Patents by Inventor Thomas Joseph Kelly

Thomas Joseph Kelly 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: 7060366
    Abstract: A coated article has a metallic substrate with a substrate composition, and a metallic coating overlying and contacting the metallic substrate. The metallic coating has a metallic-coating composition different from the substrate composition. A protective coating overlies and contacts the metallic coating. The protective coating includes a chromium aluminide layer overlying and contacting the metallic coating, and optionally a thermal barrier coating overlying and contacting the chromium aluminide layer. This structure may be used to restore a key dimension of an article that has previously been in service and to protect the article as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bhupendra Kumar Gupta, Wayne Ray Grady, Lyle Timothy Rasch, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Nripendra Nath Das
  • Patent number: 6929868
    Abstract: A protected article includes a substrate having a substrate surface and made of a substrate nickel-base superalloy that is susceptible to the formation of a secondary reaction zone, as when contacted by an aluminum-containing layer having more than about 20 percent by weight aluminum. A protective layer contacts the substrate surface. The protective layer is of a different composition than the substrate and is made of a protective-layer nickel-base superalloy having from about 7 to about 12 percent by weight aluminum. Preferably, a thermal barrier coating system including a ceramic layer overlies and contacts the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, Philemon Kennard Wright, III
  • Patent number: 6927361
    Abstract: A method for welding iron-based or nickel-based superalloy assemblies into a unitary article. First, the assemblies are heated in an air atmosphere, at a rate suitable to minimize geometric distortion, to a temperature in the range of about 1400F (760C) to about 2000° F. (1090° C.) to form an oxide layer on the surface of the assemblies and optionally as a pre-weld solution heat treat. The temperature of the assemblies are then held in a range of about 1400F (760C) to about 2000° F. (1090° C.) for a time sufficient to form an oxide layer of sufficient thickness on the surface of the assemblies and optionally to solution the assemblies. The assemblies are then cooled to ambient temperature at a rate sufficient to avoid precipitation of unwanted metal phases at a rate sufficient to maintain dimensional stability. The oxide layer is then removed from at least the faying surfaces of the assemblies, but not from the face side of the assemblies. The faying surfaces of the assemblies are then cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, Samuel Frank Mastrorocco, Earl Claude Helder, Eva Z. Lanman, Vallerie Althea McGee
  • Patent number: 6901648
    Abstract: A welding filler metal is manufactured by casting a nickel-base alloy as an extrusion rod having a diameter of from about 0.2 inch to about 0.5 inch. The extrusion rod has at least about 12 grains in the cross section of the extrusion rod. The extrusion rod is extruded in a single extrusion operation to a filler-metal diameter of less than about 0.1 inch and using an areal extrusion ratio of at least about 9:1 to form the welding filler metal. Preferably, the process is used to make a nickel-base superalloy welding filler metal of a diameter of about 0.05-0.06 inch from an extrusion-rod casting of about ¼ inch diameter and having at least about 12 grains in the cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Publication number: 20040161628
    Abstract: A coated article has a metallic substrate with a substrate composition, and a metallic coating overlying and contacting the metallic substrate. The metallic coating has a metallic-coating composition different from the substrate composition. A protective coating overlies and contacts the metallic coating. The protective coating includes a chromium aluminide layer overlying and contacting the metallic coating, and optionally a thermal barrier coating overlying and contacting the chromium aluminide layer. This structure may be used to restore a key dimension of an article that has previously been in service and to protect the article as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Bhupendra Kumar Gupta, Wayne Ray Grady, Lyle Timothy Rasch, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Nripendra Nath Das
  • Patent number: 6755924
    Abstract: A heat treatment process that will restore the mechanical properties of an aircraft engine article that includes a cast nickel-based superalloy portion welded to a wrought portion. The heat treatment process includes placing an article that includes the nickel-based superalloy cast portion into a heat treatment chamber, evacuating the chamber to a suitable atmosphere, heating the chamber in a manner that minimizes distortion of the cast portion to a temperature in the range of 1950° F. to 2050° F., holding the temperature in that range for a period of time sufficient to solution all the delta phase precipitates, and then cooling the article to room temperature in a manner that minimizes distortion of the article. After solution heat treatment, the wrought portion of the engine part can be removed and replaced and the engine article can be reprocessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Henry Harrison, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Publication number: 20040115462
