Patents by Inventor Stuart Craig
Stuart Craig 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).
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Publication number: 20180306446Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coupling assembly for a turbomachine. The coupling assembly includes a liner and a sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the liner. A frame is positioned between the liner and the sleeve. The frame includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall. A block is positioned between the liner and the sleeve and is movable relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall. Moving the block away from the base wall causes the block to exert an inward force on the liner and the base wall to exert an outward force on the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson
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Publication number: 20180202664Abstract: A tool for repairing an out-of-round component such as a combustor body is disclosed. The tool includes a base including a first arcuate member; a second arcuate member; and a linear actuator coupling the second arcuate member to the base. The linear actuator moves the second arcuate member between a retracted position out of engagement with the out-of-round component and an extended position in which the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member engage an interior surface of the out-of-round component in an opposing relationship to force the out-of-round component into a more round state compared to an initial state of the out-of-round component. A related method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brian Michael Leinonen, Gregory Scott Means
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Publication number: 20180100654Abstract: A tool for decoupling a telescoping tube from a first liner of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The tool includes a rod partially positioned in a telescoping tube passage. The rod includes a first portion having a non-circular cross-section and a threaded second portion positioned in a second combustion chamber. A plug couples to the rod and engages a first side surface of the telescoping tube. A base defining a base passage extending therethrough is positioned in a second combustion chamber. The base passage includes a first portion having a non-circular cross-section. The first portion of the rod is at least partially positioned in the first portion of the base passage. A handle threadingly couples to the rod. Rotating the handle in a first direction moves the handle along the rod toward the first combustor to decouple the telescoping tube from the first liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2016Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Todd James Gattermeyer, James Robert Rodgers, Stuart Craig Hanson
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Publication number: 20180085869Abstract: A tool kit for decoupling a telescoping tube from a first liner of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The tool kit includes a base plate coupled to a combustor casing. A post extends outward from the base plate into a combustion chamber defined by the liner. A plunger slidably mounts to the post and is slidable between an extended position and a retracted position. A lever arm pivotably couples to the post and the plunger. Pivoting the lever arm in a first direction slides the plunger to the extended position to decouple the telescoping tube from the liner. A retaining clip couples to the combustor casing and extends into an annular plenum at least partially defined between the liner and the combustor casing. The retaining clip defines a notch that receives the telescoping tube after the plunger assembly decouples the telescoping tube from the liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Todd James Gattermeyer, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brandon Taylor Overby
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Publication number: 20180066543Abstract: An apparatus for lifting an inner casing of a turbine includes a base, an arm, a guide roller, and an adjustment system. The arm has a first end and a second end, and is pivotally connected to the base intermediate the first end and the second end. The guide roller is operatively coupled to the first end of the arm to rotatably engage an exterior surface of the inner casing, and an adjustment system extending from the base and engaging the arm to change an angular position of the arm relative to the base and adjust a position of the guide roller relative to the exterior surface of the inner casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brett Darrick Klingler, Wayne David Sullivan
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Patent number: 9885255Abstract: Systems for the positioning of equipment are disclosed. A system of the present disclosure can provide an apparatus including: a height adjustable table; an arm support structure coupled to and positioned above the height adjustable table; a length adjustable arm slidably connected to the arm support structure, the length adjustable arm being configured to support a piece of equipment; and an equipment support bracket coupled to the length adjustable arm configured to removably attach the piece of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Kyle Joseph Conger, Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
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Publication number: 20170274510Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having a connection portion for engaging the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction at an acute angle relative to longitudinal axis of a dovetail slot of a rotor wheel adjacent to the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2016Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Stuart Craig Hanson, Wayne David Sullivan
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Publication number: 20170167297Abstract: A combustor assembly alignment system comprises an alignment plate comprising a plurality of alignment plate holes that align with a plurality of combustor assembly flange holes, an alignment plate securement system configured to secure the alignment plate to a combustor assembly flange by passing through a first alignment plate hole of the alignment plate and a first combustor assembly flange hole of the combustor assembly flange, and an alignment tube that extends away from the alignment plate, wherein a hollow interior of the alignment tube aligns with a second combustor assembly flange hole when the alignment plate is secured to the combustor assembly flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Stuart Craig Hanson, Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Loy Milton Miller, JR.
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Publication number: 20170167299Abstract: A combustor assembly lift system comprises a track that extends in at least a longitudinal direction, a lift arm moveably engaged with the track such that it can traverse along the track in at least the longitudinal direction, and a combustor assembly engagement frame connected to the lift arm, wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Ansley Michelle Heard, Stuart Craig Hanson, Jereld Alan Meiers, Kyle Joseph Banwart
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Publication number: 20170028516Abstract: An apparatus and method for servicing a combustion liner in a combustion case of a turbine is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated bar having a handle at one end and a force applying member at an opposing end of the elongated bar. An attachment member is configured for attachment to a flange of the combustion case. The attachment member is also configured for pivotal attachment to the elongated bar. The apparatus is configured to apply a radially outward force on a downstream portion of the combustion liner when a radially inward force is applied to the handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Adrian Adam KLEJC, Stuart Craig HANSON, John William HERBOLD, James Bradford HOLMES, Sandra Beverly KOLVICK, Thomas Alan MOGLE, II, Robert Edward HUTH, Lukasz SAJDAK
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Publication number: 20160376927Abstract: Systems for the positioning of equipment are disclosed. A system of the present disclosure can provide an apparatus including: a height adjustable table; an arm support structure coupled to and positioned above the height adjustable table; a length adjustable arm slidably connected to the arm support structure, the length adjustable arm being configured to support a piece of equipment; and an equipment support bracket coupled to the length adjustable arm configured to removably attach the piece of equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Kyle Joseph Conger, Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
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Publication number: 20160376926Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the manipulation of turbomachine combustors. An apparatus according to the present disclsoure can include: a bracket body including an operative head configured to removably attach a turbomachine combustor; a rotatable joint rotatably coupled to the bracket body through a gear bearing, wherein the gear bearing is configured to rotate the bracket body relative to the rotatable joint; and a suspended member rotatably coupled to the rotatable joint at a first end, and coupled to a suspension joint at a second end, wherein the rotatable joint rotates the gear bearing and the bracket body relative to the suspended member to center the gear bearing about a predetermined axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Stuart Craig Hanson, Kyle Joseph Banwart, Joseph Daniel Becker, Jereld Alen Meiers, Thomas Michael Merlau
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Patent number: 9486899Abstract: Methods for the positioning of equipment are disclosed. One method of the present disclosure can include substantially aligning an equipment support structure with an equipment fixture point of a casing structure; adjusting the equipment support structure to have a selected height and a selected angle; sliding the equipment support structure across a platform having the selected height and the selected angle to reach the equipment fixture point; and coupling a piece of equipment to one of the equipment support structure and the equipment fixture point.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Kyle Joseph Conger, Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
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Publication number: 20160201556Abstract: A fixture and method for installing turbine buckets is disclosed. The fixture is adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots, the fixture includes: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel. The profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of a turbine bucket thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Kevin Leon Bruce, Matthew Ryan Ferslew, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Michael Merlau, Joshua Michael Oden, Christopher Michael Penny
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Patent number: 9322504Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and systems used for the positioning of equipment. An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a height adjustable table; a platform coupled to the height adjustable table; a tilt adjuster coupled to the platform, the tilt adjuster being configured to tilt the platform relative to the height adjustable table; an equipment support structure slidably connected to the platform, the equipment support structure being configured to support a piece of equipment; a drive mechanism coupled to the platform and configured to slidably move the equipment support structure across the platform; and a bracket coupled to the equipment support structure, wherein the bracket is configured to removably attach the piece of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Wayne David Sullivan, Jun Yang
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Publication number: 20150147151Abstract: Methods for the positioning of equipment are disclosed. One method of the present disclosure can include substantially aligning an equipment support structure with an equipment fixture point of a casing structure; adjusting the equipment support structure to have a selected height and a selected angle; sliding the equipment support structure across a platform having the selected height and the selected angle to reach the equipment fixture point; and coupling a piece of equipment to one of the equipment support structure and the equipment fixture point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Kyle Joseph Conger, Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
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Publication number: 20150144761Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and systems used for the positioning of equipment. An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a height adjustable table; a platform coupled to the height adjustable table; a tilt adjuster coupled to the platform, the tilt adjuster being configured to tilt the platform relative to the height adjustable table; an equipment support structure slidably connected to the platform, the equipment support structure being configured to support a piece of equipment; a drive mechanism coupled to the platform and configured to slidably move the equipment support structure across the platform; and a bracket coupled to the equipment support structure, wherein the bracket is configured to removably attach the piece of equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Alan Davi, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Wayne David Sullivan, Jun Yang
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Patent number: 8966870Abstract: A vehicle such as a riding lawn mower may have at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors. According to some embodiments, a method of controlling the vehicle may include: operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed; monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor; comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Accelerated Systems Inc.Inventors: Stuart Craig MacKinnon, Robert Gordon Lankin, Jason Cornelius Wiseman, Christopher Keith Derbecker
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Publication number: 20140106087Abstract: A laser cladding system may be configured with a laser cladding component configured to clad a first area of an article and a thermal tracing component configured to heat a second area of the article. The second area may be proximate to the first area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ronald L. Souther, Stuart Craig Hanson
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Patent number: 7811100Abstract: A connector interface may include an arrangement of contacts in a first connector, and a corresponding, complementary arrangement of contacts in a second connector mating with the contacts of the first connector. The contacts may be signal contacts or ground contacts. When the connectors are mated, a ground may be established between the connectors by the mating of the ground contacts from the respective connectors. The ground contacts in the first connector may be shaped to bridge together an array of ground contacts in the second connector when the connectors are mated. Such bridging tends to establish a continuous ground along the array of ground contacts, creating a more robust ground than in an otherwise identical connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventor: Stuart Craig Stoner