Patents by Inventor Brian C. Wheeler

Brian C. Wheeler 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).

  • Stator shim welding
    Patent number: 7591634
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching a shim to at least one of a base of a stator vane unit and a ring segment of a ring segment assembly in a gas turbine compressor. The method includes providing a shim shaped to conform to an engaging face of the base of the stator vane unit or the segment ring of the segment ring assembly, with a predetermined thickness dimension; boring at least one hole, normal to the face of the shim and extending fully through the thickness dimension of the shim; positioning the shim on the engaging face of the at least one of the base of the stator vane unit and the segment ring of the segment ring assembly; and welding the shim to the engaging face of the at least one of the base of the stator vane unit and the ring segment of the stator ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian C. Wheeler, Lynn Charles Gagne, Kelvin R. Aaron, Thomas R. Tipton
  • Stator shim welding
    Publication number: 20080118352
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching a shim to at least one of a base of a stator vane unit and a ring segment of a ring segment assembly in a gas turbine compressor. The method includes providing a shim shaped to conform to an engaging face of the base of the stator vane unit or the segment ring of the segment ring assembly, with a predetermined thickness dimension; boring at least one hole, normal to the face of the shim and extending fully through the thickness dimension of the shim; positioning the shim on the engaging face of the at least one of the base of the stator vane unit and the segment ring of the segment ring assembly; and welding the shim to the engaging face of the at least one of the base of the stator vane unit and the ring segment of the stator ring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Brian C. Wheeler, Lynn Charles Gagne, Kelvin R. Aaron, Thomas R. Tipton