Patents by Inventor Wayne David Sullivan
Wayne David Sullivan 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: 11014205Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the installation or removal of turbine blades at a turbine blade base thereof. An apparatus according to the present disclosure can include: an operative head configured to engage an axial sidewall of a turbine blade base; and a mount removably coupled to a portion of a turbomachine assembly by a coupler, wherein the operative head is slidably coupled to the mount such that the operative selectively engages the axial sidewall of the turbine blade base, and wherein the operative head is shaped to impart an axial and a circumferential force against the turbine blade base.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hubert Karol Wojtowicz, Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 10280802Abstract: An apparatus for lifting an inner casing of a turbine includes a base, an arm, a guide roller, and an adjustment system. The arm has a first end and a second end, and is pivotally connected to the base intermediate the first end and the second end. The guide roller is operatively coupled to the first end of the arm to rotatably engage an exterior surface of the inner casing, and an adjustment system extending from the base and engaging the arm to change an angular position of the arm relative to the base and adjust a position of the guide roller relative to the exterior surface of the inner casing.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brett Darrick Klingler, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 10273814Abstract: A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount is provided. The tool may include a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount. The tool may also include a lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component. Actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jean-Philippe Guillard, James Bradford Holmes, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 10265838Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having a connection portion for engaging the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction at an acute angle relative to longitudinal axis of a dovetail slot of a rotor wheel adjacent to the component.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Stuart Craig Hanson, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20180126502Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the installation or removal of turbine blades at a turbine blade base thereof. An apparatus according to the present disclosure can include: an operative head configured to engage an axial sidewall of a turbine blade base; and a mount removably coupled to a portion of a turbomachine assembly by a coupler, wherein the operative head is slidably coupled to the mount such that the operative selectively engages the axial sidewall of the turbine blade base, and wherein the operative head is shaped to impart an axial and a circumferential force against the turbine blade base.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Hubert Karol WOJTOWICZ, Sandra Beverly KOLVICK, Wayne David SULLIVAN
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Publication number: 20180066543Abstract: An apparatus for lifting an inner casing of a turbine includes a base, an arm, a guide roller, and an adjustment system. The arm has a first end and a second end, and is pivotally connected to the base intermediate the first end and the second end. The guide roller is operatively coupled to the first end of the arm to rotatably engage an exterior surface of the inner casing, and an adjustment system extending from the base and engaging the arm to change an angular position of the arm relative to the base and adjust a position of the guide roller relative to the exterior surface of the inner casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brett Darrick Klingler, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20170274510Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having a connection portion for engaging the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction at an acute angle relative to longitudinal axis of a dovetail slot of a rotor wheel adjacent to the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2016Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Stuart Craig Hanson, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9713862Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of displacing a turbomachine component from position in a first slot of a turbomachine spacer disk. The method can include detachably affixing a mounting member of a displacement apparatus to a second slot in the gas turbomachine spacer disk using an attachment device, rotating a displacement arm of the displacement apparatus until the displacement arm contacts the turbomachine component, and displacing the turbomachine component from the position within the first slot by linearly actuating the displacement arm with a linear actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20170191380Abstract: A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount is provided. The tool may include a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount. The tool may also include a lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component. Actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jean-Philippe Guillard, James Bradford Holmes, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9677428Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having an alignment portion and a connection portion. The alignment portion defines a longitudinal axis and a cross sectional shape complementary to a slot defined in a rotor wheel of the turbomachine. When the tool is positioned in the slot, the connection portion is configured to contact the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the alignment portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, David Randolph Spracher, James Robert Hollis, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9636789Abstract: Various embodiments include methods adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a method of displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot using a displacement apparatus, includes: detachably engaging an engagement arm of the displacement apparatus to the turbine bucket, the engagement arm attached to a linear actuator coupled to a body of the displacement apparatus, and the engagement arm adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator; contacting the turbomachine wheel with at least two contacting portions of the body of the displacement apparatus; and displacing the turbine bucket from a position within a slot of the turbomachine wheel in the first axial direction by linearly actuating the engagement arm with the linear actuator.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20160332267Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of displacing a turbomachine component from position in a first slot of a turbomachine spacer disk. The method can include detachably affixing a mounting member of a displacement apparatus to a second slot in the gas turbomachine spacer disk using an attachment device, rotating a displacement arm of the displacement apparatus until the displacement arm contacts the turbomachine component, and displacing the turbomachine component from the position within the first slot by linearly actuating the displacement arm with a linear actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20160271743Abstract: Various embodiments include methods adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a method of displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot using a displacement apparatus, includes: detachably engaging an engagement arm of the displacement apparatus to the turbine bucket, the engagement arm attached to a linear actuator coupled to a body of the displacement apparatus, and the engagement arm adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator; contacting the turbomachine wheel with at least two contacting portions of the body of the displacement apparatus; and displacing the turbine bucket from a position within a slot of the turbomachine wheel in the first axial direction by linearly actuating the engagement arm with the linear actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9429041Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments an apparatus for displacing a component of a gas turbine from a first slot in a spacer disk includes a body including a mounting member configured to affixedly attach to a second slot of the spacer disk, a linear actuator coupled to the body and a displacement arm coupled to the linear actuator, the displacement arm actuatable in a first axial direction by the linear actuator to contact the component and displace the component relative to the first slot.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9381602Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments apparatuses for displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot include a body having at least two contacting portions for contacting the turbomachine wheel, a linear actuator coupled to the body, and an engagement arm for engaging the turbine bucket, the engagement arm coupled to the linear actuator and adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9322504Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and systems used for the positioning of equipment. An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a height adjustable table; a platform coupled to the height adjustable table; a tilt adjuster coupled to the platform, the tilt adjuster being configured to tilt the platform relative to the height adjustable table; an equipment support structure slidably connected to the platform, the equipment support structure being configured to support a piece of equipment; a drive mechanism coupled to the platform and configured to slidably move the equipment support structure across the platform; and a bracket coupled to the equipment support structure, wherein the bracket is configured to removably attach the piece of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Wayne David Sullivan, Jun Yang
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Publication number: 20150328729Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments an apparatus for displacing a component of a gas turbine from a first slot in a spacer disk includes a body including a mounting member configured to affixedly attach to a second slot of the spacer disk, a linear actuator coupled to the body and a displacement arm coupled to the linear actuator, the displacement arm actuatable in a first axial direction by the linear actuator to contact the component and displace the component relative to the first slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20150328728Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments apparatuses for displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot include a body having at least two contacting portions for contacting the turbomachine wheel, a linear actuator coupled to the body, and an engagement arm for engaging the turbine bucket, the engagement arm coupled to the linear actuator and adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, David Randolph Spracher, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9144866Abstract: Various embodiments include an apparatus for installing or removing a transition piece (TP) in a gas turbine. The apparatus can include: a control arm assembly sized to rest within an opening in the gas turbine; a guide system coupled to the control arm assembly, the guide system for transporting the TP within the opening in the gas turbine; and a counter balance coupled to the guide system, the counter balance for countering weight of the TP during the installing or the removing of the TP in the gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, James Robert Hollis, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20150260043Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having an alignment portion and a connection portion. The alignment portion defines a longitudinal axis and a cross sectional shape complementary to a slot defined in a rotor wheel of the turbomachine. When the tool is positioned in the slot, the connection portion is configured to contact the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the alignment portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Bradford Holmes, David Randolph Spracher, James Robert Hollis, Wayne David Sullivan