Robert D Gilmore

US Patent:

6370956, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Dec 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/454188

Inventors:

Bernard Patrick Bewlay - Schenectady NY
Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 2900

US Classification:

73599, 73600

Abstract:

A titanium article for an ultrasonic inspection is provided in which the titanium article can be ultrasonic inspected for determining its acceptability in for microstructurally sensitive applications. The ultrasonic inspection method comprises providing a titanium article, directing ultrasonic energy of ultrasonic inspection to the titanium article; scattering reflected energy in the titanium article; determining an amount of noise generated by the ultrasonic inspection of the titanium article; and characterizing the titanium article as acceptable if the amount of noise as a function of ultrasonic frequency or wavelength is characteristic of predominantly Rayleigh scattering and the magnitude of the noise is less than a pre-determined noise level. The titanium article comprises an uniform-fine grain microstructure. The uniform-fine grain microstructure generates predominantly Rayleigh scattering when undergoing ultrasonic inspection.

US Patent:

6393916, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Dec 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/454191

Inventors:

Bernard Patrick Bewlay - Schenectady NY
Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 2900

US Classification:

73606, 73597, 73598, 73602, 73627

Abstract:

An ultrasonic inspection method for determining acceptability of material for microstructurally sensitive applications comprises providing a material, directing ultrasonic energy of ultrasonic inspection to the material; scattering reflected energy in the material; determining an amount of noise generated by the ultrasonic inspection; and characterizing the material as acceptable if the amount of noise corresponds to a pre-determined noise level. The invention also sets forth a system for implementing the method, as embodied by the invention.

US Patent:

6401537, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Jul 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/346914

Inventors:

Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Robert Snee Gilmore - Burnt Hills NY
John Alan Sutliff - Burnt Hills NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 2904

US Classification:

73598, 73600, 420417

Abstract:

A method for inspecting a titanium-based alloy that comprises alpha phase grains to detect flaws in the titanium-based alloy, the titanium-based alloy comprises an alpha phase that is provided by thermomechanically processing the alloy to provide a microstructure which comprises the alpha phase that defines an average grain size and a crystallographic orientation of the grains of the alpha phase that is highly randomized. The method comprises ultrasonically inspecting the titanium-based alloy using an ultrasonic beam, the ultrasonic beam comprising a cross-sectional area that is less than the average grain size of the alpha phase in the titanium-based alloy; and determining flaws based on the step of ultrasonic inspecting.

US Patent:

6408695, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Dec 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/454189

Inventors:

Bernard Patrick Bewlay - Schenectady NY
Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 332

US Classification:

73579

Abstract:

An ultrasonic inspection method for inspecting titanium material is provided. The ultrasonic inspection method is capable of detecting critical flaws in the titanium material that may limit titanium material applications. The ultrasonic inspection method comprises fixing at least one of frequency or acoustic entity size of the titanium material as a constant for the ultrasonic inspecting; wherein the frequency that is fixed is selected based on the size of the flaws deemed critical for mechanical performanceâincluding fatigue performanceâin the titanium material, and the grain size that is fixed selected based on the size of the flaws deemed critical for mechanical performanceâincluding fatigue performanceâin the titanium material; ultrasonic inspecting the titanium material in which the step of ultrasonic inspecting the titanium material generates scattering from microstructural characteristics and features of the titanium material; detecting generated scattering; characterizing the type of detected scattering; and determining if the titanium material comprises critical flaws based on the type of scattering. If the scattering comprises predominantly Rayleigh scattering, the step of determining determines that the titanium material comprises uniform-fine grain titanium, however, if the scattering comprises Rayleigh scattering and other types of scattering, the step of determining determines that the titanium material may comprise critical flaws that may limit applications of the titanium material. The invention also provides a system for implementing the method, as embodied by the invention.

US Patent:

6415665, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/523931

Inventors:

Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY
Mahari Tjahjadi - Evansville IN

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 2918

US Classification:

73597, 73 6175, 425169

Abstract:

An ultrasonic probe and method for noninvasively monitoring materials processing in screw driven extruders. The noninvasive probe includes at least one ultrasonic transducer operable to transmit an ultrasonic signal on a signal path intersecting an inner sidewall of a barrel of the extruder and material between the inner sidewall of the barrel and an outer surface of a screw within the barrel. Information about the state of the material intersected by the ultrasonic signal is ascertainable from an elapsed time between reception of a first reflection of the ultrasonic signal and reception of a second reflection of the ultrasonic signal. The first reflection results when the ultrasonic signal exits the inner sidewall of the barrel and the second reflection results when the ultrasonic signal reaches one of the outer surface of the screw and partially solid material.

US Patent:

6596099, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Apr 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/833841

Inventors:

Bernard Patrick Bewlay - Schenectady NY
Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

C22C 1400

US Classification:

148421, 148670, 148671

Abstract:

A titanium article for an ultrasonic inspection is provided in which the titanium article can be ultrasonic inspected for determining its acceptability in for microstructurally sensitive applications. The ultrasonic inspection method comprises providing a titanium article, directing ultrasonic energy of ultrasonic inspection to the titanium article; scattering reflected energy in the titanium article; determining an amount of noise generated by the ultrasonic inspection of the titanium article; and characterizing the titanium article as acceptable if the amount of noise as a function of ultrasonic frequency or wavelength is characteristic of predominantly Rayleigh scattering and the magnitude of the noise is less than a pre-determined noise level. The titanium article comprises an uniform-fine grain microstructure. The uniform-fine grain microstructure generates predominantly Rayleigh scattering when undergoing ultrasonic inspection.

US Patent:

6670577, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Sep 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/965320

Inventors:

Phillip Randall Staver - Hagaman NY
William Taylor Lotshaw - Bethesda MD
Michael Francis X Gigliotti, Jr. - Scotia NY
Josef Robert Unternahrer - Lafayette CO
Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY
Thomas James Batzinger - Burnt Hills NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

B23K 2600

US Classification:

21912185

Abstract:

A method for laser shock peening a surface is disclosed. A laser beam pulse from a laser apparatus is produced. The laser pulse has a cross-section taken perpendicular to the laser beam, a fluence profile across the cross-section. The pulse against an area on said surface. The fluence profile is controlled such that process induced defects are reduced.

US Patent:

6742392, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Oct 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/283424

Inventors:

Robert Snee Gilmore - Charlton NY
John Erik Hershey - Ballston Lake NY
David Michael Davenport - Niskayuna NY
Daniel White Sexton - Niskayuna NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01N 2904

US Classification:

73643

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for nondestructive testing a railroad rail is provided. The method includes locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail, the at least one magnetic exciter includes an emitting end and a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly through the emitting end, discharging the energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter such that only a magnetic pulse enters the rail at a location of the exciter, and controlling a shape of the magnetic pulse. The apparatus includes at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to a rail, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic exciter the energy storage circuit is configured to supply a shaped current pulse to the at least one exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to the energy storage circuit.