Patents by Inventor Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer

Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240264123
    Abstract: The method includes positioning a probe of the phased array ultrasound system on the mounting portion of the anisotropic rotor blade at the axial centerline. The method further includes scanning a sector of the anisotropic rotor blade along the axial centerline with the probe of the phased array ultrasound system. The method further includes determining a magnitude and a time delay of an echo signal corresponding with a geometric fiducial marker. The method further includes adjusting a position of one of the anisotropic rotor blade or the probe based on the magnitude and/or the time delay of the echo signal corresponding with the geometric fiducial marker. The method further includes repeating the scanning, determining, and adjusting steps until the magnitude and the time delay of the echo signal corresponding with the geometric fiducial marker is within a predetermined maximum echo range. The method further includes scanning the anisotropic rotor blade for defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar KM, Sivaramanivas Ramaswamy, Prasad Thapa, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Patent number: 10161914
    Abstract: Various aspects include methods of inspecting a substantially round hole in a material. One method can include: feeding a probe axially into the substantially round hole until the probe completely passes through the substantially round hole while the probe is activated; rotating the probe at least ninety degrees around a primary axis of the substantially round hole after feeding the probe completely through the substantially round hole; removing the probe axially from the substantially round hole after rotating the probe at least ninety degrees while the probe is activated; and compiling at least one of eddy current data or ultrasound data about the hole from the feeding of the probe axially into the substantially round hole and the removing of the probe axially from the substantially round hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert William Bergman, Thomas James Batzinger, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Publication number: 20180231500
    Abstract: An inspection system for a cylindrical member includes at least one retention member positionable about at least a portion of a circumference of the cylindrical member. The inspection system also includes a positioning system and at least one housing. The at least one housing is coupleable to the at least one retention member at each of a series of circumferential inspection locations. The at least one housing includes at least one probe. The positioning system cooperates with the at least one retention member to position the at least one probe at each of the circumferential locations. The at least one probe is configured to send and receive a signal through an interior of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, John Matthew Sassatelli, Francis Alexander Reed, Robert William Bergman, Paul Howard Davidson, August Elwood Pendergast, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Michael Charles Freda, Robert Charles Malison, Paul Michael Kienitz, Collin Daniel Mooney, Paul James Martino, William Bartholomew
  • Publication number: 20180172643
    Abstract: Various aspects include methods of inspecting a substantially round hole in a material. One method can include: feeding a probe axially into the substantially round hole until the probe completely passes through the substantially round hole while the probe is activated; rotating the probe at least ninety degrees around a primary axis of the substantially round hole after feeding the probe completely through the substantially round hole; removing the probe axially from the substantially round hole after rotating the probe at least ninety degrees while the probe is activated; and compiling at least one of eddy current data or ultrasound data about the hole from the feeding of the probe axially into the substantially round hole and the removing of the probe axially from the substantially round hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Robert William Bergman, Thomas James Batzinger, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Patent number: 9933327
    Abstract: A method for detecting leakage at a fluid connection for a gas turbine fuel supply system is disclosed herein. The method includes closing a flow control valve at an upstream end of the fuel supply system and pressurizing the fuel supply system with a compressed medium via a compressed medium supply to a target pressure. The target pressure is less than a pressure threshold of a check valve that is disposed downstream from the compressed medium supply and upstream from a corresponding combustor of the gas turbine. The method further includes pointing a receiver portion of an ultrasonic detection device proximate to at least one tube fitting of the fuel supply system located between the flow control valve and a combustor which is fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system. Detection of an increase in sound level and/or the sound of popping at the tube fitting is indicative of a leak at the tube fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bouria Faqihi, Abdul Khaliq, James Frederik den Outer, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Michael Lynch, Richard Preston Epley, Steven Castellaw, Sheng Jia Zheng
  • Publication number: 20170322185
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an ultrasonic detection method, performed using an ultrasonic detection system having a set of corresponding transmitting phased array devices and receiving phased array devices, the method including: for each of a plurality of static positions about a portion of a machine rotor: transmitting, at a corresponding transmitting phased array device, a set of ultrasonic waves through the portion of the machine rotor, and receiving, at the corresponding receiving phased array device, the set of ultrasonic waves after transmission through the portion of the machine rotor, to obtain a set of ultrasonic detection information about the machine rotor; and forming an ultrasonic representation of the machine rotor by aligning the sets of the ultrasonic detection information about the machine rotor obtained from each of the plurality of static positions about the portion of the machine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Howard Davidson, Robert William Bergman, Michael Charles Freda, Kurt Neal Laurer, Robert Charles Malison, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, August Elwood Pendergast, Francis Alexander Reed, John Matthew Sassatelli
