Patents by Inventor Michael Leonard Dziech

Michael Leonard Dziech 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: 7313961
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine component includes positioning an ultrasonic probe assembly proximate to a surface of the component, wherein the ultrasonic probe assembly includes 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: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brenda Catherine Tenley, Michael Leonard Dziech, Joseph Anthony Traxler, James Michael Donovan
  • Patent number: 7190162
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brenda Catherine Tenley, Michael Leonard Dziech, Joseph Anthony Traxler
  • Patent number: 6972561
    Abstract: An eddy current inspection apparatus includes a holder for a specimen, a holder for an eddy current probe, and an eddy current instrument operatively joined thereto. The probe holder includes carriages for translating the probe along first and second axes. The probe holder is selectively moved to align the probe with an internal channel of the specimen for sliding movement therealong to conduct eddy current inspection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Fields, Michael Leonard Dziech, Jon Russel Dierdorf, Anthony William Mellors, James Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6894492
    Abstract: A sensor measurement of an article having an article surface shape is performed using a hand-held senor probe having a probe housing, a sensor support rotatably mounted in the probe housing and having an orienting structure defined thereon. The orienting structure is preferably an orienting face with substantially the article surface shape. A sensor, such as a eddy current sensor, is affixed to the sensor support and is operable through the orienting face of the sensor support. The orienting face of the sensor support is pressed against the article surface to orient the sensor support and thence the sensor relative to the article surface, and the sensor measurement is performed. The sensor is preferably a ball having the orienting face thereon, and mounted to the probe housing in a ball-and-socket relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael Leonard Dziech
  • Publication number: 20040169510
    Abstract: An eddy current inspection apparatus includes a holder for a specimen, a holder for an eddy current probe, and an eddy current instrument operatively joined thereto. The probe holder includes carriages for translating the probe along first and second axes. The probe holder is selectively moved to align the probe with an internal channel of the specimen for sliding movement therealong to conduct eddy current inspection thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Fields, Michael Leonard Dziech, Jon Russel Dierdorf, Anthony William Mellors, James Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6608478
    Abstract: A rotor disk is inspected using an inspection apparatus including an inspection fixture which has a base, and at least one guide extending from the base. Each guide is slidably engagable to one of the rotor slots of the rotor disk and has a guide side shaped to slidably conform to the rotor slot side, and a guide bottom having a guide bottom surface which, in combination with a slot bottom surface, defines an elongated inspection cavity extending parallel to the axis of revolution of the rotor disk. The inspection fixture is mated to the rotor disk such that each guide slides into one of the rotor slots. A sensor apparatus includes a sensor, such as an eddy current sensor, sized to slide into the inspection cavity with a close facing relation thereto, and a sensor drive that moves the sensor parallel to a direction of elongation of the inspection cavity. Inspection is performed by inserting the sensor into the inspection cavity, and sensing the rotor slot bottom using the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Leonard Dziech, Joseph Anthony Traxler, Michael Wayne Fields