Patents by Inventor Philip F. Stapf

Philip F. Stapf 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: 5442286
    Abstract: A device for inspecting a component, such as a dovetail slot of a gas turbine engine or the like, includes an eddy current array circuit having an active face for positioning on the surface of the component during the inspection operation and a backing disposed on a face of the eddy current array circuit opposite to the active face. The eddy current array circuit and the backing are disposed over the operating face and expandable sides of an expandable bar. The expandable bar has a slot formed therein with interior side edges which narrow toward the operating face of the bar at a predetermined slope. An expanding wedge with angled sides is positioned to cause the angled sides to respectively matingly engage the interior sides of the slot to cause the exterior sides of the expandable bar to expand outwardly a greater distance as the wedge is pushed deeper into the slot to cause the eddy current array circuit into conformance with the shape of the surface being inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George H. Sutton, Jr., Francis H. Little, Carl Granger, Jr., Philip F. Stapf