Patents by Inventor Thomas Opderbecke

Thomas Opderbecke 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: 10193407
    Abstract: A rotor has a rotor core with protruding fingers defining slots for conductors and support blocks at the axial ends of the fingers fixed by screws. The fingers have holes for housing the screws. The method for repairing the rotor includes removing the screws and support blocks, drilling the holes to increase the diameter thereof, providing plugs into the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Opderbecke, Kornelia Weidemann, Simon Baldasera, Sanjiv Kumar Mishra, Simon Malcolm Potter, Markus Noe
  • Publication number: 20170175534
    Abstract: A blade assembly having a modular structure, wherein the blade elements include at least a rotor blade airfoil, a footboard mounting part and a heat shield. The elements each have at its one ending an interchangeable connection for connection among each other, wherein the connection of the airfoil with respect to the other elements is based on a fixation in radial or quasi-radial extension compared to the rotor axis of the turbomachine. The assembling of the blade airfoil in connection with the footboard mounting part is based on a force-fit or form-fit fixation, or on use of a metallic and/or ceramic surface for the purpose of a friction-locked bonding actuated by adherence interconnecting, or on friction-locking with a detachable, permanent or semi-permanent fixation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Joergen FERBER, Simone HOEVEL, Thomas OPDERBECKE, Dmitry YAKUSHKOV, Alexey DROZDOV
  • Patent number: 9677149
    Abstract: A method for post-weld heat treatment of a without a filler material welded high strength component made of a gamma prime (??) strengthened superalloy can include providing the welded component, heating the welded component by applying a rapid heating-up rate in the range of 20° C./min to 40° C./min during the entire temperature range from room temperature (RT) up to a temperature T1 of at least 1000° C., holding the welded component at T1 and then heating the component by applying a slow heating-up rate of about 5° C./min to a final temperature Tf, then holding the welded component at Tf for a time tf sufficient for at least partially dissolving the gamma prime phase in a weld of the welded component and also in a base material surrounding the weld, and cooling the component with a cooling rate that is greater than or equal to about 20° C./min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Etter, Daniel Beckel, Thomas Opderbecke, Guenter Ambrosy
  • Publication number: 20170002661
    Abstract: The disclosure refers to a method of assembling or disassembling a rotor blade or guide vane assembly, wherein the rotor blade or guide vane includes an airfoil and additional structured peripheral members forming at least an inner and/or an outer platform of the rotor blade or guide vane. The airfoil includes at least one airfoil sub-structure designed for anchoring at least one superposed component for the purpose of a thermal protection. The connection between the airfoil sub-structure and the superposed component is supported on friction-locked device, wherein the airfoil sub-structure is formed by a spar and the superposed component includes at least one flow-charged outer shell. Connection between the spar or airfoil understructure and flow-charged outer shell is formed by a force-fit and/or a form-fit fixation or a shrinking joint, wherein the airfoil and additional structured peripheral members is formed by friction-locked device with a detachable, permanent or semi-permanent fixation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas OPDERBECKE, Simone HOEVEL, Joergen FERBER
  • Publication number: 20150001982
    Abstract: A rotor has a rotor core with protruding fingers defining slots for conductors and support blocks at the axial ends of the fingers fixed by screws. The fingers have holes for housing the screws. The method for repairing the rotor includes removing the screws and support blocks, drilling the holes to increase the diameter thereof, providing plugs into the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas OPDERBECKE, Kornelia WEIDEMANN, Simon BALDASERA, Sanjiv Kumar MISHRA, Simon Malcolm POTTER, Markus NOE
  • Publication number: 20140366995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of post-weld heat treatment of a without a filler material electron beam or laser welded high strength component made of a gamma prime (??) strengthened superalloy based on Ni or Co or Fe or combinations thereof. The method consists of the following steps a) providing the welded component, then b) heating the welded component by applying a rapid heating-up rate in the range of about 20 to 40° C./min during the entire temperature range from RT up to a temperature T1 of at least 1000° C., then c) holding the welded component at T1 and then heating the component by applying a slow heating-up rate of about 5° C./min to a final temperature Tf, then d) holding the welded component at Tf for a time tf, wherein isothermal dwell time tf is sufficient for at least partially dissolving the gamma prime phase in the weld and also in the base material surrounding the weld; then e) cooling the component with a cooling rate of about 20° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Etter, Daniel Beckel, Thomas Opderbecke, Guenter Ambrosy
  • Publication number: 20080245775
    Abstract: An automated method for detecting the wear of a non-consumable electrode of an arc welding torch and for automatically replacing or remachining the electrode when it is eroded with a fresh electrode includes the following steps: a) the number of strikes performed by the electrode in question, and possibly the arc time of the electrode and the strike time for establishing the arc, is measured or counted during welding; b) the value of at least one of the wear-indicating parameters determined in step a) is compared with at least one preset respective reference value; and c) the eroded electrode is replaced with a fresh or sharpened electrode when the value of at least one of the wear-indicating parameters is equal to or exceeds at least the preset respective reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicants: L' AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L' ETUDE ET L' EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE, AIR LIQUIDE WELDING FRANCE
    Inventors: Thomas Opderbecke, Sebastien Gadrey
  • Patent number: 7241970
    Abstract: A method of brazing galvanized metal parts such as those used for motor vehicle elements or container components. The parts are joined together to create a brazed joint by using at least one electric arc, a metal filler wire, and a gas shield. The gas shield contains hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Fortain, Jean-Yves Mouton, Thomas Opderbecke
  • Publication number: 20060289394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a arc welding process employing a TIG torch provided with a non-consumable electrode and a consumable filler wire, the end of said consumable wire being progressively melted by an electric arc generated between the non-consumable electrode and at least one workpiece to be welded so as to transfer molten metal from the wire to said workpiece and thus obtain a welded joint. The consumable wire is fed in at an angle of less than 50° to the axis of the electrode. Metal is transferred to the welded joint via a liquid bridge so that there is permanent contact between the puddle of molten metal forming the welded joint and the melted end of the filled wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Olivier Revel, Thomas Opderbecke, Pascal Bertin
  • Publication number: 20060289393
    Abstract: A method for the TIG braze-welding of one or more steel workpieces employing a TIG welding torch, a consumable wire and a shielding gas, characterized in that the shielding gas is a ternary gas mixture formed from helium, hydrogen and argon, containing less than 5% helium by volume; less than 1% hydrogen by volume; and argon for the balance. Application of the method to the welding of galvanized carbon steel sheet for automobiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Olivier Revel, Andre Borne, Thomas Opderbecke
  • Publication number: 20050082349
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas mixture containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and argon in the following volume proportions: 0.4 to 2% hydrogen, 0.3 to 2% carbon dioxide and argon for the remainder (up to 100%). The invention also relates to a method of braze welding galvanised metal parts in which brazing is performed between the parts to be assembled by means of fusion, using at least one electric arc, one metal filler wire and a brazing gas shield which is formed by one such ternary gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Fortain, Jean-Yves Mouton, Thomas Opderbecke