Patents by Inventor Richard M. Hatley

Richard M. Hatley 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: 7770288
    Abstract: A tool is provided for driving a slide or wedge within a slot of an armature or field of a dynamoelectric machine. The armature or field includes a core, and the core includes one or more vent slots for facilitating ventilation of the armature or field. The tool includes a drive for applying a driving force, and a push block is connected to the drive. At least one guide rail is configured to cooperate with the push block. The drive operates on the push block to drive a slide or wedge. The at least one guide rail reduces deflection or skew of the push block during a driving operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brock M. Lape, Michael J. Bousquet, Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley, William G. Newman, Kenneth G. Troiano
  • Patent number: 7707710
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed for driving a slide under a wedge within a slot of an armature or field of a dynamoelectric machine. The tool comprises a frame including a pair of elongated rail members; a force application block located between the rail members; a drive connected to the frame, substantially intermediate opposite ends of the frame; a lead screw threadably engaged at one end with the force application block and connected at an opposite end to the drive such that the drive rotates the lead screw when actuated. Rotation of the lead screw causes axial movement of the force application block. The armature or field includes a core, and this core may have one or more vent slots for facilitating ventilation of the armature or field. A slot plate for locating the tool relative to the slide is present, and a portion of the slot plate extends into one or more vent slots. The slot plate establishes a reaction point for forces applied by the force application block to the stator slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brock M. Lape, Michael J. Bousquet, Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley, William G. Newman, Kenneth G. Troiano
  • Patent number: 7654143
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the inspection of rotary machine components is provided. A positioning fixture is clamped to the component to be inspected, and supports a transceiver that is used during the inspection. The positioning fixture can be navigated through and between rotary machine components to the desired location to be inspected. In one example, an ultrasonic transceiver can be used to perform the inspection. The apparatus can be used to perform in-situ inspections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Roney, Richard M. Hatley
  • Publication number: 20090031556
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed for driving a slide under a wedge within a slot of an armature or field of a dynamoelectric machine. The tool comprises a frame including a pair of elongated rail members; a force application block located between the rail members; a drive connected to the frame, substantially intermediate opposite ends of the frame; a lead screw threadably engaged at one end with the force application block and connected at an opposite end to the drive such that the drive rotates the lead screw when actuated. Rotation of the lead screw causes axial movement of the force application block. The armature or field includes a core, and this core may have one or more vent slots for facilitating ventilation of the armature or field. A slot plate for locating the tool relative to the slide is present, and a portion of the slot plate extends into one or more vent slots. The slot plate establishes a reaction point for forces applied by the force application block to the stator slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Brock M. Lape, Michael J. Bousquet, Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley, William G. Newman, Kenneth G. Troiano
  • Publication number: 20090031557
    Abstract: A tool is provided for driving a slide or wedge within a slot of an armature or field of a dynamoelectric machine. The armature or field includes a core, and the core includes one or more vent slots for facilitating ventilation of the armature or field. The tool includes a drive for applying a driving force, and a push block is connected to the drive. At least one guide rail is configured to cooperate with the push block. The drive operates on the push block to drive a slide or wedge. The at least one guide rail reduces deflection or skew of the push block during a driving operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Brock M. Lape, Michael J. Bousquet, Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley, William G. Newman, Kenneth G. Troiano
  • Publication number: 20080245151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the inspection of rotary machine components is provided. A positioning fixture is clamped to the component to be inspected, and supports a transceiver that is used during the inspection. The positioning fixture can be navigated through and between rotary machine components to the desired location to be inspected. In one example, an ultrasonic transceiver can be used to perform the inspection. The apparatus can be used to perform in-situ inspections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Robert M. Roney, Richard M. Hatley
  • Patent number: 7032279
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a track mounted in the inlet of a compressor. A manipulator is mounted for movement about the track and carries three modules, the last of which mounts a tool head for movement in a Cartesian coordinate system and about the track. A measuring head measures the location of the airfoil surface. An abrading tool mounted on the third module removes surface material from the airfoil. Subsequently, a shot-peening device, either a flapper with embedded shot or free shot is impacted against the abraded surface to strengthen the surface. Final inspection is performed by a light and camera head mounted on the third module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John McCarvill, Ronald H. Lawson, Jr., Elena Rozier, Michael Bousquet, Richard M. Hatley, Kenneth J. Hatley
  • Publication number: 20040074093
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a track mounted in the inlet of a compressor. A manipulator is mounted for movement about the track and carries three modules, the last of which mounts a tool head for movement in a Cartesian coordinate system and about the track. A measuring head measures the location of the airfoil surface. An abrading tool mounted on the third module removes surface material from the airfoil. Subsequently, a shot-peening device, either a flapper with embedded shot or free shot is impacted against the abraded surface to strengthen the surface. Final inspection is performed by a light and camera head mounted on the third module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: John McCarvill, Ronald H. Lawson, Elena Rozier, Michael Bousquet, Richard M. Hatley, Kenneth J. Hatley
  • Publication number: 20030217625
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sizing a stator wedge slide having a wedge-shaped profile. The apparatus includes a support bed for supporting the slide; a slide cutter for cutting the slide; a slide positioner for positioning the slide relative to the slide cutter; and a thickness gauge for determining a thickness of the slide. A position of a first cut is located based on a first thickness determined by the thickness gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley, Michael J. Bousquet
  • Patent number: 6222897
    Abstract: Scan methods of inspecting piping and welds of a pipe elbow in a reactor pressure vessel of a boiling water reactor are disclosed. The scan apparatus includes a motor connected to a scan head having two ultrasonic transducer probes each including an ultrasonic transducer, a transducer arm connected to each transducer probe, a scan platform having an arcuate cutout, and a connector connecting each transducer arm to the scan platform. The scan head allows the transducer probes to remain substantially in contact with the pipe elbow while the scan head traverses the pipe elbow. The scan apparatus further includes a pivot arm connecting the scan platform to a pivot pin. The method includes the steps of positioning the scan head and the transducer probe such that the ultrasonic transducer is substantially in contact with the pipe elbow surface. Then moving the scan head axially along the pipe elbow in a first direction while maintaining the ultrasonic transducer in substantial contact with the pipe elbow surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Hatley, Terry S. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 5650579
    Abstract: A miniature air gap inspection crawler for in situ inspection of the generator field and stator core of a generator. The crawler has a collapsed position for insertion into the air gap of a generator and an expanded position for pressing drive modules of the crawler against the generator field and stator core. Cameras mounted on the crawler provide video images of the field and core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Hatley, Richard M. Hatley