Patents by Inventor Carl Granger, Jr.

Carl Granger, Jr. 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: 6175234
    Abstract: An intermediary device is provided between an eddy current bolt hole inspection machine and an associated eddy current probe to positionally align the probe in each bolt hole to be inspected. A first end of the device is attachable to the eddy current bolt hole inspection machine, and a second end, having a tightening bolt, is attachable to the eddy current probe. A collet associated with the second end of the device secures the probe to the device when the tightening bolt is tightened subsequent to the second end accepting the eddy current probe. An adjustable flange component has a first portion separated from a second portion via a spring wave washer to allow the second portion to move left to right and front to back, relative to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Granger, Jr., David E. Day, Thomas B. Hewton
  • Patent number: 5903147
    Abstract: An eddy current device for inspecting a component, such as a closed surface area of a gas turbine engine or the like, includes an eddy current array circuit having an active face for positioning on a surface portion of the component during an inspection operation and backing on a surface of the eddy current array circuit opposite to the active face. The eddy current array circuit and backing are disposed over the operating face and expandable sides of an extendible pin. The extendible pin has a slot formed therein with interior side edges which narrow toward the operating face of the pin at a predetermined slope. The expanding pin is positioned to cause the angled sides to mate while engaging the interior angled sides of the round or shaped hole to cause the exterior sides of the expandable pin to expand outwardly a greater distance as the pin is pushed deeper into the hole. This causes the eddy current circuit to conform with the shape of the surface to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Granger, Jr., Francis H. Little, Thomas B. Hewton, Kristina H. V. Hedengren
  • Patent number: 5841277
    Abstract: A probe, such as an eddy current probe, which can be moved by hand to a surface to be tested. A toroidal-shaped first resilient member contacts the bottom face of a support member. An elastic membrane extends over the bore of the first resilient member, contacts the bottom lateral surface of the first resilient member, and is unattached to the radially-inward-facing surface of the first resilient member. A more elastic, second resilient member is placed in the bore, is unattached to the first resilient member, and contacts the bottom surface of the elastic membrane. A flexible, surface-conformable, eddy current sensing coil overlies a portion of the bottom side of the second resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kristina Helena Valborg Hedengren, John David Young, Thomas Burrows Hewton, Carl Granger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5442286
    Abstract: A device for inspecting a component, such as a dovetail slot of a gas turbine engine or the like, includes an eddy current array circuit having an active face for positioning on the surface of the component during the inspection operation and a backing disposed on a face of the eddy current array circuit opposite to the active face. The eddy current array circuit and the backing are disposed over the operating face and expandable sides of an expandable bar. The expandable bar has a slot formed therein with interior side edges which narrow toward the operating face of the bar at a predetermined slope. An expanding wedge with angled sides is positioned to cause the angled sides to respectively matingly engage the interior sides of the slot to cause the exterior sides of the expandable bar to expand outwardly a greater distance as the wedge is pushed deeper into the slot to cause the eddy current array circuit into conformance with the shape of the surface being inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George H. Sutton, Jr., Francis H. Little, Carl Granger, Jr., Philip F. Stapf