Patents by Inventor Gregory Norman Fournier

Gregory Norman Fournier 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: 8555473
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a blade installation tool. The blade installation tool may include a vertical guide having a vertical ram path. A ram may be disposed along the vertical guide. The ram can move along the vertical ram path between a lower position and an upper position at a height above the lower position. Gravity may drive the ram from the upper position toward the lower position to provide an impact force of the ram against a blade segment of a turbine or a compressor. The height of the upper position is variable so as to control the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Royce Howes, Eric Donald Anderson, Gregory Norman Fournier
  • Publication number: 20110162179
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a blade installation tool. The blade installation tool may include a vertical guide having a vertical ram path. A ram may be disposed along the vertical guide. The ram can move along the vertical ram path between a lower position and an upper position at a height above the lower position. Gravity may drive the ram from the upper position toward the lower position to provide an impact force of the ram against a blade segment of a turbine or a compressor. The height of the upper position is variable so as to control the impact force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Royce Howes, Eric Donald Anderson, Gregory Norman Fournier
  • Patent number: 6786699
    Abstract: Airfoils and grooves on the rotor or carrier for the airfoils have generally complementary dovetail shapes. The airfoils are installed in the grooves by sliding the bases of the airfoils along the circumferential grooves into final circumferential positions. At each circumferential position, a pin is driven between the base of the airfoil and the bottom of the groove to displace the airfoil radially into a final radially secured position taking up the clearance necessary to enable sliding movement of the airfoils about the groove. A first tool is used to drive each pin in a generally tangential direction by hammering on the end of the tool, transmitting an axial force to the pin. When the circumferential clearance of the last installed airfoil is insufficient to permit further use of a tangentially oriented tool to install additional airfoils, a second tool having an angled head is disposed into the groove to engage the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Elliott Shapiro, Steven Kerry Williams, Charles Byron Adams, Gregory Norman Fournier, Gregory Lee Landry, Maurice David Fournier
  • Publication number: 20040001757
    Abstract: Airfoils and grooves on the rotor or carrier for the airfoils have generally complementary dovetail shapes. The airfoils are installed in the grooves by sliding the bases of the airfoils along the circumferential grooves into final circumferential positions. At each circumferential position, a pin is driven between the base of the airfoil and the bottom of the groove to displace the airfoil radially into a final radially secured position taking up the clearance necessary to enable sliding movement of the airfoils about the groove. A first tool is used to drive each pin in a generally tangential direction by hammering on the end of the tool, transmitting an axial force to the pin. When the circumferential clearance of the last installed airfoil is insufficient to permit further use of a tangentially oriented tool to install additional airfoils, a second tool having an angled head is disposed into the groove to engage the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: David Elliot Shapiro, Steven Kerry Williams, Charles Byron Adams, Gregory Norman Fournier, Gregory Lee Landry, Maurice David Fournier