Patents by Inventor James Bradford Holmes

James Bradford Holmes 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: 10662808
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an inner surface of a slot includes a first block segment that has an outer perimeter that conforms to and fits inside the inner surface of the slot. A first cleaning pad is connected to the first block segment and extends beyond at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the first block segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, James Bradford Holmes, John William Herbold
  • Patent number: 10414005
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for servicing a combustion liner in a combustion case of a turbine is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated bar having a handle at one end and a force applying member at an opposing end of the elongated bar. An attachment member is configured for attachment to a flange of the combustion case. The attachment member is also configured for pivotal attachment to the elongated bar. The apparatus is configured to apply a radially outward force on a downstream portion of the combustion liner when a radially inward force is applied to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Adam Klejc, Stuart Craig Hanson, John William Herbold, James Bradford Holmes, Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Robert Edward Huth, Lukasz Sajdak
  • Patent number: 10273814
    Abstract: A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount is provided. The tool may include a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount. The tool may also include a lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component. Actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jean-Philippe Guillard, James Bradford Holmes, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10166664
    Abstract: A tool for removing a fastener head from a fastener includes a body that includes an alignment surface configured to couple substantially flush against a structural surface proximate the fastener head. A blade coupled to the body includes a tip configured to sever the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface from a first blade position to a second blade position. The tool also includes a force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member. The longitudinal axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. The force transfer member is configured to move the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position in response to an impulse received by the force transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lukasz Sajdak, Kamil Koszarny, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9988906
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor blade milling machine system includes a fixture having a body including first and second opposing surfaces and a slot. The fixture is configured and disposed to connect with first and second rotor blade sections mounted in a rotor wheel. A mounting system includes at least one mounting element coupled to one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the body at the slot. A milling machine is coupled to the one of the first and second opposing surfaces through the at least one mounting element. The milling machine includes a cutter and is configured and disposed to form an opening extending axially through a dovetail portion of a third rotor blade section arranged between the first and second rotor blade sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, John William Herbold, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9943920
    Abstract: A method for electro-chemical machining (ECM) is provided. Methods may include providing an ECM machine including a controller and a fixture configured for positioning an electrode for ECM, positioning the fixture in a selected dovetail slot of a plurality of dovetail slots in a turbine wheel, the turbine wheel being positioned in-situ in a turbomachine, the fixture positioning the electrode for ECM of a portion of the selected dovetail slot, applying an electrolyte solution between the selected dovetail slot and the electrode, and removing material from the portion of the selected dovetail slot by applying an electric potential to the electrode to create a potential gradient between the electrode and the portion of the selected dovetail slot. The machining may be repeated for each dovetail slot of the turbine wheel in-situ in the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daryl Paul Capriotti, John William Herbold, James Bradford Holmes, Michael Alan Smith, Andrew Lee Trimmer
  • Patent number: 9827628
    Abstract: A fixture for an electro-chemical machining (ECM) electrode is provided. The fixture may include a clamp having a shape and size configured to selectively engage in at least a portion of a selected dovetail slot of a plurality of dovetail slots in a turbine wheel. An electrode mount positions an electrode head relative to the clamp such that the electrode head operatively engages a portion of the selected dovetail slot for electro-chemical machining of the portion. The fixture's electrode may act as a cathode for the ECM process. The fixture allows for ECM on site without removing a turbine wheel from a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daryl Paul Capriotti, James Bradford Holmes, Andrew Lee Trimmer
  • Patent number: 9810083
    Abstract: A stator vane removal system includes a reaction platform configured to couple between opposing sides of a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine. At least one stator vane is retained in the slot. The reaction platform includes at least one wedge surface. The system also includes an actuator configured to couple to the reaction platform. The at least one wedge surface facilitates inducing a coupling force exerted by the reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when the actuator applies a pushing force to the at least one stator vane in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9803647
    Abstract: A system for repairing dovetail slots includes a slot adaptor having a body configured and disposed to nest between first and second side walls of a dovetail slot, and a tool holder configured to be coupled with the slot adaptor. The tool holder includes a tool guidance system configured and disposed to direct a tool into contact with one of the first and second side walls of the dovetail slot. A cutting tool is mounted in the tool holder. The cutting tool includes a tapered surface configured and disposed to form a tapered recess in the one of the first and second side walls of the dovetail slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kashif Akhtar, Daryl Paul Capriotti, Jason Matthew Clark, James Bradford Holmes, Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Gang Qian
  • Patent number: 9776298
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to an apparatus and method for treating a rotatable component. An apparatus according to the present disclosure can include: a sliding engagement member configured to slidably engage a portion of a rotating component that is temporarily stationary; and a tool engaging member for positioning a machining tool relative to the rotating component to machine a surface of the rotating component, wherein the tool engaging member is rotatable to one of a plurality of angles relative to the sliding engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9713862
