Patents by Inventor Craig Douglas Carmichael

Craig Douglas Carmichael 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).

  • Apparatus and method for forming flanges on components
    Patent number: 9475218
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a flange on a component is presented. The apparatus includes a mold disposed for the placement of the component thereon, a forming tool, and a tubular bladder. The forming tool is assembled to hold the component with a first portion extending into a space defined between the mold and the forming tool. The tubular bladder has a non-uniform wall thickness around its cross section along a longitudinal dimension of the bladder. The bladder is disposed in a step defined in the mold, and configured to impart a forming force to the portion extending into the space to form the flange on the component when the bladder is inflated. A method for forming the flange on the component is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Vermilyea, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Matthew Allen Radebach, Alexander Joseph Vallee, Jr., Craig Douglas Carmichael
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING FLANGES ON COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20150266213
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a flange on a component is presented. The apparatus includes a mold disposed for the placement of the component thereon, a forming tool, and a tubular bladder. The forming tool is assembled to hold the component with a first portion extending into a space defined between the mold and the forming tool. The tubular bladder has a non-uniform wall thickness around its cross section along a longitudinal dimension of the bladder. The bladder is disposed in a step defined in the mold, and configured to impart a forming force to the portion extending into the space to form the flange on the component when the bladder is inflated. A method for forming the flange on the component is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Vermilyea, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Matthew Allen Radebach, Alexander Joseph Vallee, JR., Craig Douglas Carmichael