Patents by Inventor Bryan Edward Williams

Bryan Edward Williams 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: 11577907
    Abstract: Protective covers for rotors are disclosed. The protective covers may include a first liner portion contacting and covering a first portion of the rotor, and a second liner portion positioned adjacent and at least partially aligned circumferentially with the first liner portion. The second liner portion may contact and cover a second portion of the rotor. The protective covers may also include an outer casing covering the first liner portion and the second liner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Patrick Senkiw, Michael Ericson Friedman, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 11524387
    Abstract: A peening device for treating a component includes a shot media propulsion source configured to propel a quantity of shot media. The device also includes a plurality of treatment enclosures each selectively coupleable to the shot media propulsion source. Each of the treatment enclosures has a shape complementary to a corresponding one of a plurality of portions of the component, such that each treatment enclosure and the corresponding portion cooperate to enclose the shot media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Ericson Friedman, Colin Beckwith Spellmeyer, Bryan Edward Williams, Paul Lawrence Kalmar
  • Patent number: 11506058
    Abstract: A component according to the disclosure may include a body having an aperture therein for receiving one of a turbomachine shaft or a lathe chuck, wherein in response to the body being coupled to the lathe chuck, the aperture is oriented substantially axially relative to an axis of rotation of the body with the lathe chuck; and a flange coupled to and in direct axial contact with the body, the flange including a surface that extends axially relative to the axis of rotation of the body, wherein the surface of the flange comprises a matingly engageable face configured to contact an axially aligned surface during operation of the component and having a sanding indentation thereon, wherein a surface roughness of the surface of the flange is less than a surface roughness of a remainder of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bruce John Badding, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 11098729
    Abstract: A method of modifying a compressor wheel includes forming a stake-receiving feature having a reconditioned surface on a radial face of an axial slot in a rim of the compressor wheel. The forming includes removing stake marks in the radial face. A gas turbine wheel assembly includes a gas turbine wheel rotatable about an axis of a turbine and blades. A radial face of an axial slot in the gas turbine wheel includes a stake-receiving feature having a reconditioned surface. Material displaced at the reconditioned surface by staking axially retains a blade in the axial slot. A method of mounting a blade to a gas turbine wheel includes staking the base of the blade in the axial slot by displacing material at a reconditioned surface of a stake-receiving feature on a radial face of the axial slot to axially retain the base of the blade in the axial slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20200055165
    Abstract: A peening device for treating a component includes a shot media propulsion source configured to propel a quantity of shot media. The device also includes a plurality of treatment enclosures each selectively coupleable to the shot media propulsion source. Each of the treatment enclosures has a shape complementary to a corresponding one of a plurality of portions of the component, such that each treatment enclosure and the corresponding portion cooperate to enclose the shot media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Ericson Friedman, Colin Beckwith Spellmeyer, Bryan Edward Williams, Paul Lawrence Kalmar
  • Patent number: 10493594
    Abstract: A peening device for treating a component includes a shot media propulsion source configured to propel a quantity of shot media. The device also includes a plurality of treatment enclosures each selectively coupleable to the shot media propulsion source. Each of the treatment enclosures has a shape complementary to a corresponding one of a plurality of portions of the component, such that each treatment enclosure and the corresponding portion cooperate to enclose the shot media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Ericson Friedman, Colin Beckwith Spellmeyer, Bryan Edward Williams, Paul Lawrence Kalmar
  • Publication number: 20190262969
    Abstract: A component according to the disclosure may include: a rotatable body having an aperture therein for receiving one of a turbomachine shaft or a lathe chuck, wherein the aperture is oriented substantially axially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotatable body; and a flange coupled to and in direct axial contact with the body, the flange including a surface that extends axially relative to the axis of rotation of the body, wherein the surface of the flange comprises a matingly engageable face configured to contact an axially aligned surface during operation of the component, the matingly engageable face having a burnishing indentation thereon, wherein a surface roughness of the surface of the flange is less than a surface roughness of a remainder of the flange, and wherein a compressive stress of the surface of the flange is greater than a compressive stress of the remainder of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 10384326
