Patents by Inventor Charles Van Buchan

Charles Van Buchan 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).

  • Publication number: 20130240504
    Abstract: A system for heating a stator segment includes a first frame member, a plurality of arms extending radially from the first frame member, and a heater releasably connected to each arm. The system further includes a biasing element for biasing each heater away from the first frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, Jason Matthew Clark
  • Patent number: 8500400
    Abstract: A component handling system for use in a wind turbine is described herein. The wind turbine includes a rotor, a drive train assembly supported from a support frame, and a drive shaft that is rotatably coupled between the rotor and the drive train assembly. The component handling system includes a lifting assembly that is removably coupled to a component of the drive train and a lifting device. The lifting assembly is configured to support the component from the lifting device, and includes a plurality of lifting legs extending between the component and the lifting device. An alignment device is coupled to at least one lifting leg of the plurality of lifting legs, and is configured to adjust a length of the at least one lifting leg to adjust an orientation of the component with respect to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Signore, Charles Van Buchan, Ulrich Neumann, Michael Royce Johnson
  • Patent number: 8474633
    Abstract: Methods for moving a starting motor or a torque converter within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine are provided. A removal apparatus, which includes a lifting fixture attached to a beam pivotally mounted on a mast, is secured within the auxiliary compartment. To move the starting motor, a plurality of lifting hooks on the lifting fixture are attached to the starting motor, and the lifting fixture and the starting motor are hoisted. To move the torque converter, a pair of lifting lugs on the lifting fixture is attached to the torque converter, and the lifting fixture and the torque converter are hoisted. Methods are also generally provided for securing a removal apparatus within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, John William Herbold
  • Patent number: 8469209
    Abstract: A lifting fixture for attachment to a torque converter or starting motor within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine is provided. The lifting fixture generally includes a frame configured to attach to a hoisting support, a pair of lifting lugs attached to the frame and positioned above the frame, and a plurality of lifting hooks attached to the frame and positioned such that each lifting hook has a bend extending below the frame. A removal apparatus for moving a torque converter or starting motor within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine is also generally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20120301291
    Abstract: A tool for removing a pin from a casing is disclosed. The tool may generally include a rod configured to be coupled to a portion of the pin, a sleeve received on the rod and a flange member received on the sleeve. The flange member may be received on the sleeve such that the flange member is movable in a radial direction relative to the sleeve. Additionally, the tool may include a collar configured to be radially engaged between the flange member and the rod when the flange member is moved radially outwardly relative to the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles V. Spanos, Charles Van Buchan, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20120228254
    Abstract: A lifting fixture for attachment to a torque converter or starting motor within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine is provided. The lifting fixture generally includes a frame configured to attach to a hoisting support, a pair of lifting lugs attached to the frame and positioned above the frame, and a plurality of lifting hooks attached to the frame and positioned such that each lifting hook has a bend extending below the frame. A removal apparatus for moving a torque converter or starting motor within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine is also generally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20120228255
    Abstract: Methods for moving a starting motor or a torque converter within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine are provided. A removal apparatus, which includes a lifting fixture attached to a beam pivotally mounted on a mast, is secured within the auxiliary compartment. To move the starting motor, a plurality of lifting hooks on the lifting fixture are attached to the starting motor, and the lifting fixture and the starting motor are hoisted. To move the torque converter, a pair of lifting lugs on the lifting fixture is attached to the torque converter, and the lifting fixture and the torque converter are hoisted. Methods are also generally provided for securing a removal apparatus within an auxiliary compartment of a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20120141292
    Abstract: A component handling system for use in a wind turbine is described herein. The wind turbine includes a rotor, a drive train assembly supported from a support frame, and a drive shaft that is rotatably coupled between the rotor and the drive train assembly. The component handling system includes a lifting assembly that is removably coupled to a component of the drive train and a lifting device. The lifting assembly is configured to support the component from the lifting device, and includes a plurality of lifting legs extending between the component and the lifting device. An alignment device is coupled to at least one lifting leg of the plurality of lifting legs, and is configured to adjust a length of the at least one lifting leg to adjust an orientation of the component with respect to the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Signore, Charles Van Buchan, Ulrich Neumann, Michael Royee Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110133473
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gearbox handling assembly to facilitate removal of a gearbox from a wind turbine uptower from the wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor rotatably coupled to the gearbox with a rotor shaft. The gearbox and the rotor shaft are supported from a support frame. The method includes coupling a support assembly between the gearbox and the support frame for supporting the gearbox from the support frame. A positioning assembly is coupled to the support frame. The positioning assembly is configured to contact the gearbox to move the gearbox between a first position wherein the gearbox is operatively coupled to the rotor shaft and a second position wherein the gearbox is operatively decoupled and spaced from the rotor shaft to facilitate removing the gearbox from the wind turbine without removing the rotor from the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Signore, Michael S. Koronkiewicz, Christopher D. Cheng, Stephen John Jutton, Charles Van Buchan, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 7944079
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gearbox handling assembly to facilitate removal of a gearbox from a wind turbine uptower from the wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor rotatably coupled to the gearbox with a rotor shaft. The gearbox and the rotor shaft are supported from a support frame. The method includes coupling a support assembly between the gearbox and the support frame for supporting the gearbox from the support frame. A positioning assembly is coupled to the support frame. The positioning assembly is configured to contact the gearbox to move the gearbox between a first position wherein the gearbox is operatively coupled to the rotor shaft and a second position wherein the gearbox is operatively decoupled and spaced from the rotor shaft to facilitate removing the gearbox from the wind turbine without removing the rotor from the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Signore, Michael S. Koronkiewicz, Christopher D. Cheng, Stephen John Jutton, Charles Van Buchan, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 6385834
    Abstract: A tool for removal of star-washers from a bore includes a handle; and a tool secured to the handle, the tool component having a distal end with an elongated slot extending from the distal end rearwardly toward the handle, and a plurality of hooks circumferentially equally spaced about the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Constantine Thermos, Charles Van Buchan
  • Publication number: 20010023524
    Abstract: 9A tool for removal of star-washers from a bore includes a handle; and a tool secured to the handle, the tool component having a distal end with an elongated slot extending from the distal end rearwardly toward the handle, and a plurality of hooks circumferentially equally spaced about the distal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Anthony Constantine Thermos, Charles Van Buchan