Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Vickers

Thomas E. Vickers 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).

  • Apparatus to hold compressor or turbine blade during manufacture
    Patent number: 5544873
    Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade holding fixture and machining method contemplates the subassembly of all the blades upon the rotor of the compressor or turbine. Fixture rings along with radial biasing members in the form of annular o-rings are intersecured to opposite sides of the blades so as to radially position the latter in their normal "running position" while so mounted on the rotor of the wheel. In such condition all of the blades may be simultaneously machined such that the outer tips thereof lie on a true uniform, desired outer diameter to provide subsequently uniform tip clearance to the surrounding shroud when mounted in a gas turbine engine for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Vickers, James A. Sanger
  • Compressor or turbine blade manufacture
    Patent number: 5191711
    Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade holding fixture and machining method contemplates the subassembly of all the blades upon the rotor of the compressor or turbine. Fixture rings along with radial biasing members in the form of annular o-rings are intersecured to opposite sides of the blades so as to radially position the latter in their normal "running position" while so mounted on the rotor of the wheel. In such condition all of the blades may be simultaneously machined such that the outer tips thereof lie on a true uniform, desired outer diameter to provide subsequently uniform tip clearance to the surrounding shroud when mounted in a gas turbine engine for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Vickers, James A. Sanger