Patents by Inventor William Houchens

William Houchens 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).

  • Triple phase titanium fan and compressor blade and methods therefor
    Patent number: 7985307
    Abstract: Article (e.g., turbine engine fan or compressor blade) comprising a titanium alloy has a first portion with alpha+beta microstructure and a second portion with martensitic or a bimodal microstructure. The modified microstructure of the second portion is provided by selectively heating, and immediately quenching, the second portion without substantially heating the first portion. An exemplary method includes providing a near net-shaped article having a first portion (e.g., an airfoil region) and a second portion (e.g., an unfinished dovetail region). Initially, the article comprises an alpha+beta microstructure throughout. Thereafter, the second portion is selectively heated, followed by immediate quenching, without substantially heating the first portion, to modify the microstructure of the second portion to a martensitic or bimodal microstructure without substantially modifying the microstructure of the first portion. Thereafter, the second portion may be processed to a final body dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kazim Ozbaysal, William Houchens, William Miller, Jesse Moses
  • TRIPLE PHASE TITANIUM FAN AND COMPRESSOR BLADE AND METHODS THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20090255609
    Abstract: Article (e.g., turbine engine fan or compressor blade) comprising a titanium alloy has a first portion with alpha+beta microstructure and a second portion with martensitic or a bimodal microstructure. The modified microstructure of the second portion is provided by selectively heating, and immediately quenching, the second portion without substantially heating the first portion. An exemplary method includes providing a near net-shaped article having a first portion (e.g., an airfoil region) and a second portion (e.g., an unfinished dovetail region). Initially, the article comprises an alpha+beta microstructure throughout. Thereafter, the second portion is selectively heated, followed by immediate quenching, without substantially heating the first portion, to modify the microstructure of the second portion to a martensitic or bimodal microstructure without substantially modifying the microstructure of the first portion. Thereafter, the second portion may be processed to a final body dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Kazim Ozbaysal, William Houchens, William Miller, Jesse Moses
  • COMBUSTOR DOME REPAIR METHOD
    Publication number: 20070119052
    Abstract: A method of repairing a combustor dome with a swirler assembly having a first deflector component attached to a swirler having a first joint configuration includes: removing the first deflector component; machining a second joint configuration different from the first joint configuration in the swirler; providing a replacement deflector component having a shape complementary to the second joint configuration; and securing the replacement deflector component to the swirler
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Caldwell, Thomas Holland, William Houchens, Dane Elliott-Lewis, Robert Altman, David Budinger