Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Higgins

Christopher D. Higgins 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: 11444499
    Abstract: A rotor for a rotating electric machine is described. Embodiments of the apparatus may include a rotor core comprising a plurality of slots, the rotor core comprising a circumference, a first winding comprising a first termination end exiting the rotor core at a first of the plurality of slots, a second winding comprising a second termination end exiting the rotor core at a second of the plurality of slots, wherein the second of the plurality of slots is 120 degrees around the circumference of the rotor core relative to the first of the plurality of slots, and a third winding comprising a third termination end exiting the rotor core at a third of the plurality of slots, wherein the third of the plurality of slots is 240 degrees around the circumference of the rotor core relative to the first of the plurality of slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Christopher D. Higgins, Herman Schlicht, III, James R. Vinson, Timothy Jones, Daniel Stanford
  • Patent number: 10732620
    Abstract: A system for inspecting a machine including a server with a data storage device accessible by client devices is disclosed. The system can include a mobile inspection tool operatively coupled to the server via a communication network. The mobile inspection tool is operable to receive a request to perform an inspection of a machine unit, provide a graphical user interface to guide a user in performing the inspection, receive an identification of the machine unit, and provide questions to the user, and receive answers from the user. The answers can be related to a defect in the machine unit. The mobile inspection tool can be further operable to acquire measurement input, such as a defect value measured by a digital measurement tool, and cause the server to store the answers and the measurement input in the data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher D. Higgins, Michael Tishenkel
  • Patent number: 10489752
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems for using failure mode ranking in an asset management system to generate asset maintenance outputs. Operational data, failure mode models, and configuration data for an asset, such as a complex electromechanical system, are related to failure prevention analytics configurations through failure mode rankings to enable the asset management system to reduce a future ranking of potential failure modes by changing the present configuration of the asset to include a recommended failure prevention analytics configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Robert Korsedal, IV, Carlos Andres Hein, Christopher D. Higgins, Marc Gavin Lindenmuth, Molli Anne Dill, Yan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180060832
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems for using failure mode ranking in an asset management system to generate asset maintenance outputs. Operational data, failure mode models, and configuration data for an asset, such as a complex electromechanical system, are related to failure prevention analytics configurations through failure mode rankings to enable the asset management system to reduce a future ranking of potential failure modes by changing the present configuration of the asset to include a recommended failure prevention analytics configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: John Robert Korsedal, IV, Carlos Andres Hein, Christopher D. Higgins, Marc Gavin Lindenmuth, Molli Anne Dill, Yan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180032068
    Abstract: A system for inspecting a machine including a server with a data storage device accessible by client devices is disclosed. The system can include a mobile inspection tool operatively coupled to the server via a communication network. The mobile inspection tool is operable to receive a request to perform an inspection of a machine unit, provide a graphical user interface to guide a user in performing the inspection, receive an identification of the machine unit, and provide questions to the user, and receive answers from the user. The answers can be related to a defect in the machine unit. The mobile inspection tool can be further operable to acquire measurement input, such as a defect value measured by a digital measurement tool, and cause the server to store the answers and the measurement input in the data storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher D. Higgins, Michael Tishenkel
  • Patent number: 9671030
    Abstract: A metallic seal assembly, a turbine component, and a method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery are disclosed. The metallic seal assembly includes a sealing structure having thermally-responsive features. The thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward a surface of the sealing structure in response to a predetermined temperature change. The turbine component includes the metallic seal assembly. The method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery includes providing the metallic seal assembly and raising or retracting the thermally-responsive features in response to the predetermined temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Stephen Dimascio, Michael Douglas Arnett, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner, Christopher D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8776388
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a nozzle includes a stand and a first sensor in sliding engagement with the stand. The first sensor is positioned to measure a first dimension of the nozzle. A method for measuring a nozzle includes placing the nozzle in a stand, sliding a first gauge along a first surface of the nozzle, and measuring a first dimension of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Christopher D. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20130259640
    Abstract: A metallic seal assembly, a turbine component, and a method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery are disclosed. The metallic seal assembly includes a sealing structure having thermally-responsive features. The thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward a surface of the sealing structure in response to a predetermined temperature change. The turbine component includes the metallic seal assembly. The method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery includes providing the metallic seal assembly and raising or retracting the thermally-responsive features in response to the predetermined temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Stephen DIMASCIO, Michael Douglas ARNETT, Rebecca Evelyn HEFNER, Christopher D. HIGGINS
  • Publication number: 20120180333
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a nozzle includes a stand and a first sensor in sliding engagement with the stand. The first sensor is positioned to measure a first dimension of the nozzle. A method for measuring a nozzle includes placing the nozzle in a stand, sliding a first gauge along a first surface of the nozzle, and measuring a first dimension of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Christopher D. Higgins