Patents by Inventor Evan Graham
Evan Graham 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).
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Publication number: 20090048730Abstract: A method for planning repair of an engine is provided. The method comprises monitoring an engine having a plurality of engine modules and determining one or more module-specific health estimates for one or more of the engine modules, based on a plurality of engine parameters. The method further comprises planning repair of the engine based on one or more of the module-specific health estimates determined for one or more of the engine modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Srinkanth Akkaram, Richard Scott Bourgeois, James Kenneth Aragones, Michael Evans Graham, Nirm Velemylum Nirmalan, Sridhar Adibhatla, Maria Cecilia Mazzaro
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Patent number: 7412300Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more thermal forming treatments may be predicted to achieve a desired shape and/or microstructure in a workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Peter Mika, Michael Evans Graham, Wenwu Zhang
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Publication number: 20080134505Abstract: A fixture to facilitate positioning a gas turbine engine component. The fixture includes a stationary portion including at least one stationary datum locator extending outward from the stationary portion. The fixture also includes a movable portion including at least one movable datum locator extending from the movable portion. The at least one movable datum locator is substantially parallel to each of the at least one stationary datum locator. The movable portion is movable in a direction that is away from the stationary portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Thomas Andrew Gabriel, Michelle Rene Bezdecny, Rajesh Ramamurthy, Clarence Albert Ash, Michael Evans Graham
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Patent number: 7231798Abstract: A method for bending a tube in a pre-selected geometry includes deriving at least one processing parameter from the geometry, applying a thermal source circumferentially to the tube to heat the tube along at least one circumferentially directed path in accordance with the parameter and actively cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature. The applying and active cooling steps are alternately performed a number of times. A system for bending the tube includes a thermal source for heating at least one region along the path on the tube, a tube advancing module for advancing the tube, an active cooling module for cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature, a processing module to derive at least one processing parameter from the geometry and a control module configured to control the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with the parameter. The alternate heating and cooling are performed a number of times.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
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Publication number: 20060065035Abstract: A method for bending a tube in a pre-selected geometry includes deriving at least one processing parameter from the geometry, applying a thermal source circumferentially to the tube to heat the tube along at least one circumferentially directed path in accordance with the parameter and actively cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature. The applying and active cooling steps are alternately performed a number of times. A system for bending the tube includes a thermal source for heating at least one region along the path on the tube, a tube advancing module for advancing the tube, an active cooling module for cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature, a processing module to derive at least one processing parameter from the geometry and a control module configured to control the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with the parameter. The alternate heating and cooling are performed a number of times.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
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Patent number: 7002560Abstract: A pen or stylus-operated graphical user interface for a computer or computing device, which includes a sensing surface having an area corresponding to a data input field, the data input field being conditioned for hand entering and editing of graphical input symbols, and handwriting recognition software operative to analyze the graphical input symbols and superimposing a display field of character data corresponding to the graphical input symbols on the data input field.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Human Interface Technologies Inc.Inventor: Evan Graham
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Patent number: 6968256Abstract: A method for processing one or more manufactured parts is provided. The method includes generating a number of tool paths corresponding to a feature to be added to the one or more manufactured parts. Each of the tool paths has an effect on a respective one of the representative manufactured parts. The method further includes clustering the tool paths into a number of clusters based on the respective effect and a tolerance of the feature being added to the representative manufactured part and processing a manufactured part using one of the tool paths, which corresponds to a respective subpopulation in which the manufactured part lies.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2003Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, Prashant Madhukar Kulkarni, John Dennis Jackson
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Publication number: 20040070573Abstract: A pen or stylus-operated graphical user interface for a computer or computing device, which includes a sensing surface having an area corresponding to a data input field, the data input field being conditioned for hand entering and editing of graphical input symbols, and handwriting recognition software operative to analyze the graphical input symbols and superimposing a display field of character data corresponding to the graphical input symbols on the data input field.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventor: Evan Graham
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Publication number: 20040034444Abstract: A method for processing one or more manufactured parts is provided. The method includes generating a number of tool paths corresponding to a feature to be added to the one or more manufactured parts. Each of the tool paths has an effect on a respective one of the representative manufactured parts. The method further includes clustering the tool paths into a number of clusters based on the respective effect and a tolerance of the feature being added to the representative manufactured part and processing a manufactured part using one of the tool paths, which corresponds to a respective subpopulation in which the manufactured part lies.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, Prashant Medhukar Kulkarni, John Dennis Jackson
