Patents by Inventor Michael Robert Millhaem
Michael Robert Millhaem 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).
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Patent number: 11752622Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20230250731Abstract: A method of cleaning a component within a turbine that includes disassembling the turbine engine to provide a flow path to an interior passageway of the component from an access point. The component has coked hydrocarbons formed thereon. The method further includes discharging a flow of cleaning solution towards the interior passageway from the access point, wherein the cleaning solution is configured to remove the coked hydrocarbons from the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Byron Andrew Pritchard, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Keith Anthony Lauria, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Mark Rosenzweig, Martin Matthew Morra, Timothy Mark Sambor, Andrew James Jenkins
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Patent number: 11702955Abstract: A method of repairing a component of a gas turbine engine in situ, wherein the component includes a deposit, includes directing a flow of gas, which may be an oxygen-containing gas, to the deposit of the component; and heating the component including the deposit while the component is installed in the gas turbine engine and for a duration sufficient to substantially remove the deposit.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Andrew Crispin Graham, Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr., David Scott Diwinsky, Jeremy Clyde Bailey, Michael Edward Eriksen, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni
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Patent number: 11692650Abstract: A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11649735Abstract: A method of cleaning a component within a turbine that includes disassembling the turbine engine to provide a flow path to an interior passageway of the component from an access point. The component has coked hydrocarbons formed thereon. The method further includes discharging a flow of cleaning solution towards the interior passageway from the access point, wherein the cleaning solution is configured to remove the coked hydrocarbons from the component.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr., Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Keith Anthony Lauria, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Mark Rosenzweig, Martin Matthew Morra, Timothy Mark Sambor, Andrew Jenkins
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Patent number: 11613003Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11555413Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a component of an installed and assembled gas turbine engine are provided. Accordingly, the method includes operably coupling a delivery assembly to an annular inlet of a core gas turbine engine. A portion of treating fluid is atomized with the delivery assembly to develop a treating mist having a plurality of atomized droplets. The atomized droplets are suspended within any path of the core gas turbine engine from the annular inlet to an axial position downstream of a compressor of the core gas turbine engine. A portion of the treating mist is impacted or precipitated onto the component so as to wet the component, and a portion of the deposits on the component is dissolved by the treating mist.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr., Keith Anthony Lauria, Erica Elizabeth Sampson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Michael Robert Millhaem, William Francis Navojosky, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Gongguan Wang, Andrew Crispin Graham
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Patent number: 11536198Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core cowl and a core contained within the core cowl. The core includes a compressor in fluid communication with a downstream combustor and a downstream turbine, the compressor including a compressor bleed port, wherein an undercowl space is defined between the core cowl and the core. The gas turbine engine further includes a cooling duct disposed at least partially in the undercowl space and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the cooling duct is in fluid communication with a source of cooling air and is further in fluid communication with the compressor bleed port; a valve assembly including at least one valve disposed in the cooling duct; and a cooling blower disposed within the engine and operable to move an air flow from the inlet of the cooling duct towards the outlet of the cooling duct and through the compressor bleed port.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Christopher R. Bosco, Gerardo Perez, Hejie Li, Francisco Ernesto de la Pena, Alejandro Federico Medrano Perez, Andrew Campbell
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Publication number: 20220389834Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a component of an installed and assembled gas turbine engine are provided. Accordingly, the method includes operably coupling a delivery assembly to an annular inlet of a core gas turbine engine. A portion of treating fluid is atomized with the delivery assembly to develop a treating mist having a plurality of atomized droplets. The atomized droplets are suspended within any path of the core gas turbine engine from the annular inlet to an axial position downstream of a compressor of the core gas turbine engine. A portion of the treating mist is impacted or precipitated onto the component so as to wet the component, and a portion of the deposits on the component is dissolved by the treating mist.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Keith Anthony Lauria, Erica Elizabeth Sampson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Michael Robert Millhaem, William Francis Navojosky, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Gongguan Wang, Andrew Crispin Graham
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Patent number: 11506077Abstract: An inflatable device equipped with a guiding mechanism and methods of installing the inflatable device to form a temporary barrier within a gas turbine engine are provided. In one aspect, an inflatable device includes a backbone and an inflatable bladder connected thereto. The backbone is formed of a flexible and inextensible material. The inflatable bladder is formed of an expandable material. To install the inflatable device within an annular chamber of a gas turbine engine, the backbone is inserted into a first access port of the engine and is moved circumferentially around the annulus of the chamber. The backbone is retrieved through a second access port. The inflatable bladder is moved into position within the chamber by pushing the backbone into the first access port and/or pulling the backbone out of the second access port. When positioned in place, the inflatable bladder is inflated to form an annular seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr., Deepak Trivedi, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20220252010Abstract: Systems and methods for removing heat are provided. For example, a system comprises a support apparatus and a cooling apparatus, including a suction device for forcing air through a gas turbine engine, disposed on the support apparatus, which is moveable with respect to the engine to position the cooling apparatus in contact with an engine exhaust. A nozzle in operative communication with the suction device may force air through the engine. Further, the support apparatus may comprise a lift device, an angle adjustment mechanism, and a nozzle support element disposed on a longitudinal slide rail for adjusting a height, an angle, and a longitudinal position of the nozzle. A method of removing heat from a gas turbine engine after shutdown comprises positioning a cooling apparatus adjacent an exhaust; sealing the cooling apparatus to the exhaust; and operating a suction device of the cooling apparatus to move air through the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Michael Edward Eriksen
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Publication number: 20220243612Abstract: An inflatable device equipped with a guiding mechanism and methods of installing the inflatable device to form a temporary barrier within a gas turbine engine are provided. In one aspect, an inflatable device includes a backbone and an inflatable bladder connected thereto. The backbone is formed of a flexible and inextensible material. The inflatable bladder is formed of an expandable material. To install the inflatable device within an annular chamber of a gas turbine engine, the backbone is inserted into a first access port of the engine and is moved circumferentially around the annulus of the chamber. The backbone is retrieved through a second access port. The inflatable bladder is moved into position within the chamber by pushing the backbone into the first access port and/or pulling the backbone out of the second access port. When positioned in place, the inflatable bladder is inflated to form an annular seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Deepak Trivedi, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20220235706Abstract: A method is provided for operating a gas turbine engine. The method includes: determining data indicative of an operation of a cooling system of the gas turbine engine during a shutdown of the gas turbine engine, following the shutdown of the gas turbine engine, or both; and modifying a startup schedule of the gas turbine engine in response to the determined data indicative of the operation of the cooling system of the gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Christopher R. Bosco, Gerardo Perez, Hejie Li, Francisco Ernesto de la Pena, Alejandro Federico Medrano Perez, Andrew Campbell
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Publication number: 20220235707Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core cowl and a core contained within the core cowl. The core includes a compressor in fluid communication with a downstream combustor and a downstream turbine, the compressor including a compressor bleed port, wherein an undercowl space is defined between the core cowl and the core. The gas turbine engine further includes a cooling duct disposed at least partially in the undercowl space and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the cooling duct is in fluid communication with a source of cooling air and is further in fluid communication with the compressor bleed port; a valve assembly including at least one valve disposed in the cooling duct; and a cooling blower disposed within the engine and operable to move an air flow from the inlet of the cooling duct towards the outlet of the cooling duct and through the compressor bleed port.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Michael Robert Millhaem, Christopher R. Bosco, Gerardo Perez, Hejie Li, Francisco Ernesto de la Pena, Alejandro Federico Medrano Perez, Andrew Campbell
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Patent number: 11371425Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning deposits from a component of an assembled, on-wing gas turbine engine are provided. Accordingly, the method includes operably coupling a delivery assembly to an annular inlet of a core gas turbine engine. A portion of cleaning fluid is atomized with the delivery assembly to develop a cleaning mist having a plurality of atomized droplets. The atomized droplets are suspended within any path of the core gas turbine engine from the annular inlet to an axial position downstream of a compressor of the core gas turbine engine. A portion of the cleaning mist is impacted or precipitated onto the component so as to wet the component, and a portion of the deposits on the component is dissolved by the cleaning mist.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr., Erica Elizabeth Sampson, William Francis Navojosky, Keith Anthony Lauria, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Michael Robert Millhaem, Gongguan Wang
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Publication number: 20220090537Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning deposits from a component of an assembled, on-wing gas turbine engine are provided. Accordingly, the method includes operably coupling a delivery assembly to an annular inlet of a core gas turbine engine. A portion of cleaning fluid is atomized with the delivery assembly to develop a cleaning mist having a plurality of atomized droplets. The atomized droplets are suspended within any path of the core gas turbine engine from the annular inlet to an axial position downstream of a compressor of the core gas turbine engine. A portion of the cleaning mist is impacted or precipitated onto the component so as to wet the component, and a portion of the deposits on the component is dissolved by the cleaning mist.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Erica Elizabeth Sampson, William Francis Navojosky, Keith Anthony Lauria, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Michael Robert Millhaem, Gongguan Wang
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Publication number: 20220090516Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a component of an installed and assembled gas turbine engine are provided. Accordingly, the method includes operably coupling a delivery assembly to an annular inlet of a core gas turbine engine. A portion of treating fluid is atomized with the delivery assembly to develop a treating mist having a plurality of atomized droplets. The atomized droplets are suspended within any path of the core gas turbine engine from the annular inlet to an axial position downstream of a compressor of the core gas turbine engine. A portion of the treating mist is impacted or precipitated onto the component so as to wet the component, and a portion of the deposits on the component is dissolved by the treating mist.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Keith Anthony Lauria, Erica Elizabeth Sampson, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Michael Robert Millhaem, William Francis Navojosky, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Gongguan Wang, Andrew Crispin Graham
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Publication number: 20210229270Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20210229269Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20210231239Abstract: A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem