Patents by Inventor Matthew Nicklus Miller

Matthew Nicklus Miller 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: 8544173
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle may be repaired by severing the inner band from the vanes and outer band, which may then be discarded. A replacement nozzle is cast to include replacement vanes extending between a replacement outer band and an inner web, with the replacement outer band and vanes conforming with the original outer band and vanes. The new web is configured differently than the old inner band and includes a tie bar. The inner band is machined to form vane seats. The web is machined to form plinths atop the tie bar at each of the replacement vanes. The plinths and tie bar are assembled through the vane seats and bonded to the machined inner band to collectively form the repaired turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Nicklus Miller, David Edwin Budinger, Marek M. Steplewski, Wayne Ray Grady, Robert Ingram Ackerman, Cary Michael Kinder, Ian Craig Linscott
  • Publication number: 20120047734
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle may be repaired by severing the inner band from the vanes and outer band, which may then be discarded. A replacement nozzle is cast to include replacement vanes extending between a replacement outer band and an inner web, with the replacement outer band and vanes conforming with the original outer band and vanes. The new web is configured differently than the old inner band and includes a tie bar. The inner band is machined to form vane seats. The web is machined to form plinths atop the tie bar at each of the replacement vanes. The plinths and tie bar are assembled through the vane seats and bonded to the machined inner band to collectively form the repaired turbine nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew Nicklus Miller, David Edwin Budinger, Marek M. Steplewski, Wayne Ray Grady, Robert Ingram Ackerman, Cary Michael Kinder, Ian Craig Linscott
  • Patent number: 7811396
    Abstract: A method for repairing a nickel-base superalloy article, such as a gas turbine stationary flowpath shroud having flowpath cooling holes therein that has previously been in service, includes the steps of providing the nickel-base superalloy article that has previously been in service; and applying a restoration to a surface of the article. The restoration is applied by the steps of providing a restoration nickel-base alloy, wherein the restoration nickel-base alloy preferably has no more than about 15 weight percent chromium and no more than about 0.01 percent yttrium, thereafter applying a restoration coating of the restoration nickel-base alloy to the surface of the article by a hyper-velocity oxyfuel metal spray process or a low-pressure plasma spray process, and thereafter heating the article with the restoration coating applied to the surface thereof to a sufficiently high temperature to diffusion bond the restoration coating to the surface of the article. The article is then returned to service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Edwin Budinger, Brent Ross Tholke, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Joshua Leigh Miller, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Publication number: 20100136247
    Abstract: A method for repairing a nickel-base superalloy article, such as a gas turbine stationary flowpath shroud having flowpath cooling holes therein that has previously been in service, includes the steps of providing the nickel-base superalloy article that has previously been in service; and applying a restoration to a surface of the article. The restoration is applied by the steps of providing a restoration nickel-base alloy, wherein the restoration nickel-base alloy preferably has no more than about 15 weight percent chromium and no more than about 0.01 percent yttrium, thereafter applying a restoration coating of the restoration nickel-base alloy to the surface of the article by a hyper-velocity oxyfuel metal spray process or a low-pressure plasma spray process, and thereafter heating the article with the restoration coating applied to the surface thereof to a sufficiently high temperature to diffusion bond the restoration coating to the surface of the article. The article is then returned to service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Edwin Budinger, Brent Ross Tholke, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Joshua Leigh Miller, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 6982123
    Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy article, such as a gas turbine stationary flowpath shroud that has previously been in service, is repaired by applying a restoration coating to a surface of the article. The restoration coating is applied by providing a precursor mixture, wherein the precursor mixture has no more than about 15 weight percent chromium and no more than about 0.01 percent yttrium, and wherein the precursor mixture includes a higher-melting-point alloy component and a lower-melting-point alloy component. The precursor mixture is applied to the surface of the article, in a form such as a preform of the alloy components. The article with the precursor mixture applied to the surface thereof is heated to a sufficiently high temperature to melt the lower-melting-point alloy component, thereby forming the restoration coating on the surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Edwin Budinger, Brent Ross Tholke, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Joshua Leigh Miller, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 6914210
    Abstract: A stationary shroud of a gas turbine engine made of a base metal is repaired by removing any damaged material from a flow-path region of the stationary shroud to leave an initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface; and applying a base-metal restoration overlying the initially exposed flow-path surface. The base-metal restoration is applied by furnishing a source of a structural material that is compatible with the base metal, and depositing the source of the structural material overlying the initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface of the stationary shroud by plasma transferred arc welding to form a repaired base-metal flow-path surface. An environmentally resistant rub coating may be applied overlying the base-metal restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Matthew Nicklus Miller
  • Patent number: 6793457
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands includes separating the inner band from the nozzle segment, and joining the inner band to a newly manufactured replacement casting having an outer band and at least one vane. The replacement casting includes a mounting platform formed on one end of the vane and a boss formed on the mounting platform. A collar is joined to the inner band and has a slot formed therein. The boss is then inserted into the slot, and the mounting platform is received in a recess formed in the inner band. Joining is completed by joining the boss to the collar and the mounting platform to the inner band. The thickness of the collar is tapered in an axial direction, and a relief is formed in the collar to provide assembly clearance with adjacent components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Walter Caddell, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Brian Alan Norton
  • Publication number: 20040096322
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands includes separating the inner band from the nozzle segment, and joining the inner band to a newly manufactured replacement casting having an outer band and at least one vane. The replacement casting includes a mounting platform formed on one end of the vane and a boss formed on the mounting platform. A collar is joined to the inner band and has a slot formed therein. The boss is then inserted into the slot, and the mounting platform is received in a recess formed in the inner band. Joining is completed by joining the boss to the collar and the mounting platform to the inner band. The thickness of the collar is tapered in an axial direction, and a relief is formed in the collar to provide assembly clearance with adjacent components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Walter Caddell, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Brian Alan Norton
  • Publication number: 20040084423
    Abstract: A stationary shroud of a gas turbine engine made of a base metal is repaired by removing any damaged material from a flow-path region of the stationary shroud to leave an initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface; and applying a base-metal restoration overlying the initially exposed flow-path surface. The base-metal restoration is applied by furnishing a source of a structural material that is compatible with the base metal, and depositing the source of the structural material overlying the initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface of the stationary shroud by plasma transferred arc welding to form a repaired base-metal flow-path surface. An environmentally resistant rub coating may be applied overlying the base-metal restoration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Warren Davis Grossklaus, Matthew Nicklus Miller
  • Publication number: 20040086635
    Abstract: A stationary shroud of a gas turbine engine made of a base metal is repaired by removing any damaged material from a flow-path region of the stationary shroud to leave an initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface; and applying a base-metal restoration overlying the initially exposed flow-path surface. The base-metal restoration is applied by furnishing a source of a structural material that is compatible with the base metal, in a form such as a powder or a wire, and depositing the source of the structural material overlying the initially exposed base-metal flow-path surface of the stationary shroud by laser cladding to form a repaired base-metal flow-path surface. An environmentally resistant rub coating may be applied overlying the base-metal restoration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Warren Davis Grossklaus, Matthew Nicklus Miller