Patents by Inventor Stephen Matthew Biffle

Stephen Matthew Biffle 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).

  • Diffuser removal tool
    Patent number: 10125689
    Abstract: A diffuser removal tool for displacing an exhaust diffuser from a gas turbine engine is provided, which includes a pair of support arms, a clamp and wedge assembly coupled to an exhaust diffuser, and a lead screw assembly coupled between the support arms and to the clamp and wedge assembly via a wedge of the clamp and wedge assembly. The tool also includes a pair of linear bearing assemblies coupled to the support arms and to the clamp and wedge assembly via wedges of the clamp and wedge assembly. The lead screw assembly is configured to displace the diffuser in an axial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine while the linear bearing assemblies are configured to both enable the displacement of the diffuser in the axial direction while vertically supporting the diffuser to maintain alignment between the diffuser and the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Matthew Biffle, Donald Gordon Laing, Jorge Mario Rochin Machado, Ramune Auzelyte
  • DIFFUSER REMOVAL TOOL
    Publication number: 20180128181
    Abstract: A diffuser removal tool for displacing an exhaust diffuser from a gas turbine engine is provided, which includes a pair of support arms, a clamp and wedge assembly coupled to an exhaust diffuser, and a lead screw assembly coupled between the support arms and to the clamp and wedge assembly via a wedge of the clamp and wedge assembly. The tool also includes a pair of linear bearing assemblies coupled to the support arms and to the clamp and wedge assembly via wedges of the clamp and wedge assembly. The lead screw assembly is configured to displace the diffuser in an axial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine while the linear bearing assemblies are configured to both enable the displacement of the diffuser in the axial direction while vertically supporting the diffuser to maintain alignment between the diffuser and the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Matthew Biffle, Donald Gordon Laing, Jorge Mario Rochin Machado, Ramune Auzelyte