  • Publication number: 20170052087
    Abstract: A method for detecting leakage at a fluid connection for a gas turbine fuel supply system is disclosed herein. The method includes closing a flow control valve at an upstream end of the fuel supply system and pressurizing the fuel supply system with a compressed medium via a compressed medium supply to a target pressure. The target pressure is less than a pressure threshold of a check valve that is disposed downstream from the compressed medium supply and upstream from a corresponding combustor of the gas turbine. The method further includes pointing a receiver portion of an ultrasonic detection device proximate to at least one tube fitting of the fuel supply system located between the flow control valve and a combustor which is fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system. Detection of an increase in sound level and/or the sound of popping at the tube fitting is indicative of a leak at the tube fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Bouria Faqihi, Abdul Khaliq, James Frederik den Outer, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Michael Lynch, Richard Preston Epley, Steven Castellaw, Sheng Jia Zheng
  • Publication number: 20160380520
    Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for servicing a dynamoelectric machine main lead. Some embodiments include a method of servicing a main lead in a dynamoelectric machine rotor having a collector end retaining ring retaining the main lead, a terminal stud contacting the main lead, a winding contacting the main lead, and main terminal insulation proximate the main lead, the method including: removing the collector end retaining ring to expose the main lead; disconnecting the main lead from each of the winding and the terminal stud, during the disconnecting of the main lead from the terminal stud, cooling the main terminal insulation proximate the main lead; connecting a replacement main lead to each of the winding and the terminal stud; and during the connecting of the replacement main lead to the terminal stud, cooling the main terminal insulation proximate the main lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jacob Wade Word, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Robert William Vadney
  • Patent number: 9411017
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a wye ring in a generator includes the steps of dismantling the generator to gain access to the wye ring and at least a portion of a rotor, applying a test signal to the rotor and measuring an inductive voltage at two or more locations near the wye ring. A comparing step compares results from the measuring step to determine if a fault exists in the wye ring. A predetermined difference in inductive voltage measurements indicates presence of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Thomas James Batzinger, Francis Alexander Reed, Michael Charles Freda
  • Publication number: 20150145554
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a wye ring in a generator includes the steps of dismantling the generator to gain access to the wye ring and at least a portion of a rotor, applying a test signal to the rotor and measuring an inductive voltage at two or more locations near the wye ring. A comparing step compares results from the measuring step to determine if a fault exists in the wye ring. A predetermined difference in inductive voltage measurements indicates presence of the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Thomas James Batzinger, Francis Alexander Reed, Michael Charles Freda
  • Publication number: 20140063228
    Abstract: An inspection system and methods for remote cleaning and inspection of difficult to access components within complex machinery. The system includes a display screen, a video borescope coupled to the display screen, an insertion tube, a camera head disposed at a distal end of the insertion tube, a feature for capturing an image and/or video with the camera head and displaying the image and/or video on the display screen, and a feature for remotely steering the distal end of the insertion tube as well as a nozzle of a feed tube that is attached to the insertion tube and adapted to apply a cleaning fluid to a surface to be inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin Carl Boles, Edward Lee Bentzel, Edward Barrett Hubben, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Patent number: 8365584
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for inspecting a component of a turbomachine in-situ. The apparatus includes an end effector having a frame defining a stable platform with a curved surface of the component, a spring loaded suspension attached to the frame, and a probe connected to a wedge member, where the probe and wedge member are connected to the spring loaded suspension. The probe is configured to inspect the component by passing signals through the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Diego Quinones, Daniel Lawrence Banowetz, Gareth William David Lewis, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Publication number: 20130014571
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for inspecting a component of a turbomachine in-situ. The apparatus includes an end effector having a frame defining a stable platform with a curved surface of the component, a spring loaded suspension attached to the frame, and a probe connected to a wedge member, where the probe and wedge member are connected to the spring loaded suspension. The probe is configured to inspect the component by passing signals through the wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Diego Quinones, Daniel Lawrence Banowetz, Gareth William David Lewis, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer