Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Traxler

Joseph A. Traxler 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: 8395378
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wayne Lee Lawrence, Michael Dziech, Joseph A. Traxler
  • Publication number: 20110267047
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wayne Lee Lawrence, Michael Dziech, Joseph A. Traxler
  • Publication number: 20060236769
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine component includes positioning an ultrasonic probe assembly proximate to a surface of the component; said ultrasonic probe assembly including a body portion and an inspection bar, coupling the inspection bar to the body portion such that the inspection bar is substantially vertical with respect to the body portion, moving the ultrasonic probe assembly along a substantially horizontal axis while generating ultrasonic data of the component, coupling the inspection bar to the body portion such that the inspection bar is substantially horizontal with respect to the body portion, moving the ultrasonic probe assembly along a substantially vertical axis while generating ultrasonic data of the component, and utilizing the generated data to reconstruct an image of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Brenda Tenley, Michael Dziech, Joseph Traxler, James Donovan
  • Publication number: 20060017434
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine rotor disk, wherein the rotor disk includes a plurality of dovetail slots, includes providing a probe assembly including an eddy current probe and a probe fixture, wherein the eddy current probe includes a body portion and a tip portion including an eddy current probe coil. The method also includes inserting the eddy current probe into the probe fixture, coupling the probe fixture to the rotor disk such that at least a portion of the probe fixture is coupled to at least one of the dovetail slots, and such that the eddy current probe is positioned adjacent the rotor disk, generating an eddy current in the rotor disk using the eddy current probe coil, and inspecting the rotor disk using the probe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Brenda Tenley, Michael Dziech, Joseph Traxler
  • Patent number: 6426622
    Abstract: A fixture for use with eddy current inspection probes facilitates inspection of airfoil leading and trailing edges. The fixture includes a fixture body having a hole formed in one side thereof for receiving a probe and a V-groove formed in another side thereof for receiving a workpiece surface. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted to the fixture body, and a spring is disposed between the clamp arm and the fixture body. The spring biases one end of the clamp arm towards the fixture body so that a workpiece can be clamped between the clamp arm and the fixture body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Glenn D. Givens, James P. O'Connell, Joseph A. Traxler
  • Publication number: 20020079889
    Abstract: A fixture for use with eddy current inspection probes facilitates inspection of airfoil leading and trailing edges. The fixture includes a fixture body having a hole formed in one side thereof for receiving a probe and a V-groove formed in another side thereof for receiving a workpiece surface. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted to the fixture body, and a spring is disposed between the clamp arm and the fixture body. The spring biases one end of the clamp arm towards the fixture body so that a workpiece can be clamped between the clamp arm and the fixture body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Glenn D. Givens, James P. O'Connell, Joseph A. Traxler