Patents by Inventor Marc Edward Christopfel

Marc Edward Christopfel 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).

  • System for machining the abradable material of a turbofan engine
    Patent number: 11338461
    Abstract: A system for machining an abradable material of a gas turbine engine and associated methods. The system includes a frame including a first arm extending from a central location. The system further includes an attachment structure coupled to the frame at the central location. Moreover, the attachment structure is configured to couple to at least a fan rotor of the gas turbine engine. Additionally, the system includes a cutting apparatus coupled to a first distal end of the first arm opposite the central location. The cutting apparatus includes a rotating shaft and plurality of cutting disks coupled to the rotating shaft. Further, the plurality of cutting disks define a helical cutting profile configured to machine a contour within the abradable material complementary to at least one fan blade of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Tonatiuh Hernandez, German Pulido, Enrique Martinez, Marc Edward Christopfel, Cristobal Reyes
  • System for Machining the Abradable Material of a Turbofan Engine
    Publication number: 20200338772
    Abstract: A system for machining an abradable material of a gas turbine engine and associated methods. The system includes a frame including a first arm extending from a central location. The system further includes an attachment structure coupled to the frame at the central location. Moreover, the attachment structure is configured to couple to at least a fan rotor of the gas turbine engine. Additionally, the system includes a cutting apparatus coupled to a first distal end of the first arm opposite the central location. The cutting apparatus includes a rotating shaft and plurality of cutting disks coupled to the rotating shaft. Further, the plurality of cutting disks define a helical cutting profile configured to machine a contour within the abradable material complementary to at least one fan blade of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin Tonatiuh Hernandez, German Pulido, Enrique Martinez, Marc Edward Christopfel, Cristobal Reyes