Patents by Inventor Zirong ZHAI

Zirong ZHAI 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: 11945047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and its methods. The system includes a material conveyor, an energy source, and a micro-forging device. The material conveyor is configured to convey material. The energy source is configured to direct an energy beam toward the material, the energy beam fuses at least a portion of the material to form a solidified portion. The micro-forging device is movable along with the material conveyor for forging the solidified portion, wherein the micro-forging device comprises a first forging hammer and a second forging hammer, the first forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a first deformation, and the second forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a second deformation greater than the first deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zirong Zhai, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Bin Wei, Yong Yang, Xiaobin Chen
  • Patent number: 11945032
    Abstract: A forging head for additive manufacturing, comprising a base portion and a forging portion. The forging portion extends from the base portion for forging a cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer by additive manufacturing. The forging head further comprising a through hole which is formed through the base portion and the forging portion, for at least one of an energy bean and an additive material to pass through during formation of the cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hai Chang, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Yong Wu, Zirong Zhai, Yifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11865620
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, comprises an energy source device for providing a first energy beam and a second energy beam; and a forging device comprising a forging head. The first energy beam and a substrate are configured to move relative to each other to fuse at least a portion of a material added to the surface of the substrate for forming a cladding layer on the substrate. The forging head is configured to forge the cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer. The second energy beam is configured to heat a forging area of the cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Zirong Zhai, Yong Wu, Hai Chang, Bin Wei, Lyle Timothy Rasch
  • Publication number: 20230302577
    Abstract: A temperature control method for additive manufacturing includes directing an energy beam of a first energy source toward a material and fusing at least a portion of the material to form a cladding layer, forging the cladding layer with a micro-forging device, and detecting a first internal effect parameter of the cladding layer at a forging position where is forged by the micro-forging device. The first internal effect parameter includes at least one of a stress or a strain of the cladding layer. The method also includes calculating a first calculated temperature of the cladding layer at the forging position based on the first internal effect parameter and adjusting the at least one of the first energy source and the micro forging device if the first calculated temperature does not fall within a desired temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Hai Chang, Yifeng Wang, Zirong Zhai, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Yimin Zhan
  • Patent number: 11673211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature control system for additive manufacturing and method for same. The temperature control system comprises: a cladding device configured to fuse a material and form a cladding layer, the cladding device comprising a first energy source; a micro-forging device coupled to the cladding device for forging the cladding layer; a detecting device; a control module; and an adjusting module coupled to at least one of the first energy source and the micro-forging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Yingna Wu, Zirong Zhai, Hai Chang, Yifeng Wang, Yimin Zhan, Dalong Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210178520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and its methods. The system includes a material conveyor, an energy source, and a micro-forging device. The material conveyor is configured to convey material. The energy source is configured to direct an energy beam toward the material, the energy beam fuses at least a portion of the material to form a solidified portion. The micro-forging device is movable along with the material conveyor for forging the solidified portion, wherein the micro-forging device comprises a first forging hammer and a second forging hammer, the first forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a first deformation, and the second forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a second deformation greater than the first deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Zirong Zhai, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Bin Wei, Yong Yang, Xiaobin Chen
  • Publication number: 20210078078
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, comprises an energy source device for providing a first energy beam and a second energy beam; and a forging device comprising a forging head. The first energy beam and a substrate are configured to move relative to each other to fuse at least a portion of a material added to the surface of the substrate for forming a cladding layer on the substrate. The forging head is configured to forge the cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer. The second energy beam is configured to heat a forging area of the cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Zirong Zhai, Yong Wu, Hai Chang, Bin Wei, Lyle Timothy Rasch
  • Patent number: 10568601
    Abstract: A radiography system for imaging an object, comprises a radiation source located in a first side of the object for generating a plurality of beams; a detector located in a second side of the object for detecting the plurality of beams from the radiation source. The radiography system comprises a first sensor located in the first side of the object for obtaining an object related information and a second sensor disposed on the detector for obtaining a detector-position related information. The radiography system further comprises a controller configured to reconstruct a 3D scene based on the object related information obtained by the first sensor and the detector-position related information obtained by the second sensor and control an operation of at least one of the radiation source and the detector based on the reconstructed 3D scene. A method of controlling the radiography system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Eric Tkaczyk, Feng Pan, Jiajun Gu, Zirong Zhai
  • Publication number: 20190375050
    Abstract: A laser energy managing device comprises: a laser beam splitting device, at least one micro-bending device, and a controller. The laser beam splitting device is configured to split an input laser beam from a laser generator into a plurality of split laser beams, and comprises a plurality of split transmission channels configured to transmit the plurality of split laser beams respectively. The at least one micro-bending device is configured to micro-bend the split transmission channels to attenuate corresponding split laser beams transmitted thereby and thus obtain a plurality of output laser beams. The controller is configured to control a micro-bending degree of each split transmission channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Ming Jia, Guangping Xie, Zirong Zhai
  • Publication number: 20190217417
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature control system for additive manufacturing and method for same. The temperature control system comprises: a cladding device configured to fuse a material and form a cladding layer, the cladding device comprising a first energy source; a micro-forging device coupled to the cladding device for forging the cladding layer; a detecting device; a control module; and an adjusting module coupled to at least one of the first energy source and the micro-forging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Yingna Wu, Zirong Zhai, Hai Chang, Yifeng Wang, Yimin ZHAN, Dalong Zhong
  • Publication number: 20190201981
