Patents by Inventor Michael A. Oden
Michael A. Oden 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: 11885893Abstract: The subject matter described in this specification is directed to a computer system and techniques for determining a location of an autonomous vehicle. The computer system is configured to determine the location using localization data from multiple data sources. When the localization data from the multiple data sources is unavailable or inaccurate, the computer system is configured to determine the location using predefined features of the environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Motional Ad LLCInventors: Dana Miller, James Esper, Theodore Alden, Asim Ayaz, Michael Oden
-
Publication number: 20210048540Abstract: The subject matter described in this specification is directed to a computer system and techniques for determining a location of an autonomous vehicle. The computer system is configured to determine the location using localization data from multiple data sources. When the localization data from the multiple data sources is unavailable or inaccurate, the computer system is configured to determine the location using predefined features of the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: MOTIONAL AD LLCInventors: Dana MILLER, James ESPER, Theodore ALDEN, Asim AYAZ, Michael ODEN
-
Patent number: 10344625Abstract: A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, Michael Helton, Jason Dixson
-
Patent number: 10125635Abstract: A fixture and method for installing turbine buckets is disclosed. The fixture is adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots, the fixture includes: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel. The profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of a turbine bucket thereto.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Kevin Leon Bruce, Matthew Ryan Ferslew, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Michael Merlau, Joshua Michael Oden, Christopher Michael Penny
-
Publication number: 20180258797Abstract: A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Joshua Michael ODEN, Michael HELTON, Jason DIXSON
-
Patent number: 9970325Abstract: A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, Michael Helton, Jason Dixson
-
Patent number: 9810083Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
-
Publication number: 20170130597Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
-
Patent number: 9617913Abstract: Combustor maintenance assemblies, tools and methods for manipulating cross-fire tubes in combustor assemblies are provided. A tool includes a base and an arm pivotally connected to the base. The arm includes an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by the compressor discharge casing. The tool further includes a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube. The contact member includes a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube, and a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion. The arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, Ulrich Werner Neumann, John William Herbold
-
Patent number: 9587498Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
-
Publication number: 20160319665Abstract: A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Joshua Michael ODEN, Michael Helton, Jason Dixson
-
Publication number: 20160221091Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting a blade mount ring segment from a ring segment slot in a turbomachine casing having a plurality of ring segment slots along an inclined surface is provided. The cutting tool includes a motor; a cutting blade driven by the motor to cut the ring segment; and a support element for supporting the motor. A guide for guiding a cutting tool circumferentially relative to the ring segment includes: a rip fence extending from the support element and including a slide member for slidingly engaging a respective empty ring slot that is axially displaced in the turbomachine casing from the slot in which the ring segment is positioned, and at least one incline compensating member coupled to the support element for slidingly engaging the inclined surface of the turbomachine casing and positioning the support element such that the cutting element of the cutting tool cuts the ring segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2015Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, Robert Edward Huth, Thomas Alan Mogle, II
-
Publication number: 20160201556Abstract: A fixture and method for installing turbine buckets is disclosed. The fixture is adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots, the fixture includes: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel. The profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of a turbine bucket thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Kevin Leon Bruce, Matthew Ryan Ferslew, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Michael Merlau, Joshua Michael Oden, Christopher Michael Penny
-
Publication number: 20160158901Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Joshua Michael Oden, James Bradford Holmes
-
Publication number: 20150260096Abstract: Combustor maintenance assemblies, tools and methods for manipulating cross-fire tubes in combustor assemblies are provided. A tool includes a base and an arm pivotally connected to the base. The arm includes an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by the compressor discharge casing. The tool further includes a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube. The contact member includes a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube, and a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion. The arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Michael Oden, Ulrich Werner Neumann, John William Herbold
-
Patent number: 4745390Abstract: In a four wheel drive vehicle wherein unintended engagement of the first driving axle during vehicle use will result in damage to the vehicle drive train, an apparatus for sensing and indicating the status of the front driving axle without requiring the vehicle occupants to stop the vehicle and perform a visual inspection of the vehicle drive train including, in combination, a drive train shaft that rotates whenever the front driving axle of the vehicle is engaged in four wheel drive and a permanent magnet fixedly secured to the drive train shaft. Magnetically activated relay means, such as a reed switch, are operatively connected to a battery in the vehicle and to an illumination means for switching the illumination means on and off.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1987Date of Patent: May 17, 1988Inventors: Michael A. Oden, Darrell B. Oden