Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Francis Wessels

Jeffrey Francis Wessels 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: 9333577
    Abstract: An electro discharge machining apparatus comprises an electrode configured to machine a desired feature in a workpiece, a pulse generator configured to energize the electrode and the workpiece to opposite electrical polarities, a machining solution source configured to pass a machining solution between the electrode and the workpiece, and a servomotor configured to drive the electrode to move relative to the workpiece. The electro discharge machining apparatus further comprises at least one detection element configured to detect machining signals, and a controller. The controller controls the pulse generator and the servomotor to machine the workpiece according to a plurality of first process parameters predetermined therein and analyzes the detected machining signals to generate a first response signal to activate a plurality of second process parameters predetermined therein and different from the first process parameters to machine the workpiece. An electro discharge machining method is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peng Li, Bin Wei, Huiya Xu, Mark Joseph Gleason, William Charles Allison, Jeffrey Francis Wessels, John Fitzgerald Zurawka
  • Patent number: 8161641
    Abstract: A preform includes an airfoil stub and a dovetail hub. The hub first undergoes electrochemical discharge machining to form a rough dovetail. The airfoil stub undergoes electrochemical machining to form an airfoil. The rough dovetail then undergoes electrochemical discharge machining to form a rough tang. The rough tang is finish machined to form a dovetail extending from the airfoil in a unitary rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Scott Lamphere, Bin Wei, Thomas Walter Rogenski, Dan Stewart Dale, Jonathan Sebastian Janssen, Jeffrey Francis Wessels
  • Publication number: 20100051588
    Abstract: An electro discharge machining apparatus comprises an electrode configured to machine a desired feature in a workpiece, a pulse generator configured to energize the electrode and the workpiece to opposite electrical polarities, a machining solution source configured to pass a machining solution between the electrode and the workpiece, and a servomotor configured to drive the electrode to move relative to the workpiece. The electro discharge machining apparatus further comprises at least one detection element configured to detect machining signals, and a controller. The controller controls the pulse generator and the servomotor to machine the workpiece according to a plurality of first process parameters predetermined therein and analyzes the detected machining signals to generate a first response signal to activate a plurality of second process parameters predetermined therein and different from the first process parameters to machine the workpiece. An electro discharge machining method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Peng Li, Bin Wei, Huiya Xu, Mark Joseph Gleason, William Charles Allison, Jeffrey Francis Wessels, John Fitzgerald Zurawka
  • Patent number: 7394040
    Abstract: An electromachining process and apparatus includes providing both high-speed electroerosion functions for rapidly rough finishing a workpiece and electrodischarge machining functions for fine finishing by first using a rotary electrode to implement the high-speed electroerosion function, and then removing and replacing the rotary electrode with an EDM electrode to implement the electrodischarge machining functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bin Wei, Michael Scott Lamphere, Jeffrey Francis Wessels
  • Publication number: 20080028607
    Abstract: A preform includes an airfoil stub and a dovetail hub. The hub first undergoes electrochemical discharge machining to form a rough dovetail. The airfoil stub undergoes electrochemical machining to form an airfoil. The rough dovetail then undergoes electrochemical discharge machining to form a rough tang. The rough tang is finish machined to form a dovetail extending from the airfoil in a unitary rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Scott Lamphere, Bin Wei, Thomas Walter Rogenski, Dan Stewart Dale, Jonathan Sebastian Janssen, Jeffrey Francis Wessels