Patents by Inventor Steven Charles Woods

Steven Charles Woods 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: 8759770
    Abstract: A system for qualifying usability risk associated with subsurface defects in a multilayer coating includes a component having a multilayer coating, an infrared detection device for capturing infrared images of the multilayered coating and a processing unit that is in electronic communication with the infrared detection device where the processing unit generates a subsurface defect map of the multilayer coating based on the infrared images. The system further includes a risk map of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, James Carroll Baummer
  • Patent number: 8727684
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to nut retention devices and, more particularly, to nut retention devices having a strap that can be fixed to a distal end of a threaded member without damage to the threaded member or nut, thereby permitting their reuse. In one embodiment, the invention provides a nut retention device comprising: a body having a nut engaging opening; and a deformable strap extending from the body, wherein, in an operative state, the nut engaging opening immovably receives a nut that is threaded on a threaded member and the strap is positioned to fixedly engage the threaded member to retain the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, Matthew Paul Berkebile, Bradford David Borchert
  • Publication number: 20140030667
    Abstract: A viewport assembly may allow viewing of a retort chamber while protecting the viewer from heat of the retort chamber through a high-temperature-resistant window in an end wall of the viewport assembly. An access port in the end wall may allow use of tools, such as a welding device. An insulated door between the viewport assembly and the retort chamber may enhance protection and heat retention. The assembly may enhance retention of inert atmosphere in the retort chamber as well as heat, facilitating work on superalloy articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, Ronald Lee Souther
  • Publication number: 20140000111
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for servicing a combustor cap assembly of a turbine includes determining a defect is present in a center ring of the cap assembly, the center ring being disposed within a plurality of vanes, removing the center ring from the cap assembly. The method also includes placing a replacement center ring in the cap assembly, wherein dimensions of the replacement center ring are substantially the same as the center ring that has been removed and brazing the replacement center ring to the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Carmine Bellino, Charles Van Buchan, Robert Wade Clifford, Daniel James Dorriety, Steven Charles Woods
  • Publication number: 20130298369
    Abstract: A fixture and method for adjusting a workpiece are disclosed. The fixture includes a holding device engageable to a workpiece to secure the workpiece, and an adjustment device engageable to a projecting member of the workpiece and movable along a first axis and a second axis. Movement of the adjustment device along the first axis when engaged to the projecting member adjusts the projecting member along the first axis, and movement of the adjustment device along the second axis when engaged to the projecting member adjusts the projecting member along the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eunice D. Reyes, Javier Garza, Charles Van Buchan, Blake Allen Fulton, Steven Charles Woods, Mark Carmine Bellino
  • Publication number: 20130277348
    Abstract: Preheated interval welding methods for welding a weld material to a substrate material can include preheating the substrate material to a preheat temperature less than a solidus temperature of the substrate material, melting the weld material to produce molten weld material at a melting distance away from the substrate material, and applying the molten weld material in a plurality of intervals to the substrate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, Mark Lawrence Hunt
  • Publication number: 20130195642
    Abstract: A method for repairing a shroud tile of a gas turbine is disclosed. The method may generally include removing a portion of the shroud tile along at least one of a first side and a second side of the shroud tile and securing at least one side rail to the shroud tile in place of the removed portion of the shroud tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence Hunt, Steven Charles Woods
  • Publication number: 20130192255
    Abstract: A fixture assembly for securing at least one side rail to a shroud tile of a gas turbine is disclosed. The fixture assembly may include a first support member, a second support member, a first guide block and a second guide block. The first and second guide blocks may be formed from a material that has the same or a similar coefficient of thermal expansion as the material used to form at least one of the shroud tile and the at least one side rail. In addition, the first and second support members may be formed from a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material used to form the first and second guide blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence Hunt, Steven Charles Woods
  • Publication number: 20130180107
    Abstract: A method for preparing to refurbish a turbo-machine component includes virtually refurbishing the turbo-machine component, actually refurbishing the turbo-machine component, and comparing the virtually refurbished turbo-machine component to the actually refurbished turbo-machine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Charles Woods, John David Ward, JR., Antonio Rodriguez