Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Bishop Draper

Jeffrey Bishop Draper 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: 8794083
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for inspecting a hollow member, with a probe head, which includes at least one sensor, and a flexible shaft connected to the probe head to transmit motive force. The shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected to the probe head for sensory operation of the sensor. The shaft has a first part adjacent to the probe head and a second part distal therefrom. The first part is relatively more flexible that the second part. The shaft has an improved ability to follow a torturous path of the hollow member and for aiding in kink prevention of the shaft. In one aspect, the first part is made of polymer material and has a reduced-diameter and corrugations. Optionally, at least one non-metallic retrieval cable is enclosed within the shaft and connected to the probe head for transmitting a pulling force to the probe head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Matthew Barton Wolf, Michael Alphonse Terhaar, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Patent number: 8581577
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for insertion inspection of an elongate hollow member. The inspection assembly includes a probe head including at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the elongate hollow member as the probe head is moved internally within the elongate hollow member. The assembly includes a flexible shaft connected to the probe head and transmitting a motive force to the probe head to move the probe head within the elongate hollow member. The flexible shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected between the probe head and at least one component external to the elongate hollow member for sensory operation of the at least one sensor. The flexible shaft is at least partially corrugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Publication number: 20120007594
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for insertion inspection of an elongate hollow member. The inspection assembly includes a probe head including at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the elongate hollow member as the probe head is moved internally within the elongate hollow member. The assembly includes a flexible shaft connected to the probe head and transmitting a motive force to the probe head to move the probe head within the elongate hollow member. The flexible shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected between the probe head and at least one component external to the elongate hollow member for sensory operation of the at least one sensor. The flexible shaft is at least partially corrugated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Publication number: 20120006134
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for inspecting a hollow member, with a probe head, which includes at least one sensor, and a flexible shaft connected to the probe head to transmit motive force. The shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected to the probe head for sensory operation of the sensor. The shaft has a first part adjacent to the probe head and a second part distal there from. The first part is relatively more flexible that the second part. The shaft has an improved ability to follow a torturous path of the hollow member and for aiding in kink prevention of the shaft. In one aspect, the first part is made of polymer material and has a reduced-diameter and corrugations. Optionally, at least one non-metallic retrieval cable is enclosed within the shaft and connected to the probe head for transmitting a pulling force to the probe head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Matthew Barton Wolf, Michael Alphonse Terhaar, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Publication number: 20120006133
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for insertion inspection of an elongate tubular member. The inspection assembly includes a probe head with a sensor. The assembly also includes a flexible shaft connected to the probe head and transmitting a motive force to the probe head to move the probe head within the elongate tubular member. The probe head includes at least one characteristic to minimize resistance against movement of the probe head along a torturous path within the tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Matthew Barton Wolf, Michael Alphonse Terhaar, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Patent number: D648231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Matthew Barton Wolf, Lance Edmund Maggy, Michael Alphonse Terhaar
  • Patent number: D734271
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Walter Tosto, Jean-Francois Bureau, Jeffrey Bishop Draper
  • Patent number: D780695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Walter Tosto, Jean-Francois Bureau, Jeffrey Bishop Draper