Patents by Inventor James Edward Gutknecht

James Edward Gutknecht 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: 7445427
    Abstract: A variable stator vane assembly and a bushing thereof. The bushing includes a metal bushing body and a wear-resistant coating. The assembly includes a rotatable trunnion and a first metal bushing. The trunnion is capable of being located in a through hole extending between outer and inner surfaces of a compressor casing of a gas turbine engine. The first metal bushing is capable of being located in the through hole proximate the outer surface to surround a first portion of the trunnion when the trunnion is located in the through hole. The first metal bushing and the first portion have wear-resistant coatings which are in mutual contact, apart from any intervening lubricant, when the trunnion and the first metal bushing are located in the through hole and the trunnion is rotating with respect to the first metal bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Gutknecht, Robert William Bruce, Jay L. Cornell, Donald Charles Slavik, Wayne Ray Bowen, William Terence Dingwell
  • Patent number: 7056053
    Abstract: A two-piece washer to allow tilting movement of the washer elements. One annular washer element includes a convex annular surface that engages with a concave annular surface of a second annular washer element. When the convex and concave surfaces of the respective washer elements are placed in face-to-face engagement, the elements of the two-piece washer can pivot relative to each other. When utilized in a bolted connection, such two-piece washers can allow shifting of the bolted components relative to each other without imposing bending loads on the connecting bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, James Edward Gutknecht
  • Publication number: 20040101384
    Abstract: A two-piece washer to allow tilting movement of the washer elements. One annular washer element includes a convex annular surface that engages with a concave annular surface of a second annular washer element. When the convex and concave surfaces of the respective washer elements are placed in face-to-face engagement, the elements of the two-piece washer can pivot relative to each other. When utilized in a bolted connection, such two-piece washers can allow shifting of the bolted components relative to each other without imposing bending loads on the connecting bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, James Edward Gutknecht
  • Publication number: 20040045936
    Abstract: A method for chemical milling of a gas turbine engine blisk having a hub and a plurality of blades made of metal for the purpose of changing the dimensional characteristics (i.e., chord and/or thickness) of one or more of these blades. At least one blade of the blisk is treated with a chemical etchant of the metal that the blade is made of for a period of time sufficient to change at least one of the chord and thickness of the blade(s). In a preferred aspect of this method, at least one of the blades of a rotationally imbalanced blisk is treated with the chemical etchant for a period of time sufficient to change the chord and/or thickness of these blades so that the blisk is rotationally balanced. In another preferred aspect of this method, an assessment of where and the degree to which the rotational imbalance exists in the blisk is made to determine which blades are to be treated with the chemical etchant and how those blades are to be treated to achieve rotational balance of the blisk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Steven Mark Ballman, Edward Ivan Stamm, Kurt Edward Young, James Edward Gutknecht
  • Publication number: 20020125215
    Abstract: A method for chemical milling of a gas turbine engine blisk having a hub and a plurality of blades made of metal for the purpose of changing the dimensional characteristics (i.e., chord and/or thickness) of one or more of these blades. At least one blade of the blisk is treated with a chemical etchant of the metal that the blade is made of for a period of time sufficient to change at least one of the chord and thickness of the blade(s). In a preferred aspect of this method, at least one of the blades of a rotationally imbalanced blisk is treated with the chemical etchant for a period of time sufficient to change the chord and/or thickness of these blades so that the blisk is rotationally balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Steven Mark Ballman, Edward Ivan Stamm, Kurt Edward Young, James Edward Gutknecht
  • Patent number: 6354780
    Abstract: A blisk includes a disk having a rim from which extends a row of blades. The rim includes axially opposite overhangs one of which includes an arcuate balance land disposed eccentrically to the centerline axis of the disk for balancing the blisk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Steven Mark Ballman, Albert Everett McDaniel, James Edward Gutknecht