Patents by Inventor Kurt Kramer Schleif

Kurt Kramer Schleif 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: 11925991
    Abstract: A milling device for machining a slot into an inner surface of a casing for a gas turbine engine. The milling device includes a frame assembly including multiple structural guides configured to engage structural features on the inner surface of the casing to maintain an axial position of the milling device relative to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The milling device also includes a milling cutter coupled to the frame assembly. The milling device is configured to be displaced in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis to machine the slot, via the milling cutter, along the inner surface of the casing in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Fabian Gubelmann, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Thomas Gloor, Roman Stefan Peter
  • Patent number: 11906371
    Abstract: Thermocouples for high temperature applications are provided. A thermocouple includes a vessel formed from a dielectric material, the vessel defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and second chamber in fluid communication. The thermocouple further includes a first thermoelement disposed in the first chamber, the first thermoelement formed from a first thermoelectric material. The thermocouple further includes a second thermoelement disposed in the second chamber, the second thermoelement formed from a second thermoelectric material different from the first thermoelectric material, and wherein the second thermoelement is a liquid at operating conditions of the thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis
  • Publication number: 20240003678
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for radiation measurement are used to determine clearance of a rotating gas turbine component. The apparatus includes a probe body on a stationary component outward of the rotating component and a pair of sensor assemblies coupled to the probe body. Each sensor assembly includes a plurality of prisms coupled to the probe body Each prism of the plurality of prisms has a distinct angular orientation to direct radiation from the focusing lens to the rotating component surface off-axis with respect to an axis of the respective radiation source of the pair of radiation sources and with less directional variation than radiation from the respective radiation source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Michael Allen Ball, Andrew David Ellis
  • Publication number: 20240003679
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation deflected from a rotating component includes a probe body on a stationary component radially outward of the rotating component; and a pair of arrival time sensors coupled to the probe body. Each arrival time sensor includes a light pipe that receives radiation deflected from the rotating component and that reduces directional variation of the radiation. A detector is optically coupled to each respective light pipe. The detector is positioned to receive the radiation with reduced directional variation from the light pipe. A method of detecting radiation from the rotating component using the apparatus determines a clearance between the rotating component (e.g., a turbomachine blade) and a stationary component (e.g., a casing).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Michael Allen Ball, Andrew David Ellis
  • Patent number: 11635750
    Abstract: A measurement system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The measurement system comprises a sensor assembly. The measurement system also includes multiple sensors coupled to the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to be removably inserted within a space defined by a circumferential track embedded within an inner diameter of a casing of the gas turbine engine without having to disassemble the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Patent number: 11519298
    Abstract: A mounting member for a sensor for a turbomachine having an axis is disclosed. The mounting member includes a body configured to mount to a portion of a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine. An opening extends through a radially inner surface of the body, and is configured to position the sensor facing radially inward relative to the axis. A passage in the body extends longitudinally through the body to route a communications lead of the sensor circumferentially relative to the circumferential interior surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Robert David Jones, Michael Allen Ball, Andrew David Ellis, Mario Joseph Arceneaux, Donald Shaw
  • Publication number: 20220362865
    Abstract: A milling device for machining a slot into an inner surface of a casing for a gas turbine engine. The milling device includes a frame assembly including multiple structural guides configured to engage structural features on the inner surface of the casing to maintain an axial position of the milling device relative to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The milling device also includes a milling cutter coupled to the frame assembly. The milling device is configured to be displaced in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis to machine the slot, via the milling cutter, along the inner surface of the casing in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Fabian Gubelmann, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Thomas Gloor, Roman Stefan Peter
  • Patent number: 11409022
    Abstract: A system is provided with a measurement system having a light source, a light sensor, and a controller coupled to the light source and the light sensor. The controller is configured to determine a clearance between a rotor and a casing at least partially based on an interruption of light transmitted from the light source to the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis
  • Patent number: 11400527
    Abstract: A milling device for machining a slot into an inner surface of a casing for a gas turbine engine. The milling device includes a frame assembly including multiple structural guides configured to engage structural features on the inner surface of the casing to maintain an axial position of the milling device relative to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The milling device also includes a milling cutter coupled to the frame assembly. The milling device is configured to be displaced in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis to machine the slot, via the milling cutter, along the inner surface of the casing in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Fabian Gubelmann, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Thomas Gloor, Roman Stefan Peter
  • Publication number: 20220205367