    Abstract: A coated article has a metallic substrate with a substrate composition, and a metallic coating overlying and contacting the metallic substrate. The metallic coating has a metallic-coating composition different from the substrate composition. A protective coating overlies and contacts the metallic coating. The protective coating includes an aluminide layer overlying and contacting the metallic coating, and optionally a thermal barrier coating overlying and contacting the aluminide layer. This structure may be used to restore a key dimension of an article that has previously been in service and to protect the article as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Wayne Ray Grady, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer, Nripendra Nath Das, Mark Alan Rosenzweig
  • Patent number: 6750430
    Abstract: An article is made by preparing an elongated preform having a net metallic composition, and including a tubular sheath made of a sheath nickel-base alloy, and a core disposed within the tubular sheath and including consolidated powder particles made of a core nickel-base alloy. The net metallic composition is preferably a nickel-base superalloy, and most preferably a high-gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy. The preform is wire drawn to a final maximum transverse size that is less than the initial maximum transverse size, to produce a drawn article. The drawn article may be used as a weld filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20040096690
    Abstract: A protected article includes a substrate having a substrate surface and made of a substrate nickel-base superalloy that is susceptible to the formation of a secondary reaction zone, as when contacted by an aluminum-containing layer having more than about 20 percent by weight aluminum. A protective layer contacts the substrate surface. The protective layer is of a different composition than the substrate and is made of a protective-layer nickel-base superalloy having from about 7 to about 12 percent by weight aluminum. Preferably, a thermal barrier coating system including a ceramic layer overlies and contacts the protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, Philemon Kennard Wright
  • Publication number: 20040094246
    Abstract: A method is provided for welding two gamma titanium aluminide articles together. The method includes preheating the two articles to a welding temperature of from about 1700° F. to about 2100° F., thereafter electron beam welding the two articles together at the welding temperature and in a welding vacuum to form a welded structure, and thereafter annealing the welded structure at an annealing temperature of from about 1800° F. to about 2200° F., to form a joined structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20040079742
    Abstract: An article is made by preparing an elongated preform having a net metallic composition, and including a tubular sheath made of a sheath nickel-base alloy, and a core disposed within the tubular sheath and including consolidated powder particles made of a core nickel-base alloy. The net metallic composition is preferably a nickel-base superalloy, and most preferably a high-gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy. The preform is wire drawn to a final maximum transverse size that is less than the initial maximum transverse size, to produce a drawn article. The drawn article may be used as a weld filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Patent number: 6641929
    Abstract: An article protected by a protective coating includes a substrate made of a first nickel-base superalloy substrate material that is susceptible to the formation of a secondary reaction zone when overlaid by a diffusion aluminide coating or an aluminide overlay coating. A protective coating including a deposited coating at the substrate surface. The deposited coating is a second nickel-base superalloy different from the first nickel-base superalloy and which does not produce a secondary reaction zone when interdiffused with the first nickel-base superalloy. In one version, the deposited coating has a nominal composition, in weight percent, of about 3.1 percent cobalt, about 7.6 percent chromium, about 7.8 percent aluminum, about 5.45 percent tantalum, about 3.85 percent tungsten, about 1.65 percent rhenium, about 0.02 percent carbon, about 0.016 percent hafnium, about 0.015 percent boron, about 0.5 percent silicon, balance nickel and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, P. Kennard Wright, III
  • Patent number: 6596963
    Abstract: A method for welding an article includes producing welding filler metal by the steps of furnishing a powder of a welding-filler-metal composition, preferably a titanium aluminide or a nickel-base superalloy, providing a continuous casting mold having a welding-filler-metal diameter, and melting the powder into a top of the continuous casting mold, while withdrawing a continuous length of the welding filler metal from a bottom of the continuous casting mold. The melting is preferably accomplished using a laser to achieve a concentrated heating zone. The welding filler metal is used to weld an article, by applying an overlay layer or by joining articles together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20030116242
