Patents by Inventor Blair J. Longhouse

Blair J. Longhouse 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).

  • Hydroformed turbine blade
    Patent number: 8814523
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a method of making a turbine blade may include providing a preform having a hollow cross-section, hydroforming the preform to form a turbine blade body comprising a shell that includes a continuous hollow portion along its interior, and providing a mounting portion attached to the body to mount the turbine blade to a hub. In one or more implementations of the method, the mounting portion may be provided during the step of hydroforming the preform and the mounting portion may be formed from the same preform as the turbine blade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Vari-Form, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin L. Bliss, Trevor M. Clark, Jose U. Coelho, Timothy R. Flint, Blair J. Longhouse
  • HYDROFORMED TURBINE BLADE
    Publication number: 20110211964
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a method of making a turbine blade may include providing a preform having a hollow cross-section, hydroforming the preform to form a turbine blade body comprising a shell that includes a continuous hollow portion along its interior, and providing a mounting portion attached to the body to mount the turbine blade to a hub. In one or more implementations of the method, the mounting portion may be provided during the step of hydroforming the preform and the mounting portion may be formed from the same preform as the turbine blade body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: VARI-FORM, INC.
    Inventors: Martin L. Bliss, Trevor M. Clark, Jose U. Coelho, Timothy R. Flint, Blair J. Longhouse
  • Method and apparatus for forming opposing holes in a side wall of a tubular workpiece
    Patent number: 6067830
    Abstract: A method of cutting opposing holes in a side wall of a tubular workpiece and removing the cut out slugs, in which first and second axially aligned punches are applied to opposite side walls of a pressurized workpiece. The second punch has a larger width than the first punch, and reciprocates in a passageway extending laterally from the workpiece. The punches are reciprocated so that the first punch passes through both side walls, and first and second slugs are cut out. The end of the first punch is advanced toward the end of the second punch to capture the cut out slugs between the ends of the first and second punches, and the punches are moved so that the ends of the punches and the slugs captured between them progress along the passageway away from the workpiece. The ends of the punches are separated at a region of the passageway spaced from the workpiece, and the released slugs are removed from the ends of the punches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TI Corporate Services Limited
    Inventors: Gerrald A. Klages, Blair J. Longhouse