Patents by Inventor Tim Henri Ann Francois
Tim Henri Ann Francois 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).
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Patent number: 11787069Abstract: An insertion tool with a flexible spine and a method for forming thereof are provided. A method includes placing a plurality of links, a flexible spine, and a line assembly into a channel of a fixturing assembly, pulling, via the line assembly, the plurality of links into a tensioned state in the channel, and affixing the flexible spine to each of the plurality of links while in the tensioned state. An insertion tool comprising a plurality of links arranged in a sequence, a flexible spine affixed to three or more links of the plurality of links, and a line assembly inserted through line guides in each of the plurality of links, the line assembly being configured to actuate the plurality of links from a free state to a tensioned state.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Peter John Nisbet, Tim Henri Ann Francois
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Patent number: 11752622Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11692650Abstract: A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11654547Abstract: An extension tool has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another and a support member defining the distal end and including a first wheel disposed at the distal end and a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel. Additionally, or alternatively, an extension tool may comprise a plurality of windows defined in the plurality of sequentially arranged links. The windows are defined periodically along the plurality of sequentially arranged links such that a periodicity of the widows corresponds to a periodicity of a plurality of features of the component.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Joanna Mechelle Jayawickrema, Wayne Ray Grady
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Patent number: 11648843Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condType: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Julian Matthew Foxall
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Publication number: 20230139801Abstract: An insertion tool with a flexible spine and a method for forming thereof are provided. A method includes placing a plurality of links, a flexible spine, and a line assembly into a channel of a fixturing assembly, pulling, via the line assembly, the plurality of links into a tensioned state in the channel, and affixing the flexible spine to each of the plurality of links while in the tensioned state. An insertion tool comprising a plurality of links arranged in a sequence, a flexible spine affixed to three or more links of the plurality of links, and a line assembly inserted through line guides in each of the plurality of links, the line assembly being configured to actuate the plurality of links from a free state to a tensioned state.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Peter John Nisbet, Tim Henri Ann Francois
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Patent number: 11613003Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11584633Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condType: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: OLIVER CRISPIN ROBOTICS LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Christopher David Boyce, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Trevor Owen Hawke
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Publication number: 20220314430Abstract: Extension tools and methods of inserting extension tools within components are provided. For example, an extension tool has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another and a support member defining the distal end and including a first wheel disposed at the distal end and a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel. Additionally, or alternatively, an extension tool may comprise a plurality of windows defined in the plurality of sequentially arranged links. The windows are defined periodically along the plurality of sequentially arranged links such that a periodicity of the widows corresponds to a periodicity of a plurality of features of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Joanna Mechelle Jayawickrema, Wayne Ray Grady
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Publication number: 20210229270Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20210231239Abstract: A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20210229269Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20210198093Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condType: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Christopher David Boyce, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Trevor Owen Hawke
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Publication number: 20210197683Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condType: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Julian Matthew Foxall