiece at a mechanical-working temperature above the beta-transus temperature. The mechanically worked workpiece is solution heat treated at a solution-heat-treatment temperature of from about 175° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 25° F. below the beta-transus temperature, quenched, overage heat treated at an overage-heat-treatment temperature of from about 400° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 275° F. below the beta-transus temperature, and cooled from the overage-heat-treatment temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Philip WOODFIELD, Wesley Douglas PRIDEMORE, Bernard Harold LAWLESS, Nancy Ann SULLIVAN, Peter WAYTE, Michael James WEIMER, Thomas Froats BRODERICK
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Publication number: 20080292488Abstract: A method for preparing an article of a base metal alloyed with an alloying element includes the steps of preparing a compound mixture by the steps of providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound of a base metal, providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of an alloying element, and thereafter mixing the base-metal precursor compound and the alloying-element precursor compound to form a compound mixture. The compound mixture is thereafter reduced to a metallic alloy, without melting the metallic alloy. The step of preparing or the step of chemically reducing includes the step of adding an other additive constituent. The metallic alloy is thereafter consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic alloy and without melting the consolidated metallic article.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Philip WOODFIELD, Eric Allen OTT, Clifford Earl SHAMBLEN, Michael Francis Xavier GIGLIOTTI
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Patent number: 7449075Abstract: A titanium-alloy article is produced by providing a workpiece of an alpha-beta titanium alloy having a beta-transus temperature, and thereafter mechanically working the workpiece at a mechanical-working temperature above the beta-transus temperature. The mechanically worked workpiece is solution heat treated at a solution-heat-treatment temperature of from about 175° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 25° F. below the beta-transus temperature, quenched, overage heat treated at an overage-heat-treatment temperature of from about 400° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 275° F. below the beta-transus temperature, and cooled from the overage-heat-treatment temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Wesley Douglas Pridemore, Bernard Harold Lawless, Nancy Ann Sullivan, Peter Wayte, Michael James Weimer, Thomas Froats Broderick
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Publication number: 20080260566Abstract: A method for preparing a metallic article made of metallic constituent elements includes furnishing a chemically reduced initial metallic material formed from chemically reducing a mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds of the metallic constituent elements, without melting the initial metallic material, and consolidating the initial metallic material to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the initial metallic material and without melting the consolidated metallic article.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Philip WOODFIELD, Clifford Earl SHAMBLEN, Eric Allen OTT, Michael Francis Xavier GIGLIOTTI
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Patent number: 7419528Abstract: A metallic article made of metallic constituent elements is fabricated from a mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds of the metallic constituent elements. The mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds contains more of a base-metal element, such as nickel, cobalt, iron, iron-nickel, and iron-nickel-cobalt than any other metallic element. The mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds is chemically reduced to produce a metallic superalloy material, without melting the metallic superalloy material. The metallic superalloy material is consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic superalloy material and without melting the consolidated metallic article.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Earl Shamblen, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti
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Patent number: 7416697Abstract: A method for preparing an article of a base metal alloyed with an alloying element includes the steps of preparing a compound mixture by the steps of providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound of a base metal, providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of an alloying element, and thereafter mixing the base-metal precursor compound and the alloying-element precursor compound to form a compound mixture. The compound mixture is thereafter reduced to a metallic alloy, without melting the metallic alloy. The step of preparing or the step of chemically reducing includes the step of adding an other additive constituent. The metallic alloy is thereafter consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic alloy and without melting the consolidated metallic article.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Eric Allen Ott, Clifford Earl Shamblen, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti