Patents by Inventor Cheng Zhao

Cheng Zhao 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: 6640546
    Abstract: A wall structure for a gas turbine engine component is provided which comprises a wall having a first side facing a flow of hot gases and a second side exposed to a source of cooling fluid. The wall has a plurality of holes formed therethrough, and an outer layer disposed on the first side. The holes greatly increase the wetted surface area of the wall exposed to cooling flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Melvin Robert Jackson, Stephen Joseph Ferrigno, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030186075
    Abstract: Articles for use in a high-temperature, oxidative environment, methods for manufacturing such articles, and a material system for protecting articles in such an environment are provided where, for example, one article comprises a substrate and a protective layer disposed over the substrate, the protective layer comprising at least about 60 atomic percent of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric CRD
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030175122
    Abstract: An article for use in a hot gas path of a gas turbine assembly, a metallic skin for such an article, and a method for making such an article are presented with, for example, the article comprising a spar, the spar providing mechanical support for the article and comprising a cooling fluid delivery system, a top end, and a bottom end; a standoff structure attached to the spar, the standoff structure comprising a plurality of spacing elements in a spaced-apart relation to each other, the spacing elements having first ends adjacent to the spar and second ends opposite to the first ends; a skin conformally surrounding the spar and the standoff structure, the skin comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the standoff structure separates the spar and the skin, wherein the plurality of spacing elements is disposed with an inner surface of the skin adjacent to the second ends of the spacing elements to form a plurality of plena between the spar and the skin, the plena in fluid communication with the cooling flu
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Liang Jiang, Melvin Robert Jackson, Ramgopal Darolia, Robert Edward Schafrik
  • Patent number: 6607847
    Abstract: An article, such as an airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece comprises a first metallic element and a second metallic element, wherein the first metallic element is one of titanium, palladium, zirconium, niobium, and hafnium, and wherein the second metallic element is one of titanium, palladium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, aluminum, chromium, vanadium, platinum, gold, iron, nickel, and cobalt, the first metallic element being different from the second metallic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Publication number: 20030148141
    Abstract: A group of alloys suitable for use in a high-temperature, oxidative environment, a protective coating system comprising a diffusion barrier that comprises an alloy selected from the group, an article comprising the diffusion barrier layer, and a method for protecting an article from a high-temperature oxidative environment comprising disposing the diffusion barrier layer onto a substrate are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Richard John Grylls, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Publication number: 20030124342
    Abstract: An environmentally resistant coating (34) for improving the oxidation resistance of a niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite (Nb-based RMIC) at high temperatures, the environmentally resistant coating (34) comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and niobium. The invention includes a turbine system (10) having turbine components (11) comprising at least one Nb-based RMIC, the environmentally resistant coating (34) disposed on a surface (33) of the Nb-based RMIC, and a thermal barrier coating (42) disposed on an outer surface (40) of the environmentally resistant coating (34). Methods of making a turbine component (11) having the environmentally resistant coating (34) and coating a Nb-based RMIC substrate (32) with the environmentally resistant coating (34) are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Patent number: 6586118
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece is a semi-solid braze that comprises a first component and a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030118440
    Abstract: A on-line method is provided for detecting wear and/or damage to gas turbine parts. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a gas turbine comprising parts with smart coatings and collection and detection means to measure wear and erosion of gas turbine parts. In other preferred embodiments, smart coatings are provided comprising chemical taggants that can be collected and detected downstream, thus providing an on-line or in situ evaluation technology for wear and damage to gas turbine parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, James Anthony Ruud, John Eric Tkaczyk, Ann Melinda Ritter, Melvin Robert Jackson, Jerome Johnson Tiemann
  • Publication number: 20030115882
    Abstract: A wall structure for a gas turbine engine component is provided which comprises a wall having a first side facing a flow of hot gases and a second side exposed to a source of cooling fluid. The wall has a plurality of holes formed therethrough, and an outer layer disposed on the first side. The holes greatly increase the wetted surface area of the wall exposed to cooling flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Melvin Robert Jackson, Stephen Joseph Ferrigno, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6582534
    Abstract: An alloy comprising rhodium, aluminum, and chromium, wherein a microstructure of the alloy comprises a face-centered-cubic phase and a B2-structured phase and is essentially free of an L12-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., and a gas turbine engine component comprising the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Charles Gitahi Mukira
  • Patent number: 6565989
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece comprises one of germanium and silicon, and one of chromium, titanium, gold, aluminum, palladium, platinum, and nickel. This abstract is submitted in compliance with 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Patent number: 6565990
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined at a bonded region to the first piece by a diffusion bond. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The diffusion bond is formed from a first metallic element disposed on a first surface of the first piece and a second metallic element disposed on at least one of the first surface and a second surface of the second piece, the second surface contacting the first surface, wherein the first and second metal form a composition having a melting temperature less than about 1400° C. This abstract is submitted in compliance with 37 C.F.R. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Melvin Robert Jackson, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030079810
    Abstract: An alloy comprising rhodium, aluminum, and chromium, wherein a microstructure of the alloy comprises a face-centered-cubic phase and a B2-structured phase and is essentially free of an L12-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., and a gas turbine engine component comprising the alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Charles Gitahi Mukira
  • Patent number: 6554920
    Abstract: An alloy and repair material comprising the alloy, articles comprising the alloy and repair material, and methods for repairing articles including provision of the alloy as repair material are described, with the alloy comprising ruthenium, nickel, aluminum, and chromium, wherein a microstructure of the alloy is essentially free of an L12-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C. and comprises an A3-structured phase and up to about 40 volume percent of a B2-structured phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Charles Gitahi Mukira
  • Publication number: 20030066578
    Abstract: A niobium-silicide refractory metal intermetallic composite adapted for use in a turbine component. The niobium-silicide refractory metal intermetallic composite comprises: between about 19 atomic percent and about 24 atomic percent titanium; between about 1 atomic percent and about 5 atomic percent hafnium; between about 16 atomic percent and about 22 atomic percent silicon; between about 7 atomic percent and about 14 atomic percent chromium; from about 1.5 atomic percent to about 3 atomic percent tin; and a balance of niobium. The niobium silicide refractory intermetallic composite contains a tetragonal phase, which comprises a volume fraction from 0.35 to 0.5 of the niobium silicide refractory intermetallic composite, and a hexagonal M3Si5 silicide phase (wherein M is at least one of Nb and Hf) which comprises a volume fraction comprises less than 0.25 of the niobium silicide refractory intermetallic composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030054194
    Abstract: An environmentally resistant coating comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum for turbine components formed from molybdenum silicide-based composites. The turbine component may further include a thermal barrier coating disposed upon an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating comprising zirconia, stabilized zirconia, zircon, mullite, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum silicide-based composite turbine component coated with the environmentally resistant coating and thermal barrier coating is resistant to oxidation at temperatures in the range from about 2000° F. to about 2600° F. and to pesting at temperatures in the range from about 1000° F. to about 1800° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 6521356
    Abstract: An environmentally resistant coating for improving the oxidation resistance of a niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite (Nb-based RMIC) at high temperatures, the environmentally resistant coating comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and niobium. The invention includes a turbine system having turbine components comprising at least one Nb-based RMIC, the environmentally resistant coating disposed on a surface of the Nb-based RMIC, and a thermal barrier coating disposed on an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating. Methods of making a turbine component having the environmentally resistant coating and coating a Nb-based RMIC substrate with the environmentally resistant coating are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Publication number: 20030002988
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece is a semi-solid braze that comprises a first component and a second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030002981
    Abstract: An airfoil having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C. and comprising a first piece and a second piece joined by a braze to the first piece. The first piece comprises one of a first niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a first molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite, and the second piece comprises one of a second niobium-based refractory metal intermetallic composite and a second molybdenum-based refractory metal intermetallic composite. The braze joining the first piece to the second piece comprises one of germanium and silicon, and one of chromium, titanium, gold, aluminum, palladium, platinum, and nickel. This abstract is submitted in compliance with 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Publication number: 20020197502
    Abstract: A barrier coating is disclosed, containing about 15 atom % to about 95 atom % chromium; and about 5 atom % to about 60 atom % of at least one of rhenium, tungsten, and ruthenium. Nickel, cobalt, iron, and aluminum may also be present. The barrier coating can be disposed between a metal substrate (e.g., a superalloy) and an oxidation-resistant coating, preventing the substantial diffusion of various elements at elevated service temperatures. A ceramic overcoat (e.g., based on zirconia) can be applied over the oxidation-resistant coating. Related methods for applying protective coatings to metal substrates are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Ji-Cheng Zhao, Melvin Robert Jackson