Patents by Inventor Thomas DeMichael

Thomas DeMichael 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: 11673188
    Abstract: A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 11634989
    Abstract: During a bonding process, a tip cap and an airfoil base are provided. The tip cap is arranged on the airfoil base. The tip cap is diffusion bonded to the airfoil base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Brian T. Hazel, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 11602809
    Abstract: A fixture assembly includes a first fixture portion, a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion, and a sub-fixture movably mounted to the first fixture portion. A multiple of actuators selectively move the sub-fixture toward the second fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes deploying the sub-fixture from the first fixture portion to effectuate a peripheral diffusion bond to join the blade body and the cover of the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20220168803
    Abstract: A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 11346362
    Abstract: A fixture assembly including a first fixture portion; a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion; and a bladder assembly mounted to the second fixture portion to face the first fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes inserting a blade body and a cover into a fixture; and deploying a bladder assembly within the fixture to press the cover into the blade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 11325182
    Abstract: A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20210332706
    Abstract: During a bonding process, a tip cap and an airfoil base are provided. The tip cap is arranged on the airfoil base. The tip cap is diffusion bonded to the airfoil base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Brian T. Hazel, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 11148221
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine component according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a cover skin to an airfoil body, the airfoil body and the cover skin cooperating to establish pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, positioning the airfoil between first and second dies of a deforming station, heating the airfoil body to a first predefined temperature threshold between the first and second dies, and moving the first die relative to the second die to hold the airfoil between the first and second dies subsequent to the heating step, and then deforming the airfoil between the first and second dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael, Robert C. Dolan, Francis B. Parisi
  • Publication number: 20210283681
    Abstract: A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20210220951
    Abstract: A fixture assembly includes a first fixture portion, a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion, and a sub-fixture movably mounted to the first fixture portion. A multiple of actuators selectively move the sub-fixture toward the second fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes deploying the sub-fixture from the first fixture portion to effectuate a peripheral diffusion bond to join the blade body and the cover of the fan blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20210060692
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine component according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a cover skin to an airfoil body, the airfoil body and the cover skin cooperating to establish pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, positioning the airfoil between first and second dies of a deforming station, heating the airfoil body to a first predefined temperature threshold between the first and second dies, and moving the first die relative to the second die to hold the airfoil between the first and second dies subsequent to the heating step, and then deforming the airfoil between the first and second dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael, Robert C. Dolan, Francis B. Parisi
  • Patent number: 10913133
    Abstract: A fixture assembly includes a first fixture portion, a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion, and a sub-fixture movably mounted to the first fixture portion. A multiple of actuators selectively move the sub-fixture toward the second fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes deploying the sub-fixture from the first fixture portion to effectuate a peripheral diffusion bond to join the blade body and the cover of the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 10858945
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes means for peripherally welding a cavity-back blade and a cover of the cavity-back blade to form a 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly, and a plurality of bellows contained in one or both of a first die half and a second die half receiving the 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly. The plurality of bellows are disposed within the region defined around or inward of the peripherally welded interface of the cover and the blade. At least a portion of the plurality of bellows are arranged in a manner to provide pressure to the cover at approximately a 90 degree angle to each of a plurality of nodes, each node defined by an intersection of two or more ribs in the cavity-back blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Russell A. Beers, Thomas DeMichael, Eric W. Malmborg, Francis B. Parisi
  • Patent number: 10808542
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine component according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a cover skin to an airfoil body, the airfoil body and the cover skin cooperating to define pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, and moving the airfoil in a forming line including a plurality of stations. The plurality of stations include a set of heating stations, a deforming station and a set of cool down stations. The moving step includes positioning the airfoil in the set of heating stations to progressively increase a temperature of the airfoil, then positioning the airfoil in the deforming station including causing the airfoil to deform between first and second dies, and then positioning the airfoil in the set of cool down stations to progressively decrease the temperature of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20200224537
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine component according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a cover skin to an airfoil body, the airfoil body and the cover skin cooperating to define pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, and moving the airfoil in a forming line including a plurality of stations. The plurality of stations include a set of heating stations, a deforming station and a set of cool down stations. The moving step includes positioning the airfoil in the set of heating stations to progressively increase a temperature of the airfoil, then positioning the airfoil in the deforming station including causing the airfoil to deform between first and second dies, and then positioning the airfoil in the set of cool down stations to progressively decrease the temperature of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20200001411
    Abstract: A fixture assembly includes a first fixture portion, a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion, and a sub-fixture movably mounted to the first fixture portion. A multiple of actuators selectively move the sub-fixture toward the second fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes deploying the sub-fixture from the first fixture portion to effectuate a peripheral diffusion bond to join the blade body and the cover of the fan blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Publication number: 20190218915
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes means for peripherally welding a cavity-back blade and a cover of the cavity-back blade to form a 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly, and a plurality of bellows contained in one or both of a first die half and a second die half receiving the 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly. The plurality of bellows are disposed within the region defined around or inward of the peripherally welded interface of the cover and the blade. At least a portion of the plurality of bellows are arranged in a manner to provide pressure to the cover at approximately a 90 degree angle to each of a plurality of nodes, each node defined by an intersection of two or more ribs in the cavity-back blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Russell A. Beers, Thomas DeMichael, Eric W. Malmborg, Francis B. Parisi
  • Publication number: 20190032674
    Abstract: A fixture assembly including a first fixture portion; a second fixture portion that interfaces with the first fixture portion; and a bladder assembly mounted to the second fixture portion to face the first fixture portion. A method of manufacturing a fan blade includes inserting a blade body and a cover into a fixture; and deploying a bladder assembly within the fixture to press the cover into the blade body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 10006113
    Abstract: A method for forming a part having a dual property microstructure includes the steps of: forming a blank having a narrow top portion and a wide base portion; heating the blank to an elevated temperature; and forming a dual property microstructure in the blank by cooling different portions of the blank at different cooling rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas DeMichael, Gopal Das, Michael A. Moulin
  • Publication number: 20160031012
    Abstract: A method for forming an article by introducing one or more powders into a bag. Vacuum is applied to the bag. The bag is sealed. The one or more powders in the sealed bag are forged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas DeMichael, Thomas J. WATSON, Mark M. TIMKO