IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,168,581
Granted Patent B2
US 11,168,581 · App. 16/617,745 · Granted Nov 9, 2021

Service apparatus for use with rotary machines

Inventors: Don Mark Lipkin (Niskayuna, NY); Todd William Danko (Niskayuna, NY); Mark John Zajkowski (Niskayuna, NY); Scott Michael Oppenheimer (Niskayuna, NY); Kori Unhee Macdonald (Niskayuna, NY)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
F01D21/003B05C11/00B05C11/02B23P6/005F01D5/005F05D2220/30F05D2230/72
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,168,581
App. No.
16/617,745
Granted
Nov 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A service apparatus for use in maintaining a turbine assembly ( 100 ) includes a carriage ( 132, 304 ) configured to move through a cavity of the turbine assembly ( 100 ), a motorized system ( 218, 500, 600, 700, 800 ) coupled to the carriage ( 132, 304 ), and a maintenance device ( 128, 400 ) coupled to the motorized system ( 218, 500, 600, 700, 800 ). The motorized system ( 218, 500, 600, 700, 800 ) is configured to move the maintenance device ( 128, 400 ) relative to the carriage ( 132, 304 ). The motorized system ( 218, 500, 600, 700, 800 ) includes a first motor ( 710, 720, 805 ) configured to move the maintenance device ( 128, 400 ) in a first direction ( 324 ) and a second motor ( 710, 720, 805 ) configured to move the maintenance device ( 128, 400 ) in a second direction ( 324 ).

Claims (26)

1. A service apparatus for use in maintaining a turbine assembly, said service apparatus comprising:

a carriage configured to move through a cavity of the turbine assembly;

a maintenance device coupled to said carriage; and

a motor system coupled to said maintenance device, wherein said motor system is configured to move said maintenance device relative to said carriage, said motor system comprising:

a first motor configured to move said maintenance device in a first direction; and

a second motor configured to move said maintenance device in a second direction;

wherein said maintenance device comprises an extruder coupled to said motor system, said motor system configured to rotate said extruder.

2. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first motor is configured to pivot said maintenance device about a longitudinal axis of said carriage.

3. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said second motor is configured to move said maintenance device along the longitudinal axis.

4. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising a third motor configured to move said maintenance device in a third direction, wherein said third motor is configured to move said maintenance device perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said extruder comprises an applicator configured to apply a material to a surface of the turbine assembly.

6. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said maintenance device further comprises at least one of the following: an optical sensor, an auditory sensor, a mechanical sensor, a thermal sensor, and a magnetic sensor.

7. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said motor system comprises a rotary actuator.

8. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said motor system comprises a linear actuator.

9. The service apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring mechanism configured to maintain said service apparatus in position relative to the turbine assembly.

10. A system for maintaining a turbine assembly, said system comprising:

a service apparatus comprising:

a carriage configured to move through a cavity of the turbine assembly;

a maintenance device coupled to said carriage;

a motor system coupled to said maintenance device, wherein said motor system is configured to move said maintenance device relative to said carriage, said motor system comprising:

a first motor configured to move said maintenance device in a first direction; and

a second motor configured to move said maintenance device in a second direction; and

a controller for said service apparatus;

wherein said maintenance device comprises an extruder coupled to said motor system, said motor system configured to rotate said extruder.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said first motor is configured to pivot said maintenance device about a longitudinal axis of said carriage, and said second motor is configured to move said maintenance device along said longitudinal axis.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said maintenance device further comprises at least one of the following: an optical sensor, an auditory sensor, a mechanical sensor, a thermal sensor, a magnetic sensor, infrared sensor, an acoustic sensor, an eddy current sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: LIPKIN, DON MARK; DANKO, TODD WILLIAM; ZAJKOWSKI, MARK JOHN; PENHEIMER, SCOTT MICHAEL; MACDONALD, KORI UNHEE
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051129/0245 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200102850A1 · Apr 2, 2020