Patents by Inventor Gary Charles Popham

Gary Charles Popham 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).

  • Self-aligning support assembly and method for rotatable cylindrical components
    Patent number: 7946554
    Abstract: An apparatus and method suitable for supporting a cylindrical component. The apparatus includes a pedestal having an upper surface with a semispherical concave shape, and a carriage supported on the upper surface of the pedestal. The carriage has a lower surface and an oppositely-disposed upper surface with elements for contacting and rotatably supporting the cylindrical component. The lower surface of the carriage engages the upper surface of the pedestal and has a semispherical convex shape complementary to the semispherical concave shape of the upper surface of the pedestal. The apparatus further includes a reservoir at and recessed in the upper surface of the pedestal, and a feature for delivering a lubricant to the lubricant reservoir. The lower surface of the carriage and the upper surface of the pedestal define an enclosure around the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Matthew Sassatelli, Gary Charles Popham, Virgil Vaillancourt, Michael Raymond Kolk
  • SELF-ALIGNING SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR ROTATABLE CYLINDRICAL COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20100163705
    Abstract: An apparatus and method suitable for supporting a cylindrical component. The apparatus includes a pedestal having an upper surface with a semispherical concave shape, and a carriage supported on the upper surface of the pedestal. The carriage has a lower surface and an oppositely-disposed upper surface with elements for contacting and rotatably supporting the cylindrical component. The lower surface of the carriage engages the upper surface of the pedestal and has a semispherical convex shape complementary to the semispherical concave shape of the upper surface of the pedestal. The apparatus further includes a reservoir at and recessed in the upper surface of the pedestal, and a feature for delivering a lubricant to the lubricant reservoir. The lower surface of the carriage and the upper surface of the pedestal define an enclosure around the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Matthew Sassatelli, Gary Charles Popham, Virgil (NMN) Vaillancourt, Michael Raymond Kolk