Patents by Inventor Richard Michael Hatley

Richard Michael 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: 6438861
    Abstract: A radial clearance measurement device includes a pair of opposed drive heads, connected by an adjustable strut. Each drive head is fitted with a radial distance measurement device including a plate adapted to slide within a dovetail groove in a radial stator core slot, a spring-loaded plunger adapted to engage a surface of an armature bar located in the radial stator slot, and a linear voltage displacement transducer for measuring distance between the dovetail groove and the armature bar. The device is adapted to move through the bore of the stator, with the plungers engaged with armature bars in diametrically opposed radial stator core slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Michael John Bousquet, Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman
  • Publication number: 20020112345
    Abstract: A tool for driving a stator slide under a stator wedge within a radial slot of a stator core includes a frame including a pair of elongated rail members, the frame provided with a pair of handles at respective opposite ends of the elongated rail members. A force application cart is located between the rail members, the force application cart having a drive block thereon. A drive is connected to the frame, substantially intermediate opposite ends of the frame, the drive having an on/off trigger located on one of the handles. A lead screw is threadably engaged at one end with the force application cart and connected at an opposite end to the drive such that the drive rotates the lead screw when actuate; wherein in use, rotation of the lead screw causes axial movement of the force application cart and the drive block along the elongated rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Leonard Pezzano, Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley
  • Patent number: 6421914
    Abstract: A process for installing a stator slide under a stator wedge in a radially oriented slot of a stator core assembly includes: a) loading windings in the radial slot, the radial slot having axially extending dovetail grooves in opposing sidewalls thereof; b) loading at least one stator wedge and stator slide in the dovetail grooves of the slot, and tightening the at least one stator wedge with the stator slide; c) loading at least one additional stator wedge in the dovetail grooves; d) locating at least one additional stator wedge slide relatively loosely under the additional stator wedge; and e) using the at least one stator wedge as a force reaction point, applying a force to the additional stator slide to drive the additional stator slide under the additional stator wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley
  • Publication number: 20020089298
    Abstract: A robotic inspection system for gas turbine combustion components includes an exterior manipulator for visual inspection of the exterior surface of the impingement sleeve, an interior manipulator for visual inspection of the interior of the transition piece body and an annulus manipulator for inspecting the side weld seams of the transition piece body. The exterior manipulator includes an arcuate segment extending about the annular spaced impingement sleeves and a robotic subassembly including a linear rail and an upper arm and forearm mounting an inspection head pivotally coupled to one another for visual inspection of the top, bottom and side external surfaces of the impingement sleeve. The interior manipulator mounts to the open end of the combustion casing and includes an arm mounted for universal pivotal movement to the mount, actuators for pivoting the arm and motors for extending and rotating an inspection head about pan and tilt axes within the interior of the transition piece body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Sean Michael McDonnell, Michael John Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20020083808
    Abstract: A machine is provided for stripping the ground wall insulation from a stator bar quickly and in such a manner that the copper strands will not be damaged. The apparatus of the invention includes a power driven cutting tool for milling or routing the insulation from a portion of the insulated bar, a sensing device for detecting the location of the copper strands and a height adjustment assembly for determining a disposition of the bar with respect to the cutting tool. In an exemplary embodiment, the height adjustment assembly is adjusted in accordance with the location of the copper strands as detected by the sensing device to substantially prevent the cutting tool from making damaging contact with the copper strands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Charles James Marino
  • Patent number: 6414458
    Abstract: A robotic inspection system for gas turbine combustion components includes an exterior manipulator for visual inspection of the exterior surface of the impingement sleeve, an interior manipulator for visual inspection of the interior of the transition piece body and an annulus manipulator for inspecting the side weld seams of the transition piece body. The exterior manipulator includes an arcuate segment extending about the annular spaced impingement sleeves and a robotic subassembly including a linear rail and an upper arm and forearm mounting an inspection head pivotally coupled to one another for visual inspection of the top, bottom and side external surfaces of the impingement sleeve. The interior manipulator mounts to the open end of the combustion casing and includes an arm mounted for universal pivotal movement to the mount, actuators for pivoting the arm and motors for extending and rotating an inspection head about pan and tilt axes within the interior of the transition piece body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Sean Michael McDonnell, Michael John Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20020078586
    Abstract: A radial clearance measurement device includes a pair of opposed drive heads, connected by an adjustable strut. Each drive head is fitted with a radial distance measurement device including a plate adapted to slide within a dovetail groove in a radial stator core slot, a spring-loaded plunger adapted to engage a surface of an armature bar located in the radial stator slot, and a linear voltage displacement transducer for measuring distance between the dovetail groove and the armature bar. The device is adapted to move through the bore of the stator, with the plungers engaged with armature bars in diametrically opposed radial stator core slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Michael John Bousquet, Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman
  • Publication number: 20020073788
    Abstract: A robotic inspection system for gas turbine combustion components includes an exterior manipulator for visual inspection of the exterior surface of the impingement sleeve, an interior manipulator for visual inspection of the interior of the transition piece body and an annulus manipulator for inspecting the side weld seams of the transition piece body. The exterior manipulator includes an arcuate segment extending about the annular spaced impingement sleeves and a robotic subassembly including a linear rail and an upper arm and forearm mounting an inspection head pivotally coupled to one another for visual inspection of the top, bottom and side external surfaces of the impingement sleeve. The interior manipulator mounts to the open end of the combustion casing and includes an arm mounted for universal pivotal movement to the mount, actuators for pivoting the arm and motors for extending and rotating an inspection head about pan and tilt axes within the interior of the transition piece body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Sean Michael McDonnel, Michael John Bousquet, Thomas Arthur Wagner, Sami Aslam, Kathleen Lynne Bentzel
  • Publication number: 20020074965
    Abstract: A robotic inspection system for gas turbine combustion components includes an exterior manipulator for visual inspection of the exterior surface of the impingement sleeve, an interior manipulator for visual inspection of the interior of the transition piece body and an annulus manipulator for inspecting the side weld seams of the transition piece body. The exterior manipulator includes an arcuate segment extending about the annular spaced impingement sleeves and a robotic subassembly including a linear rail and an upper arm and forearm mounting an inspection head pivotally coupled to one another for visual inspection of the top, bottom and side external surfaces of the impingement sleeve. The interior manipulator mounts to the open end of the combustion casing and includes an arm mounted for universal pivotal movement to the mount, actuators for pivoting the arm and motors for extending and rotating an inspection head about pan and tilt axes within the interior of the transition piece body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Sean Michael McDonnell, Michael John Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20020050063
    Abstract: A process for installing a stator slide under a stator wedge in a radially oriented slot of a stator core assembly includes: a) loading windings in the radial slot, the radial slot having axially extending dovetail grooves in opposing sidewalls thereof; b) loading at least one stator wedge and stator slide in the dovetail grooves of the slot, and tightening the at least one stator wedge with the stator slide; c) loading at least one additional stator wedge in the dovetail grooves; d) locating at least one additional stator wedge slide relatively loosely under the additional stator wedge: and e) using the at least one stator wedge as a force reaction point, applying a force to the additional stator slide to drive the additional stator slide under the additional stator wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley