Patents by Inventor Charles L. Ball

Charles L. Ball 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for machining a work piece
    Patent number: 6326579
    Abstract: An electric discharge machine includes a machine base configured to support a work piece, a y-axis alignment assembly having a first direction of travel and mounted to the machine base, and an electrode alignment assembly mounted to the machine base and configured to hold an electrode during a machining process. The electrode alignment assembly has a second, a third, and a fourth direction of travel, and an attached rotary indexer has a fifth direction of travel. Movements in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth directions of travel are automatically controlled by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David M. Krawczyk, Charles L. Ball