    Abstract: A sensor system for a turbomachine having an axis is disclosed. The sensor system includes a mounting member including a body configured to be mounted to only a circumferential portion of a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine. A plurality of sensors are coupled to the mounting member and configured to measure an operational parameter of the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis, Michael Allen Ball
  • Patent number: 11255219
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a blade monitoring system. The blade monitoring system includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to observe a blade of the turbomachinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Michael Allen Ball
  • Patent number: 11248495
    Abstract: A casing for a turbomachine is disclosed. The casing includes a casing body including an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one sensor is coupled relative to the interior surface of the body, the at least one sensor at most only partially extending through the body. A communications lead is operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and extends circumferentially along the interior surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Mario Joseph Arceneaux, Michael Allen Ball, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Donald Shaw
  • Patent number: 11193388
    Abstract: A method for determining an arrival-time of a rotor blade that includes attaching an RF reader to a stationary surface and an RF tag to the rotor blade. Time-of-flight data points are collected via an RF monitoring process that includes: emitting an RF signal from the RF reader and recording a first time; receiving the RF signal at the RF tag and emitting a return RF signal by the RF tag in response thereto; receiving the return RF signal at the RF reader and recording a second time; and determining the time-of-flight data point as being the duration occurring between the first time and the second time. The RF monitoring process is repeated until multiple time-of-flight data points are collected. A minimum time-of-flight is determined from the multiple time-of-flight data points, and the arrival-time for the rotor blade is determined as being a time that corresponds to the minimum time-of-flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Michael Allen Ball, Mario Joseph Arceneaux, Andrew David Ellis, Vincent Carmona
  • Patent number: 11179820
    Abstract: A mounting system for a tool for machining a half-shell casing of a turbomachine is disclosed. The mounting system includes a base frame including a mounting element configured to fixedly mount the base frame to the half-shell casing, wherein the base frame spans at least a portion of the half-shell casing. A tool mount includes a first end pivotally coupled to the base frame to pivot about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel relative to an axis of the half-shell casing, and a second end configured to couple to and position the tool for machining the half-shell casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Cale Brittain, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones
  • Patent number: 11060847
    Abstract: A system is provided with a measurement system having a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light sensors, and a controller coupled to the plurality of light sources and the plurality of light sensors. The controller is configured to monitor one or more parameters between a rotor and a casing at least partially based on an interruption or a transmission of one or more paths of light from the plurality of light sources to the plurality of light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis
  • Publication number: 20210132254
    Abstract: A system is provided with a measurement system having a light source, a light sensor, and a controller coupled to the light source and the light sensor. The controller is configured to determine a clearance between a rotor and a casing at least partially based on an interruption of light transmitted from the light source to the light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis
  • Publication number: 20210129236
    Abstract: A milling device for machining a slot into an inner surface of a casing for a gas turbine engine. The milling device includes a frame assembly including multiple structural guides configured to engage structural features on the inner surface of the casing to maintain an axial position of the milling device relative to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The milling device also includes a milling cutter coupled to the frame assembly. The milling device is configured to be displaced in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis to machine the slot, via the milling cutter, along the inner surface of the casing in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Fabian Gubelmann, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Thomas Gloor, Roman Stefan Peter
  • Publication number: 20210131792
    Abstract: A system is provided with a measurement system having a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light sensors, and a controller coupled to the plurality of light sources and the plurality of light sensors. The controller is configured to monitor one or more parameters between a rotor and a casing at least partially based on an interruption or a transmission of one or more paths of light from the plurality of light sources to the plurality of light sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis
  • Publication number: 20210132598
    Abstract: A measurement system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The measurement system comprises a sensor assembly. The measurement system also includes multiple sensors coupled to the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to be removably inserted within a space defined by a circumferential track embedded within an inner diameter of a casing of the gas turbine engine without having to disassemble the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Publication number: 20210123814
    Abstract: Thermocouples for high temperature applications are provided. A thermocouple includes a vessel formed from a dielectric material, the vessel defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and second chamber in fluid communication. The thermocouple further includes a first thermoelement disposed in the first chamber, the first thermoelement formed from a first thermoelectric material. The thermocouple further includes a second thermoelement disposed in the second chamber, the second thermoelement formed from a second thermoelectric material different from the first thermoelectric material, and wherein the second thermoelement is a liquid at operating conditions of the thermocouple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Andrew David Ellis