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of displacing a turbomachine component from position in a first slot of a turbomachine spacer disk. The method can include detachably affixing a mounting member of a displacement apparatus to a second slot in the gas turbomachine spacer disk using an attachment device, rotating a displacement arm of the displacement apparatus until the displacement arm contacts the turbomachine component, and displacing the turbomachine component from the position within the first slot by linearly actuating the displacement arm with a linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170191380
    Abstract: A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount is provided. The tool may include a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount. The tool may also include a lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component. Actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jean-Philippe Guillard, James Bradford Holmes, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9677428
    Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having an alignment portion and a connection portion. The alignment portion defines a longitudinal axis and a cross sectional shape complementary to a slot defined in a rotor wheel of the turbomachine. When the tool is positioned in the slot, the connection portion is configured to contact the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the alignment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, David Randolph Spracher, James Robert Hollis, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170130597
    Abstract: A stator vane removal system includes a reaction platform configured to couple between opposing sides of a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine. At least one stator vane is retained in the slot. The reaction platform includes at least one wedge surface. The system also includes an actuator configured to couple to the reaction platform. The at least one wedge surface facilitates inducing a coupling force exerted by the reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when the actuator applies a pushing force to the at least one stator vane in the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9636789
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a method of displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot using a displacement apparatus, includes: detachably engaging an engagement arm of the displacement apparatus to the turbine bucket, the engagement arm attached to a linear actuator coupled to a body of the displacement apparatus, and the engagement arm adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator; contacting the turbomachine wheel with at least two contacting portions of the body of the displacement apparatus; and displacing the turbine bucket from a position within a slot of the turbomachine wheel in the first axial direction by linearly actuating the engagement arm with the linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9623492
    Abstract: A milling tool is disclosed. The tool may include a base including a clamp for coupling to a selected mounting slot of a plurality of slots of the rotor; a milling tool including a motorized milling head; and a motorized linear actuator coupling the milling tool to the base. The base mounts the motorized linear actuator at an acute angle relative a portion of the slot to allow the motorized linear actuator to linearly move the milling tool to machine the portion of the slot. The portion of the slot may include, for example, an end face and, more particularly, a root corner of the slot where a cooling slot flange extends from the root of the slot. The milling tool may be portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daryl Paul Capriotti, James Bradford Holmes, Andrew Lee Trimmer
  • Publication number: 20170100824
    Abstract: A tool for removing a fastener head from a fastener includes a body that includes an alignment surface configured to couple substantially flush against a structural surface proximate the fastener head. A blade coupled to the body includes a tip configured to sever the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface from a first blade position to a second blade position. The tool also includes a force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member. The longitudinal axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. The force transfer member is configured to move the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position in response to an impulse received by the force transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Lukasz Sajdak, Kamil Koszarny, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 9587498
    Abstract: A stator vane removal system includes a reaction platform configured to couple between opposing sides of a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine. At least one stator vane is retained in the slot. The reaction platform includes at least one wedge surface. The system also includes an actuator configured to couple to the reaction platform. The at least one wedge surface facilitates inducing a coupling force exerted by the reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when the actuator applies a pushing force to the at least one stator vane in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
  • Publication number: 20170028516
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for servicing a combustion liner in a combustion case of a turbine is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated bar having a handle at one end and a force applying member at an opposing end of the elongated bar. An attachment member is configured for attachment to a flange of the combustion case. The attachment member is also configured for pivotal attachment to the elongated bar. The apparatus is configured to apply a radially outward force on a downstream portion of the combustion liner when a radially inward force is applied to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Adrian Adam KLEJC, Stuart Craig HANSON, John William HERBOLD, James Bradford HOLMES, Sandra Beverly KOLVICK, Thomas Alan MOGLE, II, Robert Edward HUTH, Lukasz SAJDAK
  • Publication number: 20170022815
    Abstract: A system for repairing dovetail slots includes a slot adaptor having a body configured and disposed to nest between first and second side walls of a dovetail slot, and a tool holder configured to be coupled with the slot adaptor. The tool holder includes a tool guidance system configured and disposed to direct a tool into contact with one of the first and second side walls of the dovetail slot. A cutting tool is mounted in the tool holder. The cutting tool includes a tapered surface configured and disposed to form a tapered recess in the one of the first and second side walls of the dovetail slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Kashif AKHTAR, Daryl Paul CAPRIOTTI, Jason Matthew CLARK, James Bradford HOLMES, Sandra Beverly KOLVICK, Gang QIAN