Patents by Inventor John David Ward

John David Ward 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: 10415964
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing passive strain indicator on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, and, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface to form a passive strain indicator comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, Jr., Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis
  • Patent number: 10125425
    Abstract: Stripping a metallic bond coat from an article using a wet chemical process. An article removed from service and having a metallic bond coat applied over a surface of its metallic substrate is provided. The metallic bond coat is used to improve the adhesion of a TBC to the article, so grit blasting to first remove any TBC applied over the bond coat and which still remains on the article initially may be required. The bond coated article is then immersed in an acid solution of HCl/H3PO4 at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time, the HCl/H3PO4 solution reacting with the bond coat applied over the metallic substrate to form a smut on the surface. The article is then removed from the HCl/H3PO4 solution and quickly immersed in a solution of NaOH for a predetermined amount of time to at least partially desmut the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John David Ward, Jr., Liming Zhang
  • Patent number: 9952117
    Abstract: Methods for determining strain on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising a plurality of strain sensor reference features disposed along the turbine component separated from one another by a plurality of first distances at a first time, reading the plurality of strain sensor reference features at a second time to determine a plurality of second distances between the plurality of strain sensor reference features, and comparing the plurality of second distances to the plurality of first distances to determine a plurality of non-linear strain measurements between the plurality of strain sensor reference features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Lee Hovis, John David Ward, Jr., William Farris Ranson
  • Patent number: 9909860
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring component deformation are provided. The component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a passive strain indicator configured on the exterior surface of the component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the passive strain indicator based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis, Bryan J. Germann, John David Ward, Jr., William F. Ranson
  • Patent number: 9851279
    Abstract: Traversable strain sensor readers for reading a plurality strain sensor reference features on a turbine component include a traversing system configured to traverse the traversable strain sensor reader along at least a portion of the turbine component, and a reader configured to read at least a portion of the plurality of strain sensor reference features while the traversing system traverses the traversable strain sensor reader along at least the portion of the turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Lee Hovis, John David Ward, Jr., William Farris Ranson
  • Publication number: 20170167859
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring component deformation are provided. The component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a passive strain indicator configured on the exterior surface of the component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the passive strain indicator based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis, Bryan J. Germann, John David Ward, JR., William F. Ranson
  • Publication number: 20170167930
    Abstract: Components can comprise a substrate, an embedded strain sensor comprising at least two reference points disposed on the substrate, and an outer coating disposed over at least a portion of the embedded strain sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Salm, Thomas James Batzinger, Bryan Joseph Germann, John David Ward, JR., William Farris Ranson
  • Patent number: 9618334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. The turbine component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the strain sensor based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis, Bryan J. Germann, John David Ward, Jr., William F. Ranson
  • Publication number: 20170097234
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing passive strain indicator on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, and, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface to form a passive strain indicator comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, JR., Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis
  • Patent number: 9574447
    Abstract: A modification process and modified article are disclosed. The modification process includes locating an area in an article, removing the area by machining to form a machined region, inserting a modification material into the machined region, securing the modification material to the article, machining the modification material flush with a geometry of the article, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the article. Another modification process includes locating an area under a suction side leading edge tip shroud fillet of an airfoil, removing the area by machining to form a hole, inserting a modification material having improved material properties as compared to an original base material into the hole, securing the modification material in place, machining the modification material and the airfoil to form a new fillet contour, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the airfoil. Also disclosed is the modified article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Thompson, John David Ward, James Ryan Connor, Mark Lawrence Hunt, Blake Allen Fulton
  • Patent number: 9567860
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a fixture for an airfoil shroud having a first end edge, a second end edge, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a radially outer side and a radially inner side with respect to a rotor axis of a bucket having the airfoil shroud is provided. The fixture includes a base plate, a first member extending from the base plate configured to locate and abut the first end edge, a second member extending from the base plate configured to locate and abut a side of a seal rail, a third member extending from the base plate configured to locate and abut the radially outer side of the airfoil shroud and a template recess formed in the base plate proximate the first end edge to define a geometry of a relief cut in the trailing edge of the airfoil shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Salm, James Ryan Connor, John David Ward, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9546928
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, and, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, Jr., Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis
  • Publication number: 20160362988
    Abstract: A method is provided for modifying an airfoil shroud located at a tip of a blade of an airfoil, the airfoil shroud having a first end edge, a second end edge, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The method includes locating a reference location in the first end edge of the airfoil shroud, the reference location including a portion of a seal rail extending circumferentially from a radially outer surface of the airfoil shroud, and a fillet extending from the radially outer surface and positioned directly adjacent to the seal rail. The method further includes forming a relief cut in the seal rail and fillet without performing a weld process on the airfoil shroud to remove the reference location, and installing the airfoil shroud in a turbomachine directly following forming the relief cut, wherein modifying the airfoil shroud is complete following forming the relief cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: John David Ward, Kelvin Rono Aaron, James Ryan Connor, Melbourne James Myers, Brad Wilson VanTassel
  • Publication number: 20160305769
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. The turbine component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the strain sensor based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis, Bryan J. Germann, John David Ward, Jr., William F. Ranson
  • Publication number: 20160252427
    Abstract: Traversable strain sensor readers for reading a plurality strain sensor reference features on a turbine component include a traversing system configured to traverse the traversable strain sensor reader along at least a portion of the turbine component, and a reader configured to read at least a portion of the plurality of strain sensor reference features while the traversing system traverses the traversable strain sensor reader along at least the portion of the turbine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Lee Hovis, John David Ward, JR., William Farris Ranson
  • Publication number: 20160252417
    Abstract: Methods for determining strain on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising a plurality of strain sensor reference features disposed along the turbine component separated from one another by a plurality of first distances at a first time, reading the plurality of strain sensor reference features at a second time to determine a plurality of second distances between the plurality of strain sensor reference features, and comparing the plurality of second distances to the plurality of first distances to determine a plurality of non-linear strain measurements between the plurality of strain sensor reference features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Lee Hovis, John David Ward, JR., William Farris Ranson
  • Patent number: 9410868
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, Jr., Christopher Edward Thompson, Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis
  • Publication number: 20160047253
    Abstract: Methods for selective localized coating deposition for a turbine component include providing the turbine component comprising an exterior surface with one or more surface features and selectively coating at least a portion of the exterior surface using a localized coating deposition apparatus based on a location of at least one of the one or more surface features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, JR., Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Jonathan Matthew Lomas, Cem Murat Eminoglu, Thomas Robert Reid
  • Publication number: 20150346058
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, JR., Christopher Edward Thompson, Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis
  • Publication number: 20150346057
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, and, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Ward, JR., Bryan Joseph Germann, Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis