Patents by Inventor Steven Kerry Williams

Steven Kerry Williams 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).

  • Methods of assembling airfoils to turbine components and assemblies thereof
    Patent number: 6786699
    Abstract: Airfoils and grooves on the rotor or carrier for the airfoils have generally complementary dovetail shapes. The airfoils are installed in the grooves by sliding the bases of the airfoils along the circumferential grooves into final circumferential positions. At each circumferential position, a pin is driven between the base of the airfoil and the bottom of the groove to displace the airfoil radially into a final radially secured position taking up the clearance necessary to enable sliding movement of the airfoils about the groove. A first tool is used to drive each pin in a generally tangential direction by hammering on the end of the tool, transmitting an axial force to the pin. When the circumferential clearance of the last installed airfoil is insufficient to permit further use of a tangentially oriented tool to install additional airfoils, a second tool having an angled head is disposed into the groove to engage the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Elliott Shapiro, Steven Kerry Williams, Charles Byron Adams, Gregory Norman Fournier, Gregory Lee Landry, Maurice David Fournier
  • Methods of assembling airfoils to turbine components and assemblies thereof
    Publication number: 20040001757
    Abstract: Airfoils and grooves on the rotor or carrier for the airfoils have generally complementary dovetail shapes. The airfoils are installed in the grooves by sliding the bases of the airfoils along the circumferential grooves into final circumferential positions. At each circumferential position, a pin is driven between the base of the airfoil and the bottom of the groove to displace the airfoil radially into a final radially secured position taking up the clearance necessary to enable sliding movement of the airfoils about the groove. A first tool is used to drive each pin in a generally tangential direction by hammering on the end of the tool, transmitting an axial force to the pin. When the circumferential clearance of the last installed airfoil is insufficient to permit further use of a tangentially oriented tool to install additional airfoils, a second tool having an angled head is disposed into the groove to engage the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: David Elliot Shapiro, Steven Kerry Williams, Charles Byron Adams, Gregory Norman Fournier, Gregory Lee Landry, Maurice David Fournier