Patents by Inventor Eric Buskirk

Eric Buskirk 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 systems for in-situ machine maintenance
    Patent number: 8434216
    Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining a machine using an in-situ vehicle (IV) is provided. The IV may be used with a machine that includes a work-piece and an interference body positioned proximate a surface of the work-piece such that a relatively small gap extends between the work-piece and the interference body. The method includes transporting the IV from external to the machine into the gap, positioning the IV in the gap such that at least a portion of the IV circumscribes a work area of the work-piece, locking the IV between the work-piece and the interference body, and manipulating a tool coupled to the IV from external to the machine, the tool configured to transfer a component between the work-piece and a storage cassette on the IV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Waheed Tony Mall, Robert Martin Roney, Jr., Roderick Mark Lusted, Eric Buskirk, James Thaddeus Henley, Paul C. Bagley, Gary Lindsey Stewart, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Peter John McGrath
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IN-SITU MACHINE MAINTENANCE
    Publication number: 20090172934
    Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining a machine using an in-situ vehicle (IV) is provided. The IV may be used with a machine that includes a work-piece and an interference body positioned proximate a surface of the work-piece such that a relatively small gap extends between the work-piece and the interference body. The method includes transporting the IV from external to the machine into the gap, positioning the IV in the gap such that at least a portion of the IV circumscribes a work area of the work-piece, locking the IV between the work-piece and the interference body, and manipulating a tool coupled to the IV from external to the machine, the tool configured to transfer a component between the work-piece and a storage cassette on the IV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Waheed Tony Mall, Robert Martin Roney, JR., Roderick Mark Lusted, Eric Buskirk, James Thaddeus Henley, Paul C. Bagley, Gary Lindsey Stewart, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Peter John McGrath