Patents by Inventor Joseph Daniel Becker

Joseph Daniel Becker 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: 11572806
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area. In some cases, a method includes: separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine; removing a housing from over a bearing of the gas turbine; mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing; and performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew James Fisher, Joseph Daniel Becker, Lukasz Sajdak, Piotr Hubert Wojciechowski
  • Publication number: 20210189910
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area. In some cases, a method includes: separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine; removing a housing from over a bearing of the gas turbine; mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing; and performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew James Fisher, Joseph Daniel Becker, Lukasz Sajdak, Piotr Hubert Wojciechowski
  • Patent number: 10968780
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area, along with related methods. One apparatus can include: a set of rails sized to couple with the gas turbine and rest coaxially with a bearing adjacent the gas turbine, the set of rails for supporting a portion of a housing of the bearing; a first platform spanning between the set of rails; a lifting device coupled to the first platform for engaging an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine; and a second platform suspended from the set of rails sized to accommodate an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew James Fisher, Joseph Daniel Becker, Lukasz Sajdak, Piotr Hubert Wojciechowski
  • Patent number: 10837645
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coupling assembly for a turbomachine. The coupling assembly includes a liner and a sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the liner. A frame is positioned between the liner and the sleeve. The frame includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall. A block is positioned between the liner and the sleeve and is movable relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall. Moving the block away from the base wall causes the block to exert an inward force on the liner and the base wall to exert an outward force on the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson
  • Patent number: 10612785
    Abstract: A tool for repairing an out-of-round component such as a combustor body is disclosed. The tool includes a base including a first arcuate member; a second arcuate member; and a linear actuator coupling the second arcuate member to the base. The linear actuator moves the second arcuate member between a retracted position out of engagement with the out-of-round component and an extended position in which the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member engage an interior surface of the out-of-round component in an opposing relationship to force the out-of-round component into a more round state compared to an initial state of the out-of-round component. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brian Michael Leinonen, Gregory Scott Means
  • Patent number: 10519810
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the manipulation of turbomachine combustors. An apparatus according to the present disclosure can include: a bracket body including an operative head configured to removably attach a turbomachine combustor; a rotatable joint rotatably coupled to the bracket body through a gear bearing, wherein the gear bearing is configured to rotate the bracket body relative to the rotatable joint; and a suspended member rotatably coupled to the rotatable joint at a first end, and coupled to a suspension joint at a second end, wherein the rotatable joint rotates the gear bearing and the bracket body relative to the suspended member to center the gear bearing about a predetermined axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stuart Craig Hanson, Kyle Joseph Banwart, Joseph Daniel Becker, Jereld Alen Meiers, Thomas Michael Merlau
  • Patent number: 10294082
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a component handling assembly. The component handling assembly includes a base member, an arm pivotably coupled to the base member, and a beam rotatably coupled to the base member. The component handling assembly also includes a counterweight rotatably coupled to a first end of the beam. The component handling assembly further includes a coupling assembly coupled to a second end of the beam. The coupling assembly is configured for coupling to a component. Rotating the counterweight in a first direction rotates the beam, the coupling assembly, and the component in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson
  • Publication number: 20190072005
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area, along with related methods. One apparatus can include: a set of rails sized to couple with the gas turbine and rest coaxially with a bearing adjacent the gas turbine, the set of rails for supporting a portion of a housing of the bearing; a first platform spanning between the set of rails; a lifting device coupled to the first platform for engaging an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine; and a second platform suspended from the set of rails sized to accommodate an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew James FISHER, Joseph Daniel BECKER, Lukasz SAJDAK, Piotr Hubert WOJCIECHOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20190010026
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a component handling assembly. The component handling assembly includes a base member, an arm pivotably coupled to the base member, and a beam rotatably coupled to the base member. The component handling assembly also includes a counterweight rotatably coupled to a first end of the beam. The component handling assembly further includes a coupling assembly coupled to a second end of the beam. The coupling assembly is configured for coupling to a component. Rotating the counterweight in a first direction rotates the beam, the coupling assembly, and the component in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson
  • Publication number: 20180306446
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coupling assembly for a turbomachine. The coupling assembly includes a liner and a sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the liner. A frame is positioned between the liner and the sleeve. The frame includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall. A block is positioned between the liner and the sleeve and is movable relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall. Moving the block away from the base wall causes the block to exert an inward force on the liner and the base wall to exert an outward force on the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson
  • Publication number: 20180202664
    Abstract: A tool for repairing an out-of-round component such as a combustor body is disclosed. The tool includes a base including a first arcuate member; a second arcuate member; and a linear actuator coupling the second arcuate member to the base. The linear actuator moves the second arcuate member between a retracted position out of engagement with the out-of-round component and an extended position in which the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member engage an interior surface of the out-of-round component in an opposing relationship to force the out-of-round component into a more round state compared to an initial state of the out-of-round component. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brian Michael Leinonen, Gregory Scott Means
  • Patent number: 9777600
    Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for installing a flow sleeve relative to a gas turbine transition piece. Some embodiments include an apparatus for coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the installation apparatus having: a radially inner ring; a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece as the flow sleeve is moved along the plurality of expander segments; and a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of adjacent expander segments in the plurality of expander segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Becker, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20160376926
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the manipulation of turbomachine combustors. An apparatus according to the present disclsoure can include: a bracket body including an operative head configured to removably attach a turbomachine combustor; a rotatable joint rotatably coupled to the bracket body through a gear bearing, wherein the gear bearing is configured to rotate the bracket body relative to the rotatable joint; and a suspended member rotatably coupled to the rotatable joint at a first end, and coupled to a suspension joint at a second end, wherein the rotatable joint rotates the gear bearing and the bracket body relative to the suspended member to center the gear bearing about a predetermined axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart Craig Hanson, Kyle Joseph Banwart, Joseph Daniel Becker, Jereld Alen Meiers, Thomas Michael Merlau
  • Publication number: 20160356182
    Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for installing a flow sleeve relative to a gas turbine transition piece. Some embodiments include an apparatus for coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the installation apparatus having: a radially inner ring; a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece as the flow sleeve is moved along the plurality of expander segments; and a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of adjacent expander segments in the plurality of expander segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Becker, John William Herbold