    Abstract: A forging head for additive manufacturing, comprising a base portion and a forging portion. The forging portion extends from the base portion for forging a cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer by additive manufacturing. The forging head further comprising a through hole which is formed through the base portion and the forging portion, for at least one of an energy bean and an additive material to pass through during formation of the cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Hai Chang, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Yong Wu, Zirong Zhai, Yifeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20190076106
    Abstract: A radiography system for imaging an object, comprises a radiation source located in a first side of the object for generating a plurality of beams; a detector located in a second side of the object for detecting the plurality of beams from the radiation source. The radiography system comprises a first sensor located in the first side of the object for obtaining an object related information and a second sensor disposed on the detector for obtaining a detector-position related information. The radiography system further comprises a controller configured to reconstruct a 3D scene based on the object related information obtained by the first sensor and the detector-position related information obtained by the second sensor and control an operation of at least one of the radiation source and the detector based on the reconstructed 3D scene. A method of controlling the radiography system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: John Eric Tkaczyk, Feng Pan, Jiajun Gu, Zirong Zhai
  • Patent number: 10054434
    Abstract: A surface roughness measurement device that in one embodiment includes main and auxiliary emitting fibers, multiple collecting fibers, an optical housing, main and auxiliary reflective mirrors, and an external circuit. The optical housing includes the fibers and defines an aperture for optically contacting a surface of an object. The main reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the main emitting fiber to a detecting point of the aperture and reflected light by the object to the collecting fibers. The auxiliary reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the auxiliary emitting fiber to the detecting point. The external circuit is for generating a laser beam to the main and auxiliary emitting fibers, collecting the reflected light from the collecting fibers, and calculating the surface roughness of the object based on the collected reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guangping Xie, Ming Jia, Zirong Zhai, Paolo Trallori, Kevin George Harding, Guiju Song
  • Publication number: 20160069672
    Abstract: A surface roughness measurement device that in one embodiment includes main and auxiliary emitting fibers, multiple collecting fibers, an optical housing, main and auxiliary reflective mirrors, and an external circuit. The optical housing includes the fibers and defines an aperture for optically contacting a surface of an object. The main reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the main emitting fiber to a detecting point of the aperture and reflected light by the object to the collecting fibers. The auxiliary reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the auxiliary emitting fiber to the detecting point. The external circuit is for generating a laser beam to the main and auxiliary emitting fibers, collecting the reflected light from the collecting fibers, and calculating the surface roughness of the object based on the collected reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guangping XIE, Ming JIA, Zirong ZHAI, Paolo TRALLORI, Kevin George HARDING, Guiji SONG
  • Patent number: 9188543
    Abstract: An optical system configured to visually inspect a target having a variable position with respect to the optical system is provided. The optical system includes a polarizer configured to convert an incident light reflected or diffused from the target into linearly polarized light; a light modulating element configured to modulate a polarization state of the linearly polarized light in response to control signals; and a lens group comprising at least one birefringent element, the birefringent element configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a first polarization state under a first refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a first object position, and the birefringent element further configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a second polarization state under a second refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a second object position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Li, Guiju Song, Kevin George Harding, Dongmin Yang, Zirong Zhai, Jie Han, Gil Abramovich
  • Publication number: 20150319410
    Abstract: The borescope includes an insertion tube, a first image processor, a model store unit, a pose calculator, a second image processor, a navigation image calculator and a display. The insertion tube includes a detection head and at least one sensor for receiving signals in the insertion tube and generating sensed signals. The first image processor is for calculating a first image based on first image signals captured by the detection head. The second image processor is for adjusting the initial pose calculated by the pose calculator to a navigation pose until a difference between the first image and a second image calculated based on the navigation pose and a predetermined model falls in an allowable range. The navigation image calculator is for calculating a navigation image based on the navigation pose and the predetermined model. The display is for showing the navigation image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jiajun GU, Yong YANG, Jie HAN, Zirong ZHAI, Kevin George HARDING, Guiju SONG, Ming JIA, Guangping Xie, Ser Nam Lim
  • Patent number: 9069181
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a birefringent element, a light modulating element, and a polarizer element. The birefringent element is configured for decomposing un-polarized light into first linear polarized light and second linear polarized light under different refractive indexes to respectively form a first focal length and a second focal length in the optical imaging system. The light modulating element is configured for modulating a state of polarization of the first and second linear polarized light in response to control signals. The polarizer element is configured for filtering out one of the modulated first and second linear polarized light for creating a single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Guiju Song, Tao Li, Dongmin Yang, Jie Han, Zirong Zhai
  • Publication number: 20130271763
    Abstract: An optical system configured to visually inspect a target having a variable position with respect to the optical system is provided. The optical system includes a polarizer configured to convert an incident light reflected or diffused from the target into linearly polarized light; a light modulating element configured to modulate a polarization state of the linearly polarized light in response to control signals; and a lens group comprising at least one birefringent element, the birefringent element configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a first polarization state under a first refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a first object position, and the birefringent element further configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a second polarization state under a second refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a second object position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Tao Li, Guiju Song, Kevin George Harding, Dongmin Yang, Zirong Zhai, Jie Han, Gil Abramovich
  • Publication number: 20130083386
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a birefringent element, a light modulating element, and a polarizer element. The birefringent element is configured for decomposing un-polarized light into first linear polarized light and second linear polarized light under different refractive indexes to respectively form a first focal length and a second focal length in the optical imaging system. The light modulating element is configured for modulating a state of polarization of the first and second linear polarized light in response to control signals. The polarizer element is configured for filtering out one of the modulated first and second linear polarized light for creating a single image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin George HARDING, Guiju SONG, Tao LI, Dongmin YANG, Jie HAN, Zirong ZHAI