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide surface treatment tools, methodologies, and/or repaired turbomachine components. A surface treatment tool according to the present disclosure can include a lathe assembly having a lathe chuck for receiving a component thereon, wherein the lathe chuck rotates the component about a first axis of rotation, and wherein the component includes an exposed axial target surface; and a sander or burnishing tool coupled to the lathe assembly and including a sanding or burnishing surface thereon, coupled to a drive system, wherein the sanding or burnishing surface rotates about a second axis of rotation substantially non-parallel with the first axis of rotation, such that the sanding or burnishing surface selectively contacts the target surface of the component to yield a polished target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bruce John Badding, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20180222666
    Abstract: Protective covers for rotors are disclosed. The protective covers may include a first liner portion contacting and covering a first portion of the rotor, and a second liner portion positioned adjacent and at least partially aligned circumferentially with the first liner portion. The second liner portion may contact and cover a second portion of the rotor. The protective covers may also include an outer casing covering the first liner portion and the second liner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Patrick Senkiw, Michael Ericson Friedman, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 10005139
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include portable milling tools and methods for milling components. In an embodiment, a portable milling tool can be provided for a component including a plurality of dovetail slots therein, each of the plurality of dovetail slots being oriented substantially axially relative to a rotation axis of the component. The portable milling tool can include: a mounting plate configured to engage the component; a tool-aligning member slidably coupled to the mounting plate and extending along a chordal axis relative to the rotation axis of the component; and a milling head extending axially from the tool-aligning member to a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots, such that sliding movement of the tool-aligning member relative to the mounting plate moves the milling head along the chordal axis to contact a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Williams, Charles Van Buchan, Andrew Joseph Colletti
  • Publication number: 20180073365
    Abstract: A component according to the disclosure may include a body having an aperture therein for receiving one of a turbomachine shaft or a lathe chuck, wherein in response to the body being coupled to the lathe chuck, the aperture is oriented substantially axially relative to an axis of rotation of the body with the lathe chuck; and a flange coupled to and in direct axial contact with the body, the flange including a surface that extends axially relative to the axis of rotation of the body, wherein the surface of the flange comprises a matingly engageable face configured to contact an axially aligned surface during operation of the component and having a sanding indentation thereon, wherein a surface roughness of the surface of the flange is less than a surface roughness of a remainder of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bruce John Badding, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 9909595
    Abstract: A compressor has a plurality of stages, and each of the stages includes a wheel. Each wheel is configured to receive one or more rotor blades. The compressor includes a patch ring mounted on a first rotor wheel. The first rotor wheel has a first rabbet machined therein, and the patch ring is located on the first rabbet. A second rotor wheel is located upstream from the first rotor wheel. The second rotor wheel has a second rabbet machined therein, and the second rabbet is configured to be located opposite to the first rabbet. The second rabbet has a second fillet located between axial and radial surfaces of the second rabbet. The patch ring has a radial height greater than or equal to a radial height of the second fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20180038381
    Abstract: A method of modifying a compressor wheel includes forming a stake-receiving feature having a reconditioned surface on a radial face of an axial slot in a rim of the compressor wheel. The forming includes removing stake marks in the radial face. A gas turbine wheel assembly includes a gas turbine wheel rotatable about an axis of a turbine and blades. A radial face of an axial slot in the gas turbine wheel includes a stake-receiving feature having a reconditioned surface. Material displaced at the reconditioned surface by staking axially retains a blade in the axial slot. A method of mounting a blade to a gas turbine wheel includes staking the base of the blade in the axial slot by displacing material at a reconditioned surface of a stake-receiving feature on a radial face of the axial slot to axially retain the base of the blade in the axial slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph COLLETTI, Bryan Edward WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 9879536
