Patents by Inventor Brian Michael Ellis

Brian Michael Ellis 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: 10391547
    Abstract: A mold for casting a titanium-containing article includes calcium aluminate and silicon carbide, and the silicon carbide is graded in the mold such that it is in different portions of the mold in different amounts, with the highest concentration of silicon carbide being located between a bulk of the mold and a surface of the mold that opens to a mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McLasky
  • Publication number: 20180237163
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in situ cleaning of internal cooling circuits of a turbine engine with detergent that provide cleaning a turbine engine that includes circumferentially arranged internal impingement cooling circuits that each include a baffle plate configured to air cool a respective surface or component of the turbine engine. Detergent is introduced through the outer wall and proximate to a back side of a baffle plate such that the detergent passes through at least aperture in the baffle plate and acts at least upon the surface or component that the baffle plate is configured to cool. The detergent may also act on the front side of the baffle plate that is proximate to the surface or component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Brian Michael Ellis, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Manuel K. Bueno, Ever Reyes, Noel Leslie Bates, Brian Kalb
  • Patent number: 9957066
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in situ cleaning of internal cooling circuits of a turbine engine with detergent that provide cleaning a turbine engine that includes circumferentially arranged internal impingement cooling circuits that each include a baffle plate configured to air cool a respective surface or component of the turbine engine. Detergent is introduced through the outer wall and proximate to a back side of a baffle plate such that the detergent passes through at least one aperture in the baffle plate and acts at least upon the surface or component that the baffle plate is configured to cool. The detergent may also act on the front side of the baffle plate that is proximate to the surface or component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Brian Michael Ellis, Manuel K. Bueno, Ever Reyes, Noel Bates, Brian Kalb
  • Patent number: 9932854
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for in situ cleaning of hot gas flowpath components of a turbine engine that form portions of a hot gas flowpath extending through the turbine. The hot gas flowpath components may include a layer of accumulated contaminants on first portions thereof that form a respective portion of the hot gas flowpath. The first portions may include a thermal battier coating (TBC), and the layer of accumulated contaminants may overlie the TBC and at least partially infiltrate into the TBC. The accumulated contaminants may include CaO—MgO—Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) partial melt. The methods may include introducing an acid-including detergent into the hot gas flowpath of the turbine engine and onto the hot gas flowpath components to clean the accumulated contaminants from the first surfaces of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Byron Andrew Pritchard, Brian Michael Ellis, Michael Edward Eriksen, Keith Anthony Lauria
  • Patent number: 9803923
    Abstract: Crucible compositions and methods of using the crucible compositions to melt titanium and titanium alloys. More specifically, crucible compositions having extrinsic facecoats comprising a rare earth oxide that are effective for melting titanium and titanium alloys for use in casting titanium-containing articles. Further embodiments are titanium-containing articles made from the titanium and titanium alloys melted in the crucible compositions. Another embodiment is a crucible curing device and methods of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Stephen Francis Bancheri, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 9592548
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to mold compositions and methods of molding and the articles so molded. More specifically, the disclosure relates to mold compositions, intrinsic facecoat compositions, and methods for casting titanium-containing articles, and the titanium-containing articles so molded, where the mold comprises calcium hexaluminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Michael James Weimer, Stephen Francis Bancheri, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 9511417
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to mold compositions and methods of molding and the articles so molded. More specifically, the disclosure relates to silicon carbide-containing mold compositions, silicon carbide-containing intrinsic facecoat compositions, and methods for casting titanium-containing articles, and the titanium-containing articles so molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McLasky
  • Patent number: 9381566
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to core compositions and methods of molding and the articles so molded. More specifically, the disclosure relates to core compositions and methods for casting hollow titanium-containing articles, and the hollow titanium-containing articles so molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McLasky
  • Patent number: 9192983
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to mold compositions and methods of molding and the articles so molded. More specifically, the disclosure relates to silicon carbide-containing mold compositions, silicon carbide-containing intrinsic facecoat compositions, and methods for casting titanium-containing articles, and the titanium-containing articles so molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McClasky
  • Patent number: 9186719
    Abstract: A titanium-containing article casting mold composition includes calcium aluminate and an X-ray or Neutron-ray detectable element. A method for detecting sub-surface ceramic inclusions in a titanium or titanium alloy casting includes combining calcium aluminate, an element more radiographically dense than the calcium aluminate, and a liquid to form a slurry; forming a mold having the calcium aluminate and the radiographically dense element from the slurry; introducing a titanium aluminide-containing metal to the radiographically dense element-bearing mold; solidifying the titanium aluminide-containing metal to form an article in the mold; removing the solidified titanium aluminide-containing metal article from said mold; subjecting the solidified titanium aluminide-containing article to radiographic inspection to provide a radiograph; and examining the radiograph for the presence of the radiographically dense element on or in the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Michael James Weimer, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 9061350
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to core compositions and methods of molding and the articles so molded. More specifically, the disclosure relates to core compositions and methods for casting hollow titanium-containing articles, and the hollow titanium-containing articles so molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McLasky
  • Patent number: 8992824
    Abstract: Crucible compositions and methods of using the crucible compositions to melt titanium and titanium alloys. More specifically, crucible compositions having extrinsic facecoats comprising a rare earth oxide that are effective for melting titanium and titanium alloys for use in casting titanium-containing articles. Further embodiments are titanium-containing articles made from the titanium and titanium alloys melted in the crucible compositions. Another embodiment is a crucible curing device and methods of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Stephen Francis Bancheri, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 8708033
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to mold compositions comprising calcium aluminate and calcium titanate. The disclosure also relates to methods of molding and the articles so molded using the mold compositions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to calcium aluminate/calcium titanate mold compositions and methods for casting titanium-containing articles, and the titanium-containing articles so molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis, Nicholas Vincent McLasky
  • Publication number: 20140076512
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a titanium-containing article casting mold composition comprising calcium aluminate and an X-ray or Neutron-ray detectable element. Furthermore, present embodiments teach a method for detecting sub-surface ceramic inclusions in a titanium or titanium alloy casting by combining calcium aluminate, an element more radiographically dense than the calcium aluminate, and a liquid to form a slurry; forming a mold having the calcium aluminate and the radiographically dense element from the slurry; introducing a titanium aluminide-containing metal to the radiographically dense element-bearing mold; solidifying said titanium aluminide-containing metal to form an article in the mold; removing the solidified titanium aluminide-containing metal article from said mold; subjecting the solidified titanium aluminide-containing article to radiographic inspection to provide a radiograph; and examining said radiograph for the presence of the radiographically dense element on or in the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Michael James Weimer, Joan K. McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 8048365
    Abstract: Crucibles for melting titanium alloys having a facecoat including at least one facecoat layer containing an oxide selected from scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide, a lanthanide series oxide, and combinations thereof, and a backing including at least one backing layer where the crucible has a backing to facecoat thickness ratio of from about 6.5:1 to about 20:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Brian Michael Ellis, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Mohamed Rahmane, Stephen Francis Rutkowski, Michael James Weimer, Joseph Carl Wukusick
  • Publication number: 20080290569
    Abstract: Crucibles for melting titanium alloys having a facecoat including at least one facecoat layer containing an oxide selected from scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide, a lanthanide series oxide, and combinations thereof, and a backing including at least one backing layer where the crucible has a backing to facecoat thickness ratio of from about 6.5:1 to about 20:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: BERNARD PATRICK BEWLAY, Brian Michael Ellis, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Thomas Jospeh Kelly, Mohamed Rahmane, Stephen Francis Rutkowski, Michael James Weimer, Joseph Carl Wukusick