    Abstract: A heat treatment process that will restore the mechanical properties of an aircraft engine article that includes a cast Inconel 718 portion welded to a wrought portion. The heat treatment process includes placing an article that includes the Inconel 718 cast portion into a heat treatment chamber, evacuating the chamber to a suitable atmosphere, heating the chamber in a manner that minimizes distortion of the cast portion to a temperature in the range of 1950° F. to 2050° F., holding the temperature in that range for a period of time sufficient to solution all the delta phase precipitates, and then cooling the article to room temperature in a manner that minimizes distortion of the article. After solution heat treatment, the wrought portion of the engine part can be removed and replaced and the engine article can be reprocessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: William Henry Harrison, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Patent number: 6565680
    Abstract: A superalloy weld composition includes: up to about 5.1 wt % Co; about 7.2 to about 9.5 wt % Cr; about 7.4 to about 8.4 wt % Al; about 4.3 to about 5.6 wt % Ta; about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt % Si; about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt % Hf; up to about 0.05 wt % C; up to about 0.05 wt % B; about 0 to about 2.2 Re; about 2.7 to about 4.4 wt % W; and balance Ni and typical impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Charles Gitahi Mukira, Richard John Grylls, Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20030044634
    Abstract: An article protected by a protective coating includes a substrate made of a first nickel-base superalloy substrate material that is susceptible to the formation of a secondary reaction zone when overlaid by a diffusion aluminide coating or an aluminide overlay coating. A protective coating including a deposited coating at the substrate surface. The deposited coating is a second nickel-base superalloy different from the first nickel-base superalloy and which does not produce a secondary reaction zone when interdiffused with the first nickel-base superalloy. In one version, the deposited coating has a nominal composition, in weight percent, of about 3.1 percent cobalt, about 7.6 percent chromium, about 7.8 percent aluminum, about 5.45 percent tantalum, about 3.85 percent tungsten, about 1.65 percent rhenium, about 0.02 percent carbon, about 0.016 percent hafnium, about 0.015 percent boron, about 0.5 percent silicon, balance nickel and incidental impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, P. Kennard Wright
  • Publication number: 20030042233
    Abstract: A method for welding an article includes producing welding filler metal by the steps of furnishing a powder of a welding-filler-metal composition, preferably a titanium aluminide or a nickel-base superalloy, providing a continuous casting mold having a welding-filler-metal diameter, and melting the powder into a top of the continuous casting mold, while withdrawing a continuous length of the welding filler metal from a bottom of the continuous casting mold. The melting is preferably accomplished using a laser to achieve a concentrated heating zone. The welding filler metal is used to weld an article, by applying an overlay layer or by joining articles together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20030041436
    Abstract: A welding filler metal is manufactured by casting a nickel-base alloy as an extrusion rod having a diameter of from about 0.2 inch to about 0.5 inch. The extrusion rod has at least about 12 grains in the cross section of the extrusion rod. The extrusion rod is extruded in a single extrusion operation to a filler-metal diameter of less than about 0.1 inch and using an areal extrusion ratio of at least about 9:1 to form the welding filler metal. Preferably, the process is used to make a nickel-base superalloy welding filler metal of a diameter of about 0.05-0.06 inch from an extrusion-rod casting of about 1/4 inch diameter and having at least about 12 grains in the cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Patent number: 6489584
    Abstract: A near-surface defect in a nickel-base superalloy article having a nil-ductility range is weld repaired with a low-power, directional, spatially confined heat source. During the weld repair procedure, the body of the article is maintained at room temperature. Simultaneously, the surface of the article is locally melted in the region of the near-surface defect using the heat source to form a melted region, and thereafter the melted region is allowed to solidify. The heat source produces a shallow weld pool that allows the near-surface defect to be floated to the surface in the case of an inclusion, or welded closed in the case of a surface crack or near-surface void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly
  • Publication number: 20020166844
    Abstract: A near-surface defect in a nickel-base superalloy article having a nil-ductility range is weld repaired with a low-power, directional, spatially confined heat source. During the weld repair procedure, the body of the article is maintained at room temperature. Simultaneously, the surface of the article is locally melted in the region of the near-surface defect using the heat source to form a melted region, and thereafter the melted region is allowed to solidify. The heat source produces a shallow weld pool that allows the near-surface defect to be floated to the surface in the case of an inclusion, or welded closed in the case of a surface crack or near-surface void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Kelly