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide surface treatment tools, methodologies, and/or treated turbomachine components. A surface treatment tool according to the present disclosure can include a lathe assembly having a lathe chuck for receiving a component thereon, wherein the lathe chuck rotates the component about a first axis of rotation, and wherein the component includes an exposed axial target surface; and a sander or burnishing tool coupled to the lathe assembly and including a sanding or burnishing surface thereon, coupled to a drive system, wherein the sanding or burnishing surface is oriented along a second axis substantially non-parallel with the first axis of rotation, such that the sanding or burnishing surface selectively contacts the target surface of the component to yield a polished target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bruce John Badding, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20170291280
    Abstract: A peening device for treating a component includes a shot media propulsion source configured to propel a quantity of shot media. The device also includes a plurality of treatment enclosures each selectively coupleable to the shot media propulsion source. Each of the treatment enclosures has a shape complementary to a corresponding one of a plurality of portions of the component, such that each treatment enclosure and the corresponding portion cooperate to enclose the shot media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Ericson Friedman, Colin Beckwith Spellmeyer, Bryan Edward Williams, Paul Lawrence Kalmar
  • Publication number: 20170198592
    Abstract: Methods for mounting a turbine subcomponent to a turbine component are disclosed, including positioning a retaining portion of the turbine subcomponent along a positioning path into association with an emplacement of the turbine component. The retaining portion is orthogonally interlocked with the emplacement relative to the positioning path. The retaining portion and the emplacement define at least one interface extending along the positioning path. The retaining portion is welded to the emplacement along the at least one interface, forming at least one weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams, Charles Van Buchan
  • Publication number: 20170173759
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide surface treatment tools, methodologies, and/or repaired turbomachine components. A surface treatment tool according to the present disclosure can include a lathe assembly having a lathe chuck for receiving a component thereon, wherein the lathe chuck rotates the component about a first axis of rotation, and wherein the component includes an exposed axial target surface; and a sander or burnishing tool coupled to the lathe assembly and including a sanding or burnishing surface thereon, coupled to a drive system, wherein the sanding or burnishing surface rotates about a second axis of rotation substantially non-parallel with the first axis of rotation, such that the sanding or burnishing surface selectively contacts the target surface of the component to yield a polished target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20170175528
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide surface treatment tools, methodologies, and/or treated turbomachine components. A surface treatment tool according to the present disclosure can include a lathe assembly having a lathe chuck for receiving a component thereon, wherein the lathe chuck rotates the component about a first axis of rotation, and wherein the component includes an exposed axial target surface; and a sander or burnishing tool coupled to the lathe assembly and including a sanding or burnishing surface thereon, coupled to a drive system, wherein the sanding or burnishing surface is oriented along a second axis substantially non-parallel with the first axis of rotation, such that the sanding or burnishing surface selectively contacts the target surface of the component to yield a polished target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bruce John Badding, Bryan Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20170173708
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include portable milling tools and methods for milling components. In an embodiment, a portable milling tool can be provided for a component including a plurality of dovetail slots therein, each of the plurality of dovetail slots being oriented substantially axially relative to a rotation axis of the component. The portable milling tool can include: a mounting plate configured to engage the component; a tool-aligning member slidably coupled to the mounting plate and extending along a chordal axis relative to the rotation axis of the component; and a milling head extending axially from the tool-aligning member to a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots, such that sliding movement of the tool-aligning member relative to the mounting plate moves the milling head along the chordal axis to contact a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Williams, Charles Van Buchan, Andrew Joseph Colletti
  • Publication number: 20170023020
    Abstract: A compressor has a plurality of stages, and each of the stages includes a wheel. Each wheel is configured to receive one or more rotor blades. The compressor includes a patch ring mounted on a first rotor wheel. The first rotor wheel has a first rabbet machined therein, and the patch ring is located on the first rabbet. A second rotor wheel is located upstream from the first rotor wheel. The second rotor wheel has a second rabbet machined therein, and the second rabbet is configured to be located opposite to the first rabbet. The second rabbet has a second fillet located between axial and radial surfaces of the second rabbet. The patch ring has a radial height greater than or equal to a radial height of the second fillet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Colletti, Bryan Edward Williams