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Patent number: 6661930Abstract: A method of nesting a computer model of a part (100) into a computer model of a fixture (104) useful for situations where the original positions of the part and fixture are completely separate and for situations where the respective part and fixture surfaces overlap. The model of the fixture is first inset by a distance D sufficient to eliminate any overlap between the modeled surfaces. The minimum normal distance segment (105) between the inset fixture surface and the part surface may then be determined using standard CAD system capabilities. A vector is then constructed having a length D beginning at the minimum distance point 111 on the inset fixture surface (107) and extending in the direction of the minimum normal distance segment (105) to a point (112) on the original fixture model surface (106). The minimum distance segment between point (112) and the surface of the part (102) is then determined to identify a point (114). The respective point pair (112,114) is recorded.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, Dean Michael Robinson
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Patent number: 6662071Abstract: A method (28) for manufacturing a precision part (18) utilizing a non-precision fixture (10). The non-precision fixture is precisely measured (40) and modeled in a CAD program (42) together with a model of the part (30). The part model is nested (48) into the fixture model, and a transformation matrix describing the movement of a coordinate system of the part during the step of nesting is recorded (50). The transformation matrix may then be used to transform (52) a tool path that had been developed for the originally designed shape of the fixture. Accordingly, imprecision in the location of a part within an imprecisely measured fixture may be accounted for during subsequent manufacturing operations.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2000Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Dennis Jackson, Dean Michael Robinson, Michael Evans Graham, Gregory Alan Mohr, Olalekan Solomon Odesanya
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Patent number: 6479790Abstract: A method and system for dual laser shock peening an article are provided. The method allows for defining a spot pattern comprising a plurality of spots on a first surface of the article to be peened. The method further allows for defining a spot pattern comprising a plurality of spots on a second surface of the article to be peened. The first and second surfaces comprise mutually opposite surfaces relative to one another. Each one of the respective spots on the second surface is arranged to correspond to a respective spot on the first surface and comprising a plurality of matched pair of spots. A generating step allows for generating dual laser beams being respectively aligned to simultaneously impinge on each respective matched pair of spots.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, John Dennis Jackson
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Patent number: 6353768Abstract: An exemplary method of designing a manufacturing process comprises the steps of representing a workpiece as a plurality of triangular finite elements, representing the forming tools with mathematical equations which typically include cubic polynomials, simulating a deformation of the workpiece by the forming tools with a finite element model, wherein the finite element model is integrated with explicit integration. The method may be carried out with an apparatus which includes a memory device which stores a program including computer readable instructions, and a processor which executes the instructions. After the deformation of the workpiece has been simulated by the finite element model, the characteristics of the workpiece and forming tools can be modified to improve the final shape of the workpiece. After the finite element simulation produces an acceptable final workpiece shape, an actual workpiece can be formed with actual tools based on the simulation.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1998Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Michael Charles Ostrowski, William Thomas Carter, Jr., Michael Evans Graham
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Patent number: 6256546Abstract: A system and method for numerical control processing of an in-process part. A mathematical mapping is generated which approximates the deformation of the in-process part as measured against a nominal model. The mapping is applied to nominal NC tool paths to generate modified tool paths that travel in the distorted coordinate space of the in-process part. A result is that local features may be machined into the in-process parts in reasonable locations, and non contact measurement systems as well as surface finishing systems can travel at a more constant distance from the surface of the in-process part.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, John Dennis Jackson
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Patent number: 5936718Abstract: A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1998Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weiping Wang, Thomas Huei Hwang, Emily Yixie Shu, Richard Alan Ridilla, Michael Evans Graham, Michael Kent Cueman, Meng-Ling Hsiao, Charles Richard Evans
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Patent number: 5857032Abstract: This invention discloses a system and method for measuring and monitoring three-dimensional shaped objects with projections of computer models of the objects. The computer models of the three-dimensional shaped objects are in the form of grid patterns. An image of the computer model of grid patterns is simultaneously projected from a dual projection system in two directions onto a real world instance of the object. Any variation between the computer model and the real world instance of the object is highlighted directly on the object by interference patterns of the two projections on the real world instance. The variation is quantified by counting the number of interference patterns on the real world instance of the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weiping Wang, Michael Evans Graham, John Knox Hinds, Garth M. Nelson
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Patent number: 5844669Abstract: A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1996Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weiping Wang, Thomas Huei Hwang, Emily Yxie Shu, Richard Alan Ridilla, Michael Evans Graham, Michael Kent Cueman, Meng-Ling Hsiao, Charles Richard Evans
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Patent number: 5687305Abstract: A system and method for precisely superimposing images of computer models in three-dimensional space to a corresponding physical object in physical space. The system includes a computer for producing a computer model of a three-dimensional object. A projector means projects an image of the computer model onto the physical object. A spatial transformation accurately maps the computer model onto a projection stage at the projector which projects a formed image in a three-dimensional space onto the physical object in a one-to-one correspondence.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Evans Graham, Weiping Wang, Paul Stanley Stephens