Patents by Inventor Brian Ralph THOMPSON

Brian Ralph THOMPSON 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).

  • Inner casing vacuum system for a gas turbine engine casing
    Patent number: 8636449
    Abstract: A method of drilling one or more holes, substantially in situ, in a turbomachine casing includes locating piping including at least one vacuum head within the turbomachine casing in proximity to a hole to be drilled; drilling at least one hole in the casing such that drill chips or shavings caused by the drilling are collected in the vacuum head; and applying a vacuum through the piping to the at least one vacuum head to thereby remove the drill chips or shavings collected in the vacuum head to a location outside the turbomachine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Hynous, Brian Ralph Thompson
  • APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING OPERATION OF FAN BLADES IN A GAS TURBINE
    Publication number: 20130171611
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a training apparatus, wherein embodiments of the training apparatus simulate operation of fan blades in a turbine engine. An advantage that practice of some disclosed embodiments of the training apparatus is to provide a platform to train skills for maintaining and servicing turbine engines without placing the individual and/or customer hardware in jeopardy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Hynous, Brian Ralph Thompson
  • INNER CASING VACUUM SYSTEM FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE CASING
    Publication number: 20120275873
    Abstract: A method of drilling one or more holes, substantially in situ, in a turbomachine casing includes locating piping including at least one vacuum head within the turbomachine casing in proximity to a hole to be drilled; drilling at least one hole in the casing such that drill chips or shavings caused by the drilling are collected in the vacuum head; and applying a vacuum through the piping to the at least one vacuum head to thereby remove the drill chips or shavings collected in the vacuum head to a location outside the turbomachine casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas HYNOUS, Brian Ralph THOMPSON